How to improve Google search ranking
30.10.2024. / Analysis and strategy

You have a website. That’s great. Among all the things a website must have, one is essential: the right audience must see it. But how do you improve your Google search ranking?

With billions of searches happening every day—8.5 billion searches to be exact, your goal, like almost everyone else's, is to position your site on the first page of Google results
  
Ranking high is not just about being seen—it’s about building trust, credibility, and driving meaningful traffic.  
  
How do you get there? The answer is a mix of on-page optimisation, technical tweaks and improvements, content strategy, and off-page efforts.  
  
If done correctly, your website can go from buried in search results to the top.  
  
Boosting your Google search ranking is essential if you want to gain visibility and attract relevant traffic to your website.  
Whether you're running an online store, a blog, or a local service site, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is what you have to pay attention to—your content has to be found by the right audience at the right time.  
  
But optimising for search engines is never a one-time task—this is an ongoing process that involves on-page, off-page, and technical SEO strategies. 

 

  

Why Google ranking matters for your website's success  

Appearing on the first page of Google search results (without ads) is like having a billboard on a busy highway—you’re in front of a massive audience.  
  
The top three results on Google capture most of the clicks, meaning if you aren’t ranking high, you’re missing out on tonnes of potential traffic.  
Various sources provide different information, but it is estimated that between 60 and 75 percent of all Google traffic goes to the first three pages. Yes, of all traffic.  
So, your goal is clear.  
  
Just a fun fact - these are this years top 5 searched terms in the world:  

  • YouTube 1,200,000,000 searches  
  • Facebook 786,300,000 searches 
  • WhatsApp Web 548,000,000 searches 
  • Translate 454,000,000 searches 
  • Google 441,200,000 searches 

For example, if you have an online shop selling eco-friendly products, ranking on the first page for keywords like "sustainable products" or "eco-friendly alternatives" will drive consistent traffic from people ready to buy.  
  
And one more thing: people are more likely to click on websites that appear higher up because they assume those sites are more authoritative and relevant, so they trust them more.  
  
First, you must structure your content properly. That way, it will be easier to navigate for both users and search engines.  

  
  

How to improve Google search ranking with on-page SEO  

Page titles and meta descriptions act as your first impression on search engines.  
  
Titlesshould be concise, descriptive, and include your primary keywords.  
Meta descriptions give users a summary of your page content and can significantly affect your click-through rate. Keep them both engaging and aligned with searcher intent.  
  
Also, properly set headers (H1, H2, H3, etc.)  
Headers organise your content, making it easier for Google to understand your page's structure.  
Your H1 should focus on the primary topic, while H2 and H3 subheadings break the content into digestible sections.  

This makes it easier for search engines to understand your content better and for users to find the information they’re looking for.    
For instance, a blog post titled “How to improve Google search ranking”:  

  • H1: How to improve Google search ranking  
  • H2: Why Google ranking matters for your website's success  
  • H2: How to improve Google search ranking with on-page SEO  
  • H3: How SEO impacts your website’s visibility and traffic  
  • H3: Create quality, relevant content to improve Google's search ranking 

SEO trends are shifting quickly. Your job (or your digital marketing agency’s) is to be on top of them.  
  
Google’s focus is primarily on user experience, mobile-first indexing, and AI-driven search features.  
Voice search optimisation and AI tools like Google’s RankBrain are becoming increasingly important as search intent and user behaviour continue to evolve.  
People are asking longer, more conversational queries, so it's vital to align content with these evolving patterns.  

  • Optimise for voice search: Use questions like "what's the best Italian restaurant near me" rather than just "Italian restaurants."  
  • Mobile optimisation: Google now uses mobile-first indexing, meaning your site must look and work excellent on mobile to rank well.

 

How SEO impacts your website’s visibility and traffic  

SEO is the pilar of online visibility.  
When your website is properly optimised, it appears in search results for relevant queries.  
  
This leads to more organic traffic and a better chance to convert plain visitors into leads and ultimately customers.  
  
