Today, lacking an online presence raises concerns among consumers.

We’re accustomed to gleaning comprehensive company info from social accounts, blogs, and websites in a click.

And it’s beneficial: In SEO-backed websites, nearly half saw traffic rise YoY among 400+ analytics pros. About 69% predict increased search use in 2024.

Furthermore, 65% praised Google’s 2023 update for boosting traffic and SERP ranks.

This bodes well for firms seeking SEO-based growth. Here are tools to connect with prospects, build trust, and stay AI-savvy.

1. Experiment With Keywords

You’re familiar: Enter a question on Google, confronted with a sea of results.

Most of us don’t venture beyond page one, urging brands to ascend SERP rankings for new customer outreach.

Start by pinpointing pertinent keywords and crafting content around them. Tools like Ahrefs assist in discovering niche-related keywords.

When successful keywords are found, brands can enhance SEO campaigns around them, refining processes and editorial style for greater efficiency.

2. Meet Your Audience Where They Are

When creating content, consider both your customers’ preferences and platforms.

Around 31% of consumers use social media for online queries, with a quarter of those aged 18-54 favoring social over search engines.

Within social media users, 57% utilize in-app search features (especially 79% of Gen Z and millennials).

Mobile phones are increasingly popular for searching, with 57% of consumers and 80% of Gen Z using them over other devices for search.

These statistics are vital for startups aiming to expand via content. A strong social media presence and mobile-friendly experience are crucial for brand recognition, SEO, and establishing thought leadership among younger generations.

3. Build Trust

Search success hinges on trust. Brands must not only appear in search results but also offer reliable, useful content that fosters consistent reader and customer engagement.

Building SEO credibility involves securing backlinks, where external sites cite you as a subject authority. More backlinks mean higher rankings, yet acquiring them is challenging due to low success rates and outreach efforts.

Backlinks stem from thought leadership, attainable through regular publication of accurate, premium content that benefits readers.

4. Utilize AI Tools

It wouldn’t be an article published in 2023 without a mention of artificial intelligence. And AI is poised to change much of what we know about content and search.

Of the 400 web analysts surveyed, more than half said their blog is incorporating AI tools into their workflow.

Brands that want to position their content for success in the coming year should get started now with understanding how AI tools and search could help their growth.

Artificial intelligence can help with all stages of content creation, from coming up with article ideas based on your research-backed keywords to drafting the articles, writing headlines, and coming up with social media captions.

How artificial intelligence will impact search remains to be seen, but 75% of web analysts believe AI search integration would have a positive impact on their blog.

Some AI use cases suggests to startups:

• Use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to brainstorm blog topic ideas
• Use tools like Swiftbrief to write first drafts of SEO content briefs before passing to a writer
• Generate meta titles and meta descriptions

If you can meet your audience where they are while delivering relevant, trustworthy content, that’s a recipe for success.