Website Positioning: How to Improve Your Google Search Ranking?

Do you need to improve your Google search ranking? In this article, you will learn how Google ranks search results and how to use that for your website optimization. Improve your website positioning, raise your traffic, and turn visitors into satisfied customers.

INDEX

• How Does Google Rank Websites?
• How to Improve Your Google Search Ranking?
  • 15 Most Important Rank Factors in SEO
• On-page SEO
• Off-page SEO
• Technical SEO
• Conclusion

Google uses its own algorithm to evaluate websites and rank them in search results. The algorithm is a combination of various ranking factors in SEO that can gradually change over months or years. No one (probably except the Google employees themselves) can say with precision and certainty how to get on the first page of Google and what all Google considers when ranking websites in the search results.

How Does Google Rank Websites?

In practice, the user enters a search query into Google, such as “how to create your own website for free”. After, the Google algorithm evaluates the query according to its ranking factors in SEO and gives the user a list of relevant and high-quality websites arranged in a certain order. The more quality and relevant your website is, the higher position in search results Google gives you. Of course, everyone would like to be in the top position because that is where most users click and likely become a customer.

Search results: Create your own website for free

How to Improve Your Google Search Ranking?

According to the official Google document, there are more than 200 ranking factors in SEO. Luckily, some are broadly known, so you can improve the position of your website in Google easily.

15 Most Important Rank Factors in SEO:

• Good quality text and original content
• Keywords
• Meta title
• Meta description
• URL
• H1 heading
• Subheadings H2 and H3
• Internal and external links
• Alt Tags
• Images and multimedia
• Link building
• UX
• Security
• Website speed
• Responsiveness

On-page SEO

Good Quality Text and Original Content

Content quality is always more important than its quantity. Pay attention to the originality of your content. Avoid duplication and do not plagiarize texts under any circumstances.

Keywords

Firstly, identify good keywords for your business and then use them well. Google algorithms rank better those websites that have keywords included not only in the text but also in the meta title, main heading (H1) and subheadings (H2, H3), meta description, and URL address.

In the Webnode website builder, you can find SEO settings under the “pages” button, individual articles or products have SEO settings as well.

SEO settings in Webnode website builder

However, keyword stuffing does not worth it. Too many keywords in the text make the content of the website unattractive to users and algorithms either. On the other side, too few keywords may not lead to the expected traffic.

Meta Title, Meta Description, and URL

Meta title and meta description summarize the content of your website and present it to users in search results. It is what people see at first when they search for certain keywords. Therefore, the meta title and meta description should both contain main keywords and have the right length. The same applies to the URL address. Additionally, the shorter the URL, the better.

H1, H2 and H3 Headings

Headings and subheadings are important for text understanding. With good headings and subheadings, you can make it easier for readers and Google algorithms to go smoothly through the website. Add heading H1 to your homepage and all subpages. Also, use subordinate headings with lower importance in the correct sequence (H2→H3).

Multimedia and Alt Tags

Google page positioning isn’t guided just by the text. It is certainly a good idea to place various multimedia and images on your website. A visually rich website is also more attractive to visitors and potential customers.

Simultaneously, don’t forget about the alternative texts of the images – ALT Tags. Alt Tag helps Google to find out what the image expresses. ALT Tag is also displayed when the image couldn’t be loaded.

Internal and External Links

In addition, the text should contain internal links leading to various subpages of your website and external links leading to relevant and trustworthy sources.

Off-page SEO

Link building

Link building means referring to your website from good and relevant external sources. The general image and awareness of your company play an important role in your website link-building.

Social Networks

Off-page SEO includes links from social networks, comments, reviews, or so-called brand mentions. Therefore, connecting your website to various social media profiles is a great way to go. You can easily set up social network icons in the website header on each page. To add a Facebook widget in the Webnode website builder follow this guide.

Technical SEO

Technical SEO refers to the user experience (UX) and technical aspects of your website.

Secure Your Website

Your website should have a sitemap and an SSL certificate that keeps data safe. You can simply add a sitemap in Google Search Console. Webnode issues an SSL certificate automatically on each project.

UX, Responsiveness, and Website Speed

In addition, Google algorithms also work with user experience. UX elements that influence your Google page position are responsiveness, website speed, or an intuitive menu.

Tip: SEO is a complex knowledge field and people who deal with it are called SEO specialists. Various experienced agencies help their clients with SEO optimization. Do not hesitate to call for the help of experts. You can also choose from many online tools to check SEO optimization of your website.

An optimized website is essential

How to improve your ranking on Google search? Focus on the quality and relevance of your website content, and place keywords in the text and metadata. Build your brand and expertise. Pay attention to the user experience and the technical aspects of your website. Do this and Google algorithms and users will love your website.

Do you want to dive deeper into the secrets of SEO? Go for this guide on how to optimize your website step by step.