How To Improve Google Search Ranking

This article will answer all your questions about how not to spend a fortune to rank higher in search engines. We’ll discuss how to improve your Google search ranking, Google ranking factors, and basic SEO strategies. 

You know that your website needs to improve your search ranking, but you’re not sure how to go about it? Are you afraid of spending a fortune on an expensive SEO agency to help you? Good news – we are here to help. 

This article will provide tips on how to improve your Google search ranking, tell you about the factors Google uses to determine search ranking, and also tell you about some basic SEO strategies you can implement yourself today. (More good news: hiring an SEO agency like SEO Design Chicago to help you improve your search ranking also might not be as expensive as you may think!) 

You don’t have to spend a fortune to rank higher in search. To prove it to you, here are ten free ways to help you improve your Google search ranking. 

Improve Your Website’s User Experience

The more user-friendly your website is, the higher your search ranking will be. Why? Because the easier and more enjoyable your website is for users, the longer they will stay on your website and the more web pages they will visit. That helps improve your search ranking. 

Write Excellent, SEO-Optimized Content

One of the best ways to improve your search ranking and increase traffic to your website is by having excellent, SEO-optimized content. Many marketers say that excellent content is the number one key to having a high search ranking. 

Get More Backlinks

Backlinks, which are links to your website from other websites, are very important when it comes to search ranking. Incoming links to your website from others tells search engines that your website is a trusted authority on a subject. 

Improve Your Page Speed

It’s a good idea to make sure your website is as fast as possible for users. Google recently began using mobile page speed as a ranking factor. Having a fast website and loading speed, on both desktop and mobile, gives your users a better experience and helps your search ranking. 

Optimize Your Images

Optimizing your images will improve the speed of your website and will help Google identify what the images are on your web pages. To optimize your images, make sure they are all compressed, have descriptive filenames, and include alt text. 

Find and Fix Broken Links

One of the best ways to establish your website as an authority and boost web traffic is to have quality links. But broken links on your website will hurt your search ranking and diminish your user experience. You can use a tool like BrokenLinkCheck to find and fix any broken links on your website. 

Use H1 and H2 Header Tags

Headers not only make your content easier for your visitors to read, but they also help your search ranking on Google. Utilizing headers also structures your content and helps you emphasize your key points. 

Use Local SEO 

More and more frequently, people are using their phones to search for businesses “near me.” To capture that local web traffic, you need to utilize Local SEO. That means having a listing for your business on Google Business, listing your business on other local directories like Yelp, and improving your reputation with great local reviews. 

Optimize for Voice Search

Another growing trend is voice search. More and more people are using voice search on their cellphones to perform searches. Help those voice searches find your content by using likely voice search phrases in your website’s content. That means using full natural, conversational phrases in your content, as opposed to just keywords. 

Aim for “Position Zero”

When someone asks a question on a search engine like Google, the search engine often pulls the answer from a relevant website and puts it in a special display box above the rest of the search results. If your website is chosen for this position, you will not only see increased web traffic, but it will boost the visibility and credibility of your business. 

To increase your chances of being featured in “position zero,” think of likely search questions related to your business and include the answers clearly and authoritatively in your content. (One way to do this is by including an “FAQ” page of commonly asked questions and answers regarding your business or industry on your website.) 

Google Ranking Factors

Here are ten of the most important factors Google looks at when ranking your website: 

1. Website Safety and Security: It’s important to make sure your website is as safe as possible for both your users, and for search engine ranking purposes. 
2. Loading Speed: This includes on mobile! A slow loading speed will drop your search ranking and frustrate visitors to your site. 
3. Mobile Friendliness: More than ever, people are using their cellphones to look at the internet. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly. 
4. Domain Age, URL, and authority: If your website’s content is old, Google will know. Make sure to update your website regularly with fresh content. 
5. Well-Optimized Content: Use plenty of keywords and break up all the text with well-optimized images, too. 
6. Technical SEO: An SEO agency can come in handy to help with the technical SEO aspects of your website, like keywords, meta descriptions, alt text, and more. 
7. User Experience: Google increasingly cares about a positive user experience and includes that as a factor in search rankings. 
8. Links: Make sure to have plenty of inbound and outbound links on your website. 
9. Social Signals: When your content is shared on social media channels, Google takes that into account for search ranking. 
10. Real Business information: Make sure to include important information about your business like your address (if you have a storefront), your contact information, and your hours.

Basic SEO Strategies

First of all, SEO stands for search engine optimization. Here are some basic SEO strategies to use to help your website rank higher on Google. 

Know Your Keywords

Keywords are one of the most important tools in SEO. You can’t attract search traffic without utilizing the keywords your target audience is using to find content like yours. To determine the keywords you should be using, put yourself in the shoes of your audience. What words or phrases are they searching on Google that will ultimately help them find your website? Those words or phrases are your keywords. Now, you use those keywords early and often on your website to help improve your website’s SEO. 

