These days, if your business isn’t on the first page of Google, you’re missing out on valuable prospects. In fact, 75 percent of searchers never even scroll past the first search results page.*
How can my company’s website rank No. 1 in search results?
The almighty algorithm works backstage to measure and rank websites. For every search, the algorithm evaluates a site’s potential usefulness based on
- previous user engagement
- keyword relevance
- overall usability
Websites that rank high in these three categories are search engine optimized (SEO). If you want Google’s algorithm to honor your website with top marks, it takes ongoing, strategic effort encompassing both content and user experience.
Pump up user engagement
A great SEO strategy begins with great website content. Search engines want their users happy. A happy user clicks a link, visits a website and stays on that website – engaging with the site content and the business’s brand. When users follow this pattern, the search engine algorithm concludes the link must have the information the user needed. Bingo!
If, however, a user visits a site and then clicks the back button immediately, the user has bounced and the algorithm concludes the site didn’t have the information the user needed, dropping it down the list of search results. Your site’s bounce rate is a good qualifier of content effectiveness. Not sure how to check it? We can walk you through it.
Learn HowTake aim at relevant keywords
Open Google in your browser window, and search some words associated with your business. What results do you see? Are your competitors showing up first? Where is your business ranking now, and where do you hope to rank? If you’re not ranking high enough, it’s time for a conversation about your digital strategy.
At the same time, keep in mind that it takes time for search engines to change rankings. If your site has recently launched or updated, it could take up to six months for search engines to reflect that. It’s also important to note that you should never overload your site with unrelated keywords or sacrifice readability for extra words. The algorithm will notice and punish your site, potentially blocking your site from search engines.
Interested in learning more about keyword effectiveness? Check out our recent case study on SEO strategy for a national B2B company:
Read Case StudyPut the user first
At the end of the day, the algorithm wants the user to have a good time – don’t we all?
Without the proper site development, your website may not meet your search engine goals. Your organization’s website needs to be
- mobile friendly
- secure
- fast
If your site fails on these fronts, don’t expect major changes in your traffic. The algorithm can tell when a website will annoy users, listing it lower than other sites. It takes the right content, strategy, back-end development and a bit of patience to challenge the search-engine status quo. And it’s no easy endeavor. But we can help.
* Hubspot