How to Rank Higher on Google

To rank higher on Google, you need to use the right keywords. This article will teach you how to do that!

In order to rank high in relevant Google search results, you must optimize your website with the correct keywords and design. Begin by learning how to rank better on Google via content production and search engine optimization (SEO), which may help your small business website get more traffic and visibility.

Three Ways to Rank on Google for Small Businesses

Paid results, local results, and organic results are the three main categories of Google where your website might possibly rank. Paid results may be acquired using Google Ads through a bidding procedure. Local and organic results are the two most popular techniques for small companies to rank on Google since they are both free.

There are three methods to rank on Google.

Paid Search

Google Ads can be a very effective way of utilizing ad spend for those who are new or struggling to compete against businesses that rank higher in results from search. It’s also great for businesses targeting keywords with high revenue potential.

Local Search

Google’s Results of a Local Search are displayed within Google Maps after a user searches for a keyword that includes a location, such as “pizza New York.” Landing within Google’s Results of a Local Search requires that you have a Google My Business account. This is key for brick-and-mortar-based businesses because it puts your business in front of local people ready to buy.

For two reasons, we propose that firms begin by concentrating on local results:

• Higher likelihood of ranking – In the local results, you’re only up against other local companies. When opposed to organic results, which include companies in any area that match a given search query, this provides you a better chance of ranking.
• Local results appear on search phrases when customers want to purchase from a local company, hence they are frequently the most advantageous for small, locally-focused enterprises.

For example, if someone types “pizza NYC” into Google, the search engine will show pizza-related businesses on a map of New York City. These companies are taken from Google My Business profiles that are currently operational.

We’ll go through some of the techniques to make sure your Google My Business account is ready for local search result placement in Google.

Natural Search

Results from a natural search are free and displayed below Google Ads and sometimes local results. Google uses a sophisticated algorithm to determine which sites rank highest for results from a natural search based on keyword usage, relevance, site design, and other factors. Generally, Google provides the highest quality, most relevant results based on the keyword(s) used by the searcher.

Not only do organic results contain local companies, but they also cover a broader selection of websites. While geography may still have a role in organic outcomes, it is seldom the most important element. The authority of the website (or its trustworthiness), external connections back to the site, the amount of time the site has been open, and other factors are the most important aspects. This is why sites like Yelp, Angie’s List, and Facebook often appear high in search results.

The top-ranking websites in the organic results are those that are well-optimized for search engines and have high domain authority. As a result of these factors, well-known websites are more likely to rank higher than smaller company websites, as seen below.

This isn’t to argue that tiny companies can’t rank in the first few pages of organic search results. You have a greater chance of ranking high in organic results if your firm is in a less competitive area or sector, such as a nail salon in a small town. Most small companies find it easier to rank in local results, however, by investing in search engine optimization efforts, small businesses may also rank well in organic results.

Learn How to Rank Higher on Google

You’ll need to understand search engine optimization fundamentals to increase your Google rankings. Finding relevant keywords, registering for a Google My Business account, mobile-optimizing your website, link building, obtaining favorable reviews, and regularly producing excellent content are all part of this process.

Step 1: Determine the keywords your customers are looking for

Keywords are the words and phrases that consumers use to search for information on Google. To uncover the most common terms people use when looking for your sort of company, utilize the Google Keyword Planner Tool, which is accessible via your Google Ads account. Add such keywords to blog articles and web pages to optimize your website for them.

Start by creating a free Google Ads account if you don’t already have one. You’ll be able to use the Keyword Planner as a result of this.

Next, log in to Google AdWords and click “Tools” > “Keyword Planner.” Once you’re on the Keyword Planner menu, click “Search for new keywords using a phrase, website, or category.” Complete the form that appears; to start with, search for your type of business and location. For example, if you own a hair salon in Chicago, you would want to enter “hair salon Chicago.”

