We had hoped to see some correlation especially for generic one- or two-word queries. Our belief was that the high competition for generic searches would make smaller factors like page speed stand out more. Search engines value these aspects because they want to present their users with websites that provide a proper user experience. A page that takes forever to load, doesn’t exist anymore, or isn’t secure, provides a terrible user experience and will not make users happy. Also, aspects such as crawlability and structured data help search engines understand what your pages are about.
How Website Speed Actually Impacts Search Ranking
For example, using the right LSI keywords will tell Google that when searchers type in “mini,” your page is relevant to the car rather than the skirt, and vice versa. But one of the biggest questions we get at OptinMonster is about how to use LSI keywords to optimize content. We’ll look more at linking practices to improve SEO ranking in tip #8. Though Google has penalized exact-match domains (those where the target keyword is in the URL), that penalty is generally for spammy sites with thin content.
Create multiple content pieces on related keywords that revolve around a central keyword or theme. Google doesn’t like anonymous sites and encourages webmasters to create “contact us” and “about us” pages. Make sure the name of your images is also relevant, so you can rank in Google images as well. Maintenance or server problems may affect your rankings if they are often happening. There are two different ways Google can analyze your bounce rate and AVG time per visit.
- To build high-quality backlinks, focus on guest blogging, influencer outreach, and creating shareable content that others will want to link to.
- Monitoring your SEO performance is crucial for making informed improvements.
- Newly launched websites on brand-new domains may experience a temporary ranking suppression known as the “Google Sandbox effect”.
- More people are using AI tools for their online searches and search engines are also investing in providing AI-driven search experiences.
- For a long time we have been using ALT tags to tell Google what our images are about.
- Besides publishing original content and getting backlinks, one of the most well-known ranking factors is the use of keywords on websites.
Marko and Brando, the best SEO agency in Kolkata, specializes in result-driven SEO strategies tailored for businesses. One of the best ways your website can establish it is through links from other reputable websites. However, there is evidence they play a role in a site’s initial ranking, and some professionals believe they’re used to group pages. While they shouldn’t be your top SEO priority, you don’t want to ignore them. What was once so important to rankings now plays a much smaller role. While ranking in search results without a responsive design is still possible, Google strongly recommends having one.
Tracking your local rankings progress
Instead, the shift means that Google views the mobile version as the primary version of the site. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can seem overwhelming due to the amount of information and techniques involved. However, by breaking it down into manageable steps, you can create a strong foundation for your website’s visibility and performance.
If you run a coffee shop in Austin, for example, phrases like “best coffee in Austin” SEO Anomaly or “Austin coffee shop near me” should be part of your content. More people use mobile than desktop to search for services, especially local ones. If your small business relies on local traffic, you can’t afford to ignore mobile optimization. In essence, HTTPS and other aspects of page experience are signals used by Google’s core ranking systems, not standalone ones.
The more natural and quality links you get from different websites, higher your domain authority score is. This list is an ongoing and ever-changing resource that we are adding to and removing factors from as we learn more. Google and other search engines have algorithms and systems that constantly scour the internet to determine where sites should rank.
This is then shown in one overview, with the hope that this directly answers the specific question asked. Once you’ve started making moves on influencing the local SEO ranking factors that will determine your online success, you’ll need to get an objective view of how well you’re doing. Looking at Google search results doesn’t give you the most accurate representation of where your business ranks locally, because even in incognito mode, Google is influenced by you as a user.
Consider using a site speed optimization solution that can serve pages instantly by predicting user behavior to preload them in advance. This can minimize wait times and align sites with Google’s page speed standards, supporting user satisfaction and SEO performance. Use descriptive file names that include relevant keywords to maximize the positive impact of your alt text. Ensure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online platforms, including your website, social media profiles, directories, and local listings. Above all, you should take care to avoid “black hat” SEO practices, which are dishonest or unethical attempts to game search algorithms and artificially boost rankings.