Around four out of five users ignore paid ads when using a search engine. While Search Engine Advertising (SEA) has its strengths, most marketers agree that it’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) that really counts.
So what is SEO? A simple answer is it’s how to get on the first page of Google. Ranking on the first page of Google has huge knock-on effects, including lead generation, greater brand awareness, and increased revenue.
Read on for our top 8 tips on how you can make your website rank on the first page of Google’s search results.
1. Verify Page Speed
One important metric when looking at how to rank higher on Google is your website’s page speed. This is one of the most influential factors when it comes to Google’s ranking algorithm.
As part of Google’s aim to provide users with a high-quality experience, they do not want to be encouraging people to visit websites with slow page speeds.
If you’re unsure how to improve your page speed, or if this a problem you need to address, check out the Google Search Console. This is a free resource that contains a wealth of information for improving website page speeds.
2. Build Website Content
Content marketing goes a long way to improving SEO, and ultimately ranking on the first page of Google. Remember that evergreen content (which will remain relevant) is always preferable.
Include blog posts of 2000 words that address common concerns or questions that your potential customers might have.
One SEO specialist, Benjamin Ogden, emphasizes the importance of interactive elements on a website. This might be interactive quizzes or question-and-answer posts that address long-tail organic search queries.
3. Research the Relevant Keywords
When considering top SEO tips, we cannot overlook keywords. These are the backbone of SEO and crucial to being included in Google’s first page of search results.
It’s important to find the right balance when it comes to keywords. For example, let’s consider a business that sells shoes. If this business focused on ranking for the search term “black leather shoes” they would be unable to compete with the market leaders. Equally, by targeting “size 5 black leather shoes with a red strap in Pensacola” this would be far too specific to attract an audience of a reasonable size.
So, try to find and include on your website keywords that attract the right level of popularity.
4. Increase Inbound Links to Your Site
Google also favors websites that are authoritative. One way of increasing the authority of your site is by increasing the number of links to your website hosted by other businesses.
If you consider how many webpages include a link to The New York Times, for example, this gives you an idea of why they are an online authority.
A good way to increase the number of websites hosting a link to your page is to offer to write an article for them for free. Approach either general blogging sites or non-competitors with some overlap in content. They gain content for their website for free, while you increase the number of inbound links to your site.
5. Bring Attention to Your Location
When discussing how to rank on the first page of Google, it’s important to consider your location. While a better Google ranking will increase the likelihood of your website being seen all over the world, Google uses IP addresses to highlight local businesses.
If someone in your area is looking for a product or service, you want to appear in their search results. Thus, make sure to include keywords such as “your industry + your location” throughout your website’s content.
This means that when someone searches for “hairdressers near me”, for example, hairdressers in that area drawing attention to their location will rank highly in the search results.
6. Create Video Content
People generally prefer to digest content via video rather than blog posts. Google’s ranking algorithm reflects this interest and favors websites that host video content.
Video is a more interactive form of media than text and helps to create a connection between the business and customer. Videos are engaging and encourage browsers to spend more time on a website than an article does.
Including video content will also help your business’s SEO because it is more likely to be shared and linked to. It might be worth investing in a video creator to ensure your video content is of high quality.
7. Focus on the Technical Side
There are several key website SEO tips that relate to the technical aspects of your website. These are basic points to include on every webpage of your site.
First, consider your metadata. It’s important to include keywords in your meta title, meta description, and URL. These pieces of your website tell both Google and browsers what the content of your website relates to.
You also need to use header tags (h1, h2, or h3) to indicate the hierarchy of your content.
Finally, use alt tags on images to let Google know that any pictures on your website relate to the keywords you’re trying to target.
8. Be Mobile-Friendly
Our final tip for how to use SEO techniques to your advantage is to make sure your website is mobile-friendly. Mobile devices are becoming increasingly popular devices for internet browsing, so make sure your website’s content is optimized for both computers and mobile phones.
As well as fast mobile page loading speeds, your site must be responsive and resize depending on the device. It is also useful to have an accessible menu to allow easy browsing no matter which device is used.
That’s How to Get on the First Page of Google
Following these 8 tips is a great start for improving your search engine ranking. Of course, if you’re wondering how to get on the first page of Google, the most important thing is to invest in each of these methods, instead of focusing on just one or two.
If you found this article about SEO techniques helpful, make sure you take a look at our other business-related posts!
