SEO Improving Rankings

What Are the Most Critical SEO Ranking Factors?

Search engines use different ranking factors to figure out which websites should be displayed in their search results. While every factor has a significant impact, there's no denying that some carry more weight than others.
The question is, which of those factors are considered the most critical regarding SEO rankings?

1 - Keywords
If there were one critical ranking factor, it would be keywords. The right keywords can make all the difference in getting your website to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs). The wrong one will get you nowhere.
When figuring out which keywords to target, you must keep two things in mind:
- Relevance: The keywords you choose should be relevant to your website's topic. Not only that, but they should also be relevant to the specific page you're optimising.
- Search Volume: The keywords you choose should have a decent number of monthly searches. If nobody searches for a keyword, it won't do you any good.
2 - Content
If keywords are the body of SEO improving rankings, then the content is the soul. No matter how well you optimise your website, if your content isn't up to par, you will not rank well.
Your content must be:
- Relevant: As with keywords, your content must be relevant to your website's topic and the specific page you're optimising.
- Original: With Google's Panda algorithm update, duplicate content is now a big no-no. Your content must be 100% unique if you want to rank well.
- Useful: Besides being relevant and original, your content must also be useful to your visitors. It should provide them with the information they're looking for in a way that's easy to understand.

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3 - Links
Links are and will always be key elements for SEO improving rankings, even though Google has made several algorithm updates that were meant to reduce their importance.
The two main types of links you need to worry about are:
- Inbound links: These are links from other websites pointing to your website. They show search engines that your site is popular and trusted.
- Outbound links: These are links from your website pointing to other websites. They show search engines that you're willing to vouch for the quality of the sites you're linking to.
4 - Title Tags
Title tags carry a lot of weight concerning on-page SEO factors. The tags appear at the top of your browser window and in the search engine results pages (SERPs). SEO services always make it a point to put a premium on title tags.
Your title tags should be:
- Relevant: As with keywords and content, your title tags must be relevant to your website's topic and the specific page you're optimising.
- Descriptive: In addition to being relevant, your title tags must also be descriptive. They should give visitors a good idea of what they can expect to find on your page.
- Short: Keep your title tags short and sweet. Ideally, they should be between 50 and 60 characters.

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5 - Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions remain a vital cog in the SEO machine, even though they don't directly impact your website's SEO improving rankings.
A good meta description should be:
- Relevant: Just like title tags and content, meta descriptions must be relevant to your website's topic and the specific page you're optimising.
- Descriptive: A good meta description should give visitors a clear idea of what they can expect to find on your page.
- Compelling: A good meta description should be compelling enough to entice visitors to click through to your website.
- Short: Meta descriptions should be between 155 and 160 characters. Any longer, and they'll get cut off in the SERPs.

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6 - Site Speed
Site speed is a relatively new ranking factor, but it's a very important one. Google wants to provide its users with the best possible experience, including delivering websites that load quickly.
There are a few things you can do to improve your site's speed, such as:
- Optimise your images: large images can slow down your website, so make sure to optimise them for the web.
- Minimise HTTP requests: Every time a user visits your website, their browser has to send an HTTP request to your server. The more requests your site has, the longer it will take to load.
- Use a content delivery network (CDN): A CDN can help decrease the time it takes for your website's content to load for visitors located further away from your server.
7 - Mobile-Friendliness
Mobile-friendliness has been a ranking factor since 2015, and it will only become more important in the years to come.
With most internet users now accessing the web via mobile devices, your website must be optimised for SEO improving rankings.
You ought to perform a few things for your website to become mobile-friendly, such as:
- Use a responsive design: A responsive design ensures that your website looks and works great on all devices, from smartphones to tablets to desktop computers.
- Use large font sizes: Small font sizes can be difficult to read on mobile devices, so make sure to use large font sizes.
- Use large clickable areas: Small clickable areas can also be difficult to use on mobile devices, so make sure they're large enough for people to tap on easily.

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8 - Social Signals
Social signals are a bit of a nebulous topic, but there's no doubt they play a role in SEO improving rankings.
Simply put, social signals indicate that your website is being talked about on social media. They'll tell you the same thing even if you work with an SEO company. This could include:
- Shares: If someone shares one of your blog posts on Facebook, that would be a social signal.
- Likes: If someone likes one of your pages on Facebook, that would also count as a social signal.
- Comments: If someone leaves a comment on one of your blog posts, that would be yet another social signal.

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9 -User Experience
User experience is a bit of a catch-all term, but it's important, nonetheless.
There are a few things you can do to improve your website's user experience, such as:
- Make sure your website is easy to use: Your website should be easy to navigate and use. All of your links should work, and your pages should load quickly.
- Use engaging visuals: Engaging visuals can help keep people's attention focused on your website. Use high-quality images, videos, and infographics to support your content.
- Write compelling copy: Compelling copy is important for keeping people engaged with your website. Make sure your content is well-written and free of errors.
That's about it. Always remember that search engine optimisation is an ever-changing landscape, so what works today might not work tomorrow. Be sure to stay up-to-date on the latest SEO news and trends to ensure that your website stays ahead of the curve.