Every year, search engine marketing especially SEO undergo a lot of changes. The year 2009 come to a close and we are well into 2010. It is that time of the year again when we reflect on the past and look forward to what the future holds for us. Online businesses across the globe are busy looking into their crystal balls and making some bold forecasts.
The online arena is abuzz with the creme de la creme of online marketing making predictions of what lies in store for us. We figured out that a collection of their thoughts, dished out in black and white, would be great building blocks for making your own conjectures. So here they are.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO):
The face of SEO has undergone a sea of change over the past years and 2010 is not going to be an exception. As search engines work towards better indexing and even better search results, SEO professionals and online businesses are busy preparing to take on the challenges that lie ahead.
Personalized search, real time search and social search will change the facet of search engine result pages (SERPs) – rich snippets will enrich it all the more. With “Google Caffeine” kicking in, site performance will become an important ranking parameter. Not to forget, this year will see a phenomenal growth in structured web and use of Microformats.
What they say:
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Three 2010 SEO Trends to Look Out For: Social Media, Onpage SEO & Link Diversity
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SEO Trends in 2010: Search Engine Optimization Techniques for Online Marketers
Paid Search Advertising (PPC):
With the recessionary phase behind us, it is all but natural that businesses will start investing more into search marketing, especially paid. The war of bids to get the coveted slots will result in CPC skyrocketing. Display and contextual advertising will witness a surge in demand in the wake of rising CPC and due to marketers searching for better ROI.
The combined Bing-Yahoo paid search advertising platform will find more takers; so will advertising on all available content networks. Conversion optimization and attribution will keep marketers glued to data and analytics.
What they say:
Local SEO & Mobile Search:
Location, location, location – the “3 Ls” of real estate business will very well define the landscape of local and mobile search this year. As Google treads the path of local search dominance, more organics results will give way to map (local) results.
Mobile will fuel local search growth all the more and businesses will be left with no option but to vie for local search presence.
What they say:
Social Media Marketing/Optimization:
Social media grew exponentially in 2009, and with social and real time search now becoming reality, it will definitely outgrow all projections. Year 2010 is already being voiced as the year when social media will become bigger than search and go full steam.
Social media is evolving quickly and is now an integral part of the online world. For businesses, social media will graduate from being a part time affair to a full time devotion. After all, social media is all set to play a decisive role in identifying, nurturing, and managing customer relationship.
What they say:
Search Engine and Online Marketing:
With signs of economic recovery clearly visible, it is a given that businesses will spend more on search marketing and marketing in general. As an aftermath, competition will grow manifolds. Online marketers will be hard pushed to deliver a better ROI amidst stiff competition.
With mobile and social media marketing becoming a part of the overall search marketing mix, along with other online channels, comprehending the contribution of each of these channels will become critical.
What they say:
Other Notable Mentions:
Video Marketing:
Link Building:
Email Marketing:
Whether or not all these predictions come true, one thing is for certain - “2010 will bring about a monumental change in the search marketing Industry.”
Don't get baffled though. A fresh start comes with endless possibilities and we are here to help you cash in on every opportunity that will come along :)