SEO strategies that worked five years ago may not work today. Here's what actually moves the needle in 2026.
Content Quality Over Quantity
Google's AI understands content quality better than ever. Focus on:
- Original research and insights
- Comprehensive coverage of topics
- Expert authorship (E-E-A-T)
- Regular updates to existing content
Core Web Vitals
Performance metrics that matter:
- LCP (Largest Contentful Paint): Under 2.5 seconds
- INP (Interaction to Next Paint): Under 200ms
- CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift): Under 0.1
Mobile Experience
Mobile-first indexing means your mobile site IS your site. Ensure:
- Identical content on mobile and desktop
- Proper viewport configuration
- Touch-friendly navigation
- Fast mobile load times
Structured Data
Schema markup helps search engines understand your content:
- Organization and LocalBusiness schema
- Product and Review schema for e-commerce
- Article and FAQ schema for content
- BreadcrumbList for navigation
User Intent Optimization
Match content to search intent:
- Informational: How-to guides, explanations
- Navigational: Brand and product pages
- Transactional: Product pages, pricing
- Commercial: Comparisons, reviews
AI-Generated Content Warning
Google can detect AI content. While not penalized outright, AI content without human editing and expertise rarely ranks well.
Focus on providing genuine value to users, and rankings will follow.
