2022 SEO Trends: 6 Predictions to Stay Ahead of the Curve
With all the changes coming our way in 2022, it’s time to take a look at what’s in store in terms of search engine optimisation trends.
2021 was a tumultuous year for the SEO industry. If you found your website rankings bounced up and down like a yo-yo, you weren’t alone. Additionally, what Google said they expected from a high-quality site didn’t always match the sites they rewarded with the highest rankings.
If you want to make sure your traffic continues to grow in 2022 instead of dropping off a cliff, it’s vital to have an idea of where SEO is heading.
In this article, we’ll give an overview of what we think is on the cards for organic search in 2022. We’ll also give you some tips to help you prepare your business to weather the storm.
1. The Rise of AI-Generated Content & Continued Importance of Backlinks
2021 saw a massive rise in the number and use of AI-powered content generation tools such as Jarvis, Copysmith, and Wordtune. In 2022, this trend is only going to continue.
As artificial intelligence gets better at producing accurate and engaging content, we can expect to see even more of it in the SERPs.
With these tools, the ability to publish massive amounts of high-quality content is becoming more accessible to everyone.
Therefore, Google will need to start relying on other ways to differentiate sites rather than comparing the quantity and relevance of content alone.
Backlinks have always been and will continue to be an important ranking factor. However, in 2022 we can expect Google to place even more emphasis on them.
This means that if you want your site to rank well, you’ll need to focus your efforts and SEO budget on acquiring high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites.
2. Google Will Increasingly Favour Video Content
These days, people are more likely to engage with video than with other types of content. In addition, as bandwidth continues to become cheaper and faster, it’s becoming easier and more appealing for people to watch videos online rather than read an article.
For these reasons, Google is likely to place even more emphasis on video content in the coming years.
Already, we’re seeing a shift towards more videos in the SERPs. So if you don’t already have a YouTube channel set up for your brand, the time is now.
3. User Engagement as a Ranking Factor
With a massive amount of content being published every day, Google is finding it harder to sort through the noise.
As a result, they are looking for ways to compare which sites visitors will find most helpful when they land on them. The signal that this data provides gives us an insight into how valuable a page might be in terms of giving users what they want.
Similarly, Google is also increasing personalisation in their search results. This means that generic SERPs are becoming a thing of the past, as users are given more customised results based on their past behaviour.
This means that to rank well, you’ll need to focus on the user experience and giving your site visitors exactly what they want.
4. Increased Volatility and Experimentation with How Google Displays Search Results
In 2021, we saw Google continuing to experiment with SERP features and how site listings are displayed. One of the most significant of these changes for SEOs was Google rewriting the title tag of pages in an attempt to make them more relevant to the search.
In 2022, we can expect these experiments to continue. Some changes will stick, while others will be quickly abandoned.
This means that as a business with an online presence, you’ll need to be prepared for constant change. You’ll also need to keep a close eye on Google’s announcements and changes so that you can adapt your strategies as quickly as possible.
5. Sites Demonstrating Topical Authority Will Dominate the SERPs
Google has been moving away from using individual keywords as a ranking factor for some time now.
In their place, they are increasingly favouring sites that demonstrate topical authority in their field. This means that if you want to rank well, you’ll need to make sure your site is the ultimate authority on your chosen topic and that you cover it from every angle. This goes for eCommerce sites, too!
If you’re still basing your content strategy on old-fashioned keyword research, you need to stop now.
Instead, SEO tactics in 2022 should focus on creating high-quality content covering all aspects of your chosen topic. This includes writing about low-volume and so-called “zero search volume” keywords.
6. More Core Algorithm Updates to Look Forward To!
We know that Google likes to keep us on our toes, and this is unlikely to change any time soon.
There’s only one thing for sure in the world of SEO, and that’s that Google will continue to “change the game” on an almost daily basis.
This means being aware and staying up-to-date about Google’s movements is not only necessary but also essential if you want to survive online.
The best way to do this? Use an agile SEO agency that’s constantly monitoring changes and updating strategy accordingly.
Feeling overwhelmed about staying ahead of SEO trends in 2022? Get in touch to find out how we can help.
Give Agent 6 Marketing a mission! Contact us today and let us show you how we can take your SEO to a whole new level!