Google Updates 2022
Your business depends on sales and to get them, you need to be visible. People need to know that you exist. When someone searches Google for a product you sell, you need them to find your business. Simple? Not really. Think honestly, when you search Google, how often do you read past the first page of the search results? Probably never.
According to research done by Forbes.com, 75% of people never scroll past the first page of search engines!
So you understand that your business needs to feature prominently. To do this, you need to keep up to date with never-ending changes and updates on Google. Read on to learn about some of the most important recent Google changes and updates that you need to know about.
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Google Updates and How Search Works
Google’s search system uses a complex system of algorithms to instantly deliver the best possible results for a query. Each year, Google Search algorithms are updated thousands of times to ensure the most relevant, reliable results are listed most prominently. While the vast majority of these updates go unnoticed, every so often one comes along that really upsets the SEO applecart. A website that once featured prominently, may suddenly find itself at the bottom of the heap. Clearly, to avoid this, you need to think about how these updates may impact your business going forward.
The 5 Most Important Google Updates for 2022
Here are five of the most impactful Google Search updates that shaped SEO in the last year. Understanding these Google updates will allow you to successfully create a search campaign for your ads in 2022.
#1 The Page Experience Update
The Page Experience update was designed to improve the experience searchers have on each website. This update also brought a Page Experience score that marketers can see in a new report in Google Search Console.
The score takes into account:
- Core Web Vitals: A set of metrics that measure page performance from a UX perspective.
- Mobile usability: A page must have no mobile usability errors.
- Security issues: Any security issues for a site disqualify all pages on the site from a Good status.
- HTTPS usage: A page must be served over HTTPS to be eligible for good page experience status.
- Ad Experience: A site must not use advertising techniques that are distracting, interruptive, or otherwise not conducive to a good user experience.
#2 Google’s Link Spam Update
Links are at the core of SEO. They are one of the many methods that Google uses to decide what content deserves to be at the top of their results page and what doesn’t.
However, with links being such a big factor in deciding who gets onto that highly sought-after 1st page, a dark side of links has emerged.
Spam links are an entire industry based around providing as many links as possible to content on the internet. Legitimate or non-legitimate links.
Google’s new link spam update is aimed toward paid links, affiliate links, and sponsored guest posting. Google has warned marketers across the web that this update would have measurable results for those affected:
“Sites taking part in link spam will see changes in Search as those links are re-assessed by our algorithms.”
Using links is an incredible tool for getting eyes on your business. It goes wrong when linking strategies become manipulative and spammy. This means that if it’s not tagged properly, Google will see the link as an attempt to manipulate their ranking algorithms and your site will be punished in the rankings.
Google is getting much better at spotting these unnatural links and they are hoping to nullify them with this new update.
If you want your business’s links to truly become exceptional, read our article Giving you the Edge: Shopify Store Backlinks.
#3 Summer Broad Core Updates
Google’s long-standing (and somewhat frustrating) advice on core algorithm updates is that there’s nothing you can really do to prepare, nor to recover – aside from being consistently awesome.
But interestingly, Google’s John Mueller suggested in an October Search Central SEO office-hours hangout that “improving content is more likely to help you recover from an algorithm update than technical fixes.”
Content creation and marketing can be difficult, check out this help article to help your eCommerce business shine ➡️ Growing your Shopify Store with Content Marketing
#4 Product Reviews Updates
Google believes that product reviews are essential for consumers. Many online shoppers rely on product reviews to help them decide what to buy. That’s why Google’s new product reviews updates prioritize product reviews that provide consumers with more insight and details, to help them make more informed purchasing decisions.
On rolling out these updates, Google announced that these updates specifically targeted “thin content that simply summarizes a bunch of products.” These updates are designed to reward authentic, high-quality reviews.
According to recent statistics, nearly four in five (79%) consumers say they trust the reviews they read online as much as personal recommendations!
Quality reviews, make a quality business.
#4 The Introduction of MUM
No, not that kind of Mum! 👱♀️
Google’s introduction of the Multitask Unified Model (MUM) was inarguably the most impactful change in SEO this past year.
MUM uses the power of AI to help searchers complete more complex tasks. MUM understands information from text and images, and Google plans to expand its capabilities to include video and audio, as well.
This update isn’t something to optimize “for;” rather, MUM is a technology to be aware of and understand, as it will undoubtedly continue raising the bar in terms of content quality, relevance, and utility.
Managing Google Updates For a Successful SEO Strategy In 2022
Going forward in 2022, you need to be aware of recent Google updates and changes and new features, and shifting SERPs opportunities. You also need to know and play by the Google rules!
Understanding major Google updates gives essential context to what you’re seeing in your site’s performance data. If you have been hindered by a Google update, don’t fear, there is a way back. It’s a long road but it is possible. You need to learn to navigate the changing search landscape and strategize how to turn the challenges caused by recent Google updates and changes into opportunities. Reading this article is a fantastic place to start!
There are so many more new Google updates coming down the line for 2022.
The Google Suite will be saying goodbye to some tools such as Google Performance Max as well as constant updates to Google Analytics 4 which we’ve previously discussed. The marketing world is changing every single day and we have to change with it.
Be sure to stay tuned for more updates throughout the year!
Conclusion
Google is constantly updating their platform and it can be difficult to stay on top of everything. Especially while you’re running your amazing business!
So let us take a bit of the burden off your shoulders. Here at Optily, we are always on top of Google updates, because it’s our job to keep producing amazing ad spend results for people just like you!
Optily is a revolution in digital ad spend management and it can supercharge your advertising across the entire online advertising world. This includes Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and so much more than just Google.
Let Optily help grow your business today with incredible ROAS.
Just click the link below 👇
