8 ways to get your website rank better in Google

Whether you have a blog or an online store, a large part of your success depends on how high you appear in the results of search engines like Google or Seznam. There are a number of factors that affect your ranking. The good news is that you can improve most of them yourself. Let's take a look at how it's done.

Adapting your website so that internet search engines like it and display you as high as possible in users' results is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO for short). The better your SEO, the higher your website will appear to people who, for example, type a keyword related to your website into a Google search.

However, more than 200 different factors influence this process, many of which most users are unaware of. So what are the most important features you should focus on when doing SEO?

1. Create a perfect website

One of the most important parameters, according to which the search engines sort out the results, is the average time of visit, the number of click-throughs and overall, the people’s interactivity with your website. If it catches attention and people spend there enough time, approach it also in other ways than through search engines, click through into other websites etc. you will have a lead even on Google. Therefore, the basis is to have an interesting and original website. If you have this point completed, you can approach further steps. 

2. Set your own key words

For the most part, SEO is really just about writing quality copy. This is because web search engines use artificial intelligence to find the most relevant result when queried for a particular keyword (e.g. "How to choose a car wash" or "Cheap car insurance" etc.). It does this by combing through the content of all the sites that contain such or similar phrases within a second, and then ranks them so that the pages that are most relevant to the query are the highest.

In order to get as high as possible, you need to make sure that the search engine is sure that you are really dedicated to this or that topic. So try to define a few (maybe ten) terms that are related to the focus of your site. For example, if you sell real estate, something along the lines of "real estate sales", "real estate agent", "house for cheap", etc. would be useful. Just something your potential customers might be looking for. Then try to implement these terms as much as possible in your on-page text. This way, Google will be sure that you are really dedicated to the topic.

Tip: Make sure to not write like a robot just because your website should include a certain word. Keep in mind that the benefit and readability for the users always comes first. 

3. Do not forget about a quality content blog

Every website should have a blog where visitors can find informative and interesting articles about the topic of the website. Not only will you do a service to your visitors, but you will also help yourself in the eyes of search engines. The search engines also decide on the size of websites (number of posts and subpages) when ranking them.

A blog with themed posts will make your website more relevant to search engines on that topic. But again, it depends on the time spent on average by your visitors and how they interact with your website. Therefore, even if it is important to use the right key words in the posts, readability and testimonial value for the readers must always precede everything. Additionally, thanks to the blog you may attract customers to your website, who would not otherwise visit you. 

4. Get your website onto other websites

The fact that an external website links to yours tells Google that you are somehow trustworthy. For example, if someone adds a link to your website in their article, it increases the SEO level of your website. Such references on third-party sites are called backlinks and are considered one of the most important SEO factors next to quality content.

5. Do not forget about the description of the pictures

Another important element that must not be forgotten are the pictures. They make up the bulk of our website. But they can also help you with better SEO. However, Google isn't yet intelligent enough (although it's getting close) to recognize with 100% certainty what's in this or that image. But you can help it do that.

You should therefore fill in the so-called alternative text for each image. This should clearly and concisely (up to about 125 characters) describe what is in the image. This is another parameter that will add relevance to your website and make search engines like you even more.

6. Optimize the loading speed

Up until now, we have focused on how to get higher search engine rankings by optimizing the text on the site. However, the right technical equipment also plays an important role in SEO. The first one is page loading speed. Ideally, a page should load within 3 seconds. You can measure your loading speed using one of the available online web speed measurement tools.

If your page is loading slower, it needs to be modify in some way. Compress large files, images and other things that take a long time to load. There are two benefits of fast loading. Not only will Google rank you higher in its results, but customers themselves are more likely to stay on the site if it loads quickly.

7. Do not underestimate the safety of the website

Just as important as page loading speed is page security. The most basic thing you can do to ensure your security and improve your SEO ranking is to set up an SSL certificate. This gives you a green lock or HTTPS abbreviation in the web address bar, which means that the connection to your site is secure. Without it, you would have a hard time trying to break through on Google.

You can set up an SSL certificate for free through one of the many external applications. However, it is usually also offered directly by the providers from whom you lease your domain. Not only is HTTPS encryption a very important SEO feature, but it also makes your site much more secure.

8. Not a step without responsive website

The third technical parameter, which influences your website’s SEO level the most is the responsiveness, in other words ability to adjust to various format sizes and gadgets. In the times, where over 54% of all internet traffic flows through mobile devices, without responsive design you are almost certainly doomed to failure.

Responsive design will make your website look great on mobile, tablet and computer monitors, and it will also give search engines another indication that they should display your site at the top. Because it's great.

If your website is not responsive and you do not know precisely how to change it yourself, try to pass the website designing onto an experienced agency. In these days it is not a breath-taking investment. We will gladly discuss everything in detail with you and apart design will also help you with everything else which is connected to SEO.