Digital Marketing Updates: August 2022

We live in the digital world, a place where new trends pop up, new platforms are launched and new algorithms are developed every day. This consistent change is vital for the growth of the online space and sometimes these advancements can become confusing and difficult to keep up with. 

As a growth agency, Nexa has its finger on the pulse of all things digital and our team of experts work together to keep you up to date with all new and improved developments in the ever evolving digital realm. 

In this article, we take a look at the latest digital developments that occurred in August 2022. 

Search Engine Optimization and Performance Marketing 

The ultimate goal of SEO is for a business to rank higher than their competitors on search engine results. If your page ranks higher than those in the same industry, you will get more traffic to your website than they will, you will receive more leads/conversions, and you will build a tangible value to your business. In order to keep your page ranking, it is important to consider the latest SEO and performance changes and developments. 

One of the most notable examples of consistent SEO and performance developments is the Google Algorithm. Google’s Algorithm updates occur frequently and as this can affect your online visibility, conversions, search traffic , conversions and ROI, it’s vital you understand these changes and incorporate new techniques into your SEO and performance strategy when these changes are made.

Below, we take a look at all the notable August 2022 SEO & performance updates.

August 2022 SEO and Performance Marketing Updates

Quotations in Search (August 4, 2022)

This is one for the Google users. Using quotations in the Google search bar around a specific phrase will bring up results that contain the exact word or phrase; however, this search tactic has been taken a step further by Google. The snippets that are displayed in the search results for the quoted phrase will be formed around WHERE the phrase is within the web page or web documented.

What does this mean for your business?

This doesn't just assist the user, it helps promote your valuable content and your brand. The update will assist your  page views, creating more engagement with your content as users are directed to the information they are actively seeking, establishing your business as a thought-leader in your particular industry. 

Google Business Profile (August 9, 2022)

An update to Google's guidelines for Business Profiles says duplicate content in posts is now considered spam. This doesn’t just refer to duplicate text and includes the posting of the same photo, video, or text block. With this updated content policy, Google is sending a clear message that it wants businesses to post unique content. 

What does this mean for your business?

This is a significant change to the Google Business Profile and if you're not careful with your content, your business will be penalized. For example, if you post the same visual evert week to advertise your specials or promotions, it will be marked as duplicate content, which could get you into trouble based on the new guidelines. 

Another significant change is that Google is encouraging businesses to limit their use of logos which means that placing your logo on every image, may get you penalized too. The best way to stay within the guidelines is simply to ensure that every post published to your Google Business Profile is unique and valuable. 

Search Algorithm and Content (August 18, 2022)

Google announced its latest search ranking algorithm update that it has named “The Helpful Content Update.” This update weeds out content that is used for the purpose of ranking and that holds no real value for the reader. SEO content should always be helpful and provide audiences with the information that they have been searching for - and it is important this is applied to every page of a website as this new algorithm will scour websites in their entirety to ensure that the content is helpful and not created simply for the purpose of ranking. 

What does this mean for your business?

Make sure to create and publish content that holds value. Google is taking every step to ensure that users get the best search experience possible and your content needs to answer their questions and provide valuable information to better their experience online. Make sure to publish content that is relevant - not content for the sake of ranking or manipulating the search engines. This has always been important for content creation but Google is setting a new standard through the Helpful Content Update. As the name suggests, publish helpful content as opposed to content that is purely for ranking or branding purposes. Essentially, create content designed around inbound marketing, nurture your audience, build trust and guide them through the buyers cycle with helpful content that provides value. 

Google Search Console (August 22, 2022)

The latest Google Search Console update will allow the Core Web Vitals report to surface URL-level data. Essentially, this allows you to identify URLs holding your site back from greater rankings and conversions. And the information provided in the report will let you know where to focus your SEO efforts. This is an exciting update for all SEO and digital marketing enthusiasts. 

What does this mean for your business?

This is a huge win for businesses looking to better their website and online presence. Before this update was implemented, the Search Console Core Web Vitals report provided aggregate scores based on a group of URLs. With this update, you are able to take this a step further. By clicking on a URL group in the report, you will be able to view a new panel with URL-level data where you are able to investigate scores that need improvement.

Thanks to this update in reports, you'll be able to focus your efforts on where they matter most. 

August 2022 Social Media Updates

Keeping up with the latest social media algorithms, trends, tools and platforms is vital for those building a brand and acquiring leads in the online space. Social Media is constantly evolving and it is important to keep your finger on the pulse of all these changes. 

Below, we take a look at all the notable August 2022 SEO updates. 

August 2022 Social Media Marketing Updates

• Pinterest:  

The visual storyboard app has launched its Shuffles tool. This is a tool used to create interactive collages and mood boards through iOS. This new and invite-only tool (just for now) and could possibly be the next great social media platform. This is something for brands and digital marketers to keep a close eye on as it rolls out to the public.

• Instagram: 

Instagram is now testing a new feature called “Candid Challenges.” This new test feature echoes the Be Real app and sends users a daily prompt to take and share real-time images within two minutes of receiving the prompt. This is to try and create more engagement on the platform and only time will tell how this takes.

Another important Instagram update is its NFT support features and as of August, Instagram has announced that it will be expanding support for its NFT feature to 100 countries. 

• TikTok:

The app is currently testing its story share feature (having only recently introduced “stories” to its users). This new feature will soon allow users to share their TikTok Stories directly to other platforms, including Facebook and Instagram.

• LinkedIn:

The social media platform is currently launching a new templates feature to ensure users are able to create more eye-catching posts and content than ever before. This is something the platform has needed for quite some time and it will be interesting to see users embrace this new feature.

Another LinkedIn update for the month of August is LinkedIn’s new clickable link feature that will help users drive engagement and generate more traffic to websites, resources, job listings and more.

Who We Are

Nexa is an award-winning Growth Agency established in 2005 with offices in the UAE, USA, UK, and Australia. Established as a Specialist Growth Agency and Digital Marketing Agency, Nexa helps businesses achieve online success by creating measurable digital marketing strategies for customers across various industries.

How We Can Help

Our up-to-date expert team will promote your business and connect your brand with potential customers using a variety of digital marketing tools and channels. We use transformative technology, content creation, search engine tactics, and more, to attract, engage, delight and convert high quality leads to increase your sales and grow your business. Keep an eye on this page as we inform you on the latest Google and digital marketing updates in real-time.

Keep growing, with Nexa.