SEO did evolve over the years but one fact that did not change is the value of your website showing up on the first page of Google search results. Gone are the days of simple blue URLs and a couple of ads. Today, online businesses are thriving hard to show up on the first page of Google and gain more visibility.
According to an article published in Search Engine Journal, the click-through rate or CTR for the 10th position on page one is 3.11 percent, which is low yet more than standard ad click rates. Based on a user query, the competition to grab a spot on the first page of Google is very fierce. Then, you can achieve it with the use of the right keywords (KWs) and SEO strategies. Here is how:
Look for the threshold pages
These pages rank just under the first page, usually ranking 10-20. These pages must be your priority, as getting such pages to page one is much simpler than ranking your new content. You can use the rank-tracking tool to segment the pages with KWs appearing in positions from 11-20.
Next, you need to categorize according to search volume to ensure the highest possible return pages are right to the top.
Develop your internal linking
Internal linking is essential because it has several benefits to bring your website to page one of Google search results. Did you know that the internal linking architecture of your website is one of the major ways Google evaluates what your site is all about, after all?
Again, when you use your internal strategy smartly between your web pages, it will help you to build enhanced topical authority for your primary topics. It will increase the possibility of Google ranking your website higher on those particular topics.
When it comes to strategic internal linking, it implies linking the pages together when it makes perfect sense for your targeted visitors. It means you just cannot link any page to another page. You need to see where precise pages add more value or improve the information on a page a visitor lands on after making a query.
Look for competitive content
When the most essential pages failing to grab a spot on page one, it means that your competitors have content that your page lacks. This means that you need to pay more attention to your landing pages for all those results ranking better than yours. Take your time and compare the pages. You need to ask the following questions to gain more clarity on the same:
- Is the content of better quality? The sense is more complete, establishes authority, as well as, incorporates more related information.
- Do your competitor’s pages have relevant topics and KWs that you did not use?
- Is the external link profile (backlinks) bigger and/or of higher quality?
- Are the external link profiles/backlinks of superior quality?
- Do the websites have improved internal linking to the other web pages?
- Do your competitors’ pages have something additional to attract visitors like visuals, videos, tables, and charts?
You need not copy the pages but you can take the hints to perk up your web pages to grab a spot on the first page of Google search results.
Make your site mobile compatible
Though this idea might seem too obvious if you do not have a mobile-friendly site, your ranking will take a backseat. Today, most of the searches start on smartphones and so, you cannot ignore its significance.
When it comes to mobile-friendly pages, it is part of Google’s Page Experience update. It implies that the search engine giant will give more preference to mobile-compatible sites and rank them on page one. It is as simple as that. Therefore, take the right steps to make your site mobile-friendly for users.
Shift your most essential pages higher in navigation
Though you cannot use this strategy for all your web pages, you can do so for the most essential pages. Google determines the related significance of a web page by assessing its position from the home page through your site navigation. It is true indeed that your site’s home page receives more number of links and so the highest page influence on your website. This link equity flows to the other web pages connected from your home page. This way, the pages linked directly reap the maximum benefits when it comes to ranking on page one.
When you move the essential pages close to your home page, they gain authority and so rank on page one.
Create or earn more quality links
Google has contributed much these days when it comes to site rankings. It means content relevance, content quality, entity, and semantic relationships, etc. Then, traditional, quality backlinks still correlate with the ranking potential of web pages.
When it comes to earning links, it implies that creating the best quality content. Which is authoritative, thus making the other websites wanting to link to the same. It is like a reference in link building. Therefore, you need to look for opportunities for related links from reliable websites.
Connect KW-rich content
You can use this strategy when your site content is doing well. Therefore, you need to improve your content more so that it keeps ranking on page one of Google. You will need to detect those pages on your website that are ranking for a higher-than-standard number of KWs.
When it comes to splicing, it means recognizing the lesser-performing KWs for the existing web page that still has a chance to rank better. It might be queries where the web pages rank on the second page of Google search results, or where the page rank is lower but has increased demand.
When you have recognized such opportunities. Build new web page content and pay attention to the particular intent of the KWs. Next, you need to interlink those web pages with your original page, which is the existing ranking page.
Conclusion
Now that you have these SEO tips handy, use them to rank on page one of Google. When you use the right optimization strategies and quality content. You can grab the top spot on the first page of Google search results.
