The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Google Ranking Factors

Staying on top of all the Google algorithms can be exhausting — even overwhelming.

There are plenty of Google ranking factors and search engine optimization (SEO) tips for both on-page and off-page optimization to get you in the top spots on a Google search.

As always, there is some nuance that goes into these important ranking factors — let’s go in-depth into the best SEO factors to rank on Google.

And a Google Ranking Factor is…

More than 200 factors determine the first page of Google search results.

Google uses a ton of sophisticated algorithms to assess and determine where a website shows up in the SERPs (search engine results pages). By addressing these 200-some criteria, you can improve your search engine rankings, increasing the likelihood of appearing in relevant search queries. The ultimate goal is qualified, organic traffic to your site, right?

E-A-T

We’re not talking food; it’s a group of principles that both website owners and social media content creators should focus on. E-A-T stands for expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness.

These three points go into vetting or determining the credibility of a website.

Expertise

The level and skill demonstrated throughout the website’s content.

Authoritativeness

The perceived authority of either a website or content creator.

Trustworthiness

A look at the reliability and honesty of the information presented.

Relevant, High-Quality Content

You’ve likely heard that your content’s quality is a big deal when it comes to SEO ranking – and it is.

You want to keep up on how often you publish fresh content — and how often you update it. This is how you create relevant content, which you’re “graded” on by Google.

Keep in mind the content length. While there’s no right or wrong word count (between 1,000-2,000 words is a good benchmark), you need to write enough to include relevant keywords and cover the topic — a.k.a. no cliffhangers.

Technical SEO & Keyword Placement

We don’t have to tell you to do keyword research, but it’s not enough to throw some keywords in the body copy of your site and call it a day. Search engines – and, most importantly, human searchers themselves – care more about what’s in the title and headers of your webpage.

When optimizing the technical markup for each page, think of their search intent and place those important keywords in the spots they actually read: the title, meta description, and headings.

Title Tag

When writing a blog, incorporate your target keyword in the title. Yes, it’s that simple.

Meta Description

If the title tag didn’t convince them to click, the meta description or featured snippet is up next. While they don’t hold as much SEO value as some other aspects of your webpage, meta descriptions make people click. Using keywords that match their search intent is the best way to catch their eye.

Headings

Put your targeted keywords in different headings throughout your web pages. Look at this blog, for example.

“Google ranking factors” is the major keyword of this blog, so we’ve weaved it into the H1, alt tag, and throughout the copy. “Headings” is a keyword, and it’s also an H3. The Google bots love this kind of stuff, but so do searchers! Most people who do end up clicking on your webpage just skim the headers to see if they want to read more. (We’d bet you did it for this blog, too.)

Keyword Stuffing

Back in the earlier days of Google, people would put keywords in the same color text as the background throughout their website. If you want to be put in Google jail, go for it. But if you want people to see your site, watch yourself.

Also not a good practice? Slapping a keyword all over your copy without a connection to the content. Sure, the keyword is on there, but at what cost?

Both of these instances are examples of keyword stuffing. Don’t do it.

Backlinks

Google sees high-quality backlinks as proof that you’re trustworthy and are an expert in your industry. Basically, you know what you’re talking about.

On the other hand, too many low-quality backlinks do way more harm than good. If they get out of hand, you may have to do a disavow campaign to get your domain authority back up.

Link Building

Don’t just rely on backlinks for your link-building strategy. Utilize internal links to get visitors on other pages of your site and include external links to high-authority websites to boost your authority with Google crawlers.

But when you’re adding links, make sure that your anchor text is relevant to the site you’re linking to. Not only does that up the SEO value, but it creates a better page experience for the reader.

Mobile Friendliness

We’re not going to sugar-coat it; in today’s world, there’s no excuse for not having an optimized mobile version of your site. We don’t need to pull out a fancy resource to tell you that most people look at your site from a mobile device.

Not only do users prefer it, but mobile usability is a big Google ranking factor. Mobile-friendliness leads to lower bounce rates and increased engagement — and a higher spot on the SERP.

Don’t let a bad mobile version of your site be a detriment to your SEO strategy. It’s so important that Google implements mobile-first indexing. So, sites that work well with mobile devices are seen above those that don’t.

Page Speed

When the internet was a little baby, pages sometimes took forever and a day to load. As it’s developed, we’re conditioned to have a pretty fast page-loading speed.

The time a web page loads is a huge aspect of user experience; longer dwell times mean higher bounce rates. Google wants to make sure you’re providing quality, relevant content, so if tons of people click back to the SERP after visiting your site, it’s not looking good for you. Up your site speed, and you can expect a higher placement.

Domain Authority

Although it’s not exactly an “official” Google metric, domain authority plays a big part in your search engine ranking. A higher domain authority shows Google that you know your stuff and people are better off for seeing what content you have to offer.

Domain Age

Once upon a time, domain age was taken into consideration as a Google ranking factor. But that was then, and we’re talking about now.

Many SEO gurus still believe this, but John Mueller of Google has said domain age has no bearing on ranking.

Now, don’t confuse domain age with site age, which begins once your site is first indexed. If your site has been around for a few months, it may take some time to rank. But you’ll get there.

Some Tools Professionals Use – That You Can, Too

Keeping track of metrics is crucial for success. There are free tools that you can use that many professional marketings use along with other ways to measure success.

Google Analytics stands as a cornerstone. It offers detailed insights into website traffic, user behavior, and conversion rates. Set up custom reports in Google Analytics to track specific metrics that align well with your goals.

Google Search Console focuses on your website’s presence in search results. Monitoring ranking signals, like keywords and click-through rates, within this platform can help you guide your SEO strategy. Use Google Search Console to identify and rectify issues that can impact your search performance.

Want to Start Getting Higher Rankings? We Can Help!

Ultimately, the Google algorithm is a complex machine, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to success. Plus, it can get overwhelming trying to stay up on trends, not to mention Google algorithm updates. You need a digital marketing strategy tailored to your unique needs, and our team of professionals at iSynergy can help.

We can boost your page rank by taking full advantage of these Google ranking factors. Get maximum visibility while standing out from the competition. Don’t wait any longer – drop us a line today!