What a year 2022 has been! For one, Omaha Media Group was named on the Inc. Magazine's prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing, privately-owned companies in America. Then, secondly, we continue to see many changes in the digital landscape as consumers' needs evolve and change. As the best creative agency in Omaha, we want to recap the Google updates, digital and developmental trends that we saw impact the digital space in 2022. 

Google updates

If you saw changes in your organic traffic, one of the reasons might have been Google’s updates. The search engine released numerous updates throughout 2022 in an effort to improve search for consumers. Here are the top updates you should know about. 

May 2022 broad core update

The first broad core algorithm of 2022 was released on May 25 and named the May 2022 core update. This core update is to help improve search overall and keep pace with the changing nature of the web. It made broad changes to how its ranking systems assess content. Some of the winners of this update include big brand eCommerce and video. The losers were news and media publishers and reference websites. 

August 2022 helpful content update

This helpful content update is set to help people see more original, helpful content written by people for people in search engines. It is set to reward websites that create content for people, not just for ranking purposes. Google’s systems will automatically be able to identify content that is of low value and prioritize content that is considered of high value in rankings factors. Some things you should know about creating people-first content include not straying away from your main topic, demonstrating first-hand experience and following Google’s guidelines for other major updates. 

October 2022 spam update

On Oct. 19, 2022, Google rolled out its spam update. This update is set to improve and better detect search spam. What Google does is improve its automated systems to detect search spam better. Sites with spam will see the most changes. If you do happen to see a change, Google advises you to review their spam policies page to ensure your website is following their policies. 

Digital trends

Social media platforms prioritize short videos

If there is one thing that came out of 2022 in social media, it is that every app is jumping on the short-video bandwagon. Social media platforms like Instagram, Youtube and Pinterest have rolled out short-video features. A report found that in 2022 people were watching an average of 18 hours worth of video every single week. Many companies have started to adjust their social media content to fit this format. 

In-feed shopping

Online shopping got easier too. Social media platforms and search engines are now making the shopping experience even more convenient. Facebook and Instagram accounts can now connect their e-commerce catalogs to their profiles so consumers can shop without ever having to leave the app. Google also adopted this feature and now offers another in-feed shopping tool with shopping campaigns. 

Development trends

Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)

62% of all website traffic comes from people using mobile devices. That means that companies should be looking at ways to improve their mobile site’s website speed. One way is through Google’s Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP). This development tool helps websites load faster and more smoothly across all mobile devices. AMP pages load in as quickly as 2 seconds vs. up to 22 seconds for non-AMP pages. 

Dark mode standardization

When you click on your favorite app or website, you now have the option to switch it to dark mode. This feature has become a popular development trend in 2022. The reason is that dark mode standardization helps create less blue light, less energy consumption and reduces eye strain and dryness. 

Hire the best creative agency in Omaha!

If you’re looking to try one of these trends in 2023, let Omaha Media Group help! Our team can help you get on the latest digital trends that will help you reach your business goals. We do digital marketing, social media marketing, email marketing and website development. Contact us today to learn more about our services.