Source: moz (en-US). Read the original article
TL;DR Summary of 21 Smart Google SEO Tips from 2021 Revisited
Favicon optimization remains a simple yet powerful SEO tactic often overlooked but influential on click-through rates. Link building continues to be essential, with a focus on creating content that makes others look good and earns natural backlinks. Content strategy is shifting from long-form dominance to experimenting with short-form, highly specific content that quickly answers user queries. Despite changes, the SEO landscape is alive and thriving; persistence and adaptation are key.
Optimixed’s Overview: Key SEO Strategies from Past Insights to Future Trends
Revisiting Timeless SEO Fundamentals and Emerging Content Approaches
The first edition of Whiteboard Friday Revisited offers a valuable reflection on SEO advice from 2021, delivered by expert Cyrus Shepard. It highlights which tactics remain effective and which require adaptation in a rapidly evolving digital environment.
Favicon Optimization: A Small Element with Big Impact
- Ownership and influence: Favicons are fully controllable elements that appear in mobile search results and can affect click-through rates.
- Visibility and contrast: High-contrast, recognizable favicons enhance brand perception and user engagement.
- Underutilized opportunity: Despite its simplicity, many websites still neglect favicon optimization, missing incremental ranking and CTR benefits.
Link Building: Quality Content as Your Best Outreach
- Ongoing importance: Links remain a major authority signal for search engines.
- Passive link building: Creating content that helps others succeed encourages natural backlinks—making others “look good” is a proven strategy.
- Selective outreach: Use tools like Moz’s Link Explorer Link Intersect to identify promising link opportunities for efficient manual outreach.
Content Strategy: Navigating the Shift from Long-form to Short-form
- 2021 advice: Invest in long-form content for comprehensive SEO benefits.
- 2024 perspective: The rise of AI-generated content snippets and changing user behavior call for experimentation with concise, highly specific content that quickly answers user questions.
- Balanced approach: Both long-form and short-form content have a role; focus on quality, relevance, and user intent.
A Positive Outlook for SEO Practitioners
Despite rapid changes and new technologies, SEO is far from obsolete. With billions of daily clicks happening, there’s ongoing opportunity for websites to rank, draw traffic, and convert users. Perseverance, creativity, and a willingness to adapt remain the best tactics for success in SEO.
