Is your website ready for Google’s new Interaction to Next Paint (INP) metric? Replacing First Input Delay in March 2024, this innovative metric prioritises the entire user experience, not just the first click. Here’s everything you need to know about INP and how to prepare your site for this change.

What You Should Focus on Instead

If SEO alone won’t save a business, what will? The key is investing in holistic growth strategies that prioritise customer experience, brand value, and operational efficiency. Businesses that thrive focus on combining marketing, technology, and customer service to create long-term success.

1. User Experience (UX)

SEO gets users to your site, but a strong UX keeps them there. A fast, intuitive, and mobile-friendly website is critical. Visitors who struggle to navigate your site will leave, leading to high bounce rates. Optimise for speed, usability, and accessibility to provide a seamless experience.

2. Value Hubs

Creating deep, informative resources builds trust and positions your brand as an industry leader. A value hub consists of comprehensive guides, case studies, and FAQs that address customer pain points in detail. This not only helps with organic rankings but also improves engagement.

3. Agile Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Agility allows businesses to quickly adapt to SEO changes and market shifts. Having flexible SOPs ensures that teams can respond to algorithm updates, customer demands, and industry trends without disruption.

4. Automation

Automation tools streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and improve customer experience. Implementing automated workflows for marketing, customer service, and sales reduces manual effort and improves response times.

5. Customer Journeys

Understanding and optimising every step of the customer journey leads to higher conversions. Mapping out the touchpoints—awareness, consideration, decision, and retention—helps businesses refine their messaging and interactions for maximum impact.

6. Brand Awareness

SEO is important, but branding helps build trust and recognition beyond search engines. Strong brands resonate with their audience, creating loyalty and repeat business. Invest in storytelling, social proof, and community engagement to strengthen your brand identity.

7. Product Coverage

Offering the right products that meet customer needs is essential for long-term success. Expanding product lines or enhancing existing offerings based on customer feedback ensures that your business stays relevant.

8. Brand Asset Building

Creating memorable content, videos, and customer testimonials strengthens brand credibility. These assets serve as trust signals, improving conversions and customer loyalty over time. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews and share their experiences.

9. Search Diversification

Don’t rely solely on Google. Expand your reach to YouTube, social media, and other search platforms. Diversifying search efforts mitigates risk and maximises visibility across multiple channels. Consider optimising for voice search and emerging AI-driven platforms.

The Importance of Sustainable Growth

Stop prioritising search volume over customer intent. SEO should be part of a long-term strategy, not a quick fix. Invest in brand-building, automation, and customer experience to ensure sustainable success.

SEO is not a lot machine, it is a powerful tool, but it won’t save a bad business. Instead of relying on SEO alone, focus on building a business that delivers real value to customers. A strong business with good operations, branding, and customer experience will thrive with SEO—not because of it.