There are countless
websites and humongous content online, but only few search results that make it
to the first page are seen by browsers; the rest goes unnoticed. Ranking is the
ticket to first page in Google search and it is decided according to some factors.
Not all ranking factors are created equal; you can maximize your visibility by
focusing on a few specific ranking factors. Google’s algorithm is always
changing, and we cannot rely on obsolete ranking factors as we step into
2017. These top three ranking factors are based on the most recent
studies, read on to discover how to optimize your site to capture today’s
important signals.
1. Content
Content is one of
the most important Google ranking factors; it has always been a crucial
ranking factor but in recent years, we’ve seen a shift away from
keyword-focused content towards more relevant content written in natural
language. According to a recent study just 53% of the top 20 queries have
keywords in their title tag, and the remaining landing pages have keywords less
than 40%. There is a visible drop in this trend year-over-year, which clearly
demonstrates that Google evaluates content according to its relevance and not
by the inclusion of individual keywords. So what exactly does relevant content
look like and the short answer is comprehensive. Long story short, quality
content takes you to the top.
2. Backlinks
Backlink is another
important Google ranking factor. Any backlink is beneficial to the website but
now Google has learned to weed out the bad links from the good. More links will
still result in a higher score, but only if they are from a number of diverse,
genuine and authoritative domains. The key to building a strong backlink is to
create content, that people crave for and then to promote that content
relentlessly. When other web entities read and link to your content, Google
will read your backlink’s matching anchor text and consider your content more
relevant. To hit three important ranking signals: number of backlinks, link
authority, and link diversity; your content should garner high-quality
backlinks. There are many different ways to approach link building, but what
they all boil down to is content marketing. Step one: Create high-quality
content. Step two: Promote it.
3. Mobile-First User
Experience
One of the biggest
amendments Google executed in 2016 is the shift towards mobile-first
indexing. This means that Google’s index will now primarily focus on the mobile
version of websites as opposed to the desktop version. Mobile optimization is a
pivotal factor in Google ranking and all top visible domains have
mobile-friendly solutions. In the coming years it will be more important for
your content to be responsive on all mobile platforms and identical to the
content on your desktop site. Mobile-friendliness is the criterion to excel in
Google search. If you intend to improve your website and draw more traffic to
it; think mobile first and not just mobile-friendly.
Search Engine Optimization
is an ever-evolving industry and in the past few years, we have witnessed
Google’s attempt to make a steady push for rich content, quality links, and a
perfect mobile experience. The aforementioned factors are certainly important
and will play a great role in your rankings and help you come out ahead of the
competition.
