3 VR SEO Tips to Dominate the Metaverse

There's no doubt that VR is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of entertainment. With headsets like the Oculus Quest 2 and Playstation VR bringing the metaverse to the masses - it's only going to continue to grow in the coming years.

It is no secret that the world of digital marketing has changed drastically over the last decade. SEO strategy was once a relatively simple game of stuffing keywords and irrelevant backlinks to get more foot traffic to your mom and pop shop. But Google constantly adapts the algorithm to ensure only the best content wins while regularly adding new ways to be found across devices. 

This isn't local SEO anymore... To stay ahead in this constantly evolving field, marketers have had to develop a keen understanding of their markets and those coming in the distant and near future.

The future is here for virtual reality content.

On Web 2.0 - SEO has been the go-to for capturing more traffic organically because search engines like Google and Bing dominate this version of the internet... ok, mainly Google. So it stands to reason that search engine optimization has been the key to dominating local and national searches - but with new technology comes a new content medium.

We saw a significant shift in how we interact with the web when social media platforms hit the scene in the late 2000s. If science fiction is any indicator (which it has been so far), virtual and augmented reality will shift the digital landscape even more.

VR technology will make most common "SEO" tips completely irrelevant to the metaverse because there may not be a "Search Engine" to optimize for at all. When people live and search inside the internet, optimizing content for readers will leave your business stuck in the past - or IRL, as they say.

In this blog post, I will give you three tips that will help optimize your VR content for the metaverse.

How to Boost Your Content for the Metaverse

Tip 1: Optimize your content for voice search

It's no secret that voice search has been growing in popularity, with helpful assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant usage exploding since their launch.

And the reason why household assistants and mobile devices utilizing voice search are popular in today's world is the same reason they will be critical in the metaverse - ease-of-use. It's much more convenient to ask a question to Alexa rather than opening up your phone or laptop to sift through Google search results for possible answers.

I know, having all of the information in the world at your fingertips used to be the dream - but let's face it, physically typing anything into a browser is just too much work!

Some of us may complain about our lack of privacy in the digital age. Still, most of us want to utter some relevant keywords into the air for what we want for dinner and let google translate our word jumble into what we meant. After the AI analyzes the online reviews, it should automatically find local results to deliver our food to our exact location promptly!

Ok, so how do you optimize your web page, or app, for voice search in a way that will positively impact SEO in the near future?

One way to make sure your content is optimized for voice search is to use long-tail search phrases as the starting point for your marketing strategy.

Using tools like Ahrefs, Google Ads, and even Google itself, you can find terms that people are searching for and make sure your website and content answer those questions.

Once you understand how people are searching, imagine talking to a perfect representation of your targeted audience one-on-one.

You know your customer better than anyone, or at least you should - so answer their most relevant questions right away in a conversational tone that reflects how they would talk - or search in this case. When you thoroughly cover their search topic, go above and beyond by adding even more information that will help them beyond their initial reason for landing on your page - that's how search engine optimization is done!

Creating engaging, quality content that speaks directly to your audience will work for voice search and standard SEO - we can only assume that voice will play a major role in the metaverse - but if it doesn't - that leads us to tip number two!

Tip 2: Think About New Ways to Create Content

Search in Web 3.0 will look a lot different than Web 2.0 - the most obvious being that you will be experiencing it as a fully-immersive environment vs. staring at a screen clicking on links based on their search engine ranking.

Adding interactive content to your marketing efforts will take a new meaning when people can ACTUALLY interact with your content. This means that you will need to start thinking about new ways to create content. How can you engage your users in a way that makes them feel like they are a part of the experience?

One way is to design virtual products that people can touch and feel. This process could incorporate haptics using VR headsets or AR technology. The same way Web 2.0 started trending toward visual content with engaging graphics in the last half-decade, the metaverse will lean on the most engaging content it can offer - touch.

With haptics, you can implement augmented reality for users to feel your product in their hands. Platforms in the metaverse enable businesses to use haptic feedback to create a sense of realism that helps users understand and test your product in ways that online video content could only dream of!

Another way to create immersive content is by using sound. Spotify has already started incorporating VR into its app. When you put on your headphones and enter VR, you are transported into a different world where the music surrounds you. This sensory shift creates an experience that is both interactive and engaging.

As VR and AR become more popular, it will be critical to think about how to create content that connects your users with your product in a memorable and likely tangible way.

Tip 3: Utilize Established Metaverse Brands to Get Your Foot in the Door

If you're looking to get into the VR market, establishing partnerships with well-known metaverse brands can be a great way to gain exposure and popularity. These brands have already built large fanbases, so partnering with them can help introduce your business to new audiences. Working with established metaverse brands with existing domain authority (or virtual real estate authority?) can help legitimize your business and show that you're serious about VR.

There are tons of ways to establish relationships with third-party sites in metaverse brands. One way is to offer your services or products to them in exchange for promotion. For example, you could provide them with VR content or marketing materials. Another option is to collaborate on projects together, like bold VR experiences or marketing campaigns to leverage each other's popularity.

Whatever approach you take, make sure that the partnership is a good fit for both parties. Be clear about what you expect from the relationship and what the other party can expect in return. Establishing strong partnerships with well-known metaverse brands can be a great way to boost your business' visibility and popularity.

Your First Step into the Metaverse

Now that you understand a few things to keep in mind when creating content for the metaverse, it's time to get started. Utilize these tips to create powerful content marketing that is both immersive and engaging.

And don't forget - partnerships with established metaverse brands can help give your business a boost in popularity, and some added social sharing may work to drive organic traffic as a bonus.

The metaverse is also not just for the big players, by the way! Small businesses can dominate the metaverse search engines with strong digital marketing efforts - much like they did in the early days of Web 2.0.

Virtual reality is just getting started - so for now, keep that website optimized, create a good experience for mobile users, etc. But start brainstorming how an AR experience can make a positive content experience for your customer base - because the future is coming.

If you need a little help getting started, check out more helpful content or reach out to us for a free consultation.