Google keeps working on various ways to improve its ranking algorithm. The search engine giant brings changes to its algorithm and ranking signals to make searches relevant to users. SEOs, marketers, and webmasters never cease to decode those ranking factors. It’s believed that Google considers as many as 200+ ranking signals to decide on whether a page should be ranking or not.
Major Google Ranking Factors in 2021
Thankfully, not all these ranking signals are equally important. Some are significant to rankings whereas some ranking signals are low profile and just a part of the list. This document carries a list of topmost Google ranking factors that must be part of your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy.
Authority Backlinks
There may be a day when Google drops backlinks from its ranking signals. But as of now, this is the most important ranking factor. While strategizing your link-building campaigns focus on quality and authority backlinks only. Relying on shortcuts and spam link acquisition methods can do more harm than good. Black hat SEO can be very risky.
You can organize your link-building strategy to grow your link profile. Sneaking into your competitor’s link profile will be very beneficial. See how they are acquitting good backlinks and from what sources. Use some good backlink analysis tools to discover your competitors’ backlinks and find the backlink gap. Target those websites that are from your niche and ready to host your links.
HTML Tags
HTML tags are the most important element of your on-page optimization strategy. Heading tags (h1-h6) split the entire content copy into multiple sections. They convey to Google which parts of the content copy are the most important. Similarly, Meta tags (SEO title and description) appear in the search snippets if optimized well using relevant keywords.
Thus it’s important to write a Meta description in informative style using target keywords. To optimize your post images use keyword-rich alt text. They help your images appear in the search results for relevant image searches.
Core web Vitals
Google is all set to include core web vitals in its ranking algorithm. These are going to be an important ranking factor in the future. Core web vitals measure several important metrics related to user experience. It includes the first impression the user gets when visiting a page, how fast the page loads, and how stable the page layout is. It may take some time for Google to roll out core web vitals as an official Google ranking factor.
User Behavior
The metric is quite new and still under clout whether or not Google will consider it as a ranking factor to rank pages. Google keeps denying it but there is constant chatter around evidence that it might be a ranking signal. Metrics like click-through rate (CTR), bounce rate, session depth, and session duration are some important metrics that are directly connected to user behavior.
Engaging your readers through top-notch content is the best way to improve user behavior. For instance, an attractive title in a search snippet can improve CTR. Similarly, other user behavior metrics are very much connected to the engagement potential your content can offer. This is why you should produce high-quality engaging content copy packed with audio-visual elements.
Structured data:
Structured data presents Google with several details about your content. Webmasters use structured data to inform search engines about authors, ratings, product features, locations, and much more. Structured data hosts a multitude of benefits in terms of SEO. It helps you to enhance your search snippets with rich elements.
Setting structured data requires a bit of technical acumen. Therefore if you’re not that technical go for Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to choose the type of markup such as article, local business, and product. You can also run a check using Google’s Rich Result Test to find whether your structured data works.
Google My Business Listing:
Google My Business Listing will continue to be essential for local SEO. You should keep putting your sincere effort into claiming, optimizing, and maintaining their Google My Business listing. An organized and optimized local business listing helps you build brand authority and outweigh the competition. GMB directly impacts a website’s search performance and it further helps businesses to get local business panels as well as Google Maps.
It’s easier than ever to create and claim your Google business listings. To create your profile, provide a few basic details and verify your ownership. Go to your Google My Business dashboard and fill up all other essential details to enhance your listings.
Add a description, business hours, and photos to make your profile more discoverable. You can see even more features coming to Google My Business shortly.
Tarun Gupta, CEO of Brainpulse Technologies, is a prolific author and digital marketing specialist. His insightful writings span SEO, content marketing, social media strategy, and email campaigns, offering invaluable expertise to businesses worldwide. Tarun’s contributions continue to shape the digital marketing landscape, guiding success in multiple niches.