Upcoming SEO Trends for 2022
SEO, or search engine optimization, is essential for the success of any website and online business. SEO helps improve your overall website so that search engines like Google will rank it higher when a web user enters a search query. The higher you rank on a search engine results page (SERP), the better chance you have of reaching more web users and driving more organic traffic to your site.
To improve your SEO, working with one of the best SEO agencies is your best bet. But even if you’re not an SEO expert, it’s important to keep tabs on the evolving SEO industry and how this aspect of digital marketing will affect your online business and website. Here, we’re taking a closer look into the world of SEO and highlighting some upcoming SEO trends to keep an eye on for 2022 and beyond.
Why Is SEO So Important?
As we all know, the internet is a crowded space. Of course, this isn’t entirely a negative thing. Going online to find a pair of shoes or a local sushi restaurant ensures that you’ll have instant access to the most options at the most competitive prices. Just use Amazon as an example. No other marketplace offers such a selection at your fingertips.
But for website owners or those in the eCommerce world, this can also be a double-edged sword. With so many competitors accessible at just a click, how can you possibly rise above the rest and be connected with potential customers? Well, this is where SEO comes in. By aligning your website to Google’s ranking factors (which form their complex ranking algorithms) you’ll rank better and have the chance to receive more views, clicks, and potential conversions.
Studies show that an overwhelming majority of online clicks land on the first page of Google. Thus, if your website is ranking on pages two, three, or even four, there’s a good chance no one will even be able to find you in the crowded world of the internet.
Upcoming SEO Trends for 2022
SEO can be a challenging piece to any digital marketing strategy because effective SEO is constantly changing and evolving. Every year, Google makes hundreds of updates to its search engine algorithms. While some may prove minor, some changes can significantly impact your website’s SEO and alter your rankings. This is why you need to stay current on the direction of SEO and which factors will be more relevant and valued in Google’s algorithms.
Here’s a closer look at some of the top SEO trends for 2022:
1. The rise of zero-click searches
Did you know that a rising number of Google searches end without a click? In fact, some estimates put the number at 50 percent of Google searches ending up as “zero-click.” But why? It’s all about the featured snippet feature, which appears at the top of the SERP page when the user is searching for a relatively simple query, such as a fact, date, or the weather tomorrow. Thus, having your page land as that featured snippet is becoming more important than ever. The way to get there? Keywords. Find long-tail and targeted keywords that align with your business to increase your chances of landing these valuable zero-click searches.
2. Voice search
Over recent years, the number of mobile searches has risen dramatically. We’re no longer tethered to our desktop computers at home, which will continue to shape SEO as local search plays an important role. Voice searches on mobile devices tend to be more long-tail and more specific, such as: “Hey, Google, what’s the best barbecue restaurant in New York City?” To align with voice search queries, website owners need to account for this new way that users are searching.
3. Video marketing
If a picture is worth a thousand words, just imagine how much a video can be worth? In our increasingly visual society, videos and high-quality images are essential for the creation of a quality website and SEO success. Using high-quality videos on your website and as promotional materials is no longer icing on the cake—this type of digital marketing is expected by web users. Also, be sure to SEO optimize your videos by performing keyword research for your video titles and descriptions.
4. Core Web Vitals
In 2020, Google announced a new set of metrics, referred to as Core Web Vitals, to help measure a user’s experience on your site. Some of these metrics include page speed, interactivity, and visual stability. Thus, your site needs to be in top-notch shape to succeed in 2022.
5. Don’t forget about original content
Some things change and some remain the same. This is true of SEO, where the old adage that “content is king” has always been crucial for SEO. It’s still essential for your website to create original, relevant, and high-quality content for your site’s visitors. There’s simply no way around this one.
Conclusion – Upcoming SEO Trends for 2022
It’s hard to keep up with the constantly evolving world of SEO. As Google and other search engines work to continually improve our online search experiences, they make updates to their algorithms to more effectively connect users with relevant, high-quality content. While this is great for web users, it can be a challenge for online business owners.
Hiring a team of SEO experts is the ideal way to stay ahead of Google and keep your site ranking well. But even if you hand off most of your SEO tasks to an expert, you should still keep your finger on the pulse of trends in the SEO world. Looking ahead to 2022, factors such as video marketing, voice search, and featured snippets will become even more relevant. Of course, you shouldn’t overlook foundational SEO strategies, including keyword research and producing original, quality content. If you don’t keep up with the evolving nature of SEO, your website could quickly get buried under search results and make it more challenging to connect with those web users who are seeking your products, services, or information.
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