Did you know that the first search engine hit the web in 1993? In almost 3 decades of internet searching, many fads have come and gone.
One thing that continues to grow in importance is search engine ranking position. If you have a website and want internet traffic, you need to optimize it for the search engine algorithm.
Understanding a website ranking position can feel like an overwhelming task. This post will break down some factors that influence search engine ranking. Step away from the search bar and read on!
- Page Speed
The speed at which your page loads plays a crucial role in your website rank on Google or other search engines. The longer it takes for your page to load, the more likely people are to click away–if they find your site in the first place. Try the following actions to reduce the time it takes for your page to load:
- Compress images
- Leverage browser caching
- Reduce redirects
- Optimize your code
- Use a content distribution network
- Quality Content
The higher your content quality, the higher your search engine position. But, how do you improve the quality of your content? To easily increase your content quality, try these steps:
- Tailor content for your target audience
- Write in simple, short sentences
- Avoid fluff
- Include verifiable data
- Use images
- Format for clarity (headings, clear paragraphs, transition words, etc.)
- Proofread and edit
- Link Building
The more reputable sites that link back to your page, the better! This shows the algorithm that you have content on your page that’s worth reading.
Internal links that help manage the flow of traffic on your site also affect your ranking for the better. Check out this SEO company for more information on the importance of links.
- Mobile Compatibility
Although it seems counter to common sense, it’s best to build your website for the mobile version first. Google ranks the content that comes from the mobile version of your site before it ranks the desktop version. After creating your mobile site, make sure your desktop site matches identically.
- Local SEO Citations
Google determines your local rating by three factors:
- Relevance
- Distance
- Prominence
Relevance refers to the degree of match between your local business profile and what someone searches for. Distance means how far the potential search result is from what the person is searching for. Prominence tries to give merit to the offline and online popularity of a place.
One easy way to increase local ranking is by verifying your business with Google.
Understand Your Search Engine Ranking Position
These factors that influence search engine ranking position are a great place to start as you strive for a higher ranking. As you take this information and apply it to your website, you’ll see your website climbing the ranks.
If you’re interested in other tech tips, we’ve got that for you. While you’re there, scroll around for hacks on health, home, and more!