As the year starts to wind down, it's good to take a look back at what worked and what didn't in the online marketing world from the previous year. More specifically, what trends and statistics really stood out in the SEO industry this year?

Well it's obvious search is the main way people find anything online - still leading even social media by a landslide. There are well over two billion users online, and 93% of online experiences began with a Search Engine, according to this study by Search Engine Journal.

However we've noticed with our own clients, and have heard from other greats in the industry, that companies who performed both SEO and Social Media have had an even greater chance of being found - and of garnering customer loyalty.

For example, in this article, Twitter noticed that making some of its hashtag pages friendly to search engines generated a big increase in visits. The two can and should work hand in hand, if done correctly.

In this article by Search Engine Land, SEO should be a part of your overall marketing efforts if it's not already. The best SEO experts to choose? Marketers! People who know how to connect with target audiences in a meaningful way, rather than technically savvy people who follow a set of rules or instructions. You need an expert who will focus on long-term gains instead of short-term gimmicks.  After all, Google is cracking down on black-hat tricks daily, and over 75% of users never even scroll past the first page of search results.

So what distinguishes a good SEO company from a bad one?

A good SEO company will thoroughly explain their processes to you, they'll give you reports once a month to show their progress, and they'll use only ethical practices to get the job done. Black-hat SEO is a big no-no, and shouldn't be tolerated. Ever! A big red flag? You notice an increase in spammy backlinks. For a definition of what black-hat SEO, click here. For more red flag examples, check out this article by Search Engine Land.

Looking forward to the next year, how do you win at SEO?

With great content! You want to give your current and potential clients something good to read every day. Give them a reason to visit your website or social media pages. Make sure you're findable with great SEO performed by great SEO specialists. And last but not least - stay on top of current trends by reading industry news.

Contact us today to see how our content writers, SEO specialists, and social media experts can help you.