SEO does not follow one rule-set. It is something that keeps changing day by day, month by month, and year by year. That means that you might spend the entire year getting the hang of it, understanding all the ways you can really make your SEO work for you, and then the algorithm gets changed or updated, needing you to learn it all over again.
But worry not. Every year might bring new strategies to follow, but these are the best SEO strategies to follow in 2022 that we have compiled into just one, easy to understand guide.
There Are Proven Best SEO Strategies Always In Use
Search Engine Optimization does not use a constantly changing set of rules, but rather, has a foundational basis or proven SEO tactics that are universally used. The algorithm changes, however, are more subtle.
For example, integrating keywords effectively is always going to be among one of the proven and one of the best SEO strategies regardless of the year. However, specificity, such as using long tail keywords, will be something that changes over time.
That means that even if the algorithm changes and performs some updates that change how SEO is done, it remains similar in its foundational basis. Some aspects of the updates can be improvements to existing tactics, or something that demands a change from the proven best SEO strategies of yesteryear.
All in all, our goal is to improve our ranking through using the best SEO strategies that can be used now, and here are a few that you can go with. There are two aspects of SEO that affect its change; technical SEO and on-page SEO. Here, we will look at mostly the on-page best SEO strategies that 2022 has bought for us.
Best SEO Strategies for On-Page SEO for 2022
All the best SEO strategies demand results, and the way to make some sweeping changes that bring results without changing too much is the on-page SEO and the tactics used in it. It is a great starting area to consider if your existing SEO foundation is strong.
Long Tail Keywords are the Way to Go
One might think that this strategy is fundamentally against everything that Google has taught us, but hear us out. Yes, long tail keywords do not have the search volume as the shorter keywords do, but the goal with this strategy is to not do exactly what everyone else is doing.
The prospect of long tail keywords is improving over time, as it brings some particularity within user searchers, but that can only be a good thing in the long run. Targeting long tail keywords can mean not only that you can understand user specificity, but also mark one of the best SEO strategies of 2022 by understanding user behavior in why they choose one search term over another.
As more and more people get used to the internet, they start to understand how it works. Users don’t just search for a product or service. They deliberately put something specific on it. For example, if one wants to buy a chair with a mesh pattern in the back for breathability, they might search “desk chair mesh” instead of “desk chair” to ensure they get the right results.
The higher search intent brings in users more willing to respond to the calls to action you put in your website, social media posts, and other areas. As the users are already focusing on making a purchase of a specific product, supplying that product might ensure your success as well!
Long Tail Keywords as One of the Best SEO Strategies of 2022
As pointed out before, a user will want to ensure specificity in their searches if they are searching with intent. That means a user that searches for “office chair mesh” will not require regular office chairs without that kind of pattern.
That rules out a large portion of the potential purchases they can make, because the user has already decided on the specific product they want. In this case, the user has not added a company name, which means they are willing to look at offers from anywhere.
At times, this search can be more of an inquisitive search or inquiry, but might lead to a call to action later on.
The reason we are choosing long tail keywords as one of the best SEO strategies for 2022, is specifically because long tail keywords are not often targeted. Their lower search volume makes them easier to rank, as they have lower competition in the searches.
The way to effectively use long tail keywords is not to consider ultra-specific aspects of what you offer, but rather, once again, scour the market for what works. Search your particular topic, and do some keyword research. Find out which one works best, and take it from there. Understand the intent before you consider that specific keyword for targeting and ranking.
Use Keywords in Image Captions or Alt Text
The image captions or Alt Text—in other words, alternative text—is an image’s description. These descriptions are usually short, but they do have their own reasons for being there, particularly when it comes to SEO.
Of course, we all know that keyword density is a positive thing when it comes to SEO, so one of the best SEO strategies is to simply put those keywords within the alternative text.
It’s effect on results can be more noticeable in the absence of such a strategy rather than in the presence of it.
The primary use of these image descriptions, however, is ease of use for the user. Aspects such as accessibility, where a screen reader will read the image’s description out loud to a visually impaired user, are among the primary reasons for such features.
Another use is to ensure that even if the page or image fails to load properly, users are given context as to what is there. This is used for image indexing, and it can still be an important aspect of SEO in 2022.
However, it is best to stick to the accessibility aspect of the image and its alt text, and use keywords within it to maximize traffic and ensure that everyone gets to visit your website.
After all, more accessibility means more traffic!
Alt Text in Images as One of the Best SEO Strategies
You cannot fit a keyword into every alt text of an image.
Instead, think of the image and its description first, with the latter matching the image instead of the other way around.
After that, ensure that your description is simple. Complex descriptors only make it more difficult for things to be accessible.
You can use your target keywords or even secondary keywords after the fact, so that users can still be explained the context of the image and preserve the natural description of the image with the keywords intact.
Integrate Keywords in Headers
Yes, keyword density is important, but it is not necessary to fit keywords everywhere you can. It is best to be natural, subtle, and try to ensure a natural flow in the text and the keywords.
So, when you integrate the keywords into the headers, you have to ensure that the content in those headers is satisfactory.
Think of whether the user intent behind the keywords and the content is considered. Think of keywords in headers as a method of indexing, similar to how an index in a document informs the reader of everything present in it. A sort of executive summary for search engines.
However, if the keywords don’t make sense, don’t try to fit them. User experience is paramount in these situations.
Using Keyword Headers as one of the Best SEO Strategies
You need to aim for a percentage of headers to have keywords within them. 30 to 40% should be enough, but it is best to do your research first.
Do not fit in every keyword. Instead, similar to how you searched for long tail keywords, search for relevant ones first.
Consider if the UX will improve, suffer, or remain if you bring that keyword or other variations into the headers. Avoid keyword stuffing, which leads to our next best SEO strategy; the UX.
Ensure that the User Experience (UX) is Top Notch
Google ranks websites based on a number of factors, and one of them is time spent on the website. If the user bounce rate is high—meaning that a user is constantly flipping between pages or leaving quickly, or ‘bouncing’—it tells Google that your website is not what the user wants to look for.
This can be due to a number of factors, the most paramount among which is User Experience (UX).
A good UX is a long-standing best SEO strategy, regardless of year. However, a great many things translate to a good or bad UX.
Page load times, content density, information relevance, and more.
Creating a Great UX is One of the Best SEO Strategies
Ensure that your content satisfies the search intent, and that the information is relevant. A blog that has a food recipe should talk about the food and its recipe, and little else.
Image sizes can also be trimmed down to ensure the page loads easily, as not everyone will have a strong or stable internet connection at all times, regardless of where they are.
Website navigation and clutter are also important, as they can make an otherwise well-designed website difficult to navigate. Clean up the clutter for a better UX.
Conclusion
SEO keeps changing, but not by much. These are the strategies that you should follow in 2022, but that is not all. There are more of the best SEO strategies that we will keep you updated with, so stay tuned!
