User Experience Optimization Set To Bump SEO in 2017?
Last February 2016, a contributing writer on Forbes.com wrote about how User Experience Optimization (UEO) will soon become just as important as Search Engine Optimization (SEO). In a nutshell, he predicted that the number of times you use a keyword would no longer matter as much as being able to deliver what the user needs help with.
In fact, the habits of Internet users have changed from writing down keywords in the search bar to asking very specific questions in the hopes of finding out what they need with minimum fuss and delay.
What is User Experience Optimization?
UEO is what happens after you click on a link anywhere in the Internet. Did you find what you were looking for? Did it load quickly and without lagging? Were you ultimately satisfied by the experience?
There are 3 factors to UEO:
- Clicks – Great content will suffer in ranking if its clicks are measured poorly. Websites that are able to build relationships with high authority sites will benefit tremendously because these high authority websites would contain links to your site.
- Consumptions – This refers to the quality of content, not the quantity
- Action – The user must feel compelled (voluntarily) to take action
The Bottom Line
The Internet has become the most competitive arena and is expected to grow even more challenging. Websites are being launched daily in the hundreds and there is probably not a single topic or industry left untouched.
The key to being successful in 2017 is being able to adjust to the rapid changes. For instance, did you know that today’s generation would rather work and pay with apps than stay on the web?
According to ComScore, engagement over desktop has flatlined while mobile use has skyrocketed to unprecedented heights. And on mobile, 56% of the time is spent on apps. The Millennials only use their desktops (if they have one at all) for studies or work but would opt for mobile device use whenever possible. This has led to a decline in search use in favor of apps which is why UEO is bumping SEO especially among the Gen Y users.
To get in touch with your market and grow, you need to start thinking about how you can develop an app or make your website more user friendly. You might also want to consider expanding to other platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram because these are the sites where many users go to for better quality content. To prove this: ask yourself, “When was the last time I got what I wanted from a Google search at first attempt?”