October 2024 SEO Changes: What Your Business Needs to Know
October 2024 wrapped up some significant SEO changes that affected many UK businesses. If your website rankings have been jumping around recently, here's what happened and what you need to know going forward.
Those Unpredictable Rankings
Last month, we watched many of our clients' websites play musical chairs in Google's search results. One day, you're up, the next, you're down. A café in Bedford we work with saw its "best breakfast" listing jump from page three to page one and then settle somewhere in between.
The good news? These kinds of fluctuations are normal. Instead of worrying about every little change, focus on what you can control - creating good content and keeping your website in shape.
Google's Getting Good at Understanding Pictures
Last month's data revealed something fascinating: nearly 20% of all Google searches now happen through images rather than text. People are taking photos of products they like, scanning menus they see in windows, and searching for services by photographing problems they need to fix.
What does this mean for your business in November? It's time to review your photos.
If you run a shop, ensure you have clear pictures of your products. Trades and services? Show your work in action - before and after shots work brilliantly. Restaurant owner? Those food photos matter more than ever.
One of our clients, a local bakery, started paying more attention to their product photos. They took new pictures of their cakes, named the files properly (like "wedding-cake-bedford.jpg"), and added good descriptions. Within months, new customers said they found the bakery through image searches.
AI in Search Results: The New Kid on the Block
Google's AI has just expanded its summarizing of search results for UK users. The good news is that it's better at understanding the local context and includes more direct links to businesses.
A Stevenage electrician we work with recently appeared in one of these AI summaries for "emergency electrician near me." Being featured in the right place increased their emergency calls that week.
What Should You Do Now?
Here's what's worth focusing on this November:
- Take a fresh look at your business photos, get some new shots if needed, and show your products or services in action.
- When you save images for your website, give them sensible names, including what they are and where you are. It helps Google understand them better.
- Check how your website looks on your phone. If it's slow or hard to use, fix that first.
- Make sure your location shows up naturally in your website content. Mention nearby areas where it makes sense.
Need Some Help?
Running a business is hard enough without keeping up with SEO changes. We create tools that make SEO manageable for busy business owners.
Want to see how your website stacks up? Get a free SEO audit from us. We'll show you exactly where you stand and give you clear steps to improve.
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One Last Tip
Don't get too caught up in every SEO change. Focus on the basics: good photos, clear information about your work, and ensuring your website works well on every device. Get those right, and you're already ahead of most of your competition.
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