How do your customers find you in a sea of businesses online? The answer is search engine optimization (SEO). With SEO, your business gains valuable spots in the most popular search engines like Google and Bing. SEO helps you target your market, move ahead of your competition, and grab the top ranks in your niche or industry.

Are you looking for ways to establish your brand online? Would you like to penetrate the local market and showcase your products or services like never before? Make 2022 the year of SEO, the year you make it to the top! Let these SEO trends for 2022 inspire you to make your business shine.

SEO Trends in 2022

User Experience Counts in Google Searches

Many relate SEO with using keywords in ranking websites. They think that using the right kind and number of keywords can boost website rankings. This strategy used to work before Google changed its focus. Google is now considering user experience or UX in ranking websites in search. User experience accounts for everything on your site from page loading times, usability, images, videos, text content, and the ability to use your site on mobile.

An excellent tool to use to find out how well your website ranks in user experience is the Google Search Console. This tool comes with a feature known as the Core Web Vitals, where you can find out your UX stats.

Consider the following techniques to improve UX.

  • Skip the pop-up ads
  • Improve page loading times
  • Enhance overall page design
  • Update your contact information
  • Create updated, high-quality content
  • Add images and videos

Dominate with Google Business Profile

Formerly known as Google My Business, Google Business Profile (GPB) is where you will find your search page result. When your customers look for your business or use industry-specific keywords to find your business, your GBP is the first thing they will see. Improving and updating your Google Business Profile helps your customers know more about your business. GBP has your business name, address, phone number, email address, customer ratings, hours of operation, and a short overview description of your business. 

Consider the following to optimize your GBP and improve your visibility in search:

  • Update your GBP and ensure information is the same in all your access points.
  • Post high-quality and relevant photos.
  • Encourage customers to give you a review.
  • Update your hours of operation, including holiday hours.
  • Create a spectacular business description.

Your GBP is also the gateway to your Maps profile. Maps allow your customers to navigate to your business. Digital Authority Partners says that an updated GBP improves overall customer trust and guarantees that your business exists in a specific area. If you have multiple locations, you need to create a GBP for each site and regularly update it. 

Take Advantage of Zero-Click Results

Google has also realized that users are using search differently than before. Aside from looking for different businesses, users may already find information without clicking any link. Known as zero-click, people use keywords or key phrases to search and get the info they need on the search page. Taking advantage of this new user trend improves your chances of getting more customers. 

Here are ways to do it:

  • Update your Google Business Profile listing.
  • Create better descriptions and titles.
  • Use the right keywords and key phrases.

Optimizing Your Website for Mobile Users

Mobile web traffic has increased in recent months. Statista reveals that mobile web use accounts for half of the internet traffic worldwide. In the final quarter of 2021, mobile phones are responsible for 54.4% of web traffic worldwide (excluding tablets). This number has surpassed 2020 stats. You should never overlook mobile internet use. You should optimize your website to cater to mobile users and ensure that all the site elements are visible and usable on the small screen. Also, your content, such as videos, images, infographics, and text content, must function properly on mobile devices.

Local Search Gets a Voice

No longer is Search a nameless, faceless Google tool. More and more people use smart devices like smart speakers to connect with the internet to help them search for information using their voices. You need to optimize your website to cater to this growing user segment. You must come up with quality keywords and key phrases that users typically use or say. For instance, a restaurant business may use good keywords to boost voice search. Keywords like their business segment + their location “Chinese restaurant in San Diego” or their business segment + business information “Chinese restaurant open till midnight.” There are many ways to optimize your site with voice search. You can use online tools like Google Keyword Planner to find high-ranking keywords for your local business.  

Share Quality Video and Text Content

Users appreciate high-quality, reliable content. They want text content like how-tos, tips, instructions, advice, do’s and don’ts, which many find more efficient and easier to digest. User preference for content has also changed. People prefer to check out video content and images rather than read long and tedious texts. Therefore, you should optimize your video content, make these relevant, entertaining, sharable. You can borrow relevant online videos to post on your site. Just make sure to cite the creator in your video descriptions. It would be best to create your own content to build customer trust and completely control the messaging. 

Build and Preserve Your Online Reputation with Customer Reviews

User experience matters more than ever in 2022, and good reviews will help launch your online popularity. You want good reviews to attract potential customers and keep loyal ones. But what if a customer leaves a negative review?

Take negative reviews as a wake-up call helping you understand your business’s weak points. You should answer negative reviews immediately and offer ways to ease customer experience by resolving issues and offering discounts or a gift as compensation. Don’t overlook negative reviews and, at the same time, thank all customers who gave you good ones. Encourage customers to leave you a review. You can add this feature to your emails, social media responses, and other customer touchpoints.

Final Words

Overhaul your online presence and rank higher in 2022 with these SEO trends by partnering with a reputable SEO agency to get the best results. With an SEO team, you can focus more on things that matter in your business: your products and services. It’s time to rule SEO and get your business where it belongs online with the right SEO techniques.