If you want to gain a top ranking in Google, you’re going to have to earn it. If you don’t play by Google’s rules, then you can find yourself penalized or deindexed if you attempt to manipulate its rankings in any way – and it could take a long time to recover. Here’s how your brand can earn a top ranking in Google.
Write High-Quality Content
If there is one thing Google appreciates, it’s high-quality and unique content. Every business wanting to surpass their competitors in the search engine must strive to write lengthy blog posts, such as 2,000 words+. It must also be well-written and informative, so you are providing users with substance. Of course, if you want to rank for select keywords, you must strive to integrate them into your articles naturally. However, it’s imperative you do not stuff them into your blog posts, which can result in penalization.
Find Relevant Keywords
Of course, you will need to find the best keywords to integrate them into your content and blog posts. If you’re unsure how to do so, turn to an SEO agency who can perform and execute keyword research for your business. They’ll pick relevant keywords that can maximize your results in the search engines and, in turn, increase your conversion rate.
Upload a Sitemap for Google
Google will want to regularly crawl your website to learn more about it, and provide users with fresh, insightful content. You should, therefore, upload an XML sitemap, which will inform Google about what your site is about. Use a sitemap generator to create and upload one onto your website.
Write Descriptive Title Tags
Title tags matter to Google, as they quickly inform users and the search engines what a page is about. You must use unique, descriptive title tags that reflect each page, so you can earn a higher ranking.
Use Internal Linking
The aim of every blog post must be to help a reader. That’s why internal linking is so important, as it allows readers to navigate their way across your site with ease to support the user experience. It can also indicate to Google what a URL is about. Aim to use natural anchor texts with internal links that make sense to your readers.
Use a .com Domain
If you have yet to buy a domain name, you would be wise to choose a .com domain. According to research, 84% of the top rankings in Google feature .com. It could, therefore, help you to compete with your industry rivals easily.
Increase Your Page Speed
A slow page speed equals poor search engine rankings. If your site takes too long, then you can expect to wait a long time for traffic to your site. Regularly use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to identify how fast or slow your website’s main pages take to load. If it is too low, you’ll need to find ways to speed up your site, such as scaling large images, changing web host, or removing flash.
