Every year, it seems as though Google finds a new way to mess with SEO professionals. Just when you think you’ve got a handle on the latest most important ranking factor, it updates the algorithm and you’re back at page one.
It’s not that Google is trying to be difficult. When it first started out, it decided to differentiate its services from others by offering the most relevant, high-quality results. Over time, its algorithms have become better at figuring out which sites are worthwhile and which are dodgy.
It does make things a little harder for the legitimate webmaster, but it also helps to cut back on the crappy sites that you have to compete with. As long as you focus on the ranking factors that Google deems important, you’re covered.
Not sure what ranking factors to focus on? We’ve got you covered. In this post, we’ll go through the five ranking factors to focus on in 2019. We’ve also got an SEO cheat sheet in the form of an infographic for you at the end of this post.
The infographic created by Hristina Nikolovska, the editor of SEO Tribunal will answer any other questions you might have about SEO.
For now, though, let’s get started on the most important ranking factors in 2019.
Content, Content, Content
Online, content is what separates the men from the boys. Winning websites publish high-quality content that resonates with their audience. To win this game, the content you publish must be:
– Flawlessly created – If it’s a text, it must be perfectly written. If it’s a video, it should be top-notch. Take the time with every piece of content to ensure it’s perfect. If it isn’t, why would you want it associated with your brand anyway?
– Timely – Provide people with the information they are looking for at the right time. That’s one way to ensure they’ll keep coming back.
– Fresh – If your content is nothing more than a regurgitation of what thousands of others have already written, it’s not scoring you points. Think about new ideas or a fresh take on current content.
Change Your Focus to Mobile-First
You should already have started making your site mobile-friendly. Perhaps you even have a mobile version. 2019 is the year to get serious about mobile devices and ditch that mobile site. Does that sound a little contradictory?
It does. But what we’re getting at is that you should only have one website. Your primary website should be designed to be mobile-responsive. Yes, it could be expensive, and no, Google hasn’t actually said that it’s necessary.
But the writing is on the wall. Be prepared for the next version of Mobilegeddon where Google starts favoring mobile-responsive sites over other types. It will happen.
Make Sure Your Site is Secure
We’ve already seen some changes in the way that Google lists sites that use HTTP rather than HTTPS. Chrome now warns visitors that the site is not secure. They have the option of clicking through anyway, but how many people will ignore the warning? You’re risking your SERP by not securing your site.
Improve the User Experience
This is the single most important tip when it comes to SEO. You want users to be able to move around your site intuitively and have a great time while browsing it. The better the user experience, the more likely they are to stick around and return later. That’s a surefire way to boost your ranking.
Speed Up Your Site
The slower your site, the worse the user experience is and the higher your bounce rate will be. What’s more, Google has acknowledged that site load times are now a ranking factor. Do an overall site audit. If it takes more than three seconds to load, you have a problem.
Okay, so that’s some of the most important things to work on for SEO in 2019. Want some more general tips? Check out the infographic that follows.
Infographic URL: https://seotribunal.com/blog/stats-to-understand-seo/