Google’s search algorithm is constantly evolving, and as website owners, it can be overwhelming to keep up with all the changes.
For many website owners, achieving a top spot in Google search results is the ultimate goal.
However, with ever-changing algorithms and countless factors that affect rankings, it can be challenging to determine what exactly will make your site stand out to Google.
After doing SEO experiments for 5 years, I have identified 8 confirmed Google ranking factors that can help boost your website’s visibility on the search engine.
So let’s dive in and learn all of these conformed ranking factors in detail.
1. Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites that direct to your website.
Google considers backlinks as a vote of confidence for your site, thus making it an essential ranking factor.
So how do you get backlinks?
Creating high-quality and engaging content on your website is the first step. This will naturally attract other sites to link to you.
Additionally, guest blogging, influencer outreach, and participating in online communities can also help you earn backlinks.
I rate this factor 9.5/10 in terms of importance.
2. Search Intent & Content Relevancy
Google wants to provide the most relevant and helpful results for its users.
Hence, it’s crucial to understand the search intent of your target audience and create content that matches their needs.
This factor includes elements like:
- Keyword usage,
- Content quality,
- User engagement metrics (such as time on site, bounce rate, and click-through rates)
Let me give an example.
If someone searches for “best hiking boots,” they are likely looking to make a purchase.
So, Google will prioritize product review articles or online stores rather than informational blogs about hiking.
Hence, your content should be relevant and provide purchasing options to fulfill the search intent.
Quick hack to determine search intent:
Analyze the top 10 search results for your target keyword and see what type of content is ranking. Is it a listicle, product review, or informational blog? This will give you an idea of what type of content is preferred by Google for that specific search query.
For me, it is one of the most important and conformed Google ranking factors.
In terms of importance, I rate it 9/10.
3. Freshness
Google loves fresh and updated content as it ensures that the information provided is current and relevant.
For this reason, regularly updating and adding new content to your website can positively impact your search rankings.
It’s also essential to keep an eye on outdated or irrelevant content on your site that may harm your rankings.
I also recommend you remove those pages that are not getting any traffic or conversions. This will filter out unnecessary and outdated content from your site.
Brain Dean from Backlinko experimented with freshness as a Google ranking factor and saw a significant increase in organic traffic by updating his old content.
8.5/10 is my rating for this factor.
4. HTTPS
In 2014, Google announced that HTTPS is a ranking signal and has since been pushing for all websites to switch to this secure protocol.
Google announced that websites with a secure HTTPS connection would be given a slight ranking boost.
So, it is a confirmed Google ranking factor that you should not ignore.
HTTPS encrypts the data between a user’s browser and your website, providing a secure connection.
Moreover, it also builds trust with your site visitors, which can lead to better user experience and higher rankings.
My rating for this factor is 9/10.
5. Mobile-Friendliness
With the increasing use of mobile devices, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its search results.
In March 2021, Google announced that it would switch to a mobile-first indexing approach, meaning they will primarily use the mobile version of your site for indexing and ranking.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and has a responsive design to provide an optimal user experience.
As per my rating, this factor holds 9.5/10 importance.
6. Core Web Vitals
Core Web Vitals are a set of metrics that measure the speed, responsiveness, and visual stability of a website.
They are part of Google’s Page Experience update.
These metrics include:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): Measures loading performance.
- First Input Delay (FID): Measures interactivity.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): Measures visual stability.
Google has confirmed that these metrics will be taken into account for ranking websites.
So, it’s essential to optimize your website’s core web vitals for better search visibility and user experience.
Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify areas for improvement.
In terms of importance, I would rate this factor 9/10.
7. Domain Age and Authority
Domain age and authority do play a role in Google’s algorithm.
An older domain is considered more trustworthy, and it takes time to build a strong backlink profile.
However, just having an old domain does not guarantee a higher ranking.
The authority of your site is determined by the quality of websites linking back to you.
Google also considers the relevance of the linking site and anchor text when determining authority.
If it’s a new domain, and getting too many backlinks too quickly, it can raise red flags and harm your rankings.
Therefore, play safe and build your domain authority gradually through quality backlinks.
In my opinion, this factor holds 8/10 importance in Google’s ranking algorithm.
8. User Experience
Last but not least, user experience is vital to Google’s ranking algorithm.
A poor user experience can lead to high bounce rates, low time on site, and ultimately lower rankings.
Factors that impact user experience include page load speed, navigation, mobile-friendliness, and overall design.
Check your website’s core web vitals and use tools like Crazyegg Heatmap to analyze user behavior and make necessary improvements.
Here are some more recommended tools for improving user experience:
Good user experience leads to higher engagement, conversions, and eventually better rankings.
In my opinion, this is an important ranking factor that holds a rating of 9.5/10.
Conclusion
These are the eight confirmed Google ranking factors that you should focus on to improve your website’s search visibility.
However, keep in mind that Google’s algorithm is constantly evolving, and there may be other factors that come into play.
I will update this article as and when there are any significant changes or new confirmed ranking factors announced by Google.
For now, use these factors as a guide to optimizing your website and achieving better search rankings.
Stay updated with Google’s announcements and adapt to changes in the algorithm for continued success.
Happy ranking! 🙂