There are also a few different tools available online to you to help you find keywords. One option is the Google AdWords Keyword Planner. You can enter keywords you think might work for your content and see how popular they are in terms of search volume. You can also use Google Trends, which can help you compare different keywords and see which one is more popular. 

Use Keywords in Your URLs

In addition to sprinkling keywords throughout your website’s content, use them in your web page URLs. This helps tell search engines what your web pages are about. 

Write High-Quality Content

We already mentioned quality content once, but it’s worth saying again. Search engines care more and more about high quality content. You can use as many relevant keywords as you can think of it, but it won’t matter if your content isn’t of the highest quality. Make sure it is error free, answers your target audience’s questions, and is full of expert advice. 

Make Sure Your Page Titles Are Engaging

It’s imperative to write creative, engaging and interesting page titles for each page of your website. Each one is a unique opportunity to attract more web traffic to your website through search. Utilize different keywords in each page title, and make sure it’s an engaging, catchy title for your readers, too. Ask yourself why someone might be searching for that particular webpage, and then answer that question in the page title. 

Optimize Every Web Page of Your Website 

Now, it’s time to go through your website page by page to make sure each one is optimized as well as possible. Does each page contain plenty of relevant keywords to its topic? Does the URL also contain keywords? Is this content high quality, or is it out of date and requires some updating? A website design agency can help you with the sometimes arduous but effective process of optimizing each page of your site. 

Update Your User Experience

As we mentioned above, user experience is becoming more and more important in Google’s search ranking algorithm. It might be worth hiring professional web designers to analyze your user experience and improve it for you. Web designers can find outdated aspects of your website and update them to improve your website’s user experience. 

Hire the Experts

One of the best SEO strategies available to you are the experts at SEO Design Chicago. It may not be as expensive to obtain help with your SEO strategy as you might think. SEO experts can help make sure your website is truly optimized, on every page, and up to the highest and most modern standards. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How long does it take to see improvements in my Google search ranking?

Most SEO improvements take 3-6 months to show noticeable results in Google search rankings. Some quick wins, like fixing broken links or optimizing page titles, may show improvements within a few weeks. However, significant ranking improvements for competitive keywords typically require 6-12 months of consistent SEO efforts. Remember that SEO is a long-term strategy, and rankings can fluctuate as Google updates its algorithms.

2. What’s the most important factor for improving my Google search ranking?

While Google uses over 200 ranking factors, high-quality, SEO-optimized content is consistently one of the most important elements. Your content should answer users’ questions thoroughly, include relevant keywords naturally, and provide genuine value to readers. Combined with good user experience (fast loading speed, mobile-friendliness) and quality backlinks, excellent content forms the foundation of strong search rankings.

3. How do I know which keywords to target for my website?

Start by putting yourself in your customers’ shoes and thinking about what they would search for to find your products or services. Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, and Google Search Console to research keyword popularity and competition. Focus on long-tail keywords (longer, more specific phrases) that are relevant to your business, as these are often easier to rank for and attract more qualified traffic.

4. Is it worth investing in professional SEO services, or can I do it myself?

Many basic SEO tasks can be done yourself, such as optimizing page titles, writing quality content, and setting up Google Business listings. However, technical SEO aspects like site speed optimization, advanced keyword research, and link building often benefit from professional expertise. Consider starting with DIY efforts and hiring SEO experts like SEO Design Chicago for more complex tasks or when you need faster, more comprehensive results.

5. How important is mobile optimization for my search ranking?

Mobile optimization is crucial for search rankings since Google uses mobile-first indexing, meaning it primarily uses the mobile version of your site for ranking purposes. Additionally, Google considers mobile page speed as a ranking factor. With more than half of all searches happening on mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly, fast-loading website is essential for both user experience and search rankings.

6. What are backlinks and how do I get them for my website?

Backlinks are links from other websites that point to your site. They’re important because they signal to Google that your website is a trusted authority on a topic. To earn quality backlinks, create valuable content that others want to reference, reach out to industry publications for guest posting opportunities, partner with local businesses for cross-promotion, and ensure your business is listed in relevant online directories. Focus on quality over quantity – a few high-quality backlinks are better than many low-quality ones.

7. How can I optimize my website for voice search?

Voice search optimization involves using natural, conversational language in your content since people speak differently than they type. Include full phrases and questions that people might ask aloud, such as “What’s the best pizza place near me?” rather than just “pizza restaurant.” Create FAQ pages that answer common questions about your business or industry, and focus on local SEO since many voice searches are location-based.

8. What’s “Position Zero” and how can I achieve it?

“Position Zero” refers to the featured snippet that appears above regular search results when Google pulls an answer directly from a website to display in a special box. To increase your chances of achieving Position Zero, structure your content to directly answer common questions in your industry, use clear headings and bullet points, provide concise but comprehensive answers, and create FAQ sections. Focus on providing authoritative, well-formatted answers to questions your target audience frequently asks.