Information overload is a real thing and people are struggling with it more and more everyday. SEO has changed in the last two years more than it has in the last ten because people aren't searching they way they used to. 

No longer are people searching the way they think Google wants us to search, but rather how they would normally talk. With this in mind it doesn't have to be such a scary overwhelming thing to learn SEO, you don't need to be an expert but there are some things you can do yourself to get started with search engine optimization.

Here are 8 ways to get started with SEO and what they all mean in 2019.

What is Search Engine Optimization?

1. OPTIMIZE FOR MOBILE

Anyone who looks at their site stats regularly will notice the increasing growth in mobile users vs desktop. This will likely continue to grow so mobile optimization should be at the top of your priority list not only for user experience, but for search engine ranking. Optimizing your website for mobile will help increase your site speed. 
This will also help you understand your customers search habits. How do they use your website on mobile compared to desktop? What types of key phrases are they searching to find you on mobile when they might be in a rush compared to a desktop search. 

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2. LEARN HOW USERS SEARCH

As mentioned in the preface of this blog, SEO is totally different than it used to be. No longer are people searching the way we think Google wants us to search but we search how we would normally talk and ask questions. Assuming a keyword will preform better than one isn't the route to go. Performing a proper keyword analysis is a great starting point to any SEO plan. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner to help find the keywords people are searching each month along with their search volume. 

Adding more conversational keywords to your SEO strategy is a great way to start your SEO journey. For example, "Who should I hire for marketing in Saint John, New Brunswick?"

3. Understand THe Connection Between Social and SEO 

Social Media and SEO are two different things yes, but they play an important role together. Social Media can define our online presence and authority within the search engines. You might notice if you Google your company name your Facebook page or Instagram account appears in the search results. This is no mistake, Google has started to index more content in the search results in case users aren't able their questioned answered with their initial web choice. 

Google isn't the only search engine doing this. If you haven't noticed already, social networks like Facebook and LinkedIN are becoming their own search engines. You can type in "Where can I get pizza?" into Facebook and you will be shown the results of potential spots near you that sell pizza. 

4. Understand how voice search works

"Hey Google, where can I find a nice pair of pants?"  Voice search is for sure going to be the biggest shift in SEO in 2019 and beyond. With more and people using their phone or devices like Google Home and Alexa to find out information this won't be a trend but a new way of gaining information. 

So what does this mean for you? People tend to ask longer questions over voice then they would in search because its easier to talk then type. The challenge is to find a happy medium for your keywords so they are relevant to your audience. 

The Takeaway

Search Engine Optimization can be difficult and very complex but there are some things you can do yourself and take off the light work to gain some quick wins in the search results. Learning the keywords your audience is using to find you is an important first step to do this. Ensuring you have a strong social media presence will help with your search results but also create another source of leads since social networks now act as a search engine on their own. 

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