Google ranking companies specialize in optimizing websites for better search engine rankings. They use various techniques to improve a website's visibility and drive more traffic to it.
Google ranking companies have a deep understanding of how search engines work, which is crucial for achieving higher search engine rankings. By leveraging this knowledge, they can create effective strategies that improve a website's ranking and drive more traffic to it.
A well-structured website is essential for achieving higher search engine rankings. Google ranking companies can help with this by ensuring that a website's structure is user-friendly and search engine-friendly.
Google ranking companies also use keyword research to identify the most relevant and high-traffic keywords for a website. This helps to improve the website's ranking and drive more targeted traffic to it.
Understanding Google Rankings
Google's ranking algorithms are designed to sort through billions of webpages to meet search intent, considering many different factors to evaluate the quality, relevancy, and utility of an answer to a search query.
With 91% of all clicks from a search result being spread amongst the ten websites that make up the first page of the SERPs, it's clear that being on the first page is essential. The top spot attracts almost a third of all clicks, making it a clear incentive for all businesses to get to the very top of the Google rankings.
Google uses a complex set of varying factors to create sophisticated algorithms that will determine the ranking position for your business or website. The types of things that may improve website rankings include the use of keywords throughout the site, the use of internal and external links of every page, page load speeds, and whether the site is optimized for mobile devices.
The click-through rates for the different positions on the Google SERPs are as follows:
By understanding how Google's ranking algorithms work and what factors contribute to a high ranking, you can optimize your website to improve your chances of appearing at the top of the search results.
What Are Rankings?
So, what are rankings? In simple terms, rankings refer to the position of your website on a search engine results page (SERP) after a Google search.
Google's algorithms determine the ranking position for your business or website, considering a complex set of factors. There are over 2 billion websites online, and Google checks all of them whenever it handles a search.
The first entry on the SERP is the one Google deems most relevant to the search term. If your business has a low Google ranking, it's likely because the content on your site doesn't appear relevant to the searches being carried out.
To improve your website's ranking, focus on using keywords throughout your site and optimizing your pages for mobile devices. Fast page load speeds and internal and external links can also help.
What Constitutes a Good Ranking?
A good ranking on Google is essential for any business or website. The first page of the search engine results page (SERP) is where it's at, with 91% of all clicks being spread amongst the ten websites that make up the first page.
If you're on the first page, you're likely to get a click-through rate (CTR) of around 32% for the top spot, 17% for the second spot, and 11% for the third spot. By the time you reach the final entry of the first page, your CTR drops to around 2%.
Here's a rough breakdown of CTR for different positions on the Google SERPs:
As you can see, the top spot is where you want to be, with almost a third of all clicks going to the top result. But even the bottom of the first page is a relatively good ranking, with a CTR of around 2%.
Keyword Optimization
Keyword optimization is a crucial step in improving your Google ranking. It's all about using the right keywords to help Google understand what your content is about.
To start, you need to use the right keywords. This means figuring out which keywords your target customer uses to learn about topics related to your product and business. Then, you'll need to place those keywords strategically.
Use a keyword tool to find new keywords and qualify the ones you've already come up with. Enter one of your seed keywords into the tool, and it'll surface a list of related keywords with their search volume and competition level.
Ideally, you want to target keywords with high search volume but low to moderate competition. You can use your keyword tool to find long-tail keywords, which are longer queries that are more specific and less competitive.
Here are some ways to place keywords strategically:
- Include keywords in the page title and title tags
- Use headings and subheadings to break up content and highlight keywords
- Add alt text for images that includes your target keywords
- Use your target keywords in the URL of the page
- Include a meta description that summarizes the content and includes your target keywords
- Use your target keywords in the body of the content, but avoid keyword stuffing
Keyword density is also important. Aim to use your target keyword once per 200 words to help Google understand the topic without looking spammy.
Ultimately, the key to keyword optimization is to match your content to search intent. This means understanding what someone searching for a particular keyword is looking for and providing exactly that. By doing so, you'll increase the chances of your content ranking higher in Google.
Content Creation and Quality
To create high-quality content that ranks well on Google, you need to focus on evergreen content that provides value to your audience. Evergreen content is based on topics that are relevant for a long time and are searched for over and over again. Examples of evergreen content include tutorials, how-tos, case studies, tips, and tool lists.
