Google’s reduced local pack results (down from 7 to 3 listings) and removed right side ads demonstrates Google’s absolute shift to a user-led, mobile-first world. The good news is we’ve been optimising our customers’ businesses for mobile and local since day one.
2. Content reigns supreme
Google’s primary aim is always to improve the search users’ experience, which is why content organisation and quality are essential to drive user engagement. If your business is in a hotly contested industry it’s now essential that they develop smart content to stay ahead competition.
3. Simply asking is changing the game
Digital assistants i.e. Siri, Now, Cortana are driving the growth of national language search phrases – think long questions - which now accounts for 20% of all Google mobile queries.
4. Even more rich answers
From recipes to flight times to conversion tools, Google’s rich answers are growing and now make up approximately 32% of search results (June 2015), up from 22% from Dec 2014. In essence this means businesses need SEO more than ever to ensure they’re being the most relevant and compelling option for users searching.
5. Rising Social Media results
While Google isn’t likely to buddy up with Facebook anytime soon, Social Profiles and shared content are beginning to rank so for users interested in reviews and additional insights into businesses these extra touchpoints will continue to grow in importance in future.