Following the “Get suggestions” button, you’ll get the number of average monthly searches for the phrase you selected, as well as additional relevant search terms that you might use as keywords on your website. Make a list of the keywords and search phrases you want to rank for and include them as organically as possible into your website language and content. Google will consider your website to be a relevant and high-quality search result if it uses these keywords.

Results from the Google Keyword Planner Tool

Remember that the amount of typical monthly searches for each proposed term is a guess. It does, however, indicate the popularity of that phrase or search term. When performing keyword research, this makes a difference since it provides you insight into what individuals in your market are looking for. You can better position your company to give customers relevant material and information if you know what they want.

For example, “hair extensions Chicago” gets more monthly searches than “hair color Chicago,” as seen in the graph above. If you run a hair salon that provides both extensions and color treatments, you should emphasize your hair extension service on your website.

Step 2: Claim & Optimize Your Google My Business Page

A Google My Business (GMB) page is a free Google business listing that enables your company to appear in organic and local search results. To rank in Google’s local results, you must have a Google My Business page, but how high you rank depends on variables such as the quality of your account and the number of positive reviews you have.

To get started, you’ll need to either claim or build a new business page, depending on whether or not one currently exists for your company. If you’re not sure, go to Google.com/business and search for your company’s name.

In the search results below, for example, you may find Google My Business listings. Each one has a wealth of information, including ratings, price, category, description, location, operating hours, and photographs. All of this information may be seen on the company’s Google My Business page.

When someone searches for the name of your business specifically, Google will pull information from your Google My Business page and display it in a panel on the right-hand side of the search results, increasing your business’ exposure. This is great for small businesses, because not only do you get a lot of space on the first page of Google’s results from a natural search, but you are also able to immediately show what your business is about. Again, the panel is only available to those who have set up their free Google My Business page.

There are a few things you can do to improve the ranking of your Google My Business page:

• Remember the keywords you discovered using Google’s keyword planner tool? Include them in your description. When writing a description for your Google My Business page, use them wherever feasible, but don’t push them in.
• Utilize Keywords in Image File Names — When adding photographs and videos to your Google My Business page, use keywords in the image file names, as well as the titles and descriptions.
• Carefully choose your category – Your business’s category, which you choose from Google’s large selection, is a decisive element in whether or not it will be considered relevant to a search. Make sure to choose the category that best describes your company.
• Obtain Reviews – Businesses that have a bigger number of reviews are more likely to rank higher. You may get reviews by asking your current customers to do so.
• React to Reviews – You should respond to both bad and good reviews, since the owner’s answer may help you rank higher.
• Use a Consistent Address – Make sure your physical address matches what you have on your website and in directories (like Yelp and Angie’s List). We’ll get into why this is so crucial later.

Step 3: Make Your Small Business Website More Effective

To optimize your site, make sure you use the keywords you want to rank for several times across it. Also, make sure your site contains comprehensive and up-to-date contact information, suitable meta tags, and relevant business information as text—not text on pictures that Google can’t search.

The top five techniques to rank highly in Google’s search results are as follows:

• Make Sure Your Information Is Complete — Make sure your company name, physical address, email, and phone number with area code are all included on every page of your website.
• Make Sure the Information Is Visible – Make sure the information above is in text format rather than an image so that Google can view it.
• Include a Descriptive Title Tag – As seen in the example below, include a descriptive title tag that specifies what your company is and where it’s situated. Different site builders have different techniques for achieving this, but you may utilize a plug-in like Yoast for WordPress to do so.
• Create a blog and produce blog entries targeting the keywords you discovered in the first phase. This is one of the finest strategies to rank on Google. This increases your chances of appearing in the search results you desire.
• Embed a Map on Your Contact Page — Search for your company on Google Maps, then click “Share” on the left, then “Embed” to acquire the code for your website. If you need assistance, Fiverr is a wonderful location to look for inexpensive website support for as low as $5.
• Use Meta Descriptions Strategically — Meta descriptions are Google-searchable concise summaries of page content. In your 165-character meta descriptions, include your main keywords, service regions, and phone number. If you’re using WordPress, you should be able to accomplish this with ease using Yoast.

