Does SEO Die In Web 3?

As we all know, technology like the internet is constantly changing.

With software improvements, innovations, and optimisations taking place every year, the internet as we know it today is hardly recognisable to what it was ten years ago. Similarly, we can expect many changes to come to the internet in the coming years. 

Web 3 is one of the biggest predicted changes to how we use the internet. In this guide, we’ll take you through the meaning of Web3. We’ll also take a look at what you might come to expect in this new era of the internet, especially concerning search engine optimisation (SEO) technology.

What Kind Of Web Do We Have Now?

Macbook pro on top of wooden table, displaying google homepage

It might be overly obvious to say that, right now, we’re operating under Web2. 

So we’ll clarify things a little bit. 

Web2 is the current version of the World Wide Web. It includes social networking sites, blogs, and wikis, which are dominated by centralised data hosting services. These sites allow users to interact with each other and create content that is accessible to everyone.

The main features of Web2 are its user-friendly interface and its ability to connect people from all over the world. This makes it an ideal platform for sharing information and ideas. Web2 also allows users to create their own content, which makes it very versatile.

Currently, there are many popular Web2 applications such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. These sites have revolutionized the way people communicate and share information. With millions of users worldwide, they have become the most popular way to stay connected with friends and family.

Web2 has also had a major impact on businesses. Many companies are using social networking sites to connect with customers and promote their products. In addition, many businesses are using Web2 applications to create websites that are more interactive and user-friendly.

What Is The Meaning Of Web3?

Web3 is the third generation of the World Wide Web. It is a decentralized platform that enables users to interact with applications and services without the need for intermediaries. 

The element of Web3 search which is the most transformational is blockchain technology. This will aim to provide a secure, decentralized, and tamper-proof environment for users to interact with each other and with applications.

Web3 is still in its early stages of development, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we use the internet. With Web3, the hope is that the internet becomes a more open, accessible, and secure internet that works for everyone.

What Are The Potential Benefits Of Web3?

number lock on top of keyboard

The three main benefits that Web 3 is promising to bring to the internet are security, decentralisation, and accessibility. 

With Web3, all data is stored on a decentralized network of computers, making it more secure than traditional centralized systems. 

Being decentralised, there is also no central authority controlling the network, making it more resistant to censorship and tampering. There is also no need for intermediaries to govern who can access applications and services.

What Are The Potential Drawbacks Of Web3?

However, there are some potential issues facing the implementation of Web 3. These include scalability, interoperability, and usability. 

The current scalability of blockchain technology is a major challenge for Web3. The network needs to be able to handle large volumes of transactions if it is to be used by a large number of users. 

Another challenge facing Web3 is interoperability between different blockchains. For the platform to be successful, different blockchains need to be able to communicate with each other, and the mechanisms which would support such communication are not currently available. 

All of these challenges will impact the overall usability of Web 3 (and by extension, its uptake in the future). Only time will tell how these changes are smoothed out. However, that being said, it is always best to plan for the unexpected. 

Fortunately, our team has a knack for doing this, and we have prepared a series of points for how your marketing team might be able to adapt come rain or shine in Web 3. 

What is Web 3.0 in SEO? 

wooden blocks spelling SEO on top of orange desk

The current model of SEO is based on a few key concepts: keywords, backlinks, and content. In the past, search engine optimization has been primarily focused on optimizing website content and code for better visibility in search engine results pages. 

But with the rise of Web3 – the decentralized web – these features may start to change.

SEO will see a huge change in focus in Web 3, primarily toward user experience. This means that websites will need to pay more attention to factors such as design, navigation, and overall user experience to rank highly in search results. 

Additionally, due to the increased emphasis on UX, social media and other user-generated content will likely play a larger role in SEO in this new era.

Web 2 saw data centres modify the presently commoditised personal computer technology, but as Web 3 takes hold, edge computing is pushing the data centre out of the spotlight and occasionally right into our hands.

In addition to data centres, there are a variety of cutting-edge computing resources scattered among smartphones, laptops, appliances, sensors, and cars. In 2025, there will be 160 times as much data produced and consumed as there was in 2010. This will constitute a massive shift for the world and for the web that will support it.

Different data generators can sell or trade their data using decentralised data networks without giving up ownership, endangering privacy, or depending on middlemen. Decentralised data networks will consequently have a wide range of data suppliers in the expanding “data economy.”

