How to Rank Higher on Google in 2024

Last modified on: March 18th, 2024

With over 86 billion monthly visits, Google is the second most popular website in the world close behind TikTok. It's no wonder ranking high on Google is so important to growing businesses.

Many business owners rely on social media, PPC ads, and sponsored reviews to improve their brand visibility. But if you really want to grow your business, you need to increase your visibility in Google's search results.

Here are 7 tips for ranking higher on Google to increase search visibility and drive more organic traffic to your website:

1. Use the Right Keywords

If there's a “shortcut” to improving your Google ranking, it's on-site SEO.

With the right keywords, you can gain a significant boost in rankings within days.

But the question is, how do you optimize your site around certain target keywords? More importantly, how do you find the right keywords to target?

People often search Google for topics in multiple ways and use variations in keywords when searching depending on the search intent.

Use keyword research tools to understand which terms are searched around a topic.

Here are some reputable SEO tools for keyword research:

These tools generate hundreds of relevant long-tail and short-tail keyword ideas for just about any topic, which can help you improve your content to rank higher on Google.

Using an all-in-one SEO platform like Semrush or SE Ranking is recommended for the most in-depth keyword data on long-tail and low-volume keyword opportunities.

Try to incorporate keywords naturally in your content as you write about topics.

To rank higher on Google, your target keyword should show up early, preferably in the title, meta description, and the first few paragraphs of your page or blog post. Then, use the keyword and related terms naturally throughout the rest of the content.

2. Improve Your Technical SEO

SEO (search engine optimization) isn't only about on-page optimization of content and keywords. It's also about making sure your website is technically sound and pages are crawlable by Google.

While creating search-friendly content is essential, Google usually ranks user-friendly websites that are mobile-friendly and load faster better than sites lacking in these areas.

These aspects are directly connected to page experience in Google Search and drive Google’s search algorithm. As a result, the more user-friendly your page or post is and the faster the page speed, the higher its potential to rank in Google's search results.

Google evaluates factors like mobile usability, website security, HTTPS usage, landing page experience, and Core Web Vitals (load time, interactivity, and visual stability).

Fortunately, there are tons of helpful SEO audit tools to assess the health of websites.

3. Write In-Depth Posts

Pages and posts with less than 500 words don't typically rank high on Google due to the amount of competition that exists for most topics.

Google tends to prefer long-form content with 1,000+ words, as these pieces of content cover topics in more detail making them more useful to more searchers.

Content-rich sites generate 9 times more leads than the alternative as users and Google deem the site more helpful and engaging.

Check out the top SEO writing tools to improve your on-page SEO efforts.

4. Take Advantage of Local Google Searches

To improve your search visibility and local rankings, make sure to claim and optimize your Google Business Profile to increase visibility and rank higher on Google Maps.

Implementing local SEO efforts will ensure your business is found in Google's organic results and in Google Maps for relevant keyword searches in the areas that you serve.

To increase your local search rankings, ensure your business and site are listed in local directories and request satisfied customers leave you positive online reviews.

Make use of local SEO tools to support your local search efforts in regard to tasks like keyword research, competitor analysis, and rank tracking.

5. Backlinks Are Your Friend

Back in 2016, Google confirmed that backlinks pointing to a website are one of the top 3 ranking factors evaluated by Google's search algorithm.

Backlinks drive targeted referral traffic, build page and domain authority, and help search engines index your web pages.

Whether external or internal links, they're particularly valuable to SEO because they represent individual votes of confidence from one web page to another.

Check out these link building tips for ways to get more backlinks to your site.

6. Create High-Quality Content

Regardless of how on-point your SEO optimization is, your page won't rank high on Google without good content.

If you want to increase your Google search ranking and subsequently gain new customers, you need to create high-quality content that adds value to your brand.

Your work must be relevant, engaging, and, most importantly, well-written. This informs Google that your website is credible and shareable.

Be creative when writing content for SEO. Add just the right amount of detail without derailing from the main topic. Incorporate high-quality graphics and videos to support your content. Share links to other great pages. Don't just add keywords and call it a day.

Take advantage of trending topics and turn them into articles, blog posts, and web content. This will not only improve your search engine traffic but also inform Google of your website's relevance and freshness.

Trending topics change in a matter of weeks and sometimes even days, so capitalize on the popularity of a certain topic while it’s still relevant.

Check out Google Trends to identify the current trending topics. You can also check the “trending now” page on social media apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Ranking High in Google Search Results

If you want to rank higher on Google, you need to put in a bit of consistent effort.

There's no shortcut to success, but with the right strategy and techniques, you can improve your Google rankings without spending a single penny. Good luck!

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