If you don’t have time to make these modifications and improvements manually, Yoast’s Local SEO WordPress plug-in is definitely worth the money; it will help you solve the bullet points above automatically.

Step 4: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

Because over 70% of searches are conducted on mobile devices, Google gives mobile-optimized sites a better ranking than non-mobile-optimized sites. Make sure you’re utilizing a mobile-responsive website with compressed code to optimize your site for mobile. Remove any unnecessary stuff to make your website load faster.

Here are some helpful hints for optimizing your website for mobile searches:

• Use a Responsive Web Design — A responsive web design adapts your website to the device it’s being viewed on, guaranteeing a smooth surfing experience. Use Google’s mobile-friendly test to see whether your website is mobile-friendly.
• Make AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) – AMP, a Google project, makes online content more mobile-friendly and improves search results ranks. Learn how to use AMP to speed up your mobile pages.
• Reduce Unnecessary Content – Because mobile devices have far less real estate than computers, you’ll want to get rid of any unnecessary text, white space, media, and pages.
• Improve Page Load Time – A fast website load time is essential. Page bounces (users abandoning a website just after clicking on it) are more common on slow-loading sites, resulting in poorer search results ranks. Using a fast host, such as Bluehost, is an easy approach to reduce load time.

To maximize your ROI when optimizing your site for mobile search, consult with a marketing professional to make sure your SEO efforts are in order.

Step 5: Use Link-Building Techniques

Building links refers to the fact that your company is mentioned or referred to on other websites. This informs Google that your website is authoritative (similar to a citation), allowing you to improve your Google ranking. Structured citations and unstructured citations are the two forms of link building you should use.

Use online directories to include structured citations.

A structured citation occurs when your company is featured in an internet directory. These citations boost your website’s domain authority and associate your company name with high-authority sites like Yelp, all of which are beneficial to Google. Include complete company contact information on your directories and be consistent with formatting to build a successfully structured citation.

Your company’s name, address, and phone number are all included in structured citations. To present visitors with reliable information in search results, Google looks at the consistency of these citations throughout the web. With this in mind, you’ll want to be sure you’re using the same address and phone number every time.

An example of a structured citation is as follows:

212-555-3434 Fit Small Business 315 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10017

How to Get Unstructured Citations & Links

A mention of your company in an online newspaper article, press release, online employment board, and other sites are examples of unstructured citations. Unstructured citations and links are vital since they inform Google that your company is being discussed. Work on earning favorable reviews, hosting events, sending out press releases to the media, and engaging with consumers online to collect the most unstructured citations.

The following are the most common methods for obtaining unstructured citations:

• Get Customer Evaluations – Request that consumers submit reviews of your company on sites such as Yelp and Google. Below is further information about this.
• Hosting events is a great strategy to get attention since they are often reported in newspapers and online event listings like EventBrite.
• Send out Press Releases — If your firm has news to tell (new goods, services, design, etc. ), write and send out press releases to let the media know.
• Use LinkedIn for Professional Purposes – Having a LinkedIn company profile, or bio, exposes you to people both within and outside of your sector. LinkedIn.com allows you to create one for free.
• Participate in Internet Forums – Participating in online forums such as Reddit and Quora will help your firm get more unstructured citations. Make sure your user bio contains your company website to increase your chances of earning citations here. Also, instead of self-promotion, utilize the forums to contribute useful information.
• Make use of blogs – Having your own blog, as well as guest posting on other blogs, provides you with additional unstructured citations and connections. By referring back to interesting content, it may also be a wonderful means of giving people helpful information and encouraging site users to discuss your organization.

