Al Gomez — January 3, 2017 
A new year is a big thing indeed.
More than a fresh start, it’s also the perfect time to reflect and evaluate what you have done in the past year. Did you achieve your goals? Did you take a leap of faith? Did you learn anything valuable? Did you leave a mark?
Not everyone makes resolutions around their business. If you haven’t done so in the past, perhaps it’s time you did. Think of them as bright ambitions, just waiting to be fulfilled. This 2017, let these SEO New Year resolutions pave the way for a more successful venture.
Here are four goals to kickstart your year on a positive, and fruitful tone.
SEO New Year Resolutions #1: Introduce something new.
A new year means new beginnings. You don’t need to revamp everything about your brand or services, but it would be nice to present your clients and audiences with something fresh.
If you wanted to try new strategies in 2016, 2017 could be the time to do them. Brainstorm with your creative department. Maybe your logo could use a different touch to better reflect your company’s vision? Perhaps you need to introduce integration between teams for better output?
Whatever it is, it doesn’t need to be big to create an impact. There are many ways to inspire change without necessarily altering the system. Hire an in-house marketing expert, re-design the newsletter, speed up your website, launch a webinar, etc. You want to get people in the right mood so you get different, but better results.
SEO New Year Resolutions #2: Make mobile a priority.
As mentioned in our previous post on SEO predictions, Google has every intention of making mobile a priority not only in 2017, but for years to come. So it’s only wise to think about how you can make the mobile experience better for your clients and their customers.
If your clients’ target market is millennials, this only becomes even more vital. Ensure that websites, especially yours, load fast and transition smoothly. Make security a priority, too. Check that they are accessible in any browser: from Chrome, Edge, Firefox, to Safari.
Remember: people interact with mobile gadgets differently than on desktop. Thus, you need to consider these factors (e.g. actions like tap and drag, instead of click) when optimizing for mobile. Talk with your web development team, or get an expert on board to improve site performance.
SEO New Year Resolutions #3: Be more consistent with content.
Whether you want to start a company blog or upload an SEO tutorial on YouTube, make a goal to be consistent with producing and distributing high-quality, engaging content.
This 2017, images and video will be big, but don’t discount informative articles just yet. Especially with the rise of interactive elements (e.g. graphs, maps, charts, slideshows, etc.), making content more engaging is simpler than ever.
Interactive elements can also be applied to 404 pages, homepages, and syndicated content (you may need to partner up with online publications for this). Don’t forget Instant Articles to make your work more accessible on the world’s biggest social network.
Becoming consistent with creation and distribution does two things:
a) it builds anticipation with your audiences, and
b) it slowly adds to your authority on the subject.
Start with your blog. Try publishing in-depth content once or twice a month and see the results. Share your expertise, latest discovery, or even personal thoughts on the industry.
SEO New Year Resolutions #4: Don’t forget about data.
Here’s the thing: apps and SEO tools are nice to tinker with. They’re new, have cool features, and it’s awesome to write reviews about them while they’re still fresh on the market.
The problem is, jumping from one to the next won’t give you much room to be thoroughly familiar with them. When gathering and analyzing data, it is best to stick with one or two that really suits your business needs.
For example: if you’re a small local business, try one analytics and one social media management tool. Be hands-on for at least 6 months. Get their reports, try their premium, and take advantage of their knowledge base and customer support.
Know your data tools like the back of your hand. After all, numbers cannot lie. In 2017, with fiercer competition, it pays to understand how you got to where you are.
Conclusion
These SEO New Year resolutions are just the tip of the iceberg. When crafting goals, always tailor them to YOUR plans for the future. Make one or as many as you need for your business. Of course, make these resolutions S.M.A.R.T.
It’s not easy sticking to New Year resolutions, that’s why it’s imperative that you keep yours realistic, yet strategic.
Did you make any SEO New Year resolutions? We’d love to hear from you!
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