How to increase your ranking on Google
Ranking as the number one search result on Google is a coveted position for businesses to strive for online.
Reaching the top Google ranking makes is far more likely that potential customers are visiting a business site instead of competitors or lower-ranking results. However, getting to the top ranking of Google as a business is neither an easy or quick task. It requires strategic search engine optimisation that span several different facets of a business website.
According to an SEO digital agency in the UK, search engine optimisation is the process of increasing traffic to one’s site through proven tactics. Even though no two businesses operate in the exact same way, getting to the top of Google rankings works similarly across the board. To improve SEO efforts and create an opportunity to be high on the rankings list, businesses must focus on the following optimisation factors below.
Focus on link building
Links are a necessary component of any search engine optimisation strategy. The process of link-building on a business site involves gaining hyperlinks from other sites around the web back to the business website. Links are used by search engine crawlers to move between internal pages and external sites, and when done correctly, this lends a hand in search engine results.
Several options exist for creating a link-building strategy, none of which are particularly straightforward. However, one method is to increase backlinks through content. When strong, relevant content is provided by a business site, more external sites are likely to link to it through their blogs or other published material. High-value pieces, such as white papers and case studies, also provide a sound avenue for generating backlinks naturally.
Increase site speed
Search engine crawlers that scrape the internet for relevant and related sites upon a user’s query need to be able to find information quickly and efficiently. Having a website that is slow to load or difficult to navigate slows down the process. Focusing some attention on increasing site speed can help with this endeavor.
Site speed can be compromised in several different ways, but most search engine optimisation experts suggest reducing image size through compression when possible. Additionally, using browser caching, which keeps resources for a site locally on a user’s computer, helps in eliminate drag on a website. Designing a site that is easy to navigate also helps, and relates back to a positive user experience which directly impacts search engine rankings.
Have valuable, relevant content
Content development strategies take time to produce and implement, but spending considerable effort on creating valuable information for users is key to ranking on Google. Relevant content is information found on a site that prompts a visitor to spend more than a few seconds reviewing that information. Content needs to have some substance to engage visitors, and it needs to provide answers or insight based on what they initially searched for on Google.
Creating the right content begins with keyword research, which can be a cumbersome process. Keywords are single words or phrases that are most related to a business and the products or services it provides. To develop a strong content strategy that leads to improved Google rankings, companies need to put in the effort to understand what their potential visitors are searching for via keywords on the web. Then, these keywords need to be plugged into high-quality content and shared consistently over time.
Perform a technical audit
For businesses unsure of where to begin with their search engine ranking goals, a technical audit may be of value. A technical audit involves evaluating certain aspects of a site’s search engine optimisation to identify what items need to be fixed or changed in order to improve SEO. This type of audit considers aspects of a site’s framework, including hosting, page loading speed, mobile optimisation, and indexing. Companies that are unfamiliar with these criteria in a site’s technical background should work with a professional to understand the technical audit process and how to fix identified issues when they arise.
Update your site
Finally, continually updating a business site is a key factor in improving search engine ranking results. Google relies heavily on the activity level of a website to ensure it remains up to date for visitors. Having a company blog that is updated on a regular basis, posting about product or service updates or launches, and periodically adding or changing details on site copy can be beneficial in improving this SEO factor.
