Many companies hire digital marketers for Search engine optimization to optimize their contents or websites in search engine result pages, which they consider a failure while doing so on their own. I will inform you how to avoid failing into Google ‘s bad books and ways to keep abreast with Google’s site ranking algorithm.
Google Updates for SEO
Google works hard to keep its search engine authentic by providing relevant results to the end users. Over the past 25 years, ranking on Google has become highly competitive and complex. Google constantly updates its algorithms to prevent manipulation through tactics like keyword stuffing and anchor text. (anchor text is the text included in an external link pointing to the page). While these updates curb spam, even legitimate marketers sometimes exploit loopholes to achieve high rankings.
Google ‘s Penguin update in 2012 didn’t allow websites to rank higher in the search engine result pages with too many spammy links with the same anchor text directing to the same web page. Many companies lose millions of dollars overnight. To keep your content at the top and avoid the same mistake, we can take away two strategies from this context,
- Never rely on one tactic for SEO
- Always follow the best SEO practices to stay on the top in Google search results.
SEO Best Practices and Strategies (TAPU)
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TRUST
Google emphasizes trustworthy sites, rewarding those with high-quality content and reputable backlinks. Ensure your site has a real business address, contact information, and an about page with actual people to boost its trustworthiness and ranking.
- Authority
Authority reflects your site’s strength in the market. Sites with more social media followers and backlinks generally rank higher. Authority is a numerical game for example if you have 3000 followers and 2000 backlinks and your competitor has 1000 followers and 500 backlinks your website will rank higher.
- Pertinence
Google ranks sites based on how pertinent their content is. Even niche and local sites can rank high with the right or relevant content and secure links from related sites.
- User Encounter
Google measures user interaction with your site. Positive engagement indicates a good user experience leading to higher rankings. The secret to raising your website’s rating is to cut down on bounce rates and concentrate on improving user experience.
Google’s top 15 current ranking factors for SEO optimization
1)Distribution of Keyphrase/ Keyword: You have to evenly distribute your focus keyphrase throughout the whole text.
Keyphrase in the meta title, description, Slug, and introductory paragraph and conclusion is essential and should be evenly distributed throughout the whole text. If excessively used, google may send it to the sandbox, a form of penalty where such keywords can never be optimized.
2) Persistent content writing or engaging content publication
Regularly posting interesting and valuable content keeps your audience coming back. This builds trust and authority in your niche.
3) Niche competence: Demonstrating deep knowledge in a specific area makes your content more authoritative. It also attracts a dedicated and engaged audience.
4) Backlinks: Links from reputable websites to yours signal to search engines that your site is credible and considered genuine votes. This improves your search rankings and your website appears higher in the search results.
5)User engagement: High levels of interaction, such as comments and shares, indicate that your content is valuable. This can improve your search engine rankings. For example: if you search for a query then Quora or Redditt search results appear first.
6)Trustworthiness: Establishing your site as reliable and credible builds user trust. It also enhances your site’s reputation with search engines.
7)Mobile-friendly/mobile-first website: Optimizing your site for mobile devices ensures a smooth user experience. This is crucial as more people access the web from their phones.
8)Internal links: Linking to other pages within your site helps search engines crawl your content. It also keeps users on your site longer.
9)Page speed: Fast-loading pages provide a better user experience and reduce bounce rates. Search engines favor sites that load quickly.
10) Site security/SSL certification: Having a secure site protects user data and builds trust. Search engines prioritize secure sites in their rankings.
11) Outbound Link: You should add at least one outbound link from a well authority website while optimizing content.
12) Internal link: One internal link should be used, referring back to your website or some other relevant content on your website.
13) Text Length: The recommended minimum text length should be 300 words and Google appreciate text length more than 600 words.
14) Alternative text on Image: It is a brief description of an image used in HTML code. It is used by search engines like Google to understand the content of an image, as well as by screen readers to describe the image to visually impaired users including relevant keywords in alt text. It can also help improve SEO.
15) Long Tail Keyword: Long tail keywords play a crucial role in SEO by helping websites attract more targeted traffic and rank higher in search engine results. These Keywords help in lower competition, higher conversion rates, improved content relevance and capture niche audience. By strategically incorporating longtail keywords into your content , you can enhance your website’s SEO performance, attract more targeted traffic and improve overall conversion rates.
Ignored Opportunities:
Do you know that 40% of Gen Z is inclined towards TikTok and Instagram instead of Google whereas in China, WeChat is popular for searching?
This shift is notable as internal Google Data indicates that nearly 40% of Gen Z users when looking for recommendations or information prefer these social media platforms over traditional search engines. This trend highlights the changing habits of younger generations and suggests businesses may need to adjust their marketing strategies to reach this demographic effectively.
Final thoughts:
Staying updated with Google’s SEO changes is crucial for maintaining and enhancing your website’s ranking.
By focusing on creating reliable content, securing reputable backlinks, and ensuring your site has clear contact information and a professional appearance, you can significantly boost your site’s credibility.
Additionally, optimizing for mobile users, improving user engagement through internal linking and fast-loading pages, and securing your website with SSL certification are essential steps. Furthermore, leveraging opportunities on social media and other relevant channels is vital for reaching your audience and optimizing your content.
By consistently applying these strategies, you can successfully navigate Google’s complex SEO landscape, ensuring long-term visibility and success for your website.
By Munazza Zareen Fahad
www.virtualbusiness365.com
Reference: SEO 2023 ADAM CLARK