5G series: three ways the new era of 5G could impact the SEO realm

With the rollout of 5G connection promised by mobile network providers, more users are keen to upgrade to this latest technology advancement supported by the new iOS and Android versions. Sure, the super-fast wireless connection will make the sought-after information available for users in no time, but is it going to have a significant impact on SEO? 

Here are three ways we think 5G could impact your organic presence and what to do about it. 

Mobile speed optimisation  

For search engines, mobile has been the first index and ranking factor since 2016, so creating an enjoyable mobile experience through ensuring the site’s high performance should be part of any SEO campaign or website building project. Faster speed however, increases the importance of ensuring that the site functions smoothly for the purposes that it has been built: driving brand visibility, calls, sales and leads. Fixing technical issues such as browser caching and image resizing will provide an effective shortcut to reducing the loading time on this device. A way to really impact the mobile experience is through implementing Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) which will bring you longer-term results, as the feature provides a quicker and more reliable result to the users’ search query. Designed by Google, AMP represent a stripped-down form of HTML that enhances your site speed on mobile if needed. This “diet HTML” can become especially important for medium to hightraffic sites such as holiday providers, where the AMP’s implementation in the landing pages’ HTML could accelerate the decisions taken and increase the bookings made.  

The importance of a personalised user experience will increase 

The extremely quick connectivity will not only shape the users’ expectations regarding the site’s speed on mobile, but will also increase the consumption of relevant, personalised content in all its forms, from text to rich media. Creating a strong impression before and after the first click will be essential in converting potential users into loyal customers. The key points you may want to consider if you want to organically stand out in the 5G era are: 

  • Is the metadata compelling enough to propel the site on the first page of SERP on mobile results and is it optimised for hyperlocal searches considering the “on the go” usage of mobile? 
  • Given that 5G will make it easier for users to consume content, you should ask yourself whether the content has been marked through the right set of schema mark up types that have high potential for generating above– thefold awareness of the site. Does the site contain FAQ schema, events schema or schema that can gain you a place in Google’s Rich Cards Carrousel? 
  • Since 5G will mean connection in real time regardless of the place, you should consider whether the site pages have been built to support ondemand content such as live events and if the metadata of this content is engaging enough. 

Smart Voice Searches will take over the future SEO 

Internet of Things (IoT) will become an integral part of users’ digital activity. Due to 5G’s unbeatable speed, voice searches will rapidly increase, requiring businesses to adjust their SEO strategy to target voice commands. Google’s Hummingbird algorithm update has already been supporting voice searches using semantics and the query’s context since 2013. According to YouGov, Brits’ adoption of smart speakers grew from 5% in the last months of 2017 to 10% in the first quarter of 2018, 58% of these owners using voice searches to find an answer to their needs. Powered by AI, the onthego conversations with digital assistants will let your brand voice stand out from the crowd if clever content is built on siteSo be prepared to step up your game.  

5G offers great SEO opportunities for your online presence if you are prepared to take them. So that has been your organic food for thought. Now, let’s act! Contact us here to discuss how we can help improve your SEO. 

Next up in our 5G series we’ll hear from Dan Hughes, our Head of Programmtic on how 5G could impact the Programmatic space. 

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