Today we venture into the digital jungle to unravel one of the mysteries of our time: how to appear on Google and steer the helm of the digital world to your benefit.
Have you ever felt that your website is like a deserted island in the middle of the cyber ocean? Relax, you’re not alone in this. With the amount of information circulating on the internet, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack full of cat memes. But don’t worry, on this journey we’ll show you eight key treasures that will help you navigate your way to the top of Google’s results.
But before moving on to these treasures, we must say that to get to the top on Google you need to take into account many factors and, at the same time, understand that there are both organic and paid ways. SEM or Search Engine Marketing are those techniques and actions aimed at appearing on Google by investing money in ads. Although these investments can be very profitable, for example, when promoting a Landing Page, the truth is that you can also opt for organic strategies (free) and good SEO practices that guarantee good results. SEO corresponds to the set of strategies, techniques and actions that we can put into practice to position articles, materials, online stores and other websites in Google in an organic way.
As we always emphasize, when it comes to enhancing the visibility of your products and services and attracting more clients in the digital world, you have two options: equip yourself with the skills to do the work on your own (which takes time but has long-term rewards), or rely on the expertise of a professional in the field.
Now let’s get straight to the point:
1. Long-tail keywords: the treasure map
Keywords are like the map that guides you through the vast ocean of the internet, they can consist of a single word or a phrase. The latter are called long-tail keywords, and correspond to specific searches consisting of several words, for example: “how to create web pages”. They focus on precise details rather than generic terms.
Among the advantages they offer is their specificity, having fewer competitors, thereby increasing your chances of ranking in the top search results. Additionally, they deliver highly relevant content to users, enhancing satisfaction and conversions. Although they may have fewer monthly searches, they attract an audience that is more interested and ready to take action. Finally, beginning with long-tail keywords enables you to establish authority before targeting more competitive keywords.
2. Quality content: the buried treasure
Your website should be a trunk full of valuable and useful content. One of the best tips we can give you is that, if you want to reach the top of Google, you need to generate a functional and useful content marketing for users who visit your site. Publish articles, guides, infographics and videos that solve their problems and doubts. Not only because Google values quality and fresh content, but also because your visitors will appreciate it and, most likely, they will come back to visit you again.
When generating content it is necessary to consider SEO factors to optimize it. Among them are:
- User’s intention: You should focus on your audience’s search intent based on the keywords they use in Google. That way you match them with the content you are delivering. The best way to understand user intent is to analyze the results that appear on the first page when a search is performed. In this sense, other points you can analyze on the Google results page are: the “People also ask” section; the related searches (which appear at the bottom); titles and meta descriptions of the content; and also the terms that appear at the top of the “Images” section.
- Content size: a complete and detailed type of material tends to answer more questions and solve more problems than content that does not go deep enough. This does not mean cramming the user with information, but creating content that is truly useful and functional.
- Internal links: they have the function of guiding the user’s navigation and indicating to search engines other materials on your website that may be of interest. This practice is very valuable to increase your domain authority. Domain authority is a metric that establishes, to put it simply, the reputation of a website on the Internet. The better that reputation is, the more trustworthy and visible it will be in Google searches.
3. Load speed: the wind in your sails
Imagine that your website is a ship. If that ship is slow, visitors will abandon it before reaching their destination. Loading speed is essential. Optimize images, use a good hosting and eliminate unnecessary elements that slow down your page. It is crucial in this sense to optimize your images and use a suitable format such as .WebP.
Approximately a quarter of users close the tab if the website takes more than three seconds to open completely. Therefore, improving your site’s loading times should be a fundamental part of your strategy to appear in Google.
4. Backlinks: the allies
Backlinks are like allies that support you on the high seas. The more quality websites linking to yours, the better. But beware of poor quality links, as they can hurt rather than help you.
Think of backlinks as bridges of trust between websites. They are links that direct your visitors from another website to yours. These links are like votes of confidence that tell Google that your site is awesome and worth visiting. Keep in mind that the website that links to your site must have a good domain authority.
The active and planned strategy of searching, obtaining and creating these external links with the objective of improving the SEO and visibility of your website is called Link building. That is, it is the action of deliberately acquiring and creating high quality and relevant backlinks from other websites to yours. It is a strategy that involves efforts to obtain links from respected websites related to your niche, and is used to improve the authority of your website and its ranking in search results.
How Backlinks Work
- The Vote of Trust: When a website links to yours, it’s saying, “This site is great and has valuable information!” The more votes of trust you receive, the better you rank in Google.
- Digital Reputation: Google sees these votes and considers your website to be relevant and trustworthy in your area. This can boost your ranking in search results.
- Digital Connections: Backlinks create a network of connections on the web. The more links you receive from quality websites, the stronger your online presence will be.
- Additional Traffic:In addition to improving your Google ranking, backlinks can bring visitors directly from other websites.
- Quality over Quantity: It’s not just about the quantity of backlinks, but their quality. Links from reliable and related websites are more valuable than many links from irrelevant sites.