Publishing high-quality content is essential, but it needs to be the type that people will share on social media and link to. This is because Google's algorithm takes into account backlinks, and the more backlinks your site has, the higher you may be able to rank. To increase the odds that people will link to your content, you can create link bait, such as infographics, videos, and other visual content.
To improve content quality, you can follow these principles: publish in-depth content backed by research, collaborate with experts and influencers, provide transparent details about your business, and use expert authors or have professionals review information for accuracy. These principles are known as E-E-A-T, which stands for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.
Focus on Evergreen
Creating evergreen content is key to attracting and retaining a loyal audience. Evergreen content is designed to remain relevant and useful over time, rather than being timely but fleeting.
This type of content can steadily gain traffic over time, unlike timely content that spikes and then flattens out quickly. Purina is a great example of a brand that has successfully created an extensive blog of evergreen articles.
Evergreen content can include tutorials, 101's on fundamental industry concepts, and case studies. These types of content are particularly helpful because they provide value to readers and can be referenced again and again.
Some specific examples of evergreen content include:
- Tutorials and how-to's
- 101's on fundamental industry concepts
- Case studies and success stories
- Tips and tricks
- Checklists
- Best practices
- Tool and resource lists
- Common mistakes/dos and don'ts
- FAQs
Looking at your competitors and brands you trust can be a great way to find inspiration for your own evergreen content.
Fill with High-Quality Content
To fill your site with high-quality content, it's essential to understand that Google values content that's genuinely helpful and high-quality. The more content you publish, the more helpful it will be to your audience, and the more you'll convince Google that it belongs at the top of a search result.
You can't just write anything, though - it must be backed by research and expertise. Google looks for experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness in content, which is what E-E-A-T stands for.
To improve content quality, you can publish in-depth content that's well-researched, collaborate with experts and influencers in your niche, provide transparent details about your business, and use expert authors or have professionals review information for accuracy.
Publishing high-quality content is crucial for ranking in Google, but it's also challenging to define what "high-quality" actually means. To build backlinks and increase your chances of ranking, you need to publish content that people will actually link to, also known as "link bait."
Here are a few ways to increase the odds that people will link to your content:
- Publish content that's in-depth and well-researched.
- Collaborate with experts and influencers in your niche.
- Provide transparent details about your business.
- Use expert authors or have professionals review information for accuracy.
By following these principles, you can create high-quality content that will not only engage your audience but also improve your chances of ranking in Google.
Publish Insanely High-Quality
Publishing insanely high-quality content is a crucial step in content creation and quality. High-quality content is essential for ranking high in search engine results, and it's what people share on social media and link to.
To create high-quality content, you need to publish content that people will actually link to, also known as "link bait." This means creating content that is so good, people will naturally want to share it and link to it.
One way to increase the odds that people will link to your content is to create evergreen content. Evergreen content is based on topics that are relevant for a long time and are searched for over and over again.
Here are some examples of evergreen content:
- Tutorials and how-tos
- 101’s on fundamental industry concepts
- Case studies and success stories
- Tips and tricks
- Checklists
- Best practices
- Tool and resource lists
- Common mistakes/dos and don’ts
- FAQs
Publishing high-quality, evergreen content will not only attract links but also provide a better user experience. It's also a great way to build trustworthiness with your audience.
Link Building and Backlinks
Link building and backlinks are crucial for improving your Google ranking. Creating links between pages on and off your website helps Google crawl and understand your website better.
Getting external links, or backlinks, is an important part of off-page SEO. They help prove your site's authority to Google. External links help build your website's authority, but more backlinks aren't always better.
You want links from other credible websites, not just any low-quality pages. Google can sniff out black-hat SEO tactics like link schemes. It's best to build links as naturally as possible.
Some common strategies for building backlinks include publishing link-worthy content, collaborating with other websites, and creating highly linkable multimedia content. You can also build relationships with influencers and issue press releases.
Here are some key statistics to keep in mind:
- 70 million new posts come out every month on WordPress.
- Backlinks are probably the most crucial off-page factor for Google rankings.
- Links from established and highly trusted websites hold the most value.
To find all of your backlinks, explore the largest, fastest, and freshest backlink management tool. This will help you track the overall effect of your off-page SEO efforts over time.
