2021 went to a close, and the search engine ranking factors dominated that year. However, just because 2021’s ranking factors are no longer current doesn’t mean they’re irrelevant. Many of 2021’s ranking factors will still be necessary for determining your website’s rank in 2022. This article will look at how to stay ahead of the curve in SEO by using 2021 ranking factors in your SEO strategy for 2022.
Although search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, some ranking factors remain relatively stable over time. And if you can incorporate these into your SEO plan now, you will be well on your way to achieving a higher ranking in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for years to come. So read on to learn more about these factors and how you can use them to your advantage.
Local ranking factors that are still important in 2022 include:
- Reviews
- On-page
- Google Business Profile Signal
- Links
- Citations
How Can You Help Your Clients Take Control of Their Citations?
One of the most important local search ranking factors is your website’s citation listings. To optimize these citations for better rankings, you should focus on building them out on various online directories and ensuring that your business information is accurate and consistent across all listings. The name, address, and phone number (NAP) data is one of the most important local search ranking factors.
This data helps Google determine your business’s location and whether you’re a legitimate business. Inaccurate or inconsistent NAP data can hurt your website’s ranking in local search results. You can also learn more at WebCitz about NAP. To ensure your NAP data is accurate and consistent, you should regularly check your citations for accuracy. Using a local citation management tool like BrightLocal’s Citation Tracker is critical. This tool will track your NAP data across hundreds of local directories to spot inaccuracies before impacting your website’s ranking.
Listing management solutions are essential for businesses looking to improve their ranking in local search results. These solutions help companies manage their online presence across multiple channels and platforms, including Google My Business and Google Maps. This can help businesses ensure that their information is accurate and consistent, crucial for ranking well in local search results.
Target tools that enable you to provide business data in real-time and fast. Several local business data distribution tools can help you quickly and easily distribute your business information across the web. Some of these tools include Whitespark. Each of these tools offers different features and pricing plans, so be sure to compare them before choosing one.
Google Business Profile Ranks High
One of the most important local search ranking factors is your Google Business Profile. Your business profile is essentially your listing on Google Maps, and it’s what appears when someone searches for your business name or category on Google. Having a complete and up-to-date business profile is essential for ranking well in local search results.
There are a few simple steps that you can take to ensure your Google Business Profile ranks higher in local search results: First, make sure that your profile is complete and accurate. Incomplete profiles are often given lower rankings, so take the time to fill out all sections. Next, add photos and videos that show off your business in its best light. Customers love seeing photos and videos, which is a great way to attract attention. Finally, encourage customers to leave reviews. Positive reviews can greatly impact your ranking, so it’s worth asking customers for their feedback.
It’s important to consider other GBP factors like E-A-T (expertise, authority, and trustworthiness) when optimizing your Google Business Profile for local search. They can significantly impact your business’s ranking. For example, if you’re a local business that specializes in a particular service or product, you’ll likely have an advantage over companies that don’t have that specialty. Likewise, if you have a strong reputation in your community, you’ll probably rank higher than businesses with less established reputations.
Additionally, E-A-T can be a significant factor in determining whether or not your business appears in the local pack, the group of three listings that appears at the top of the search results for local queries. To increase your chances of appearing in the local pack, you should increase your business’s expertise, authority, and trustworthiness.
Google Business Profile Reviews Are Important
One of the most important local search ranking factors is your Google Business Profile, and one way to optimize this profile for better rankings is by responding to reviews. Using the Enhanced Google Business Profile tool, you can quickly respond to reviews and build trust with potential customers. Like in 2021, the reviews are helping many businesses in 2022.
Additionally, Google uses reviews as part of its algorithm, helping boost a business’s ranking based on its popularity and perceived value among customers. Therefore, getting positive reviews on your Google Business profile is essential to building and maintaining your company’s online reputation.
To boost the number of positive reviews for your Google Business Profile, encourage customers to leave reviews when happy with their purchase or service. You can also offer incentives for customers to leave reviews, such as discounts or freebies. By consistently providing excellent service and soliciting customer feedback, you can ensure that your business remains competitive and successful in today’s digital landscape.
The Business’ Website On-Page SEO Matters
This is the other important ranking factor remaining relevant in 2022. While your Google Business Profile is important for ranking well in local search results, it’s not the only thing that matters. The on-page SEO of your website also plays a role in determining your website’s rank.
To optimize your website’s on-page SEO for local search, you should focus on title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and keyword placements. You should also ensure that your website’s content is relevant to your local market.
Significance of Citation Building – Listing Management Fall?
Having accurate and up-to-date listings on popular online directories can help improve your website’s ranking in local search results. To ensure that your listings are correct, you should regularly check them for errors and update them. You should also consider building citations for your business on less popular online directories. While these listings might not impact your website’s ranking, they can still help potential customers find your business when searching for local businesses online.
There are several local search ranking factors that you can focus on in 2021 to help improve your website’s ranking. By focusing on your Google Business Profile, online reviews, and on-page SEO, you can ensure that your website is well-positioned to rank higher in local search results. Local search ranking factors are constantly changing, so businesses need to be proactive to stay ahead of the curve.
