What's New with Google in 2022

Every year things change, in the world and marketing, at a faster pace than we can often handle. This has always been true, but we have noticed these huge upheavals more after 2020 and the year the whole world turned on its head. Now it seems we are hyper-aware that there are countless factors beyond our control, and this is particularly the case in the online world.

Last year Google announced some upcoming changes, and took the unusual stance of giving no definite date for the changes, instead gently breaking us into the idea of how the online world would shift in regards to Search Engine Optimization. These announcements generally happen with changes imminent, so having time to prepare was a luxury in this case. Now the changes are here, so it’s important to take stock of where you and your business are as they take effect.

I pulled from Google’s own announcement and this detailed article from Moz to break down the new Google trends in 2022. They include:

The Top Google Ads Mistake

A lot of small business owners, once they are established, begin to look at running ads to drive traffic to their website or social media pages - and why not? Online advertising can be extremely effective, generates interest from a new audience, and can reinforce a brand to an already-existing customer. In the past few years, platforms like Google and Facebook have made the ad setup process user friendly to even the most inexperienced marketers, so it’s easy to hit ‘Boost Post’ (here’s my warning against that!) or create a Google Ad.

The problem, of course, is that advertising done without knowledge and purpose can be a waste of time and money. I have heard over and over again from business owners who set up an online ad, only to be frustrated by the high costs and lack of return on investment. This is completely understandable. Smart business owners should know their numbers and be able to tell whether or not their marketing dollar are being put to good use or not - which often they are not, because an easy setup does not mean an effective ad will be created.

The #1 SEO Factor in 2021

While I sometimes wish that Search Engine Optimization was a static factor and never changed, the reality is that Google and other search engines are constantly updating their algorithms. As the world around us changes (think about the advent of mobile-friendly websites!) and customer behaviors shift, it is actually a benefit to your search experience that the factors affecting SEO adjust to match over time.

I wrote about the Google algorithm changes in an earlier blog post, and as this starts to roll out, it’s becoming more clear that there is one factor this search engine giant is paying attention to more than anything else:

How to Set Up Your Website SEO

As I continue to work with business owners to maximize their online impact, a lot of the same questions come up over and over. I plan to address all of these in the coming months - and if you have one, let me know! - but the first and most popular question for small business owners is: “How do I set up my website to show up on Google?”

Truthfully, there are a lot of things you can and should do to improve your Search Engine Optimization (you can read my blogs about the topic here), but there are a few core things to check before you hire someone to run your SEO, or start getting worried that you aren’t showing up in the rankings. Before you do anything else, don’t forget these key things:

SEOMaria Grace PhotographyMarch 25, 2021seo tips, seo, search engine optimization, google, google algorithm

Can I Reach Page 1 of Google?

If there’s one question relating to SEO that gets asked frequently and consistently, it’s this: how can I reach page 1 of Google - and is it even possible? There’s good reason for business owners to ask it. Depending on the source, a good 90% (at minimum) of traffic comes from page one, and few people even make it to page 2, let alone continue to look through pages of search results.

Google, which is prioritizing user experience even more this year, wants you to find the answers to your questions and the solutions to your problem without navigating to another page, or even sometimes without scrolling down! So, as a marketer, it’s good to wonder if you can reach the almighty first page of Google so you can attract the most customers possible.

Reaching page 1 of Google is part of my success story.

The Best Marketing Advice for 2021

It’s the new year (finally) and, like many people, you probably have a list of goals, new habits, and lifestyle changes you want to incorporate for the new year. Even if you’re not a ‘new years resolution’ kind of person, there’s something about a calendar rolling over that makes everything feel fresh, like we have the chance to make some real changes and dream a little bigger. I know 2021 isn’t (yet) the huge relief we are all looking for, but there’s hope on the horizon…maybe, just maybe, things will be different this year.

Regardless of what happens in the area of health and government this year, it’s more important than ever to market your business effectively and efficiently, using your resources in the best possible way to amplify your message. As I think towards what this year will bring, my best marketing advice for 2021 is this:

The Best Way to Utilize your Google Business Page

First things first: if you don’t yet have a Google My Business page, click here and get yours set up now. Even if you aren’t a brick-and-mortar store (I’m not, either!), it’s extremely important for Search Engine Optimization AND for business in general to have your page set up. Once you’re done, come back here to learn exactly how to make the most of your Business page on Google.

Now that you have an official Google presence, here are ways to optimize your Google My Business page, increase your SEO, and earn new clients through this simple and free tool…

Changes to the Google Algorithm in 2021

If there’s anything constant about the internet, it’s that there will always be changes, and a battle for business owners is staying on top of what’s happening in the online world. The other constant of the internet is its importance, from search engine optimization to social media, and how marketing efforts today can drive sales for months and years to come.

Google just made a big announcement about some algorithm changes coming down the pipe in 2021 (read their official statement here). Before you get worried about how this will affect your website, one of the biggest notations they made is that there is no definite ‘launch date’ yet for this change - and when a date is set, it will be announced at least six months in advance.

So while you don’t need to take drastic steps today towards satisfying their new requirements, it’s important to keep the upcoming changes in mind as you think about the future of your online presence, especially if you’re thinking about investing in a new website or a Search Engine Optimization (SEO) overhaul. Here are the big highlights and takeaways from Google’s 2021 announcement…

What Google and the Super Bowl have in Common

If you’re like me and almost every single person I know, you spent a few hours this Sunday sitting on your couch watching football…or at least, talking with a lot of people who were there for the purpose of watching Super Bowl 54 between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers. It’s a day that unites sports fanatics and non-football fans alike and, as with most things in life, it inspired my own thoughts about marketing and search engine optimization.

The more I thought about it, the more I realized that the Super Bowl and Search Engine Optimization actually have a lot in common. Confused? Don’t worry, I’ll explain…

Five Minute Marketing: What is SEO?

There are a lot of buzzwords that get thrown around in the world of online marketing, and one of the most popular is “SEO.” Web hosting services claim to have the best SEO out there, companies sell their SEO services, and small businesses obsess over whether their SEO is optimized. But at the end of the day, what is it really? And how can you achieve the best SEO possible?

In its simplest terms, SEO is Search Engine Optimization. It is a ranking given to a website that will push it higher or lower in search results. The ‘gold standard’ of SEO is to be on the very first page of results for a particular search, because the amount of people who visit your website will increase dramatically when yours is the easiest to find…

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Copyright 2023 Maria Grace, LLC

Maria Grace, LLCOnline Marketing Solutions for Small BusinessesHours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm

Maria Grace, LLC
Online Marketing Solutions for Small Businesses
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday; 8am-5pm