Page and Website Optimization
Page and website optimization is crucial for ranking higher on Google. Placing keywords strategically will help Google quickly understand and categorize your web pages. This includes including keywords in the page title and title tags, headings and subheadings, alt text for images, URL of the page, meta description, and body of the content.
To improve page experience, focus on making your website user-friendly. This includes improving page speed, as 53% of visitors will leave your website if it takes more than three seconds to load. You can use Google's Page Speed Insights to see how fast your pages load and optimize your site's page speed by reducing the size of your images, eliminating unnecessary plugins, and trying using lazy loading.
A responsive website is also essential, as 63% of Google searches start from a mobile device. This means your website needs to be mobile-friendly, and the most common way to achieve this is through responsive web design.
Create Internal Links
Internal links are essential for making your website easy to navigate, both for visitors and Google crawlers. A clear internal link tells visitors what to do next, improving their experience and keeping them on your website longer.
You can add internal links in menus, footers, sidebars, and each piece of content. Try to add several internal links in the body copy of each blog post to show Google how they're all connected.
A good goal is to make sure you can reach any page of your website in three clicks from any other page. This helps Google crawlers find all of the pages on your website, especially if a page is on a link-free island.
Internal links also help Google understand the relevance and context of your web pages. For example, if you have several blog posts covering niche topics, internally linking them helps Google understand that they all add up to your expertise in that area.
Optimize Page Speed
No one likes waiting for a web page to load, and it's no surprise that Google made page speed a ranking factor. 53% of visitors will leave your website if it takes more than three seconds to load.
Google's Page Speed Insights is a great tool to see how fast your pages load. Just enter the website address and see what Google says.
You can start optimizing your site's page speed by reducing the size of your images, eliminating unnecessary plugins, and trying out lazy loading.
Here are some practical tips to get you started:
- Reduce the size of your images
- Eliminate unnecessary plugins
- Try using lazy loading
Optimize for Mobile
Google's algorithm prioritizes websites that are mobile-friendly, as 63% of searches start from a mobile device.
Having a mobile-friendly website will please both Google and your visitors. A responsive website is the most common way to achieve this, automatically adjusting your page sizes, layout, button types, and more to work better on mobile devices.
A responsive website looks great on both a laptop and a mobile screen, making it a crucial aspect of page experience.
On-Page Factors
On-page factors are a crucial part of page and website optimization. They refer to the signals within the content and architecture of your site that you can control.
Placing keywords strategically is an integral part of on-page SEO. This includes including keywords in the page title and title tags, headings and subheadings, alt text for images, URL of the page, meta description, and body of the content.
Keyword density is also important. A common goal is to use your keyword once per 200 words. This helps Google understand the topic without looking spammy.
Avoid artificially stuffing keywords into your web pages, as Google will penalize your site if you do. Instead, look for ways to include keywords organically in the flow of your copy and headers.
Improving page experience is another key on-page factor. This includes making sure your website is easy to navigate and provides a good user experience.
A good rule of thumb for internal linking is to make sure you can reach any page of your website in three clicks from any other page. This helps visitors and Google navigate between pages.
Here's a quick rundown of on-page factors:
- Keyword placement in page title, title tags, headings, alt text, URL, meta description, and body of content
- Keyword density (aim for one keyword per 200 words)
- Avoid keyword stuffing
- Improve page experience
- Internal linking (make sure you can reach any page in three clicks)
Optimize for Local
Nearly a third of people use Google to find local businesses multiple times weekly. Local keywords are the terms people use in those geographically dependant queries. For example, when someone wants to hire a cat groomer, they might search for "cat groomers near me", "cat groomers in Seattle", or "Seattle cat grooming services."
Local keyword research is similar to other keyword research, but with one exception: local keywords usually have a transactional or commercial intent. This means people searching for local businesses want to learn about products and services. Your seed keywords should revolve around what you provide and where you provide it.
Google understands that people searching for "cat groomers" probably want local service providers. The results page shows cat groomers near your location. This is why local SEO is essential for businesses with physical locations.
To optimize for local, you need to ensure your business information is accurate, complete, and engaging. This includes your physical address, phone number, category, and attributes. You can edit your business information in bulk using a spreadsheet.
