The State of SEO in 2014- by Ayaz Nanji

“Most search engine-optimization (SEO) practitioners (71%) say understanding the link between social sharing and search rankings is more important in 2014 than it was last year, according to a recent report from BrightEdge.”

Measuring rank in Google Universal Search results (those that include photos, videos, etc.) is also seen as increasingly necessary by SEO professionals (57% say it is more important in 2014), as is measuring presence and rank in Google Carousel results (72% view as more important).

Less than half (46%) of respondents say finding anomalies in keyword rank is more important this year than last, perhaps reflecting the search engines’ changing emphasis on keywords as a ranking factor.

Ranking Variables

• 85% of respondents say measuring rank across mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones is more important in 2014 than it was in 2013.

• 53% say measuring rank in local search search markets is more important in 2014.

Read more: http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2014/24887/the-state-of-seo-in-2014#ixzz31ovg7j7J

Research study performed by BRIGHTEDGE