If you're like most people, you probably think of SEO (search engine optimization) as a relatively new phenomenon. And in a way, you're right; it wasn't until the late 1990s that the term "SEO" was even coined. But in another way, you couldn't be more wrong; the history of SEO goes back much further than that. In fact, the first search engine optimization techniques were developed all the way back in the early days of the internet. 

So what does the future hold for SEO? What changes can we expect to see in the next five years? And how can law firm SEO stay ahead of the curve? Here are five predictions for the future of SEO:

1. The Rise of Mobile Search
These days, more and more people are using their smartphones and tablets to search the internet. In fact, mobile devices are now responsible for over 60% of all Google searches. This trend is only going to continue in the years to come; by 2025, it's estimated that 75% of all internet traffic will be coming from mobile devices. 

What does this mean for law firms? First and foremost, it means that your website needs to be optimized for mobile devices. If it's not, you're going to lose out on a lot of potential clients. Secondly, it means that you need to make sure your firm's name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms—including your website, social media accounts, and online directories. 

2. The Rise of Voice Search
Another trend that's on the rise is voice search. Thanks to virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant, an increasing number of people are using their voices to search the internet instead of typing keywords into a search engine. It's estimated that by 2020, 50% of all searches will be conducted via voice search. 

What does this mean for law firms? Again, it means making sure your NAP is accurate and up-to-date—since many voice searches are made with local intent. But it also means making sure your website content is written in a natural language style instead of keywords stuffed into awkward sentences. 

3. The Death of Keywords ( sorta) 
For years now, keywords have been an important part of SEO—both in terms of choosing the right ones and using them judiciously throughout your website content. But as search engines have become more sophisticated, they've started to place less emphasis on keywords and more emphasis on user intent. So what does this mean for law firms? 
It means that you should focus on creating quality content that accurately reflects your firm's expertise—rather than trying to stuff as many keywords into your content as possible. It also means taking advantage of other SEO techniques like metadata and alt text to help improve your website's ranking—without relying too heavily on keywords. 

4. The Rise of Visual Content 
People are visual creatures; we're hardwired to respond to images and videos more than we are to text alone. That's why one trend that's been on the rise in recent years is visual content—and it's only going to become more popular in the years to come. Thanks to platforms like Snapchat and Instagram Stories, people are consuming more visual content than ever before—and they're expecting brands to keep up with that demand. 
What does this mean for law firms? It means incorporating more visuals into your marketing strategy—whether that's through infographics, videos, or simply images along with your blog posts. It also means being active on visual-centric platforms like Snapchat and Instagram—which can help you reach a whole new audience of potential clients. 

5. The Rise Of AI & Machine Learning 
Finally, one trend that's likely to have a big impact on SEO in the years to come is artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). These technologies are already being used by Google and other major search engines to deliver more accurate results—and they're only going to become more sophisticated in the years ahead. As AI & ML evolve, so too will search engines—which means we can expect some big changes in SEO over the next few years." 

Conclusion: 

As you can see, there are a lot of changes coming our way when it comes time Law Firm SEO practices! While some may seem daunting at first - such as having consistent NAP data across multiple platforms - these practices will become second nature with time! For now - focus on creating quality content full stop - everything else will follow!