SEO can be a confusing at the best of times; just as you think you have nailed it with an effective exposure-boosting strategy, Google decides to rewrite the rulebook.
But despite the major search engines’ constant efforts to keep us all guessing, staying one step ahead is perfectly possible. Ask any experienced SEO agency and they will tell you the same – the cornerstones of an effective SEO strategy never change.
Even from a 2022 perspective, taking things to extremes to mount a successful SEO campaign is not necessary. Boosting businesses with organic search marketing continues to follow the same principles it always has.
Hence, whether you outsource to an external SEO agency or handle your own SEO services, this is what matters most right now:
Mobile Optimisation
Google spilled the beans on its Mobile-First Indexing intentions a very long time ago. For all its confusing complexities, the whole thing boiled down to one basic shift in priorities. Slowly but surely, Google would begin showing preference to sites that delivered the best possible user experience for mobile customers.
Today, mobile web traffic is comfortably outpacing desktop traffic in the most established markets. Google’s preference for mobile-first websites is therefore understandable and is having a major impact on the SEO efforts of businesses worldwide. If you want to catch Google’s eye in 2022, your mobile user experience needs to be flawless.
General User Experience
The major search engines are also scrutinising the overall UX in general. Sophisticated search crawlers are evaluating the simplicity, intuitiveness and responsiveness of all aspects of a site’s performance. Unless they like what they see, you can expect a fairly disappointing position in the SERP rankings.
Front-end optimisation can help, but making major improvements to a site’s UX can be a more complex backend task. If you are not completely confident in your site’s speed, structure or setup, the SEO services of an experienced SEO firm could prove invaluable.
Keyword Research
The use of keywords and search terms in general has changed radically over the last few years; more people are using more detailed queries than ever before. This is something that applies to traditional text-based search, but is even more prevalent with voice search.
Online search in general is becoming more conversational and complex, where a user may have once entered “pizza delivery” in the search bar, queries like “best pizza delivery open now close to Euston Street Station” have become more commonplace, as has the use of long-tail questions as search terms – huge drivers of organic traffic for those who provide the best answers.
Video Content for SEO
We have still not reached a point where even the most sophisticated search crawlers can decipher video content. Even so, the inclusion of quality video content never fails to boost the appeal of a page/site in the eyes of Google.
This is simply due to the fact that video content is the preferred form of content for the majority of web users. By incorporating video content, you offer a more engaging experience. Your site’s appeal grows, as does its credibility with the major search engines. Coupled with the strategic use of keywords in your video titles, file names and descriptions, quality video content can be pure gold for SEO.
Craig Upton supports UK businesses by increasing sales growth using various marketing solutions online. Creating strategic partnerships and keen focus to detail, Craig equips websites with the right tools to rank in organic search. Craig is also the CEO of iCONQUER, a UK based SEO agency and has been working in the digital marketing arena for many years. A trusted SEO consultant and trainer, Craig has worked with British brands such as FT.com, djkit.com, bridgingfinance.com, Serimax and also supported UK doctors, solicitors and property developers, gain more exposure online. Craig has gained a wealth of knowledge using Google and is committed to creating new opportunities and partnerships
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