SEO is sometimes overcomplicated. Search engine specialists also add to the fire by using jargon words to confuse people who don’t have an idea. There are a few factors that you need to consider to rank and here is a list of them.
Rank high on Google
- Keyword as a domain name
Keyword as a domain name is positive for ranking. Although its impact is overrated, it is still a factor.
2. HTTPS — Secured site
This is simple and has to be done. Google will not rank a page well if it isn’t backed by a secure HTTPS. In fact, they penalize websites that don’t have HTTPS on.
3. Easily Crawlable Site
Google is a crawler and it’s algorithms traverse your website to understand your site and content better. The best way to make sure your site is crawlable is to add a Robots.txt and have a sitemap for your site. This is easy through plugins like Yoast SEO for Wordpress.
4. Domain Expiry
Renew your domain at the last minute? You might want to reconsider as Google ranks domains that are renewed for longer periods. So if you want to rank higher, then renew your domain for 3 to 5 years.
5. Site speed
This is similar to HTTPS. Make sure your site loads quickly. Your images should be optimized for size and make sure there aren’t any plugins or apps that are slowing your website down.
6. Image optimization
Optimize all images on your website with the keyword as the image title and appropriate “Alt text”. This is an important ranking factor that includes ranking on Google Image Search
7. Updated Content
Content that is updated regularly has a better ranking capability than content that isn’t updated. This doesn’t mean you change a few things in the content. Updating involves changing entire paragraphs and adding new content.
8. Outbound links
Outbound links to authority sites are important to let your site know that you are legitimate. But too many outbound links are bad. Aim for a nominal amount.
9. Domain rating
Sites with a better domain rating will rank better than sites with similar content but a lesser domain rating. The ways to improve your domain rating include all the optimizations mentioned here and also getting high quality backlinks
10. URL Length
URL lengths are not a major ranking factor but are still important. Smaller and clear URL’s are better than large URL’s
11. CTR
Search results with better CTR have better ranking capabilities. To improve CTR, make sure to add catchy text and solid descriptions that goads the users to click.
On page SEO checklist
- Title tags
This is obvious. Title tags are an important ranking factor. Title tags with the right keywords will rank better than content that does not have appropriate keywords.
2. Table of contents
Content that has a table of contents on your site helps Google traverse through your content easily and helps you rank on top.
3. Content length
Google is relying lesser on keywords and more on content. Longer content that covers the topic better has a better chance for ranking as its context is better compared to shorters, frivolous content that doesn’t cover the topic well.
4. LSI Keywords
LSI Keywords are contextual keywords that you find at the end of the Google search. Those keywords added to your content helps Google understand your topic better and helps you rank better.
5. Keyword in the first 100 words
The keyword added to your content within the first 100 words helps your content rank better because Google’s algorithm identifies it quickly.
6. Page time
If you are thinking of adding content and you have a page that is much older, consider adding the content to the old page, as older pages have better ranking opportunities than new pages.
7. Youtube Videos
Adding Youtube videos to your content is directly proportional to ranking. Make sure to make snippets of your content and add it as a video on your content.
How to Build Backlinks
- Backlinks from older domains
Backlinks from older domains are considered stronger and powerful than newer domains. When planning your backlink strategy, focus on getting backlinks from older domains, they have a higher weightage. You can check the age of domains through Who.is
2. Don’t overuse the .edu backlink strategy
A lot of SEO professionals have been getting backlinks from .edu links as they hold some of the highest weightage, but Google has been clamping down on websites that have an inordinate number of links from .edu sites
3. Authority of linking pages
This is obvious and well spoken about. Backlinks from authority pages hold more weight compared to links from sites that has poor domain ranking and poor page rank.
4. Links from diverse sources
When planning your link building strategy focus on a diverse set of links and not from links from the same sources and same websites. Keeping it mixed is the way to go. Links from same sources come under the blackhat territory.
5. Links from relevant sites
Get links from relevant sites. If you are selling baby products and you get links from a software review website, this is seen as a red flag from Google’s perspective. Focus on websites in your niche and get backlinks from them.
6. Links from forums
Getting links from forums was considered a great backlinking strategy in the past, but considering the number of spam that comes from forums, focus on reducing your forum links or try to get it as naturally as possible. Too many links from forums and you will be penalized.
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