Search engine results are becoming more crowded and competitive than ever; hence one needs a solid Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plan to get a piece of the pie. Google is the main doorway where most customers interact with a product or service page. Over 3.5 billion searches are conducted on Google every day, with 75% of all clicks happening in the first three results on page one of the search result. Results on the second page get only a measly 0.78% of all clicks. So, being listed on the top means more traffic over time and more leads and sales. There is no quick fix to landing on the first page but constantly working on technical and non-technical aspects of SEO. Every business aims to beat Google’s algorithm and rank high on the first page of the search results. Here are tips to help your site rank higher on Google.
Perform Keyword Research
Using the right keywords in your web pages is one of the best ways to increase traffic and improve your site ranking. Therefore, you need to pinpoint the keywords that your target audience is using to find your site. There are virtually unlimited tools to help your business perform critical keyword research. Keyword Tools and Keyword Planner can help you get relevant keywords with moderate searches. However, if the tools appear too technical, you can hire a professional to help you research the best-performing keywords. Learning how your audience is getting to your site using Ubersuggest can also improve your Google rankings. This tool gives you first-hand information of your audience’s intent for searching your site so you can tailor keywords towards your audience’s needs. Tools like Alexa, on the other hand, help dissect your audience demographics for better keyword targeting.
Publish High-quality Content
Good keywords will give you a better chance at a higher SERP (Search Engine Results Page) ranking, but only great content can keep your ranking consistent and boost your site rank even higher. This is because the Google algorithm gives preference to content that’s new, unique, and valuable. Keep churning great content that addresses the specific needs of your target audience. It’s important to incorporate images, infographics, and videos into your content to send positive signals to Google. Additionally, you can optimize each article or blog by strategically placing keywords in the titles, subheadings, URL, captions, metadata and alternate texts. Update the content regularly, including the latest news and trends to keep your site relevant to your audience.
Optimize Page Speed
Slow page speed is one of the main reasons why a site may not rank high on Google. Some photos, videos, and background codes can slow down a page. Google tries to protect its users from such bad experiences by ensuring fast-loading websites are on the first pages while slower websites are thrown into the fringes of the rankings. According to Google, a webpage should fully load in three to seven seconds. To get your site to this speed, use Google Search Console. This tool will analyze your page responsiveness and load times. At Ferguson Computers, we understand the best practices to speed up load times, which in return improves your site’s performance.
Keep the Website Mobile-Friendly
The proliferation of mobile devices has made it possible for many users to access the internet via smartphones and tablets. Google has also gone mobile. This means Google primarily ranks websites based on their performance on mobile devices and not on desktops. Therefore, sites that do not function properly on mobile will not rank higher. It is significant to keep the site light weight and integrate features that improve the mobile experience.
Include Quality Links
Links that lead nowhere can significantly influence how your website ranks. Fix broken links to create an ideal user experience. The links should also be descriptive and explain the exact thing you are linking to. Common anchor text links such as “click here” and “Contact Us” have no value in ranking high on search engines, especially Google. For example, the call to action for a plumbing service page can anchor their contact site to “Click here for more information on unclogging drains.” Additionally, create linkable content that other sites and competitors can link to. Links from external sites to your site give your website legitimacy and trustworthiness hence a higher Google ranking.
Get Professional Assistance
The Google Algorithm is ever-changing, and most of the updates are never made public. This makes it difficult for business owners to improve Google’s ranking without being penalized. At Ferguson Computers we are SEO experts and we can help diagnose and fix the problems your site may have gotten due to the Google Algorithm updates. We’ll then monitor and boost your site’s visibility in Google search results. Getting to the top of page one on Google rankings is no mean feat, but constantly working on the technical and content aspects of the SEO can get you to the top.
