1. Mobile First Indexing
2. Having a secure website
3. Page Experience
4. Schema
5. Social Signals
6. Keyword - optimized content
7. Optimized Images
8. The effect of business listings
9. Backlinks
10. Domain age
Top 10 Critical Search Ranking Factors
May 18, 2021
A year ago Google announced a major change to its search ranking algorithm that will roll-out in June 2021. So, where does this update land in importance on the list of search ranking factors?
Did you know that Google uses over 200 ranking factors in their algorithm? That’s right… 200. And, Google is constantly updating its search optimization requirements, then rewarding optimized sites that keep up with its requirements. And, the latest Page Experience (Core Web Vitals) update is a biggy! But, where does it sit in our Top 10 list of importance?
The Juuced Top 10 list of Search Ranking Factors!
MOBILE FIRST INDEXING
Google announced in late 2019 that mobile-first indexing is going to be the new norm. Mobile First has arrived. This means that your ranking signals are now going to come from the mobile version of your site, not the desktop version.
Around 55% of all web traffic comes from mobile devices, which is only expected to increase. What you may not be aware of is that having a mobile-friendly site isn’t enough anymore – now you need to be “mobile-first.” In other words, it’s time to stop thinking of mobile as an adjunct to your desktop site and start prioritizing your mobile SEO first.
HAVING A SECURE WEBSITE
As a searcher, you want to find a website that has the information that you need. No one wants to take time out of their day to click on multiple links only to find that they are all useless. This is why Google wants to offer a secure experience while matching the needs of searchers. As of 2014, Google announced that HTTPS encryption was to be included as a ranking factor.
PAGE EXPERIENCE (Core Web Vitals)
We are living in a society that is fast-paced and constantly changing. Nobody wants to be left behind. This causes people to have a short fuse when it comes to patience, and Google is taking this seriously! Set to roll-out in June this year are Google's new Page Experience (Web Vitals) criteria. If your website does not load quickly or has a poor user experience, your website will be impacted!
Core Web Vitals are a new set of standards that Google will use to evaluate if a page provides a good user experience. These metrics are:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures the speed at which a page’s main content is loaded. This should occur within 5 seconds of landing on a page.
- First Input Delay (FID): Measures the speed at which users are able to interact with a page after landing on it. This should occur within 100 milliseconds.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures how often users experience unexpected layout shifts. Pages should maintain a CLS of less than 0.1.
SCHEMA
Schema mark-up is micro-data that makes it easier for search engines, searches, and crawlers to gather information from your website to gain an understanding of what content you are trying to produce.
SOCIAL SIGNAL BENEFITS
It is important that you have a strong social presence when it comes to social media. Nowadays, everything is online, and almost everyone is on social media. It has become a platform that companies and influencers take advantage of to gain more eyes and traction to their brand. Having a significant social presence can definitely rank your website higher on Google search results.
KEYWORDS
Google crawlers rely on keywords to gain an understanding of what each website has to offer. There are two types of keywords, short tail (one to two words) and long tail (three or more words). These are what searchers use when looking to answer a question or find specific information for other needs.
For better ranking you want your keywords and information to be fresh and new. This way Google will find your page to be compelling and exciting, ready for readers to click on at the top of the list.
OPTIMIZED IMAGES
The classic saying, “an image is worth a thousand words” is actually very accurate. Using optimized images provides a bold way to keep readers interested, and it does in fact lead to higher search rankings on Google.
Keep in mind that many website builders will require a wide range of formats and resolution quality requirements that may differ from one another.
THE EFFECT OF BUSINESS LISTINGS
Earlier on we talked about how important social presence is when creating a successful website. Search engines like Google will rank websites they believe are more trustworthy and established higher on their rankings. The more successful your brand appears online, the more visibility Google will give your site.
BACKLINKS
Backlinks represent a "vote of confidence" from one site to another, and the relevance and domain authority of a page can increase exponentially when it is linked to from a trusted URL.
Links from relevant and similar-minded websites hold great value in the SEO world. Similarly, backlinks from well-established websites have the additional benefit of driving organic traffic directly to your website as well.
Think about it — would a link from the BostonGlobe.com or CNN.com result in a lot of traffic to a website? It sure would! These are incredibly high ranking domains that carry a lot of SEO value.
DOES DOMAIN AGE REALLY MATTER?
Though the final factor is something that you cannot change, it is still important. Domain age is how long your website has been in existence. Some people do believe that domain age plays a role in ranking your website.
In Summary!
It's important to note that an overhaul of your search ranking will not happen overnight. Improving search results rankings takes time and consistency. There are billions of websites online and competition can be stiff. Focusing on the most critical Google ranking factors is key to moving a website higher in Search.
Need help with your online presence? Contact our expert team today!
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