Google keeps updating its ranking algorithm every now and then, making it difficult for SEO experts to keep up with the changes. However, there are some ranking factors that have remained constant over the years and continue to be important in 2022. Here are 10 such ranking factors that you shouldn’t ignore if you want your website to rank high on Google searches.
1. Website speed:
A fast website is not only good for user experience but also for ranking high on Google. Google has stated that site speed is a ranking factor, so you need to make sure your website loads quickly. Ensure your website is loading fast on both desktop and mobile devices. There are several ways, like using CDN, implementing lazy loading, and compressing images that you can use to improve your website’s speed.
2. Mobile-friendliness:
Google is now prioritizing mobile-friendly websites over those that are not optimized for mobile devices. So, if you want your website to rank high on Google, you need to make sure it is responsive and can be viewed correctly on all devices. You can use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool to see if your website is mobile-friendly or not. In addition, with the latest page experience update, Google will be giving even more weight to mobile-friendliness. Google has said that user experience is a ranking factor, so you need to make sure your website is easy to use and navigate.
3. Keywords:
Using the right keywords is crucial for ranking high on Google. You need to do keyword research to find out which keywords are most relevant to your business and then use them throughout your website, including in the title, meta descriptions, H1 tags, and body content. However, don’t stuff keywords as that will not only hurt your ranking but also get you penalized by Google.
4. Content:
Creating high-quality and relevant content is another important ranking factor. Your content needs to be well-written, informative, and engaging. It should also be keyword-optimized so that it can rank for the right keywords. In addition, your content must be updated regularly to ensure it is fresh and relevant. Your website’s content should be well-designed and organized so that users can find what they are looking for easily.
5. Content relevance and structure:
The relevance and structure of your website’s content are two important ranking factors. Your content must be relevant to your business and target audience. It should also be well-structured so that users can find what they are looking for easily. You can also use schema markup to structure your content and help Google understand your website better.
6. Backlinks:
Backlinks are still an important ranking factor, despite all the changes in Google’s algorithm. A backlink is basically a link from another website to yours. The more backlinks you have from high-quality websites, the higher your website will rank on Google. So, start getting link buildings from relevant and authoritative websites.
7. Secure HTTPS site:
Google has said that HTTPS is a ranking factor, so you need to make sure your website is running on a secure HTTPS connection. This will not only help your website rank higher but will also give visitors the peace of mind that their personal information is safe when they are browsing your website.
8. Domain age, URL, and length:
The age of your domain, the URL of your website, and the length of your content are also important ranking factors. Google prefers websites that have been around for a while and have well-established URLs. In addition, longer content tends to rank higher than shorter pieces. Even if you’ve launched a new website, keep the quality of your content high to ensure it ranks well on Google.
9. Crawlability:
Another ranking factor that is often overlooked is crawlability. This refers to how easily Google can index your website and its content. If your website is not crawlable, then it will be difficult for Google to index it, which will hurt your ranking. So, make sure your website is crawlable by using the right sitemap and robot. In addition, also log into Google Search Console to submit your sitemap and check for crawl errors.
10. Dwell time:
Dwell time is the amount of time a user spends on your website before going back to the search results. The longer the dwell time, the better as it signals to Google that your content is relevant and engaging. You can improve your website’s dwell time by creating long-form content, using images and videos, and making sure your website loads quickly.
Wrapping up!
These are just some of the many ranking factors that you need to keep in mind when optimizing your website for Google. By focusing on these factors, you can help improve your website’s ranking and visibility in search results. Moreover, keep your website updated with fresh, relevant, and engaging content to keep users coming back for more.
