Do you know what is harder than finding a needle in a haystack? Ranking a website on Google’s first page. Even the most experienced digital marketers find it difficult to achieve this feat, so it easily gets a bit tricky for those with little experience. So, why is it so important to rank high in Google searches? This is because around 99% of users do not look beyond the results displayed on the first page.  

If you are wondering how to improve the Google ranking of a website, you are in the right place. This blog sheds light on some of the tried and tested search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies deployed by top brands worldwide to beat the competition and rank and improve their Google ranking.  

How to improve your site’s Google ranking? Read on to find out.  

In-depth Guide to Improve Your Website’s Google Ranking 

This section explores the various strategies one can use to rank higher in Google search results. Note them down and skyrocket your website’s Google rankings.  

1. Improve on-page SEO

If you think only off-page SEO can improve your website’s ranking, think again. It is equally important to focus on on-page SEO to ensure Google is happy with your site. So, what do we mean by on-page SEO? On-page SEO means optimising your existing web page to improve its current Google ranking. This includes optimising headers, the alt-texts of images, incorporating relevant keywords in meta titles and descriptions and more.  

Here are some on-page SEO activities that could potentially improve your ranking across search engines.  

  • Enhance your site’s loading speed 
  • Use keywords in your titles and descriptions 
  • Interlink internal pages 
  • Add alt-texts to images with relevant keywords 
  • Ensure that keyword density is between 1% and 3% 

2. Keep an Eye on Website Indexation 

How to increase Google’s ranking? First, check whether the website is indexed properly. It is hard to find an item on a menu in a restaurant if the menu isn’t organised properly. In the same vein, Google will ignore your website if it is not indexed properly. So, how do you index your website? By submitting your website’s XML sitemap to Google Search Console. All you need to do is click Sitemaps under the Index section.  

3. Define Search Intent Clearly

Google is one of the top tech companies in the world for a reason. It deploys advanced algorithms to identify the search intent of every user query and display the most relevant results accordingly. Therefore, it is imperative to rank on the first page.  

For example, someone who searches for ‘how to make fried rice in 10 minutes’ is looking for the fastest and the easiest way to do it. Google’s algorithms will find the most relevant search results and display them on the first page. It can either be a short and crisp video or a step-by-step short and crisp written guide with images.  

Typically, there are four major types of intent. These include informational, navigational, commercial, and transactional.  

4. Focus on Long-Tail Keywords

One of the most common mistakes digital marketers make is to use the most popular keywords to rank high on Google. While there is nothing wrong with this approach, you are only making it difficult for yourself to beat the competition and rank higher. We suggest that you think a bit out of the box and target the long-tail keywords that are easier to rank. Most long-tail keywords are easier to rank, have little competition, and more importantly, are intent-based.  

5. Create High-quality Content 

How to improve website ranking on Googe? One of the most effective ways to do so is by creating high-quality, concise, and relevant content. There is a reason why content is king. Why do you create content? Is it only to improve your website’s SEO, establish authority, or genuinely cater to your audience’s queries? Well, if your answer is ‘all of the above’, you are on the right track.  

Create high-quality content across different formats to ensure your users find answers to what they are searching for. It is always a good idea to focus on your niche and create content around it to establish yourself as an expert. Boost your site’s authority by creating top-quality content regularly.  

6. Create a Solid Backlink Strategy

What are backlinks? A backlink is a link or the relationship between two websites and to be honest, Google likes websites with genuine and strong backlinks. When an external website cites or adds a link that redirects to your website, it signals that the content quality is high and worth showing to users. Link-building is arguably one of the toughest elements of SEO, which is why many digital marketers are tempted to buy backlinks. Our suggestion? Never buy backlinks.  

A better way to get backlinks is to enter a link exchange agreement with the other website or publish guest blogs on relevant websites.  

7. Improve User Experience

Do not discount the importance of your website’s use experience if you are looking to rank high on Google. Attaining higher search engine rankings requires consistent efforts and a perfect blend of technical and non-technical aspects to work together. Ensure that your website is responsive and compatible with all types of devices including tablets, mobile phones, desktops, and more.  

It is also important to check the loading speeds of your website to reduce bounce rates and improve the overall user experience. Use standard designs and fonts, ensure the interface is clutter-free, and all the buttons are placed properly.  

Parting Words

Let’s admit it; showing up on Google’s first page is no joke and requires a full-fledged SEO strategy. View the process as amassing a corpus for retirement of planting a tree which can take years of consistent efforts to grow.  

It is worth noting that getting your website to rank on Google’s first page may take a few months, so it is crucial to be patient. That said, you need to proactively monitor the key SEO parameters, tweak your SEO strategy, and identify areas where you can improve.  

Research, identify the best SEO tools based on your requirements and budget, and build a solid SEO strategy to get your website higher on Google.  

Ready to boost your online presence and dominate the search results? Contact us today to discuss our tailored SEO services and take your website to the next level! 

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to rank 1 in Google?  

There isn’t a sure-shot way to answer this. That said, it can take about three to six months of consistent SEO efforts and top-quality content creation to rank your website on Google’s first page.  

Does website traffic increase Google’s ranking? 

There is a lot of discussion on the relationship between website traffic to a website’s Google ranking. However, website traffic is not an important ranking factor according to Google.  

How to increase Google ranking for free? 

You can increase your website’s Google ranking for free by using SEO automation, fixing broken links, interlinking relevant pages and content pieces, publishing fresh content, optimising on-page SEO elements, and implementing the best SEO practises.  

What affects Google’s ranking?  

Some of the factors that affect Google’s ranking include content quality, relevance, search intent, mobile friendliness, loading speed, domain authority, and more.