SEO will be more important than ever in 2022. Google’s search engine has become more sophisticated in recognizing quality content and what its users truly want. As competition for SEO rankings grows, it is becoming increasingly important for businesses to create content that is both high quality and relevant to the consumer.

When developing your SEO strategy in 2022, consider the following 5 SEO trends, which will have a greater impact on your SEO ranking this year.

1. AI in SEO

AI will have a much greater impact in 2022 as this new technology continues to advance at a rapid pace. AI’s potential has already been recognized by companies such as Microsoft and Google. AI systems like Google’s Bert and Microsoft’s Cortana will have a greater impact on SEO.

AI can process SEO much faster and more reliably than humans due to machine learning and language processing. Marketers will need to invest in and use AI SEO to scale their operations and stay competitive. The good news is that whether you invest in-house or hire an AI agency, prices are expected to fall as usage grows.

2. Google EAT Standard

Marketers should create high-quality content that adheres to Google’s EAT principles. Expertise, Authority, and Trustworthiness are essential for achieving high rankings.

Google has flatly stated that more relevant content will result in higher rankings. To improve their SEO, businesses should adhere to Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines. Including author names, bios, and contact information on pages can help boost rankings. A strong reputation combined with evidence of expertise will rank highly. While a reputation for spreading misinformation will result in a decrease in rankings. Connecting with your audience and social media in a genuine manner will also boost your ratings.

3. Authentic images for SEO

To pique the interest of consumers in 2022, SEO images and visual content must be unique. Stock images are no longer ideal for ranking. Both consumers and Google are increasingly favoring original imagery.

Consumers have grown tired of seeing old, recycled stock images and staged images and will quickly click away. Users prefer to see original lifestyle images rather than tired, made of recycled content.

Images should be relevant to the topic as well. Unique and original images will pique the interest of customers and encourage them to stay on your page longer. Lastly, ensure that all images are correctly optimized and have ALT tags.

4. Focus on VSO

In 2022, voice searches will become a more popular trend among consumers. Virtual assistants like Alexa and Siri have encouraged users to interact with their devices verbally.

Voice search optimization(VSO) is the process of optimizing your website’s content so that it appears on the first page when people use their voice to ask relevant questions.

One thing to keep in mind is that voice searches do not usually present the user with a list of results; instead, they use their own method to determine which result is most relevant based on factors such as relevance and authority on the subject.

5. More Video Content

A well-thought-out SEO strategy must contain video content that is optimized. Whether they’re incorporated into your website or shared on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, videos are becoming increasingly vital for influencing customers.

Users prefer video searches, and smart businesses are capitalizing on this trend by producing more video content. This allows them to reach a wider audience, communicate with customers more effectively, and drive more traffic their way. Consumers tend to spend more time on pages with videos, causing search engines to consider them to be of better value and hence rank them higher. Multimedia sites are also regarded as more useful and valuable by search engines. In addition, videos generate backlinks, which aid in ranking.

I hope that you now feel ready to take on 2022! With a strategic approach and some prior organization, you have the opportunity to significantly boost sales and grow your brand. If you need help implementing any of the above suggestions, please contact me! You know I am always happy to help.