Ranking at the top of Google’s first search results page is the ultimate goal for all businesses today. As research by Backlinko indicates, the #1 result on Google accumulates nearly 31.7% CTR, while the second pages generally tend to receive 0.78% of clicks.
Whether you own a thriving online business, work as a digital marketing manager for someone else, or are an SEO specialist at an agency, you’ll have to manage, monetize and promote online content through Google.
Search engine optimization may look like small modifications to a website. However, the combined impact of these minor changes on your website’s performance and user experience is massive.
The secret behind creating a high-ranking website resides in your ability to satisfy the users by offering them an above-par experience on your platform. One of these users is a search engine, which helps you reach other users with your website. Let’s look at some effective ways you can improve your Google ranking.
1. Understand the Google Algorithm
Whether it’s John Mueller or Gary Illyes, every successful Google executive states that Google frequently changes its algorithm and a majority of these changes are not announced publically. According to Moz, there are about 500-600 Google algorithm changes every year.
The primary purpose behind keeping these changes is to prevent black hat SEO strategies and shortcuts to maintain the authenticity of websites.
However, some notable algorithm updates you may want to know include page experience updates, core updates (related to the content quality), and mobile-first updates.
You can keep yourself updated with these changes by regularly keeping a check on Google Webmaster Central.
2. Strategize your Work
Targeting a single keyword across different pages of your website is certainly a bad idea! Instead, you need to rank for a maximum number of keywords, with the same amount of work and effort.
This is only possible if you come up with smart strategies. Start with keyword research and carefully choose your target keywords. Your targeted keywords directly impact your probability of success.
Here are a few important things to consider while selecting keywords:
- Choose the keywords specific to your particular domain only
- Choose less competitive keywords
- Make sure that your chosen keywords offer sufficient traffic
- Make sure your chosen keywords are relevant to your business
- Target multiple keywords simultaneously
People tend to search for the same things in a billion ways. Look for a keyword seed and then search a list of keywords that represent the same theme.
3. Discover a Seed Keyword
To grow your keyword theme, try to identify your seed keyword. Seed keywords are basically the most obvious keywords relevant to your topic.
If, for instance, you sell handmade jewelry, your seed keyword can be “buy handmade jewelry.”
To come up with good keyword seeds, you need to do some research and then brainstorm different ideas based on your services, business objectives, targeted audience, and keywords you want to rank for the ads you’re planning to purchase.
4. Turn Your Keyword Seed Into a Keyword Theme
Once you finalize your seed keyword, grow it into a theme by listing out all the related keywords. This approach will help you expand your opportunities and rank for multiple keywords at the same time.
Long-tail keywords can be a major help in this regard. The number of long-tail keywords used on a website is typically directly proportional to the amount of traffic directed to it by the search engines. You can use several paid or free keyword research tools like Semrush.
However, at this stage, you need to be mindful of your business goals and hence, keyword specificity. Make sure they’re not out of context or irrelevant to your industry.
5. Create Value
Your website content gives you an edge over your competitors; make sure it’s spectacular, relevant, and well-researched. Before you share any blog piece, infographic, or any other report on your website, make sure that it offers something more to your recipients than they’re already getting from other content, raking on the same keywords you’re using.
Google provides guidelines and some clues regarding its content evaluation strategy. Try to comprehend it and create your content accordingly.
By creating the best content on the internet, you can establish your business as a trusted brand, build more links, increase user engagement and protect your website from uninformed algorithmic changes.
So, Are You Ready to Take the Plunge?
If you’re here, chances are, you’ve already started taking your Google ranking seriously, and congratulations, that was your first step towards improving your rank.
Don’t worry if all the SEO technicalities make you feel overwhelmed, you’re not alone.
If you’re looking for reliable SEO optimization services for small businesses, feel free to check out Search Berg, an established platform offering content writing, lead generation, paid marketing services, and premium SEO packages for small businesses to their clients at affordable rates.