5. User experience: the navigator’s compass
A user-friendly website is essential. User Experience (UX) is like the ambience and comfort of our ship. It’s what makes visitors feel welcome and comfortable while exploring your website. A good user experience design ensures that surfers have a pleasant and satisfying journey.
User Experience Design (UX Design) is like the meticulous organization of our journey. It involves:
- User Research: Know your visitors: What do they want? What do they need? Where do they want to go on your website?
- Intuitive Design: Create a user-friendly interface and smooth navigation. Designing your website in an intuitive way is like placing signposts on the road to guide them easily.
- Meaningful Content: Offer valuable and organized information. This is like providing detailed maps so your visitors don’t get lost.
- Performance and Speed: Make sure the boat has no holes and sails fast. A slow website is like a trip on a sailboat with no wind.
When your website has a quality User Experience Design, your visitors feel like they are on a cruise ship. They will stay on board longer, explore more areas and come back for future trips. In addition, a good User Experience can also help you in your own Google scavenger hunt, improving your ranking in search results. It is one of the elements Google uses to rank your page.
6. Landing page: a lighthouse that calls your customers
A Landing Page is like a bright light in your showcase. It is the first impression visitors have of your offer and the opportunity to convert them into customers.
Imagine that your Landing Page is like a lighthouse in the night. It works like this:
- Attractive Design: Your Landing Page must be attractive and easy to understand.
- Clear Message: You must communicate your offer in a clear and convincing way.
- Call to Action: Use a precise call to action, so that the user has no doubts about what actions to take.
- Customer Data: Collect important information from your visitors through a form. It should be simple and concise.
- Convert Visitors into Customers: Remember that the main objective of your landing page is to convert those visitors into potential customers or real buyers, and for that you must guide them and help them in their search.
7. Google Business: a partner that supports you
Take Google Business as a great support on the web. It’s a platform that allows you to display crucial information about your business to users, such as your location, hours of operation, website, customer reviews and more.
Your Online Partner
Think of Google Business as a trusted friend on your digital journey:
- Information at everyone’s fingertips: Provide your customers with essential information about your business, such as your store location, phone number and website.
- Hours and Updates: Share your hours of operation and updated information, such as special promotions or events.
- Customer Reviews: Comments and reviews from your customers are like recommendations from your close friend. They attract new visitors and increase your online reputation.
- Useful Statistics: Access statistics on how people interact with your profile, which can give you very relevant information when designing your paid marketing and SEO campaigns.
- A Free Companion: Best of all, Google Business is free!
Google Business helps your business become more visible in local searches and allows you to build strong relationships with your customers online. So, keep your friend close and take advantage of it!
8. Measure your conversions: an excellent habit in your journey.
Measuring your conversions means keeping a detailed record of your achievements (and also of things to improve). It’s like keeping an inventory of the treasures you find on your journey. It’s about evaluating how many visitors to your website take important actions, such as buying a product, subscribing to your newsletter or filling out a contact form. Analyzing metrics is also crucial in marketing strategies and campaigns.
Why it’s a great habit:
- Informed Decisions: Gives you valuable information about which aspects of your website and strategies are working and which need improvement.
- Continuous Optimization: Like adjusting your compass during a trip, it allows you to constantly improve your website and strategies for better results.
- Marketing Performance: Helps you evaluate the effectiveness of your marketing campaigns and allocate resources wisely.
- Goals Achieved: Allows you to identify if you are achieving the goals you have set, such as increasing sales or growing visits to your website.
- Audience Insights: By measuring conversions, you learn more about what your visitors want and need.
When you measure your conversions, you are drawing a map that guides you towards achieving your goals. Every platform you use, whether it’s Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or any other, will have tools available for you to evaluate metrics and apply them to the different strategies and tactics you use. In the case of your website, there are several tools that you can incorporate to analyze information. Here are some of the most relevant ones that have free versions:
- Google Tag Manager: Makes it easy to manage and track tags on your website. You can easily add tracking scripts, such as ad tracking pixels or conversion tracking tags.
- Ubersuggest: Offers keyword analysis and ranking tracking, as well as providing ideas for content and SEO strategies.
- Facebook Pixel: Free to use if you’re advertising on Facebook. Allows you to track conversions on your website generated by your social network ads.
- Google Analytics: Free tool that tracks traffic and user behavior on your website, providing essential data for marketing and SEO optimization.
- Hotjar: Offers heat maps and session recordings to understand user behavior on your website. Has a limited free version and paid options for advanced features.
- Moz: Provides tools for link analysis, keyword tracking and website audits.
- SEMrush: Provides keyword analysis, ranking tracking and website audits. Offers a free trial version and paid plans.
- HubSpot: Offers a full suite of marketing tools, including marketing automation and lead tracking. Has a limited free plan and paid plans.
The choice of tools will depend on your specific needs and the marketing strategies you implement. It is important to consider which metrics and data are most relevant to your business and then select the tools that best suit your tracking and analysis objectives.
And there you have it! Follow these eight key factors and you’ll be on your way to the top of Google’s results. Remember, SEO is a constant search, so keep your compass ready to keep exploring!
Until the next adventure in the search for web optimization Chalice. May the clicks be with you!