In the context of search engine optimization (SEO), "ranking" refers
to the position at which a particular website or web page
appears in the search engine results page (SERP) when a
specific keyword or phrase is queried (entered by the user). The main goal for
most SEO efforts is to achieve a higher ranking in search
engine results pages, as higher positions
generally lead to more website traffic. To optimize for higher rankings,
SEO professionals and website owners work on improving all the known ranking factors and ensuring the pages are as relevant
as possible, while also keeping up with the
latest updates and changes in search engine algorithms.
Below is a list of the various types of rankings along with some factors which can be referred to within the topic of ranking.
Organic rankings are the positions that websites naturally appear in the SERPs based on their perceived relevance to the search query. Paid rankings, on the other hand, are the results that advertisers pay for to appear at the top or bottom of the SERPs.
Multiple factors determine how a website is ranked for a particular keyword.
These include content quality, keyword usage, meta tags, URL structure, internal linking.
Primarily backlinks, but also includes social signals, brand mentions.
Apart from the traditional organic listings, search engines like Google now provide a range of results formats like featured snippets, "People also ask" boxes, video results, image results, etc. These can sometimes take a more prominent position than traditional organic listings.
It's natural for a website's ranking to fluctuate. Multiple factors can lead to this, including algorithm updates by the search engine, increased competition, changes in the website's content or backlink profile, technical issues.
Modern search engines personalize results based on factors like a user\'s search history, location, device, and more. This means that two users might see slightly different SERPs even when they search for the same keyword.
Page speed, mobile-friendliness, secure and accessible website and structured data.
Click-through rate (CTR), bounce rate and dwell time.
These are specific to local businesses or services. Google (and other search engines) provides localized results based on the user's location or the location specified in the search query.
Increasing document relevance in SEO pertains to making sure your content very closely matches the intent
and needs of the user's search query. The importance of this cannot be overstated.
Think if the image on the left - the top shows what a search engine expects to see for a search of "tree", and the bottom
could represent a matching (your) document. The more different your document is from the top image, the lower in the search results page
it will be.
Being relevant means that both search engines
and users find your content to be the best answer or solution to a question or problem.
Here are a few tips on how you can increase relevance for SEO - note that this
changes over time so be careful to research yourself.....
Understand User Intent
Before optimizing for a keyword, understand what users are looking for when they use that keyword. Are they looking for information, a solution to a problem, or are they trying to purchase something?
High-Quality Content
Ensure your content is thorough, accurate, and provides value to readers. Addressing user queries comprehensively can make your content more relevant to those queries.
Keyword Research
Identify keywords relevant to your niche or business. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, or Ahrefs. Once you have your keywords, incorporate them naturally into your content.
Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Craft your title tags and meta descriptions carefully so they closely reflect the actual content of your web page. This not only helps search engines but also lets users know what to expect from your page.
Headers and Content Structure
Use headers (H1, H2, H3...) to layout and structure the flow of your content. This can often make it easier for web crawlers and search engines to prioritise and understand the hierarchy and relevance of your content.
Semantic SEO
Use related keywords, synonyms, and variations in your content. This allows search engines to understand the topic of your content better and can increase relevance for a broader range of queries.
Internal Linking
Link to other relevant pages on your site. This helps search engines understand the relationship between different pieces of content on your website and can boost the perceived relevance of your content.
Optimize for Featured Snippets
Format your content in a way that it can be easily picked up as a featured snippet (like Q&A format, lists, or tables). This can increase your visibility and clicks from the SERPs.
Regularly Update Content
As information changes or gets outdated, it's crucial to update your content to keep it relevant.
Engage with Your Audience
Engaging with comments or feedback can give insights into what your audience finds relevant. This can guide content updates or the creation of new, relevant content.
Use Relevant Images and Alt Text
Images can enhance the user experience and relevance of your content. Ensure that the images you use are relevant to your content and use descriptive alt text for them.
