The front page of Google is the holy grail for most online entrepreneurs. It is the gateway to huge traffic. That means more customers, more conversions, more profit. As you would expect, getting on Google’s first page is no easy task. In fact, it’s incredibly difficult. Luckily, we’re here to help you out! We’ve had plenty of experience in the world of search engine optimisation (SEO). We know the tricks and techniques that work. In essence, Google are looking for four things. Relevancy, authority, performance, and user experience. Here are the basic principles to help get you started.
Keywords – Keywords are the backbone of your SEO strategy. In order to rank websites, Google send out sophisticated spiders, or crawlers. These spiders are looking for keywords that define your site and product. It’s searching for relevancy. If you’re a cake-maker, for example, Google’s spiders are looking for keywords like ‘cake’ and ‘baking’. Make sure they can quickly find and understand your product. Put these keywords in your headers, titles, and content.
Linking – Google are looking for authority, remember. They’re looking to see that others trust you and see worth in your content. Lots of links to your site suggest you have a good deal of authority. With that in mind, you need to create a network of backlinks to your website. But, it’s not just about quantity. You need quality, organic links. Naturally, if the New York Times or Huffington Post link to your site, Google will rank you higher. As a site owner, you should also be creating links yourself. Link to your own content within the website. Link to other relevant sites. Create a network.
Fast loading speed – Google will only send people to sites that perform well. Google want to provide the best service for their users, so they won’t send people to slow websites. That means you’ve got to work on your loading time. If your site takes longer than three seconds to load, you can forget about Google’s first page! Everything from your web host and server speed to your code can affect site speed. Speak to your web designer about speeding things up.
Great content – We asked a prominent SEO company about search optimisation in 2015. They said that the key driver behind your SEO strategy should be content. Google has placed a high value on long-form blogs and articles that provide real advice and information. Google loves 1000 word essays and real, tangible information. It loves videos and shareable content too. Remember, the better your content, the more links you’ll get. The more people will share it and the more people will visit your website. The more traffic you have, the better your search rank. Simple.
Social media – Lastly, don’t forget about social media. Google don’t take into account how many followers you have on Facebook or Twitter. But, these numbers are essential to building a wide audience and loyal community. They drive traffic to your site. It is the most important indirect factor for search ranking.
Follow this advice and you’ll be well on your way to dominating Google’s first page. SEO takes time, so don’t expect instant results. Focus on providing a great service for your users, and the rest will come.