The goal of SEO is not just to rank higher but to attract the right kind of traffic—people who are ready to engage with your content, product, or service.  
  
A well-optimised site keeps users engaged and reduces bounce rates, further boosting rankings, for example:  

  • Niche markets: A small business selling eco-friendly products can rank for “eco-friendly cleaning products” and attract a focused audience.  
  • Service providers: Ranking for "emergency plumber in [city]" ensures the right clients can find and contact you immediately.

    

Create quality, relevant content to improve Google's search ranking. 

Quality content is and will remain the main essence of SEO.  
Without it, nothing you do is worth much.  
  
Google looks “kindlier” on sites that offer valuable, informative, and engaging content that answers searchers' queries.  
So, aim for in-depth, well-researched articles that solve problems or provide insights, such as:  

  • Product comparisons: A detailed guide comparing different products, for example, laptop models, can help users make informed decisions.  
  • How-to articles: Comprehensive tutorials, like "How to Bring Traffic to Your Website," attract more visitors and keep them engaged. 

  

A few tips to boost your Google search ranking  

1. Internal linking connects pages within your website, improves navigation, and helps distribute link equity.  
This also keeps visitors on your site longer, as they will click to another topic that interests them, which is a positive ranking signal for Google.  
Make sure relevant pages are linked throughout your content to guide both users and search engines.  

  • Link from category pages (e.g., “running shoes”) to specific products.  
  • Link from a blog "Healthy eating tips" to another post like "Easy meal prep."  

2. Optimise your photos for search engines. They are used to enhance the user experience, but they need to be made better. Use descriptive alt tags to help search engines understand what your images are about. 
Compress images to improve page load times and positively impact SEO rankings.  

  • Use “blue sneakers with yellow laces and cushioned soles” instead of just “sneakers”  

3. Website speed is also relevant to Google when ranking pages.  
A slow website usually has high bounce rates (and a lot of frustrated users). Compress images, enable caching, and reduce unnecessary code to improve load times. Fast sites rank better and keep visitors engaged.  

  • Reduce image sizes using tools like TinyPNG. 
  • Set up browser caching to load resources faster for repeat visitors.  

4. With mobile-first indexing, Google prioritises mobile-friendly websites.  
Your site should have a responsive design that adjusts to all devices, providing a seamless experience across desktop and mobile. Sites that aren’t optimised for mobile will struggle to rank well.  

  • Use frameworks like Bootstrap to ensure mobile compatibility.  
  • Use tools like Lighthouse or PageSpeed Insights that help identify issues.  
     

5. Google also favours secure websites, and even though all websites should be secure, and your developer should take care of that, omissions still happen.  
Switching to HTTPS encrypts data but also signals to Google that your site is trustworthy. If your site is still using HTTP, it’s time to install an SSL certificate.  
  
6. Acquiring backlinks from reputable, high-authority sites will help your ranking.  
Guest posting, reaching out to industry influencers, and creating link-worthy content are effective ways to build strong backlinks.  

  • Contribute to reputable industry sites with your guest blogging.  
  • Create content so good it gets featured on high-authority resource pages.  
      
      

How to improve Google ranking 

The base of how to improve Google ranking is to do good keyword research (with which you’ll target that audience from the start of our blog).  

The online market is full of keyword planning tools, some of them free, and some offer a lot for a small fee. But the main thing is to find the best fit for you. Our advice is to prioritise long-tail keywords that match user intent, as these often convert better.  
  
But you must know that the whole point of improving your Google search ranking is about more than just what’s on our list—it’s about creating a website that serves users with valuable content, a great experience, and technical efficiency.  
 
Keep your site updated, mobile-friendly (Google is very keen on that), and filled with high-quality content, and you'll see results in better ranking.  
 
And one more thing: the results may not be instant and overnight, so have patience; if you do everything right, your effort will be rewarded. 
 

And as always, contact us if you have any issues with your website, SEO, or finding the right keywords.