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What Is SEO? Learn the Basics of Search Engine Optimization

By implementing these practices, website owners can increase their website’s visibility and attract more organic traffic. With a team working non-stop on improving Google’s search engine, the focus moved from factors like keyword density to user experience and high-quality content. These algorithm updates are still very much a part of the SEO field, with Google releasing a new one (or multiple) every year. You can expect this to be a continuous process where search engines adapt to current search behaviour and adjust their algorithms to keep showing users the best results for their search query. Google has been somewhat forthcoming about which local SEO ranking factors it considers important, but the specific algorithm is a closely guarded secret. Local SEO ranking factors are the specific things marketers focus on to help improve the position of businesses in search results.

  • Another SEO ranking factor that relates to user experience is page load speed.
  • The criteria for the evaluation of web pages and to produce this ranking are generally referred to as ranking factors.
  • This of course does not apply to all search results – Google can distinguish content that needs new information constantly as opposed to “evergreen” content.
  • Related ResourceSee The Ultimate Guide to SEO Link Building to learn the tricks & techniques the experts are using to build quality links.
  • Local SEO is important because many people use search engines to find local businesses.

Structured data

seo ranking factors

Beyond the content itself, on-page factors signal a page’s relevance and quality. The website architecture, including site speed, mobile-friendliness, and URL structures, impacts on-page SEO. On-page SEO is fine-tuning various website components to help search engines crawl, understand, and rank pages for relevant queries. Building quality backlinks to your website can improve its perceived authoritativeness and lead to higher SEO rankings.

Key Technical SEO Optimizations

So instead of typing “best SEO agency,” people might say, “Who’s the best SEO agency near me?” Tailor your content to match this natural way of speaking. Voice search isn’t a future trend; it’s here now, and it’s growing fast. If you’re not optimizing for voice, you’re leaving money on the table. The changes are about how SEO professionals conceptualize and examine their efforts, not about changing the impact of individual BHS Links signals. Refer to our dedicated tutorial on keyword research to explore keyword research techniques and strategies. With most web traffic now coming from mobile devices, mobile-friendliness is another aspect of page experience.

seo ranking factors

Many have business directories, event listings, or partnership opportunities that can help boost your local authority while strengthening community connections. Choose the right business categories for your Google Business Profile to help Google understand what your business offers and match you with the right searches. If you pick the wrong categories — or don’t add enough — you could be missing out on potential customers. Once your Google Maps presence is primed for search engines, it will keep working for you.

seo ranking factors

That’s why we offer a free and Premium version of our WordPress plugin, allowing you to get started with SEO without too much trouble. Our free plugin comes with features like the SEO and readability analyses, which give you feedback on your content right away. Our Premium plugin gives you access to some more features like AI-powered features, a redirect tool, and the possibility to add multiple keywords per page. There is also a Yoast SEO app for Shopify that comes with a lot of the same features, but is more focused on SEO for online stores. Before you get to content creation, it’s important to get your technical SEO in order.

Whether you need help optimizing your website for speed, improving user experience, or building high-quality backlinks, our team of experts is here to help. Google’s algorithms are increasingly focused on delivering the most relevant and high-quality content to users. The more helpful, informative, and engaging your content is, the better it will perform in search rankings. Incorporating an FAQ section on your website is an effective way to improve user experience. Addressing common questions about your business will help visitors find information quickly, while also adding valuable content for search engines to crawl.

Additionally, consider long-tail keywords, as they often have less competition and can drive targeted traffic. With tools like Moz, you can track your rankings and analyze competitors’ performance, providing a well-rounded view of the landscape. This can inform your strategy and highlight opportunities for growth. Always compare options for affordability and comprehensive features to find the best fit for your needs. This is quite a long list of Google ranking factors—too long to memorize and remember. So, in a way, EAT is the combination of multiple Google ranking factors working together.

seo ranking factors

Understanding the individual factors that are most likely to move the needle is far more useful than looking at improving a whole group. How these areas are ordered in importance has remained broadly similar to previous years, meaning every discipline should still be accounted for in your strategy. To summarize the whole facts, the following has to be considered if you want to climb to the top of the YouTube ranking. While one can argue that longer videos have an advantage over shorter ones in this respect, you shouldn’t forget that it’s ultimately the video content that matters.