Hinza Asif is president of Asia Web3 Alliance Japan and CEO of NFTStudio24, emphasizing media’s importance, Web3 and blockchain.
Web3.0, also known as the decentralized internet, is changing how businesses operate through blockchain and decentralized networks. As Web3 advances, it’s important to understand how Google can rank Web3 websites.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is vital for the success of Web3 ventures. While often associated with Web2 websites, SEO is equally essential for Web3 companies, decentralized apps (dApps) and blockchain platforms because, in a competitive digital marketplace, visibility is crucial.
But before you can drive organic traffic, you must understand exactly what Web3 SEO is and how you can utilize it to boost online visibility.
Web3 Overview
Web3 encompasses blockchain technology, decentralized networks and cryptographic protocols. It can create a more open, secure and user-centric digital environment with unique features. But let’s take a closer look at some of the terminology and what each term means.
Decentralization: Web3 is built on decentralized networks, distributing power among a network of nodes rather than a few centralized entities.
Blockchain Technology: Blockchain provides a distributed ledger that records and verifies transactions in a way that many believe to be more transparent and secure.
Smart Contracts: Smart Contracts are integral to Web3 businesses, serving as self-executing agreements on the blockchain and foundational components for decentralized applications (dApps). Typically, developers rely on centralized cloud providers to host frontends, which are the only elements searchable by search engines, representing a compromise.
However, some blockchain smart contracts, such as those on Internet Computer Protocol, can be directly indexed by all major search engines without the need for frontends on public clouds. This capability underscores the decentralized nature of Web3, where smart contracts can achieve greater accessibility and visibility across the internet, contributing to a more open and transparent digital ecosystem.
Peer-to-peer Networks: Web3 uses peer-to-peer networks for direct user interactions, fostering decentralized communication and data sharing.
Cryptography: Web3 employs cryptography for authentication, encryption and digital signatures that allow users to control their digital assets through private and public keys.
Web3 companies can benefit from SEO best practices to gain visibility, attract users and achieve sustainable growth. However, SEO strategies for Web3 companies may differ from Web2 websites due to the decentralized nature of Web3 technologies.
Web3 And Google Ranking Factors
Google uses several factors to rank websites, including high-quality content, page experience and links. Web3 websites can use SEO techniques as well to optimize for better ranking such as doing niche-specific keyword research, improving the on-page experience and incorporating links to trusted sources.
In particular, recommend that web3 websites focus on three main points:
• Ensure that content conveys direct information about the decentralized nature of the platform and the benefits it offers.
• Create a seamless user experience, as users may be less aware of decentralized platforms and may require additional guidance.
• Build relationships with other Web3 companies and decentralized projects to obtain backlinks. Moreover, Web3 entities can collaborate with influencers and thought leaders in the Web3 space to gain backlinks.
In general, Web3 websites should also conduct regular SEO audits, monitor their website performance and continuously update their content to ensure its relevance.
Impact Of Web3 Website Speed On SEO
Once you’ve attended to those initial aspects, it’s a good idea to do a deeper dive on website speed because the speed of a Web3 website can also significantly impact SEO performance. A low-maintenance website can increase the bounce rate, lower conversions and disturb the SEO ranking.
To improve website speed and enhance SEO performance, Web3 projects can focus on the following aspects:
Website Performance Optimization: Optimize images, videos and other media for lightning-fast loading times and optimal performance.
Mobile-Friendliness: Ensure websites are mobile-friendly, responsive and offer a smooth browsing experience across different devices.
Structured Data Markup: Implement structured data markup to help search engines understand the context and relevance of your content.
XML Sitemaps: Create XML sitemaps to assist search engines in indexing and ranking your content.
Canonical URLs: Use canonical URLs to prevent duplicate content and improve the search engine’s understanding of your content,
Caching and Compression: Enable caching and compression to decrease the number of requests and the size of files.
Content Delivery Network: Utilize a CDN to distribute content across servers globally, reducing latency.
Regular Monitoring: Continuously monitor site speed using tools like Google PageSpeed Insights and address any identified issues promptly.
By focusing on these aspects, Web3 projects can improve their website speed, enhance their SEO performance and attract more organic traffic, which is crucial for driving growth and success in the Web3 ecosystem.
The Growing Relationship Between Google And Web3
Web3 is a hotly discussed topic globally, with new Web3 projects emerging from business tycoons. Additionally, Web3 and blockchain events worldwide attract thousands who are eager to learn about new technologies. We must acknowledge that sooner or later, Google will recognize Web3 websites and develop an infrastructure to rank them.
In February 2022, Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc., revealed that he closely monitors the blockchain industry and the Web3 universe. He finds both “exciting” and said that his firm is focused on moving in that direction.
Web3 companies are also using Google Cloud-managed services to build more robust digital assets and customized experiences for their growing user communities. In the past year, I know of several web3 companies that have partnered with Google Cloud for better visibility and reach and to help clients with more secure services. A few of the big names include Aptos, NEAR, Chainlink and Dapper Labs. Google has even built an online resource center for Google Cloud and Web3.
In conclusion, niche keywords, quality content and strong backlinks can improve rankings. I encourage you to take a closer look at your own websites and consider how best practices may be able to help you improve your ranking.
