SEO Agencies Reveal The Biggest SEO Trends In 2023 [DesignRush QuickSights]

The global SEO market is expected to reach USD 122.11 billion in 2028. DesignRush interviewed SEO experts to discover the emerging trends for 2023.

MIAMI - DECEMBER 02, 2022

According to BrightLocal, in 2020, 93% of US consumers used online searches to find businesses and service providers. 34% have been searching daily, up from 27% in 2018. This coincides with the consistent growth of the global SEO market, which is predicted to reach USD 122.11 billion in 2028 at a 9.6% CAGR, as reported on Research and Markets.

DesignRush, a B2B marketplace connecting businesses with agencies, leveraged its 16,000-agencies-strong network for quick insights – or “QuickSights” – on the biggest SEO trends companies should watch out for in 2023.

1) CONVERSATIONAL SEARCH

SEOValley CEO and Founder Shabir MS notes that brands should optimize their content for conversational queries to personalize users’ search experience.

"SEO is still the most cost-effective digital marketing strategy and conversational search queries are going to play a bigger role in 2023 as they help Google enhance the users' search experience,” said Shabir. “To optimize for this trend, tailor the content based on your audience and make sure you prioritize natural language."

2) OPTIMIZING OWNED MEDIA

As stated by Houston Barnett-Gearhart, SEO director at Victorious, in 2023, businesses should focus on owned media while prioritizing helpful content.

“If 2022 has taught us anything, it’s that you can’t build your business on someone else’s platform,” said Barnett-Gearhart. “In 2023, focus on optimizing owned media. Content that meets users where they are with the information they need not only builds brand authority—it also positions your site to take advantage of Google’s recent algorithm update, which prioritizes content that’s helpful to the user.”

3) QUALITY INTERNAL LINKING

According to Ronnie Cane, director at 18 Growth, businesses should reevaluate their link-building strategies and focus on more quality internal links.

“Effective internal linking, in 2023, will require a higher focus than on gaining backlinks,” said Cane. “Internal linking is a 'go over there' finger point to Google and a really informative signal that, if pointed to your great content, will keep reminding them it's great. Businesses shouldn't look to plugins or tools to action this, though. Internal linking should be done manually, meticulously, and often."

4) MORE FOCUS ON CONTENT VALUE THAN BACKLINKS

Eric M. Rudolphe, Moving Web SEO expert and founder, points out the growing importance of quality content not only to satisfy audiences but also to improve search engine rankings.

"With backlinks becoming less effective, as reported by Google, content will continue to rise in dominance, especially content that is well-written, fresh and informative,” said Rudolphe. “One way Google RankBrain is improving is by determining the site usefulness due to its value of its content and reducing its ranking factor on irrelevant backlinks. Hence, to create content that people will read and share, research what it is that your users seek and what type of content will satisfy their needs."

5) PEOPLE-FIRST CONTENT

Htmull Owner and Founder James Mull shares that there will be a renewed focus on audience-centricity when it comes to creating content.

"We believe publishing people-first content will remain important in 2023,” said Mull. “Creating captivating content that users will find useful and want to share is one of the quickest ways to grow your organic audience. We recommend utilizing keyword tools like SEMRUSH or MOZ to analyze trends relevant to your industry and then produce content that people want to see. However, it’s important to produce high-quality content and publish it quickly as search trends can change daily.”

6) AI-BASED SEO TOOLS

In the opinion of Jeremy Empie, owner of Jeremy Empie Web Design, artificial intelligence will play a more prominent role in enhancing SEO strategies.

“In 2023, SEO will continue to be an important part of marketing with artificial intelligence being one the biggest trends,” said Empie. “Over 80% of companies already rely on some form of AI technology for smarter decisions based off real-time data and monitor their website's analytics using these tools too!”

DesignRush released the December list of the best SEO companies that can help businesses keep up with the growing industry and reach a wider audience.

The best SEO companies are:

1. SEOValley - seovalley.com
Expertise: SEO, Local SEO, Content Marketing and more

2. Victorious - victoriousseo.com
Expertise: Link Building, SEO Audit, SEO and more

3. GMK Digital - gmkdigital.com
Expertise: Content Marketing, SEO, PPC and more

4. Chavja - chavja.com
Expertise: Google Ads, Digital Marketing, SEO and more

5. Return On Now - returnonnow.com
Expertise: PPC, SEO, Content Marketing and more

6. Bakklog - bakklog.com
Expertise: SEO, Web Design, Web Development and more

7. True Website Solutions - truewebsitesolutions.com
Expertise: Web Design, SEO, Web Development and more

8. Komdigit - komdigit.net
Expertise: Digital Marketing, PPC, SEO and more

9. Brand You Creative Agency - brandyou.ie
Expertise: SEO, PPC, Digital Strategy and more

10. MadeBy3am - madeby3am.com
Expertise: Web Design, SEO, Webflow Development and more

11. Brandlogies - brandlogies.com
Expertise: PPC, SEO, Social Media Management and more

12. Monkey Ads & Academy - monkeyads.in
Expertise: SEM, SEO, Digital Marketing and more

13. Jeremy Empie Web Design - jeremyempie.com
Expertise: Web Design, Graphic Design, SEO and more

14. SEO Enforcer - seoenforcer.com
Expertise: SEO, SEO Audit, Link Building and more

15. Sevega Sites - sevegasites.com
Expertise: Web Design, Web Development, SEO and more

16. 1BoxMedia - 1boxmedia.com
Expertise: Content Writing, SEO, PPC and more

17. One Trade Digital - onetradedigital.co.uk
Expertise: SEO, Web Design, Social Media Management and more

18. Diazutech - diazutech.com
Expertise: Digital Marketing, SEO, Web Development and more

19. Uptime Legal Systems - inboundlawmarketing.com
Expertise: Law Firm SEO, Web Design, Digital Marketing and more

20. 18 Growth - 18growth.com
Expertise: SEO, PPC, Web Design and more

21. DS&P - dial911fordesign.com
Expertise: Web Design, SEO, Social Media Management and more

22. Creation Web Solutions - creationweb.uk
Expertise: SEO, Web Design, Website Management and more

23. Moving Web - movingweb.co.nz
Expertise: eCommerce SEO, SEO Audit, Content Strategy and more

24. Proleo.io - proleo.io
Expertise: Copywriting, SEO, Social Media Management and more

25. Digital Market SG - digitalmarket.sg
Expertise: Content Marketing, PPC, SEO and more

26. A3H Consultants - a3hconsultants.com
Expertise: SEO, SEM, Content Marketing and more

27. TopDog PR - bournemouthfreelancepr.co.uk
Expertise: Web Design, Content Creation, SEO and more

28. Graeme Gorrie Marketing Consultancy - graemegorrie.co.uk
Expertise: PPC, SEO, Web Development and more

29. Htmull - htmull.com
Expertise: Digital Marketing, SEO, Web Design and more

30. BetterGraph - bettergraph.com
Expertise: SEO, PPC, Digital Marketing and more

31. Infinity Digital - infinitydigitalagency.uk
Expertise: PPC, Social Media Marketing, SEO and more

32. Digistread - digistread.com
Expertise: Digital Marketing, SEO, Google Ads and more

Brands can explore the best SEO companies by location, size, average hourly rate and portfolio on DesignRush.

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