Step 6: Get Reviews on Google My Business & Yelp

Evaluations are vital for your small company since they affect your Google ranking—especially good reviews. If your company is featured with a lot of positive reviews, people are more inclined to click and visit it. Begin by encouraging your regular customers and even your employees to submit evaluations on popular review sites like Google and Yelp.

Here’s how to earn positive feedback for your company:

• Query Your Clients – Don’t be afraid to just ask your consumers for feedback. By asking them in person or sending them an email, you may get a review from them.
• Request Links in Digital Communications – Include links in your email footer that say “Please leave us a review.”
• Use client feedback surveys and then ask for evaluations from those who gave you excellent scores.
• Link to Your Reviews Page – Include links to your review pages in your footer or on your Contact Us page on your website.

Step 7: Write new content using keywords with a high volume of searches.

Maintaining your website’s content with material that incorporates your major keywords (as determined by your Google Keywords Tool study) will help your site rank higher in search engines. The content might take the shape of web page updates or blog articles, but whichever format you choose, make sure it’s useful to your target audience.

Maintaining an active blog is a simple method to keep your website updated and relevant. This enables you to write articles that include your keywords while also informing Google that your website is current without having to change your web pages. Consider authoring articles that address commonly asked questions or share your industry knowledge.

Also, keep your postings constant. Decide on a publishing plan and adhere to it for as long as feasible; Google notices these changes and rewards you for continuing to provide users with new, relevant information.

Use the Google Keyword Planner tool to check what keywords linked to your company or sector have high search traffic for ideas on what to write about. For example, if you own a pizza shop in New York City, you may include terms like “ingredient sourcing,” “organic,” and “pizza recipes” in your search.

The Top 6 SEO Tools for Getting a Google Rank

Search engine optimization (SEO) tools remove the guesswork from SEO by providing insights into your keywords, assessing your website, assisting you in increasing your domain authority via directories, and more. If you’re not a search engine optimization or web development expert, optimizing a website to rank on Google might be difficult. There are, however, solutions that may make things a lot simpler for small enterprises.

The best search engine optimization tools for small enterprises are as follows:

• Google Keyword Planner Tool — A free tool that provides keyword data and ideas.
• Google Trends is a tool that allows you to see what’s trending Using Google Trends, you may learn more about what people are looking for. These insights might assist you to come up with relevant content ideas that can help you improve your page rank.
• Yahoo! Localworks – Localworks is a company directory listing management application that allows you to quickly manage your internet reputation, visibility, and page rank.
• Moz Link Explorer – A free application that allows you to search the web for connections back to your site and generate article ideas.
• Check My Links — Check My Links is a free Google Chrome extension that searches the internet for your links and alerts you if any are broken.

10 SEO Expert Tips to Improve Your Google Ranking

It’s not simple to learn how to rank better on Google, but with the aid of search engine optimization pros, you can swiftly improve your Google ranks. We’ve gone to the professionals to offer you the best advice from individuals who know what they’re talking about.

Here are ten search engine optimization (SEO) experts’ suggestions for improving your Google ranking:

1. Develop a wide range of website content

Gabrielle Benedetto, Sales & Partner Strategist, Search Influence

Website content is one of the most important variables in Google’s ranking algorithm, which has over 200 components. Client testimonials on your website may help you rank higher and can also help you connect with your audience and develop trust. To communicate, use content, testimonials, and email and newsletter marketing to cultivate client connections.

2. Utilize your network to get high-quality backlinks

DashThis’s Content Marketing Specialist, Marie Lamonde

Simply search for your customers, partners, suppliers, organizations you belong to, local directories, or even some local communities or influencers on other websites. These are all websites that may help you improve your SEO, as well as increase traffic and recognition for your company. Simply ask for a mention, a case study, a testimonial, or other forms of backlinks if you’re currently doing business with most of them.

