First things first, it's crucial to grasp how Google
sizes up websites. At its core, Google prioritises the crème de la
crème—content that's not just good but spot-on relevant for users.
The Big G aims for users to get what we're after pronto. Yet,
there's a whopping 200-plus factors playing footy with your
website's position on those Search Engine Result Pages (SERPs).
Here's the lowdown on some ripper ranking factors Google takes to
heart:
Domain-level SEO ranking factors
Google delves into your domain's past, treating it like a seasoned
player in the footy league. Factors like your domain's age, any
dodgy spam history, owner details, and the vibe it gives off with
keywords all come into play.
Site Level SEO Ranking Factors
Google's algorithm sizes up your website's quality to decide your
rank. It's all about the site security dance (SSL), nifty
navigation, the game plan for your site's architecture, and the
trusty site map. Any winning SEO play needs a rock-solid on-page
game to ensure Google and regular users have a bonzer browsing
experience.
On-page SEO ranking factors
On-page optimisation is like having a star player on each page of
your website, sending the right signals to Google. Search engines
take a good, hard look (crawl) at your pages, scanning keywords,
content length, metadata, and how you link things up internally.
On-page optimisation is your foundational play for a victorious SEO
campaign.
Off-site SEO & backlink profile optimisation
In 2020 and still holding strong, the quality of your website's
backlink mates is a major player in the ranking game. Google sees
external links (backlinks) as votes of confidence. The more
authoritative and spot-on relevant the link, the more Google's
convinced you're dishing out top-shelf content.
User behaviour
Google keeps tabs on how users are kicking it on your website to
gauge content quality and overall satisfaction. Metrics like
Click-Through Rate (CTR), Bounce Rate, and Repeat Visitors tell the
tale. High CTR says your content's a good match, a hefty bounce rate
flags a miss, and repeat visitors give you a pat on the back for
offering something valuable.