To better target their adverts, tech companies like Google and Facebook currently track and analyse all of your activity. But data is decentralised in Web 3, which means that users will own their data. Different data generators can sell or trade their data using decentralised data networks without giving up ownership, endangering privacy, or depending on middlemen. Using Internet Identity, you will be able to log in securely while avoiding being tracked.

Web 2 is still mostly focused on humans, allowing for corrupt behaviours like biassed product evaluations, rigged ratings, human errors, etc. despite having similar capabilities.

For example, Internet review services such as Trustpilot allow customers to leave feedback on any product or service. Unfortunately, a firm may pay a large group of people to write excellent evaluations for its products or services.

Simply put, blockchain is an additional technological layer that supports Web3. More specifically, because it redefines the data structures in the semantic web’s backend, blockchain is the basis of Web3.

Intelligent contracts are used by the decentralised-state machine known as the blockchain. These smart contracts specify how a web 3.0 application should function. Therefore, anyone who wants to create a blockchain application must deploy it on the shared state machine. (See below for more on Web 3.0 and blockchain.)

person typing on laptop displaying search engine

As users move away from traditional search engines, and towards more peer-to-peer methods of finding information, keywords may also become less important. 

Backlinks, too, could become obsolete, since each user will be less reliant on links from other websites, and more reliant on the semantic content from search engines. 

The new internet will be powered by semantic search, which understands the meaning of words and phrases instead of just matching them with keywords. This means that the old, black hat SEO practices (such as keyword stuffing, cloaking, and private link networks) will simply no longer work. 

Instead, marketers will need to focus on creating quality content that is relevant to their target audience. If strategists want their website to rank well under the new system, they’ll need to make sure that their content is high-quality and informative. Otherwise, their web pages will simply be left behind.

As such, content will still be king. And, for your content to be seen by others, it will need to remain valuable and relevant. So while the playing field may be shifting, the rules of the game will remain the same. 

To ensure that your websites rank highly on the new web, you’ll need to understand how to produce content that shines above the others for years to come. 

Hacking the Web 3 SEO Process

laptop displaying lines of code

We prefer to see Web 3 not as a threat, but as an opportunity for growth and innovation. Our expert SEO strategists have identified several potential avenues for safely adapting to these changes. 

One avenue involves focusing on the development of rich media content that Web3 technologies can consume. This could include creating videos, infographics, and other visual content that can be easily shared and interacted with by users of Web 3 platforms. 

Additionally, it may be necessary to create more targeted and specific content for each different Web 3 platform, in order to maximise ranking potential.

Another approach involves developing relationships with key influencers and thought-leaders within Web3 communities. This could involve identifying and targeting influential bloggers, podcasters, and others who produce content that is popular within Web 3 circles. 

By building relationships with these individuals, it will be easier to engage with highly targeted audience members, via the people they are most likely to respond to. These individuals will be able to help us promote a client’s website, driving traffic and SEO ranking.

Finally, in line with our above analysis on semantic content ranking and the newfound importance of UX, it will be paramount to create beautiful words, images, and experiences for our clients’ sites. 

This will ensure that every user interaction is as seamless, straightforward and compelling as can be. 

Ultimately, the success of any SEO strategy in the Web 3 era will depend on staying up-to-date with the latest developments in this rapidly changing landscape. Flexibility and a willingness to experiment with new approaches will be essential, to ensure that websites continue to rank highly on the new web.

SEO Changes Shape

The future of Web3 is uncertain, but it has the potential to revolutionize the way we use the internet. Despite challenges such as scalability, interoperability, and usability, Web3 has the potential to create a more open, accessible, and secure internet that works for everyone. These changes will be underpinned by a shared emphasis on providing secure, decentralised, and accessible internet services for everyone.

It’s most likely that SEO won’t be completely destroyed by the onset of a Web 3 SEO process: it will simply change forms. All industries are subject to technological changes and the whims of the market, and these require experts in the field who are best equipped at understanding how those changes will affect your business. 

Guiding You Through Uncertain Times

Through any period of extensive change, it pays to have the most up-to-date, industry-leading expertise to guide you with a steady hand. 

At First Page, we offer a range of digital marketing services, including, but not limited to, SEO. Our clients come to us from a range of industries and experience levels, from early-stage start-ups with a small marketing budget to large, established brands with years of business experience.

People often ask us, “What is Web 3.0 in SEO terms? Will SEO still be relevant?”. Frankly, we don’t know exactly what the future will hold in terms of Web 3 and SEO. But what we do know is that no matter what changes come your way, we will be able to help you with a targeted marketing strategy to help your brand thrive.