SEO tips to boost search rankings in 2026
All organisations are competing for the highest-value digital real estate available, namely the first page of search engine results. But effective search in 2026 will represent more than a list of blue links, and clients and candidates are increasingly adopting a range of other methods to find what they need, which has driven dramatic changes to algorithms. This means that, if an organisation’s SEO policies are still similar to what they were five years ago, they won’t be hitting the mark. We’ve outlined six SEO tips to boost search rankings in 2026 that all marketers should be aware of.
At a broad level, the most effective way to deliver effective SEO is to treat search as a practical problem, and make the organisation easy to find by answering the questions people actually ask.
Research keywords for intent, not just volume
The best starting spot is from a visitor, or in this situation - a candidate’s - head, rather than a keyword tool. A common mistake made by many professionals is treating SEO as a digital discipline, rather than a human one, and not mapping queries and keywords to the questions people actually ask. These tend to fall into three categories; discovery (how do I become X), evaluation (salary, skills, entry routes) and transactional (jobs near me, apply now). All should be answered, but start with those that can be answered quickly and well by using a concise FAQ, a step‑by‑step guide or a short video clip. Those are the things that show up in often show up in not just traditional searches, but People Also Ask, video and AI results, and they’ll attract passive candidates who aren’t typing ‘jobs’ into a board or search engine.
Optimise titles and the first few seconds of video
All H1 and meta titles should tell someone, in one line, what they’ll get from the content. Pair each page with a short explainer or vertical clip and make sure the related video’s first two to three seconds reflect that headline in full, as search pages increasingly show these results first meaning that if the title and the opening of the clip match the intent, it stands a far better chance of being surfaced.
Write for quick answers and useful follow-up
For all content, and to meet ever changing SEO demands, the best option is to provide a short answer up front in one sentence that could be pulled into a snippet, then expand it with examples, data and practical tips. Always format the content for scanning and for diminishing attention spans, meaning clear H2s, short lead paragraphs, bulleted lists and an embedded 30–90 second clip that reinforces the point should all be adopted. That structure makes pages usable for both AI and search engines and will increase the chance of the content being picked for featured snippets or Q&A boxes.
Use images, short video and structured data properly
Treat media as a functional SEO tool, and provide full transcripts for all content so search engines and social platforms can index it effectively. In practice, this means using descriptive file names and alt text and implementing job, FAQ and video schema so the pages can appear as rich results. However, it’s also worth keeping a one‑paragraph answer above the fold for people and machines alike, and storing clips in a central media library so they’re easy to re‑use and indexable.
Make meta descriptions and on‑page CTAs honest and useful
Along similar lines, strong meta descriptions support greater visibility, but the content should meet their requirements immediately. For example, if the content is ‘quick interview tips’ then it should open with a bulleted list; too many businesses fall into the trap of writing 1000 words before getting to what they mean, which only leads to users dropping off before getting to what matters. On mobile, use clear micro-CTAs such as ‘apply with LinkedIn,’ ‘two‑question pre‑screen,’ or ‘sign up for role alerts’, then track how often visits from search complete that micro‑action and iterate the copy until it converts.
Design link architecture to reflect real journeys
Internal links should mirror how people most commonly move through the site, which tends to be blog, skills-related content, role page and then onto the application stage. Use natural, context-rich anchor text and keep important pages within a few clicks of each other and, for external links, prioritise trusted career resources, industry reports and creator mentions that earn real traffic and relevance. If possible, look to secure backlinks through outreach, PR or other methods, as collaborations that offer these will out-perform organic and ‘one-way’ link building every time.
Search today is far more fragmented and multi-format than even a matter of years ago, however it would be fair to argue that the latest algorithms are more practical than in the past. Rather than favouring those manipulating the system, it is the organisations that can meet user demands for a quick answer, a short clip or an immediate way to act that tend to benefit. By answering questions consistently, clearly, using short video and structured content to be visible in modern SERPs, and measuring the small actions that lead to an application, search will become a dependable source of candidates, not just traffic.
Is your organisation seeking to optimise its SEO strategy in 2026? If so, get in touch with our team today.
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