7 Top SEO Trends For 2022

If we’ve learnt one thing from the world in the past year – it’s that nothing stays the same.

And nothing should stay the same when it comes to your SEO either.  Google and the other search engines change their algorithms constantly – and websites need to regularly refresh their SEO strategies to stay relevant and maintain their online visibility.

2022 SEO Trends

SEO experts believe that the following seven trends will emerge strongly during 2022 and I recommend you take these into account as you update your SEO practices.

Trend # 1:  Artificial Intelligence (AI) Will Become More of a ‘Thing’

AI technology is perfect for SEO because it can extract insights from massive amounts of data about how people interact with online content.  In fact, Google is already using an AI component of its algorithm called RankBrain which it uses to process and understand search queries and determine the most relevant results.

So what does this mean for you?  Well, user experience is believed to be a major ranking factor for RankBrain (we already know that it is a huge focus area for Google), which means dwell time on your website and click-through rates are crucial.  You should ensure that any content you publish is well-written, engaging and helpful to users.  It also needs to provide them with a compelling reason to click-through and then spend a decent amount of time on your website.

Trend # 2: Long-Form Content Will Continue to Drive Growth

Length is strength when it comes to content.

However, you do need to be vigilant about how you structure long-form content (ie articles and blogs which comprise 2 000 words or more) to get the full benefit of more shares, increased dwell time and better rankings.

Appropriate formatting (sections with bullet points, sub-headings etc) is crucial as are illustrations and images that engage and inform the reader (such as images, diagrams, infographics, videos etc).  And don’t forget to include sharing links to increase reach and influence.

Trend # 3: Expertise-Authority-Trust (E-A-T) Will Continue to Influence Rankings Significantly

Google has been using its E-A-T model for some time to measure Page Quality with the aim of improving web content for human users and indications are that it’s becoming even more influential in terms of rankings.  Demonstrating your web pages’ E-A-T is more crucial than ever, and you can discover easy ways of adding E-A-T to your website in my blogs ‘Why You Need To Add E-A-T To Your Website’ and ‘Why E-A-T Is Crucial For SEO Success’.

Trend # 4:  Mobile-Friendliness is Not an Option, It’s a Must

Around 50% of all web traffic comes from a mobile device – and that percentage is on the rise.  Mobile-friendliness is a key ranking factor and Google actually now looks primarily at the mobile version of a website.

I recommend you use Google’s free test for checking the mobile friendliness of your website as well as its Mobile Usability report.  This will highlight any issues and give you solutions for problem-solving.

Trend # 5 – Video Will Be More Important for SEO

The mind-boggling growth in popularity of video platforms like YouTube (2.3 billion users) and Tik Tok (689 million active monthly users) shows no sign of abating in 2022.  From an SEO perspective, video will play an increasingly important role as businesses look to engage with customers and broaden their online presence.

You should include optimised video as part of your SEO strategy, supported by quality content and descriptions which include relevant keywords.  Hashtags will help your target audience find relevant content more easily.

Trend # 6:  Voice Search Will Become Even More Important

Voice search technology is set to continue its rampant popularity with the smart speaker market predicted to exceed USD 30 billion by 2024*.  Local search queries, also referred to as ‘Near me’ searches, are predominantly used in voice searches, usually by highly motivated searchers who intend to make an immediate purchase.  Optimising for voice search will therefore be a key element of SEO in 2022, particularly for businesses that service set geographical areas.

Remember:

• Carefully consider the type of questions your users would ask
• Include these phrases in your keyword strategy
• Don’t be put off by ‘conversational’ keyword phrases as this is the natural form for a voice search

Check out my blog: ‘Optimising Your Website For Near Me Searches’

Trend # 7: Augmented Reality (AR) Is a Significant Future Trend for SEO

Augmented reality (AR) is an interactive experience of the physical world which has been enhanced by computer-generated information such as visual elements, sound and other sensory stimuli.  The technology basically enriches reality by adding virtual objects and information into real-world situations.

From an SEO perspective, AR will be huge in terms of search with users able to get a much more immersive, engaging, informative and holistic search experience than ever before.

I’ve always said that SEO is a dynamic environment and businesses must adapt to change and embrace new strategies in order to stay ahead.

If you’d like to take charge of your own SEO, have a look at my self-paced online course, The SEO School.  I designed the course so that business owners and website managers can implement the various tools and techniques as they progress through the modules, getting hands-on tuition and support with a tangible outcome.

Karen Dauncey

Karen Dauncey has been working in SEO since 2003. She specialises in helping businesses get found online through Google using Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) She is the founder and creator of The SEO School an online SEO Course to help teach business owners how to do their own SEO. She regularly delivers educational programs for both Local, State and Federal Government and is an advisor for the ASBAS Digital Solutions Program. Karen’s passion and commitment to help small business owners get found online is the driving force behind her online school, making SEO advice accessible to all with free resources and online courses.

Karen's wealth of SEO knowledge and practical digital marketing experience comes from running her own SEO and Google Ads agency, Blue Cherry Online Marketing since 2008. Karen has optimised over 1000 websites, managed millions of dollars' worth of spend on Google Ads and has a solid understanding of the constantly shifting industry of digital marketing and SEO. This gives her a unique advantage when it comes to being able to recommend the right online marketing strategies for your business.

Karen has attended search engine conferences in London, Stockholm, Adelaide and Sydney, and was also invited to attend a pilot Business Coaching Course at Google’s Head Office. She has a Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing in the UK.

She is also the co-owner of the Digital Experts Directory, an online directory for female serviced-based businesses to promote their business (with a great backlink for SEO).

To keep up to date with the latest in SEO, join her Facebook group The SEO School Community or follow her on Facebook or LinkedIn.