3. Make Your Website Voice Search Friendly

Lean Rank’s Outreach Manager, Sheila Rae

The most important piece of advice I advise small company owners who want to boost their rankings is to optimize their website for voice search. There were an estimated one billion voice searches per month in January 2018. This figure has risen dramatically in the last year, and it will continue to rise in 2019. They will gain an advantage in all elements of their marketing if they optimize their website immediately.

4. Keep an eye on your competitors to see if there are any opportunities.

DeTorres Group CEO Dustin DeTorres

Small firms should use tools like Spyfu and SEMrush to monitor rivals, or just make lists by Googling their competitors. Find areas where your rivals aren’t as powerful as you are and take advantage of them.

For example, a plumber would initially look for a service that has a lot of Google searches but isn’t discussed in detail on their competitors’ websites. In this case, a service like “leak detection” may appear on your competitors’ websites with a brief description, but none of them have gone into detail, generated FAQs, videos, or photographs. This is a chance to be the most knowledgeable on the subject.

5. Conduct SEO research on your competitors

Roadside Multimedia’s Marketing Director, Alex Ratynski

Take the SEO efforts of your rivals and apply them to yourself. Look at your rivals’ paid advertisements on Google for your keywords, for example, while composing your meta titles and descriptions. Do they all use the same term or phrase (for example, “complimentary” or “free estimates”)? Try incorporating them into your titles and descriptions. After all, they paid to have theirs tested.

6. Use Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMPs)

Marty Meany is a Search Engine Optimization Specialist with three years of experience.

This is a unique page structure that removes some of the fancy design to create a much more straightforward page. While there is some disagreement in SEO circles regarding the ranking advantages of AMP, if you are operating a website on a cheap hosting plan, this is almost surely a winning proposition. This is also a reasonably straightforward deployment if you’re operating a WordPress blog.

7. Use Google My Business to promote your business.

Page 1 Solutions, LLC’s SEO Specialist, C.J. Redmond

After you’ve claimed and verified your Google My Business page, you’ll need to take a lot of images of your workplace (both inside and outside), as well as shots of your employees. Build a routine of taking images of your company in action, as well as before-and-afters (if appropriate), and uploading them to your Google My Business page. In search results, a verified and optimized Google My Business page stands out, particularly among local consumers. They are more inclined to call or contact you online if you give more information and images.

8. Create succinct, clear headlines

Alex Wright, Owner, Alex Wright Web Design & SEO

On their websites, many small companies fail to develop clear, succinct headlines. Google and other search engines use headlines as a major ranking component. Many small company owners are enticed to create creative or humorous headlines because they are large and important-looking, but this is a mistake. Instead, create headlines that have a single who, what, where, when, and why sentence that summarizes the following material. Will someone who merely reads the headlines be able to comprehend the material on your page? Clear headlines will aid viewers and search engines in comprehending your material.

9. Understand Your Audience & Their Intent

Glamping Hub’s SEO Manager, Liz Young

When it comes to SEO for small companies, one of my greatest pieces of advice is to take the time to thoroughly understand your audience and their goals. Even if your website is well-optimized, if it is designed for the incorrect target, you will not receive much traffic. Your site will rank well in Google organically if you can completely address the queries your audience is asking.

10. Obtain a Large Number of High-Quality Reviews

Derek Hines, West Coast Self-Internet Storage’s Marketing Specialist

Review signals, which relate to the quality, amount, and variety of customer reviews, are an essential determinant in ranking. This ranking element is noteworthy since its value has increased year after year. The most significant are Google reviews, followed by third-party reviews (Yelp, Facebook, and other sites). It’s also crucial that your product or service be referenced in the review. There’s even some evidence that how you respond to reviews influences your ranking.

The Bottom Line

The best way to rank high on Google is to deliberately use Google-friendly keywords and design features on your website. Learning how to rank on Google will assist you in capturing the top organic and local results. Because internet searches are a key method for people to locate organizations and goods, every company should be constant in their attempts to grow and/or maintain their top position on Google.

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