Top SEO Ranking Factors
In the ever-changing world of search engine optimization (SEO), staying up-to-date with the best practices for boosting your website in search engine rankings is crucial. So whether you’re a seasoned SEO pro or need a few pointers for improving your website’s SEO performance, this guide will break down seven of the most crucial SEO ranking factors to remember when optimizing your website in 2023.
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1. Mobile-Friendliness
By Q2 in 2023, 61% of web traffic came from mobile devices, which is why mobile friendliness is now one of the most important SEO ranking factors. Search engines are all about making things easy for users, no matter how they access your site.
Ensure your website is as sleek and functional on phones and tablets as on your desktop browser. If yours is the type of website your customers often access, it is also worth investing in a mobile app.
2. User Experience
A user-friendly website offers a seamless experience for visitors, allowing them to easily find the information they’re looking for without disruption or frustration. If you’ve ever left a website due to intrusive ads, pop-ups, or a confusing layout, you probably understand why search engines prioritize good UX design.
Even minor improvements to the user experience can reduce bounce rate and increase session time—and not only is that good news for conversion rates but you’ll also be rewarded with a boost in the SERP ranking!
3. Content Quality
Content that’s useful, informative, and engaging is one of the most important SEO ranking factors. In the old days, you might have gotten away with keyword stuffing and other so-called “black hat” SEO tricks. But in 2023, search engines are pretty good at determining content quality. So it’s worth investing in content that’s genuinely helpful for audiences by creating:
- Well-written, keyword-optimized blog content that answers users’ questions
- Clear website copy that helps users decide if your business will meet their needs
Local SEO optimizations aimed at targeting users in your geographic area (if applicable)
4. Internal & External Links
Linking carries the most weight of all SEO ranking factors. Here are the three main ways you can improve your standing using linking best practices:
- Solicit inbound links. If many other websites link to yours, it signals to the algorithm that your website is a reputable source of information, boosting the search results.
- Include outbound links. Linking to other websites where necessary (e.g., to cite sources) shows crawlers that your site is reputable.
- Link to pages within your site. Ensure there are no “orphan” pages by including links between pages, posts, and products.
Internal and external linking is critical to improving your SEO standings. So, if you’re not ranking, consider contacting your digital marketing agency and ask if they offer link building as part of their search engine optimization services.
5. Website Structure
The structure of your website is an essential aspect of SEO performance. A well-structured website can help search engine crawlers understand your site’s content and purpose and improve its usability. In addition to structuring your site logically, organize your site’s content around “pillars” of information to help crawlers properly index it.
6. Website Health (Core Web Vitals)
Your website’s health, measured by Core Web Vitals, is a crucial SEO ranking factor. Core Web Vitals are a set of user experience metrics that Google uses to evaluate the quality of a website. These metrics include:
- Largest Contentful Paint (LCP): measures the loading speed of the largest element on a webpage, such as an image or video.
- First Input Delay (FID): measures the time it takes for a user to interact with a webpage after clicking on a link or button.
- Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS): measures the visual stability of a webpage as it loads, meaning how much the page layout shifts around as content loads.
These metrics are important because they reflect how quickly and smoothly a website loads and responds to user interactions, critical components of a positive user experience. If your website is in “poor health,” consult with your digital marketing agency to learn how you can improve it.
7. Security and Accessibility
Search engine crawlers must be able to access and crawl your website to index it. If you use a website builder such as WordPress or Squarespace, security and accessibility features are likely built into your site. If you or your web developer built your site from the ground up, ensure your site has a robot.txt file and a sitemap to help the crawlers along.
Final Thoughts
Keep in mind that SEO is less about building your website “for the algorithm” and more about creating a pleasant experience for users via helpful information and a seamless user experience. That said, it can be challenging to elbow your way to the top of the SERP without the technical know-how of SEO experts. So consider enlisting the help of a digital marketing agency like Wedgewood Marketing to help you with search engine optimization services. You’ll be reaping the rewards of organic traffic in no time!
Wedgewood Marketing is a Charlotte SEO company offering web development, pay-per-click (PPC) marketing, social media advertising, and more to small and midsize businesses in Charlotte, North Carolina. Contact us today for your free marketing plan!
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