You may already know that Google uses more than 200 ranking factors in its algorithm…, and for today I will show you the 8 most important SEO factors that you should pay attention to.
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SEO requirements are constantly changing, and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest developments. But if you want your Google rankings to go from invisible to the top of the list, you need to be on the lookout.
Well-optimized sites get more and more traffic over time, and that means more leads and sales . Without SEO, searchers won't be able to find your site, and all your hard work will be for free.
8 Key Google Ranking Factors - Search Engine Optimization Guide
Of the more than two hundred Google ranking factors we know about, which are the most important? Here is the list of the most important SEO factors.
The SEO community is always looking for new ranking factors and we have discovered over two hundred of them so far. But there may be hundreds more that Google is already using.
Fortunately, we don't have to work on all of them. Most of them have very little weight in SEO and are often used as breakers instead of ranking signals. Instead, here's the ultimate list of Google's ranking factors, each of which can make or break your search optimization strategy.
Backlinks
Although Google plans to move away from backlinks in the future, they remain the most important ranking factor for your pages. Except that it is now dangerous to use black hat SEO strategies - your links must come from a variety of high-authority websites similar to yours.
Moreover, some Google patents say that freshness and traffic may also be important metrics in backlinks.
The most effective way to grow your backlink profile is to borrow backlink ideas from your search competitors. All you have to do is turn on SEO SpyGlass, go to Domain Compare > Cross Link, and add a few of your top competitors. The tool will analyze your competitors' backlinks and find the backlink gap - websites that link to your competitors, but not you.
These sites are your main outreach targets. Given how they already relate to other websites in your niche, it is very likely that they will host your links as well.
Semantic saturation
Your SEO content should contain an appropriate amount of relevant keywords , entities, and images for copy length. Content should not be stuffed, as in the old days of SEO, it should be natural copy written in an informative style.
It can be a bit tricky to know exactly which keywords to use, where to put them, and how many to need. So, if you want to play it safe, a good strategy is to create a benchmark by analyzing the top-ranking pages of your competitors in search.
To do this in Website Checker, go to Content Analysis > Content Editor, enter your keyword, and get a detailed list of SEO writing instructions. The SEO content editor tool will tell you the appropriate amount of keywords and secondary keywords, their position, and the recommended length of copy.
HTML tags
HTML tags tell Google which bits of your copy are most important. Title tags and meta description are what users see in search results - write them as a keyword-rich promotion.
Heading tags (H1-H6) divide your copy into sections - they should also contain keywords and be written in an informational style. Finally, alt text is used to describe images to search engines and must be filled in if you want to appear in image search results.
If you are not concerned with HTML tags , there are likely hundreds of pages on your website that are not properly optimized for search. The overall approach is to use a website checker and review your pages in bulk. First, go to Site Structure > Pages > On-page and sort the pages by their search optimization score.
If you find any pages with a low score, click on them to get a detailed report. It will tell you exactly which HTML tags need improvement and what is wrong with them.
Web Basics
Web Fundamentals are the latest user experience metrics that will soon become Google's ranking factors. The metrics will measure the first impression the user gets when visiting the page.
Specifically, how fast it loads, how fast it reacts, and how stable the layout is. Now, it is important to note that vitals are not yet official Google ranking factors. But it will certainly be, so it is better to use the remaining time to bring it into shape.
Google has been kind enough to provide each vital element with a detailed set of optimization guidelines. For faster loading, Google recommends better server response times, reduced JS and CSS rendering blocking , and faster resource loading. To improve interactivity, Google recommends splitting the code and using less JS.
Finally, to improve visual stability, Google recommends using size attributes for photos and videos and uploading content from above.
User behavior
There is a lot of uncertainty in the SEO community about whether Google actually uses behavioral measures to rank pages. Google says it doesn't, but there is some compelling evidence that it might.
The metrics we're talking about are click-through rate (CTR), bounce rate, session depth, and session duration. To check your performance on user behavior metrics, use the . file
Google Analytics and Google Accounts Search Console.
With the creation of attractive content. For example, CTR depends on the presence of an attractive snippet in search results. Meanwhile, the bounce rate, session duration, and session depth depend on whether there is anything fun to do on your page.
To keep your users engaged, make sure you produce a high-quality copy with plenty of visuals and internal links. The goal is to attract visitors and send them down your sales funnel.
Structured data
There are thousands of tags to choose from, and they can tell Google every little detail about your content. Structured data can be used to tag authors, ratings, product features, locations, and more.
It can do wonders for your SEO – creating links between entities, pinning your site, and optimizing your search snippets with rich elements:
If you are not someone with artistic inclinations, it is better to use Google Structured Data Markup Assistant. Choose the type of coding (article, local business, highly recommended product) and send a link to the page you want to improve.
Now highlight parts of the text and choose the corresponding tags. When you're done, save the HTML file and upload it to your website. Extra step – check if your structured data is actually working with the help of Google Rich Results Test.
Google My Business listing
Claiming, improving, and maintaining your Google My Business listing is the most important thing you can do for your local SEO. It helps establish your company as an entity, which in itself is a huge asset for your SEO. Most importantly, it improves your local search performance. Once you create a listing, it becomes eligible for the local business board as well as Google Maps, opening your business to nearby searchers:
First, you have to visit Google My Business and create or claim your profile. You will be asked to provide some basic details as well as proof of your ownership. When you're done, you'll be taken to the Google My Business dashboard, where you'll find many additional ways to improve your listing.
The least you can do is add a description, opening hours, and photos, but there are so many great features to explore. Google is constantly adding new features in Google My Business and it has become so advanced that it is almost like its own website.
Mobile Optimization
Mobile indexing has been completely rolled out. Google announced that as of September 2020, all websites without exception will be judged based on their mobile version, not the desktop version. So, if you want your website to have any chance of ranking in search results, you need to make sure that it is designed for mobile users.
optimization strategy
To check if your page is mobile-friendly, go to Google's mobile-friendly test, and submit the URL . If the page is OK, you'll get a green light, and if it's not, you'll get some suggestions on what to improve.
Checking your website page by page is not practical, so you can use Google Search Console to check all your pages at once. Launch the tool, go to Improvements > Mobile Usability, and view a report with a list of suggested improvements.
last thoughts
It is important to keep an eye on Google's constantly evolving algorithm. Some ranking factors, such as keywords and backlinks, are gradually losing their relevance. Other ranking factors, such as user experience and semantic saturation, take their place.