Mastering search engine rankings in today’s world is as easy as it was many years ago, I say that despite Google ranking algorithm changes often, the core concepts and guidelines for SEO is no different to what it was in previous years.
Google search engine is a smart, innovative and also aggressive player in an online desktop and now mobile search market. You know this, Microsoft knows this and most online marketers and website owners know this as well.
For us to master Google rankings, you need to first take a step back and re-think about the way you are approaching your search engine optimization and also content marketing in general.
Because whether you are in a love or hate relationship with Google, you should understand that Google is operating a business. Similar to your business, it is always looking for ways for improving its products and services (also profits).
And just like Google improving its business, you have to also consider to stay ahead of your competitors.
Think of it this way “Google as a business makes billions of dollars each year” and yet, they are always improving their platforms “Think! Google Ads or Analytics or even YouTube features and user interface” always changing and adapting to modern mobile usability best practices.
Even if you are currently happy with your online business profitability, you have to improve it, grow it, thrive it by finding new ways to improve the reach for wider audience, or else, your business website will be left behind in this ever changing online business world.
Create Mobile Friendly Websites
Today, internet is experienced globally using mobile devices. Google also rewards websites with great mobile usability, this importance is reflected in the new Page Experience reports in Search Console.
For example: Including just 1 line of code in the <head> portion of web documents can tell browsers to resize the web page to be device width avoiding many mobile usability errors in Google Search Console. What is initial-scale=1.0?.
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
Then, you can use CSS to adjust the size of your block level elements using these common viewport sizes (although there are more precise ways to target mobile devices, use Google Analytics to identify which viewport is used the most by your website visitors). For testing: use Chrome Web Developer Tool (press on F12 on your keyboard and then press on mobile device icon). But better way is to just create responsive sites without relying too much on CSS viewport sizes.
@media only screen and (min-width : 1200px) {
/* cater for large monitors and desktop devices here */
}
@media only screen and (max-width: 992px) {
/* cater for laptop devices here. max-width: 992px means Browser size UPTILL 992px */
}
@media only screen and (max-width:768px) {
/* cater for Ipads and Tablets here max-width: 768px means Browser size UPTILL 768px */
}
@media only screen and (max-width:480px), @media only screen and (max-width:320px) {
/* cater for Iphones and smartphones here */
}
Mobile friendly websites are ranked higher in Google organic search engine. Why? Because Google wants to provide better user experience for everyone using Android (the potential of Asian Countries coming online recently is the next big phase for online search dominance) hence Google will reward you for making sure you are onboard helping it achieve its dominance “everyone wins”
Keep in mind that it is Google search engine who your potential customers search every day, so that is why, learning about how to search engine optimize your website according to Google’s strict guidelines are as important now as it was last year, or the year before.
Use HTML5 & Structured Data
If your website isn’t taking advantage of the latest HTML5 web standards. Or semantics such as Structured Data which Google now officially supports. Now is a good time to consider using structured data HTML5 (how to videos by RankYa) and as your website architecture.
Also, if your website isn’t updated to meet the demands of today’s internet searchers wants and needs for usability and design flow. Then, now is a good time to modernize your website and make sure that it is user friendly as well as mobile device ready.
Social Media Marketing & Links
If your business isn’t taking advantage of social media marketing (particularly Facebook and YouTube marketing) then your business is not only missing out on growth, but it’s also not being ready for tomorrow.
Any type of business, regardless of its size and budget can take advantage of reaching Facebook users through audience based advertising (right to the level of their interest). Furthermore: Facebook Pages have been improving with Call to Actions that are prominently displayed once you draw in potential leads. But do not use social media profiles as a commercial entity for your business, instead, interact and share creatives. Only then should you every now and then offer great deals to your followers and new website visitors.
Links Hyperlinks Backlinks are all the same
It is hyperlinks that makes the internet connect, its the binding glue, and for your competitive keywords to rank high in Google, you’ll need quality backlinks. Consider creating content that is of use and sharable (while including just one backlink in that content).
Also, you can increase your link count on your own website by using internal linking. Best methods that work for increasing internal link count is through targeting long tailed keywords for easy ranking (build authority and relevance), and make those pages/post link towards your important/competitive keyword targeted pages.
That’s SEO & Online Marketing in a Nutshell
Keep at it, keep publishing content according to your target audiences wants and interest. Don’t forget the gold mine hidden in long tailed question oriented search query targeting because then your website soon will become “the authority” website.
