This post is one of our SEO Executives, Alex Wade's entry to the SEO Chicks latest competition

Where will SEO be in 2022? Well, the answer is nobody really knows, but there are definitely a few indications based on the way marketing platforms have merged in the past ten years…

I think it is safe to say that if Google was an ape it would be King Kong… As SEO’s we work primarily to Google’s algorithms because we know they take up over a 90% share of the search market. If you’re not visible in Google, you’re not seen worldwide.

The integration of all mainstream marketing channels has now hit every household. At present you can make a call, listen to your iPod, watch movies of your laptop, order a takeaway, watch live football and even write this blog post all from the comfort of your sofa.

This merge of media platforms (TV, smartphones, laptops, tablets etc.) in the home is something Google and other big time players like Apple have in their remit through the launch of Google TV and iTV in 2012.

Google’s presence is therefore massive but what makes them different is their ownership of viral marketing channels, something that SEO’s will have to adapt to in the future. Control of the biggest video streaming network in the world (YouTube) is one such example, but Google’s arrival on the social scene in 2011 via Google + is key to the future of SEO.

Google’s strategy of personalising search has been in place for a long time, but accompanying how you search with this with how you speak, talk, view videos with your friends (via social media) is kind of a big deal.

Google + is nowhere near the popularity of social engagement heavyweights like Facebook or Twitter and even newcomers like Pinterst, however it is growing fast and the more it grows, the more search results will change.

Google+ total US visits reach more than 49 million in Dec-11, biggest month to date & up 55% compared to Nov-11

Growth of Google + users throughout 2011 – taken from mashable.com

Viral marketing has turned social media into the success it is today and I believe through more Google acquisitions (similar to Google’s Youtube takeover) more people will be using Google +. Just look how new link building methods such as infographics have been successful, just because they are more viral!

Social = Interest

Interest = Relevancy

By this I mean that if someone was to post an article on Twitter it would have to be relevant and to the point. Posting relevant content is also a key consideration for future SEO as it will increase the likelihood of search engines crawling that content.

Relevancy is something Google are already hammering home although I think this will see more sites stopping the use of RSS feeds to retrieve content as this is duplicated and not unique.

So What Does This All Mean?

This all leads to the point that content on the web will be shared easier in future years through social media channels, especially if it is relevant. The easier this content can be found and viewed increases the likelihood of that content being “liked” “tweeted” “stumbled upon” or “+1’d”.

For that reason I think every business in 2022 will have a Facebook, Twitter or Google + account as the first part of their online strategy. On most occasions I also believe new businesses will be creating a social presence before launching an actual website!

Out of all social channels SEO’s must focus their future strategy to suit Google +. This platform has already started to grow and with the on-going need for people to get news, videos, photos, social media all under one roof, there will be more sign up’s taking place.

This will see people +1’ing on more occasions, therefore effecting individual search behavior.

Increasing SEO visibility for clients in this channel (corporate business pages, hangout groups) means they will be found easier by a more social population in 2022.