Analyze and Iterate
Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to see how users are interacting with your site. If certain pages have high bounce rates or low time-on-page metrics, they might not be considered as relevant by users.
Focus on E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Especially for YMYL (Your Money Your Life) topics, Google places a lot of emphasis on E-A-T. Ensure your content is written by experts, is authoritative, and is trustworthy.
Address User Needs and Pain Points
If you're addressing the specific needs, concerns, or questions your target audience has, your content will naturally be more relevant to them.
Before getting too deep - its worth noting that these can change over time, are not confirmed as 100% fact and we have not shown any weight which may or may not be assigned to any particular item.
Remember that the engines guard their secrets very well. Just because an item is in this list
today, doesn't mean it should be there tomorrow. This list is therefore intended for you to get a general idea from - do not
rely on it as the be all and end all - there is much more to rankings. Additionally, implement any of these items at your own risk.
The list could be out of date by the time you read it and could therefore damage your ranking efforts.
Content Quality
Well-researched, comprehensive content that provides real value to users.
Keyword Relevance
Using keywords in content that match user search intent.
Backlink Quality
High-quality, relevant backlinks from authoritative websites.
Backlink Quantity
Overall number of backlinks pointing to a website.
Mobile Friendliness
How well a website performs on mobile devices.
Page Speed
The loading time of a webpage, both on desktop and mobile.
Domain Age
Older domains can be seen as more trustworthy.
Domain Authority
A metric (commonly used by tools like Moz) which estimates a domain's overall quality and ability to rank.
URL Structure
Clean and descriptive URLs which can indicate the content and silo of the page.
HTTPS (SSL Certificate)
Secure websites might get a ranking advantage.
On-page Optimization
Proper use of title tags, meta descriptions, headers, etc.
User Engagement Metrics
Click-through rate (CTR), bounce rate, dwell time, etc.
Content Freshness
How regularly content is updated.
Internal Linking
Effective linking to other pages within the same website.
Anchor Text of Backlinks
Relevant anchor text that describes the content.
Duplicate Content
Non-unique content can negatively affect rankings.
Image Optimization
Using optimized images with relevant alt tags.
Schema Markup
Helps search engines understand the context of content.
Keyword Density
Ensuring natural usage of keywords without over-optimization.
Page Depth
How many clicks it takes to reach a page from the homepage.
Social Signals
Engagement metrics from social platforms, such as shares and likes.
Content Length
In-depth content often ranks better for certain search queries.
Technical SEO
Proper site structure, XML sitemaps, robots.txt, etc.
Site Architecture
How content is structured and organized on a website.
User Experience (UX)
Intuitive design, easy navigation, and overall user-friendliness.
Brand Signals
Search queries that include a brand or domain name.
Country TLD extension
For example, .ca, .uk, .au can help rank for country-specific searches.
Voice Search Optimization
Content that's optimized for voice search queries.
Local Citations
Mentions of a business or website on other local websites.
Google My Business
Properly optimized and verified GMB listings for local searches.
Breadcrumbs
Help in structuring a website and improve user navigation.
Page's Overall SERP CTR
How often users click on a page when it appears in search results.
Mobile Optimization
Adaptive design and elements optimized for mobile use.
Site Downtime
Frequent downtime or site unavailability can hurt rankings.
Optimized Videos
Relevant videos with proper meta information.
E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Especially for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics.
Diversity of Backlink Sources
Links coming from a variety of unique domains.
Loading Time for First Byte
Speed at which the first byte of data is received from the server.
Interstitial Pop-ups
Intrusive pop-ups, especially on mobile, can be penalized.
Core Web Vitals
Metrics introduced by Google focusing on user experience elements like loading performance, interactivity, and visual stability.
Whilst these factors play a role in SEO rankings,
the search algorithms' complexity means they can interplay in myriad ways.
It's essential to approach SEO with a holistic mindset, focusing not just on
individual factors but on a full range of SEO services for creating an overall valuable and accessible web presence.