I have to admit I wrote this blog post probably 20 times, and then finally deleted it, because I realized it was too boring, techy and it sounded like every other digital marketer spewing the same thing that they are hearing from the Google Gods. So how will that help you? The whole point of me creating this website and offering my knowledge and resources was to better educate businesses about marketing. So what should you really focus on to get your website to show up in Google Search results?
Choose a URL and Stick with it
Google doesn't factor the age of your domain, but it can significantly rank you lower if you choose to change the name of your domain and you don't properly do redirects and have broken links. If you choose to have multiple domain URL's and put the same content on all of the websites, this will be a huge red flag and your websites won't show on the first or probably second page of Google.
Check your Current Search Ranking
I can already hear you, asking what is that? Your Google rank might also be called your rank on a search engine results page (SERP). Where you rank will depend on what a user is looking for. If, for example, you provide landscaping services, you won’t show up for a search about dentists, and that’s good. Obviously, you don’t need to know your Google rank for every SERP. However, you should know which keywords are most important for your business, and you should know where your rank on those SERPs.
So how do you find this information? I recommend using software programs like SEMrush and Raven, which provide in-depth information about your keywords and Google rank. There are also free tools you can use to perform periodic checks. SERPs.com provides a free Keyword Rank Checker to test how well your site performs for different keywords, and in different locations. Once you know what keywords you need to target, how to incorporate them into your content and where you stand, you can start on improving your Google ranks in 2022.
Check your site speed
Google page rankings focused a large amount on user experience and site speed is probably number one on that list. To see if your website is performing well, I recommend checking it out on one of the following websites: GTmetrix, Pingdom, or Google PageSpeed Tools.
Use Google Analytics
If you’re working on your search engine optimization, you’ve probably set your site up with Google Analytics. If you haven’t yet, learn how to set it up and use it as soon as possible. With this tool, you can track conversions and sign-ups on your website, as well as keywords, traffic trends, your site’s speed, and many other factors. Since it is designed by Google for website managers, it’s one of the best ways to improve your Google website ranking in 2022.
Title Tags
Each page on your website, should have a unique title that is custom to the content pertaining to that page. The title tag should also incorporate the focus keyword of the page. This will allow the search engine to categorize the page correctly and to know what the content is about, to give the end user the best experience possible when searching. The SEO experts at Moz advise keeping your title under 60 characters, so it is fully displayed. They also provide this rule of thumb for title tags:
Primary Keyword – Secondary Keyword | Brand Name
This formula shouldn’t be the end-all solution for your title tags. On a SERP, that title tag is often the only thing read by the user. If your title tag isn’t drawing them in and letting you know about your company or the content of your page, it won’t do much for your website traffic.
Description Tags
Underneath your page title is your meta description. This information provides more details, both to Google’s bots and potential visitors, about your page content and purpose. As Google has changed their search algorithms over the years, description tags have slightly fallen in importance. In the past, these description tags could be filled with keywords and pop to the top of search engine result pages. Now serve the purpose of drawing users into your page.
Even though they do not help with search ranking, they do help with the consumer making a decision to click on your page. I highly recommend you fill these out.
Improve your Site Structure
Your site structure is how people navigate through your website, it shouldn't take someone more than three clicks to get to the deepest part of your website. The reason for this, is because if your website is confusing or hard to navigate, people will exit out quickly leaving you with a high bounce rate. The higher bounce rate you have, the lower score Google will give you in search ranking. Keep in mind Google must crawl your website as well, the more challenging it is, the less they can pieces the structure together.
Have a Mobile or Responsive Website
There are now more searches conducted on mobile devices than on laptops. Though this varies somewhat by industry, it has enormous implications for how your site ranks. In general, if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it will lower your Google ranking. Mobile users will click away from your site faster if it doesn’t work or load properly on their devices, which will hurt your rank. Google algorithm is also programmed to look for load speed, so if your site isn’t loading on mobile devices, it will hurt your rank.
Create Informative Content
Google is serious about wanting to educate the world, the more you focus on educating your consumer about your product or service versus hard selling, the more Google will rank your content. The best way to do this, is by having a blog on your website.
Use Keywords Naturally
If you are going to take anything away from this article, I hope it's this section. Don't jam the same keyword in a post 20 times, because it will only hurt your chances of showing up in search results. Google doesn't only look at finding your focus keyword in the article but it looks at the overall readability and ranks the overall article. Again, is your article enticing enough to engage your consumer?
Use Video
Let me tell you a secret, video appears in search results more than anything else. Want to know something else, it doesn't need to be a $10,000 production. If you have a phone, good lighting and can create a YouTube channel, you my friend can create video.
Aim for SERP Spot ZERO
Bare with me, I know big words that make no sense, so let me break it down for you. Video carousels are not the only recent change to come to the SERP. You may have noticed that many of your search queries are already answered by Google before you visit any page at all. You might see short lists, paragraphs, or tables at the top of the search in a box, which Google calls a Featured Snippet. This information is extracted from somewhere in the SERP, usually (but not always) from the first or second result. SEO experts consider this “SERP spot zero” since it appears before even the number one result. Results in SERP spot zero get more clicks than the top spot, which means earning this spot can improve your Google rank dramatically.
How Can You Get a Featured Snippet?
While there’s no special code or formula that will automatically win you this spot, you can alter your web page content slightly to get the best chances of appearing there. Here are a few tips to snatch this spot:
If you are describing a process, use a numbered format and brief sentences. Place this near the top of the page.
When creating a list, use bullets, also near the top of the page.
If you are answering a question, include the question and the answer in full, but briefly, at the top of the page.
Keep in mind that featured snippets are most popular for question queries that begin with or contain “who, what, when, where, why, how”
Nearly all featured snippets are derived from results already appearing on the first SERP, so your overall page and content must also be up-to-par.
Want a Complimentary Audit?
Not quite sure what to focus on above or just need someone to review your website and give you some feedback, no problem. Click on the link below to book a complimentary audit.