How To Stay Ahead of Local SEO Trends In 2021

The rapid pace of change in the local SEO industry can make it difficult to stay on top of all the latest trends and changes. But any business that doesn’t want to end up on the wrong side of a new algorithm or major search engine change needs to keep up with what’s going on.

Local Search engine optimization (SEO) is a way to help people find your business. The best practices for SEO change each year. To stay up to date, you need to know the latest trends and changes so that you don't get left behind by new algorithms or big search engine changes.

Here are some things you need to know about local SEO for 2021:

Voice Search

The rise of voice search is one of the most significant changes in digital marketing since Google released its mobile-friendly algorithm update. And it isn’t just a change to how we use our smartphones--voice search will impact how you rank in SERPS in 2021 and beyond.

Mobile Search

Mobile searches will grow by 69%, according to Forrester Research. It’s no secret that the worldwide population is aging and living longer. But there are also more mobile users than ever before, which means by 2022, we will be spending nearly twice as much time on our smartphones every day: about three hours per person. So optimizing your website for voice is essential.

Mobile-First Indexing

Google's new "mobile-first" indexing policy will change your local SEO strategy. In November 2015, Google announced a shift to mobile-first indexing for the mobile web. This update will affect search results on both desktop and Android devices. The update took place in April 2017, and in 2021 and beyond, it will become even more important.

This change's major implication for local SEO professionals is that they can no longer focus solely on optimizing content for desktops only. With the rise of mobile phone users, Google's decision to prioritize the mobile version of any website has created a new era for local SEO.

Any business that doesn't want to end up on the wrong side of a new algorithm or major search engine change must keep up to date on the latest trends and changes, understanding their potential impact.

Google’s SMITH Algorithm

Google's new algorithm, SMITH (Siamese Multi-depth Transformer-based Hierarchical), is designed to increase the precision of search engine results.

Google has emphasized that this algorithm update will mostly affect searches with long-tail keywords and queries where user intent can be hard to determine.

This means that businesses should focus on content creation for these keyword phrases to stay ahead of Google's new Smith Algorithm.

Customer-oriented Content

Domination for local SEO trends and changes will lie in customer-oriented content. That means excellent customer service, focus on what customers want to know about the products they are interested in and good reviews.

This content must be original and not just a rehash of information that is already readily available. There should also be plenty of visuals such as videos or photos that help people understand how something works or why it is relevant to the search query.

Website Visual Layout Shift

Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) is a huge change in web design that marketers need to prepare for. With Google set to make this shift an official ranking factor as of May, it will be impossible not to implement CLS into your marketing strategies and campaigns at some point or another. For you to project the professional image needed in today’s competitive work environment.

Video Content

Video content is not just for entertainment purposes; it can also be used as a local SEO strategy. YouTube has become more and more important in the world of online marketing, so how does video play into your search engine optimization plan? Videos should have an output tone that's professional to assure visitors that they're on the right site - remember you want them to stay! Think about what videos will help target keywords related to your business or landing page.

 

Zero Click SERPs

Google My Business is on the rise, and it’s important to take advantage of this. With Google providing so much information right in their search results, many people don't even need to click a link anymore! Local SEO has become more crucial as well due to increased numbers for zero-click searches that are local. Make sure you build up your backlink profile while setting up your GMB account because there's no telling how long those top SERP listings will last!

User Intent Searches

The local SEO trends that will continue in 2021 are quality content with the user's intent and strategies in mind. It would help if you did smart keyword research to write about topics people search for then study your competitors' content before creating something better than them.

Core Web Vitals

Google had announced that the new Core Web Vitals update would start rolling out on May 17th, 2021, but it has since been postponed for the new future.

Core web vitals is a ranking factor that has been given more importance this year than ever before. Websites need to be optimized for users to succeed on the top ten SERPs and have fast loading times with easy mobile navigation to meet these requirements. The focus of local SEO should include keywords and how well websites can work within Google's standards. Website owners must remember that they don't just want visitors who will come back once or twice; rather they're looking for those who will become loyal customers through great experiences online--and it starts right here!

 

High-Quality Backlinks

High-quality backlinks will continue to be prevalent in 2021 to rank your website on the local search results, with the keyword here being "quality" as opposed to "quantity."

That means that having even one backlink from a popular website will better than having hundreds from small, low-quality ones.

Final Thoughts On How To Stay Ahead of Local SEO Trends In 2021

In 2021, your local SEO strategy must reflect the latest changes in trends and regulations. To help you stay on top of all these potential shifts, we’ve created a guide for 2021 and will update it for 2022 to provide some tips and tricks for success with your local search marketing plan.

The Local SEO Guide includes an overview of what has changed recently to be proactive about preparing for future updates and best practices to increase traffic from customers looking specifically for businesses near them (or within their radius).