3 Tactics for Ranking #1 in Google Search Results
In the early 20th century, we turned to godfather of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, for insights into human behavior. In the early 21st century, most of what we know about human behavior comes from everyone’s favorite search engine, Google.
For example, did you know that 94% of people are more likely to click on a website that ranks highly organically on a Google search results page (SERP) rather than pay-per-click (PPC) options that rank above it? With statistics like this, paying to play hardly seems worth it for your small business. Indeed, ranking organically is a good way to establish credibility as well as a sustainable marketing strategy. Only one question remains: how?
You have one good question. Liqui-Site has three good answers.
- Wield Keywords and Phrases Wisely
The key to great SEO? Keywords and phrases that make it possible for people seeking your product or service to find your site. Determining the golden keywords and phrases for your website is a process of trial and error. You come up with website copy, blog post titles, and meta descriptions. Then you watch what attracts, what converts, and what doesn’t. Research and repeat. Keywords and phrases shift as industries evolve and competition intensifies.
Keyword/phrase research never truly ends, but where do you begin? The Internet’s wealth of keyword/phrase generators may be a helpful starting point, but it takes skill to weave key terms into blog posts and website content in a way that ranks and reads well. After all, clicks won’t lead to conversions if nothing the visitor reads, well, clicks with them.
- Build a Strong Social Media Presence
You’re a prolific tweeter, your friends are always posting #brunch pics on Instagram, even your Aunt Cheryl has a Facebook page! In 2017, everyone you know is on social media and chances are, so is the majority of your target demographic. A social media presence is an effective (and free!) way to connect with potential customers and supplement SEO.
Link to your website in your profile bio and watch site traffic soar. Google SERPs take number of social media followers into account when determining rank and hold links inbound to your site in even higher esteem. That’s why it’s important to create profiles on the appropriate social media channels for your company (Instagram is ideal for a visually-based business, like a clothing store, etc…) and encourage followers to share posts.
- Embrace the AMP Trend
When it comes to achieving peak SEO, Google doesn’t just make the rules, it makes the tools. In October 2015, Google partnered with Twitter to launch the Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) Project, an initiative that teaches web designers to use streamlined code to build pages that load twice as fast as the average website page.
Less than two years later, 900,000 websites and counting are leveraging AMP technology to scale Google’s SERPs. Not shy about playing favorites, Google displays thumbnail images from AMP pages in a carousel format at the top of its SERPs for maximum exposure. Carousel placement attracts website visitors and quick load speeds ensure that they return.
The path to the top of Google’s SERPs is paved with compelling content, a strong social media presence, and lighting fast page load speeds. Allow Liqui-Site to guide you. Contact us today.
