SEO Best Practices for 2026

Our digital marketing specialists at EverConvert constantly analyze and refine the SEO best practices we rely on to help our clients succeed. The digital landscape evolves rapidly, and what worked last year may not deliver the same results today. Search engines continuously update their algorithms, user behaviors shift, and new technologies emerge, all of which impact how your website ranks and attracts potential customers.

Helping businesses stay ahead of these changes is a key part of our SEO services at EverConvert. Here are the most important best practices in SEO for the near future.

1. Focus on Improving Core Web Vitals

Google places more importance than ever on user experience. This means that the websites selected for search result pages must meet several criteria. Among them are the Core Web Vitals – a set of three factors that measure how fast a web page loads and how it responds to the user’s input.

These factors (which we presented in detail in this article) will continue to remain among the most important ranking criteria. So, don’t focus only on content and keywords, but make sure your website loads fast, as well.

2. Content Quality Is Essential

Following SEO best practices means prioritizing high-quality content. Google is actively weeding out low-quality and duplicate web pages, no matter how carefully they are optimized for a specific keyword.

The articles you publish on your website blog and the content of your service pages must provide genuine and well-researched information on the topic the user searched for. Also, you must remember that your main goal is not to get people to read your content. You want them to trust your business and choose to buy your products or services.

Google’s algorithms are now sophisticated enough to detect AI-generated content that lacks originality or value. While AI tools can assist with research and drafting, ensure all content is edited and fact-checked by people.

3. Optimize for Long Tail Keywords

Right now, it is nearly impossible to rank for general keywords like “personal injury lawyer’ or “real estate agent”. There are so many companies offering these services, and some of them are large corporations, which can afford to pay a lot of money to rank for these terms.

Instead, you should focus on long-tail keywords, which are more targeted and specific. For example, “real estate agent for studio apartments in Greenville, SC” is not something every agency tries to rank for. But it may be the precise term a determined buyer would search for.

4. Optimize Your Site for Google Discover

Google Discover is a feed section shown on the Google home page on mobile devices. It offers personalized content recommendations based on:

  • Browser history
  • Search history
  • Location
  • Interests.

Getting one of your web pages featured on Google Discover is helpful because this section appears prominently at the top of the Google home page.

The SEO best practices for showing up on Google Discover are:

  • Make sure your entire website contains quality and helpful content
  • Choose excellent visuals (photos and infographics)
  • Optimize your site for Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP).

5. Follow Technical SEO Best Practices

Make sure all the technical aspects of your website are working perfectly and follow the latest rules and recommendations. These are:

  • Using HTTPS instead of HTTP for your website
  • Creating an XML sitemap and submitting it to Google for proper indexation of your site
  • Making sure your site offers excellent user interface (UI) and user experience (UX)
  • Making your website accessible for all users, including those with certain impairments
  • Making your website load fast.

Technical SEO supports all your other optimization efforts. Regularly conduct technical audits to identify and fix issues like broken links (404 errors), duplicate content, or improper redirects. Ensure your site is mobile-friendly with a responsive design, as Google now uses mobile-first indexing.

SEO best practices with phrases in web

6. Prioritize Local SEO

For businesses serving specific geographic areas, local SEO best practices are crucial. Optimize your Google Business Profile, ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) consistency across all platforms, gather customer reviews, and create location-specific content. Local SEO helps you appear in “near me” searches and Google’s Local Pack.

Here are some specific steps:

  • Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile with accurate hours, categories, services, photos, and regular posts
  • Build local citations on directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, Better Business Bureau, and industry-specific platforms
  • Encourage customer reviews and respond to all reviews (both positive and negative) promptly and professionally
  • Create location-specific landing pages if you serve multiple areas, each with unique content about that location
  • Include local keywords naturally in your content (e.g., “plumbing services in downtown Seattle” or “Austin wedding photographer”)
  • Add location pages to your sitemap and use local business schema markup
  • Get involved in local community events and earn backlinks from local news sites, chambers of commerce, and community organizations

7. Optimize for Voice Search and Questions

With the rise of smart speakers and voice assistants, more users are conducting searches using natural, conversational language. Optimize your content by incorporating question-based keywords (Who, What, Where, When, Why, How) and providing direct, concise answers. Featured snippets often pull from content optimized for voice search, giving you additional visibility.

These strategies can help you optimize for voice search:

  • Create FAQs that answer common customer questions in a natural, conversational tone
  • Use long-tail keywords that mirror how people actually speak (e.g., “Where can I find a divorce lawyer near me?” instead of just “divorce lawyer”)
  • Structure answers in the first 40-50 words of a paragraph, as voice assistants typically read brief responses
  • Target question keywords by analyzing “People Also Ask” boxes in Google search results
  • Optimize for local voice searches by including phrases like “near me,” “open now,” or specific neighborhood names

8. Build E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Google prioritizes websites that demonstrate expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness—especially for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics like finance, health, and legal services. Strengthen your E-A-T by:

  • Including author bios with credentials
  • Earning backlinks from reputable sources
  • Displaying customer reviews and testimonials
  • Keeping information accurate and up-to-date

9. Implement Structured Data (Schema Markup)

Schema markup helps search engines understand your content better and can result in rich snippets—enhanced search results that include ratings, prices, images, and more. These eye-catching results improve click-through rates and visibility. Implement schema for products, services, FAQs, reviews, and local business information.

You can implement schema markup manually by adding JSON-LD code to your website, or use plugins like Schema Pro, Yoast SEO, or Rank Math if you’re on WordPress. Always test your markup using Google’s Rich Results Test tool to ensure it’s implemented correctly. Even if your schema doesn’t immediately result in rich snippets, it still helps search engines better understand and categorize your content, which can improve your overall rankings.

The most valuable types of schema markup for different business types include:

For Service-Based Businesses:

  • LocalBusiness schema (includes your address, phone, hours, service area)
  • Review/Rating schema (displays star ratings in search results)
  • FAQ schema (shows expandable questions directly in search results)

For E-Commerce Sites:

  • Product schema (shows price, availability, and ratings)
  • Offer schema (highlights special deals or discounts)
  • Breadcrumb schema (improves site navigation in search results)

For Content Publishers:

  • Article schema (helps Google understand your blog content)
  • How-To schema (displays step-by-step instructions in search results)
  • Video schema (enhances video content visibility)

Let EverConvert’s Specialists Implement These SEO Best Practices on Your Website!

These SEO best practices require significant time, technical expertise, and ongoing attention to implement effectively. From optimizing Core Web Vitals and creating high-quality content to managing technical SEO and local optimization, each element plays a critical role in your website’s success.

EverConvert specializes in helping businesses like yours reach more clients through optimized websites and comprehensive digital marketing solutions. Our experienced SEO specialists will ensure that your site meets all of Google’s ranking requirements and implements the latest SEO best practices. We handle everything from technical audits and on-page optimization to content strategy and performance monitoring.

Don’t let your competitors outrank you. Reach out to us today to schedule an initial consultation and discover how EverConvert can transform your SEO strategy.

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