Here are some essential elements to include in your Google Business Profile:
- Physical address
- Phone number
- Category
- Attributes
Having a local SEO strategy is essential in fixing low Google rankings. Since 97% of people visiting brick-and-mortar businesses will do so after searching for them online, it's crucial to focus on local SEO.
Google determines local ranking based on relevance, distance, and prominence. A combination of these factors helps find the best match for your search. Prominence refers to how well-known a business is, and Google reviews count and review score factor into local search ranking. More reviews and positive ratings can improve your business' local ranking.
To rank higher on Google, follow these free strategies:
1. Use the right keywords
2. Fill your site with high-quality content
3. Add more links
4. Improve page experience
5. Optimize your Google Business Profile
Being in the top 3 location-specific ranking spots means you'll sit visibly above the organic search results and achieve a higher percentage of the click-throughs.
Track Your Results
Tracking your results is crucial to see if your Google ranking efforts are paying off. You should start seeing your site rank higher on Google than before.
To keep tabs on your SEO results, you can track your rankings, but manually checking every hour is not practical. You can use Google Analytics to track your organic traffic, which is traffic that comes directly from search engines.
Organic traffic is the best measure of SEO results, and you can track it within Google Analytics. A study found that people spend 54 seconds on a webpage, so it's essential to see if your increased rankings are leading to more engagement.
Google Search Console Impressions and Clicks report shows how many people saw your site and how many clicked on it. The more people who see and click on your site, the better.
Boosting Website Traffic and Rankings
46% of all Google searches are related to a specific location, making location-based searches a crucial element of your SEO strategy. If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you should prioritize location-based searches.
With 91% of all clicks from a search result being spread amongst the top 10 websites on the first page of the SERPs, getting your website on the first page is essential. In fact, the top spot attracts almost a third of all clicks.
To increase website traffic, consider implementing the following strategies: Use Emotional Title Tags, use Short, Descriptive URLs, target Rich Snippets, and write compelling Meta Descriptions. These will help boost your Click-Through-Rate (CTR) and improve your Google rankings.
Here are the top 4 benefits of ranking high on Google:
- Get More Organic Clicks: Statistically, top search results acquire an average CTR of 27.6%.
- Reduced Marketing Costs: Higher Google rankings can significantly reduce the time and resources needed to reach a bigger pool of leads.
- A Positive Business Reputation and Image: High organic traffic endorses a brand’s image by communicating trust and quality in a product/content to both existing and potential clients.
- Competitive Edge in the Market: Bigger traffic numbers can bring more sales, better conversions, and overall brand awareness over rivals.
To maximize your website's visibility, ensure that your business information in Google Business Profile is accurate, complete, and engaging. This includes entering your physical address, phone number, category, and attributes.
By understanding search intent and creating content that meets it, you can improve your Google ranking. For example, if someone is searching for "Conversion Rate Optimization", they're likely looking for a definition, description, examples, and tips, not just a list of techniques.
Google Algorithm and Updates
Google's algorithm is a complex system that determines the relevance and ranking of websites in search engine results. It's constantly evolving, with updates happening several times a year.
Google's algorithm update history is long, with some updates having a significant impact on search engine rankings. One notable example is the Panda update, which targeted low-quality content.
Google's algorithm is designed to favor high-quality, user-friendly websites. This means that websites with duplicate or thin content may be penalized.
Google's algorithm update, Penguin, targeted websites with spammy links, affecting millions of sites. This update aimed to improve search engine results by reducing the influence of low-quality links.
Google's algorithm update, Hummingbird, was a major overhaul that improved the way the algorithm understands natural language. This update allowed Google to better comprehend long-tail keywords and phrases.
Google's algorithm update, RankBrain, introduced machine learning to the algorithm, allowing it to better understand user behavior and intent. This update improved the accuracy of search engine results.
Google's algorithm update, BERT, further improved natural language understanding, allowing the algorithm to better comprehend context and nuances of language. This update improved the accuracy of search engine results for long-tail keywords and phrases.
Google's algorithm is designed to prioritize user experience and relevance. This means that websites with a strong user experience and high-quality content are more likely to rank higher in search engine results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Google rank business?
Google ranks businesses based on relevance, proximity, and prominence, with a strong online presence and accurate citations playing a key role in improving your ranking. By optimizing your citations, you can increase your chances of appearing higher in search results.
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