There is a reason that Google is the most widely used search engine in the world. With a market share of 84% Google wants to keep its hold on the market. With this its algorithm is constantly evolving to provide users with the most relevant and useful results. As a result, understanding the top ranking factors of Google is crucial for any website looking to improve its visibility and drive more traffic.
But first, lets look at what a ranking factor is
What is a ranking factor in search
A ranking factor in search refers to an aspect of a website that search engines use to determine the relevance and importance of the site when ranking it in the search engine results pages (SERPs). These factors include, but are not limited to, content quality and relevance, keyword usage, website structure and design, site speed, mobile responsiveness, and backlinks. The weight and importance of each ranking factor can vary depending on the search engine and the type of query being made, but optimising a website for these factors can help improve its search engine visibility and drive more organic traffic to the site.
Top 9 ranking factors on Google
Google tells us there are over 200 ranking factors that they look at when determining where a page is placed in SERP. But we all know that some outweigh others. It’s like an F1 team saying there are 200 components to top racing car and they are all equal. We all know that a powerful engine is 10 time more effective than a a tiny screw. So instead of listing all 200 plus, below are the top 9 ranking factors.
1. Content
The quality and relevance of a website’s content is one of the most important ranking factors. Google’s algorithm is designed to favour websites that have high-quality, well-written, and informative content that is relevant to the user’s search query.
2. Backlinks
Backlinks, or inbound links, are links from other websites that point to your website. Google views these links as a “vote of confidence” in your website’s content and authority, which can help to boost its ranking. The quality and relevance of the linking website and the anchor text used in the link are also important.
3. User Experience
Google places a high emphasis on user experience, and a website that is easy to navigate, fast-loading, and mobile-friendly is more likely to rank well. Google also takes into account factors such as time on site, bounce rate and click-through rate.
4. Keywords
The use of keywords in a website’s content, meta tags, and URLs is still an important ranking factor. However, Google’s algorithm now places more emphasis on the overall context and relevance of the content, rather than just the use of specific keywords.
5. Social Signals
Social media presence and engagement can also influence a website’s ranking. This is called Social Signals. Google takes into account the number of shares, likes, and followers a website has on social media platforms.
6. Domain Authority
The authority and trustworthiness of a website’s domain is also a ranking factor. Google looks at the age of the domain, the number of backlinks it has, and its overall reputation.
7. Technical SEO
Google’s algorithm also takes into account the technical aspects of a website, such as its code and structure. This includes things like XML sitemaps, structured data, and proper URL structure, which helps Google to better crawl and index the website.
8. Location
Google’s algorithm now incorporates location-based search results, so it’s important for businesses to optimise their website for local search. This includes including location keywords, adding Google Maps, and getting listed in online directories.
9. Featured snippets
Google’s Featured Snippets are selected search results that appear at the top of the SERP. They’re designed to give users a quick answer to their query without having to click through to a website. Optimising for featured snippets can give a website a significant boost in visibility and traffic.
Stay up to date with Googles ranking factors
It’s important to note that Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving, so the ranking factors are subject to change. As a result, it’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and algorithm updates to ensure that your website remains visible and competitive in search engine rankings.
In conclusion, understanding the top ranking factors of Google is crucial for any website looking to improve its visibility and drive more traffic. The top ranking factors include: Content, Backlinks, User Experience, Keywords, Social Signals, Domain Authority, Technical SEO, Location, Featured snippets. It’s important to stay up-to-date with the latest best practices and algorithm updates to ensure that your website remains visible and competitive in search engine rankings.
