91: SEO: What Happened in 2023, What to Expect in 2024

Summary

In this episode, Meredith's husband reviews the SEO developments of the year and predicts how AI will impact SEO in the coming year. He emphasizes the importance of creating helpful, user-focused content, explaining that as Google introduces AI-generated search results, websites offering high-quality content will continue to succeed. This episode helps website owners understand how to prepare for upcoming changes by sticking to good SEO practices.

How AI Will Shape SEO in 2024: What Website Owners Need to Know

As we look ahead to 2024, one of the biggest changes expected in the world of SEO is the integration of AI-generated search results. Google has hinted at a major shift in how it displays results, but website owners don’t need to panic. The key to staying ahead lies in a consistent strategy that focuses on providing valuable, user-centric content.

In this episode, Meredith’s husband breaks down the most important trends from this past year and offers his predictions for the year ahead. Here’s what you need to know to future-proof your website for 2024.

What Happened in SEO This Year?

The past year has been eventful in the SEO world, with several important updates:

• Google Business Profile Suspensions: At the start of the year, many business profiles were suspended. While frustrating, Google revamped its process to make verification smoother.

• Core Algorithm Updates: Google introduced two or three major updates in 2023, with the “Helpful Content” update being a significant one. This update further cemented Google’s priority of rewarding websites that focus on providing valuable and helpful content for users.

These trends emphasize one thing: Google continues to push for user-focused, authentic content and penalizes sites that attempt to manipulate rankings through SEO shortcuts.

What’s Coming in 2024?

The biggest change on the horizon is the rise of AI-generated search results. Google has already started rolling this out for some users, and we can expect this feature to expand in 2024. AI-generated results aim to give users a more conversational and direct answer to their queries, similar to how tools like ChatGPT provide responses.

However, Meredith’s husband notes that, for now, these AI results closely resemble the current “Featured Snippets” that Google already offers. While they are expected to become more sophisticated, the principle remains the same: helpful content is key.

How to Prepare Your Website for AI SEO

Even as AI-generated results become a larger part of search, your core SEO strategy should remain the same. Here’s what you can do to prepare:

• Focus on Helpful Content: Google continues to prioritize helpful, user-centric content. Make sure your content addresses the questions and needs of your target audience. The more valuable your content is to users, the more likely it is to rank well, regardless of whether AI is involved in the search process.

• Think Long-Term: Avoid SEO shortcuts or tricks. As Google’s algorithms become more advanced, quick fixes will only hurt your website in the long run. Stick to creating high-quality content that serves your users.

• Optimize for User Experience: Ensure your website is easy to navigate, mobile-friendly, and provides a seamless experience for visitors. AI or not, a positive user experience plays a significant role in Google rankings.

• Stay Calm About AI: There’s no need to overhaul your SEO strategy to cater to AI. Google’s goal with AI results is still the same: to offer users the most relevant, helpful content. By staying focused on user needs, you’ll naturally align with Google’s objectives.

Bullet Points from the Episode:

• Google’s 2023 updates, including the Helpful Content update, pushed for user-focused content.

• AI-generated search results are expected to become a larger part of Google’s search experience in 2024.

• AI results may be similar to existing “Featured Snippets” but are more conversational.

• Website owners should focus on providing valuable, user-first content to stay relevant in search results.

• Avoid SEO shortcuts—long-term, helpful content strategies will remain effective.

Stick to the Basics

As 2024 approaches and AI plays a bigger role in search, the fundamentals of SEO won’t change. Website owners should focus on creating helpful, user-friendly content, as that remains the most reliable way to rank well on Google. AI will only reward those who are already thinking long-term and prioritizing their users.

Resources

For more detailed advice on structuring your SEO strategy, check out the "SEO Roadmap" mentioned by Meredith's husband during the episode. This guide offers a step-by-step approach to improving your website’s performance and SEO rankings.