With an 89.62% market share by 2025, Google remains the titan of online searches. Statista’s study indicates that users rely on this California-based search engine to find everything. From shopping and reviews to basic knowledge and general awareness, there isn’t one thing that Google cannot answer. That’s a sign that to stand out from the competition, a company needs to rank higher and improve its SERPs. However, how does one achieve the top position and remain unstirred?
This blog discusses how to rank higher on Google and beat others before they defeat you. It talks about proven strategies for 2025, which will help boost your visibility and draw visitors simultaneously. But let’s understand how Google ranking works before diving into the action plan.
What is Google Ranking?
Google’s algorithm sifts through billions of websites to serve users’ intent. It aims to provide the most valuable and useful results within seconds.
To answer every query, the algorithm accounts for many factors, such as quality, usefulness, and relevance. If your web page ranks highly, it indicates that Google finds your content insightful.
What can you do for Google to identify your web page as contextually rich? You can draw out a comprehensive strategy that helps you achieve the desired results.
What are the Key Strategies for Ranking High on Google?
Remember, SEO (search engine optimization) is crucial in improving your search visibility. An extensive understanding of SEO can help push through the competition and rank higher.
1. Target the Right Keywords
A fact is that websites don’t rank; the web pages do. And every page ranks due to its specifically targeted keywords. The first step is to identify which keywords you need to include in your content.
You can use the following research tools to select the appropriate keywords:
- Google Keyword Planner
- SEMRush
- Microsoft Keyword Planner Tool
- Ahrefs
Here’s how you can find out the right words and phrases:
- How many times a particular word is searched?
- What is the difficulty level of the keyword?
- Is the keyword relevant to your brand/business?
- What is your domain authority?
If you are just kickstarting an SEO strategy, begin with low-competition and low-volume keywords. A reasonable range is 90-400 for a new business.
2. Finalize LSI Keywords
LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) are phrases and words related to your keywords. They help Google understand the context of your web pages.
For example, LSI for “cold brew coffee” includes drinks, recipes, brands, and filters. These words help Google know you are talking about a specific coffee.
The best way to find LSI keywords is to Google seed keywords and let autocomplete find the words.
Start including these words naturally in your content to improve Google ranking.
3. Improve Your On-page SEO
On-page optimization is one of the quickest methods of ranking on Google searches. Here are some of the tips to follow:
- Correct Keyword Placement: Make sure you distribute the keywords effectively throughout your content. Add the primary keyword to the meta title, meta description, image file names, and alt texts. Also include them in at least two subheadings. However, remember that the placement should be natural and not forced.
- Internal Linking: Include links to the web page from at least three of your other pages.
- External Linking: Add up to three links from trusted and relevant third-party pages.
- Optimized Meta Title: The title is the first content a user reads. Make it crisp, clear, and to-the-point.
- Optimized Meta Description: Add value to your description, but keep it under 155-165 characters.
4. Identify Search Intent
What is the intention behind a user’s search? Identifying this is imperative to ranking higher on Google. Here are two ways through which it becomes easy:
- Format: Which are the top-ranking web pages on Google? Are they listicles or how-to tutorials? Understanding what works is vital for improving your ranking.
- People Also Ask: There’s a “People Also Ask” section on Google. These are the questions users commonly ask while searching for a particular product or service. You can plant these questions (with answers) in your content for improvement.
5. Optimize Your Content
One of the most essential strategies for improving your ranking is focusing on the quality. Your web pages should include content that makes the visitors stay and even share on social media. Here’s how you can achieve it:
- Review: You can include screenshots and videos of how to use a product. This credibility helps improve your ranking.
- Experience: Everyone likes a hands-on experience. Post images and videos in a way that an individual can enjoy the product/service.
- Trust: In case you cite a statistic, link it to the relevant source. It helps build credibility and trust.
You can also use advanced tools to optimise your content further. It helps improve the overall structure and readability of your content.
6. Provide Skimmable Information
Google is shifting from extensive to skimmable content. This means the search engine wants to answer every query, rather than provide a list of web pages. In this case, a user can extract the desired information from a single search rather than visit a website. Although this process is not profitable for those who want to drive traffic, it is your way to a better future. Google’s Gemini builds answers from various links, which is your source of ranking higher.
7. Add Meaningful Graphics
Images are a medium of interacting with the visitors. Here’s how:
- They make the content more engaging, so people stay on your website longer.
- Search results are becoming visually focused in current times.
- Provides visuals a chance to rank better in image results.
However, you cannot randomly select the images. They must add value, match the content, and explain the concept. Otherwise, it would not add anything positive to your Google ranking.
8. Fix Broken Links
You will always find a few broken links on your website. Although this is normal and Google doesn’t consider one 404 error a problem, proceed cautiously. Too many dead links can immensely impact your Google rankings. It hampers your SERPs and results in a poor customer experience. Multiple broken links will drive away users as they will not find what they seek.
9. Create a Table of Contents
A table of contents is one of the easiest and most beneficial additions to a blog post. This section makes it easy for the readers to skim through the content and focus on the section they are looking for. Often, Google fetches this content and places the clickable links next to the meta description.
10. Build Backlinks
Building backlinks is one of the most critical methods of ranking higher on Google. However, these links are only helpful if from trusted third-party websites. However, don’t pay to create such backlinks. You can find many valuable websites that will publish your content. Pitch them via mail and keep it short. These quality content links help people identify your website.
11. Add Internal Links
Your website content is a way to better Google ranking. Internal linking on such content helps Google understand your website and improve indexing speed. The links pass “link juice” from higher-authority pages to lower-authority ones. This also enhances the ranking potential for the internally linked web pages.
12. Mine Through Search Queries
Search console helps determine which queries are bringing your web pages in front of the customers. It also identifies the queries compelling them to click. This way, you can find additional headings and target keywords to add to your web pages. In case your pages are already ranking for those keywords/headings, you know they will work when you specifically focus on them.
13. Add Interactive Videos
Video content is today’s trend, showing up consistently on the SERP. This provides an opportunity to rank higher for a specific topic. In most cases, you can use “how-tos” and “tutorial” videos to organically rank on Google searches.
For example, your topic is “how to rank higher on Google”. If you create video content for it, there is a high chance of beating the competition.
14. Reoptimize Ranking Pages
Instead of trying to rank a lower authority page, optimise your web page that’s already ranking. It is easier to move up the position of a post that’s in a better position. The ranking page will bring more traffic than the one that needs optimization. In case of a well-established website, use tools like SEMRush and Ahrefs to filter out the organic keywords. See if those words and phrases can fit the existing content, and reoptimise it.
15. Continuously Measure and Improve
Once your content is ready and optimized, it is time to measure the results. Here is what you can do:
Google Analytics
The free tool provides revenue, traffic, and conversion data. Set up a Google Analytics account for your website to track the changes. If your website is on WordPress, you can install MonsterInsights. The platform makes it easy to use Google Analytics and displays regular data in the WordPress dashboard.
Track Keyword Ranking
While you are creating content, it is important to know which keywords rank effectively. This helps ensure that you are heading in the right direction. In case your suggested keywords aren’t performing well, you can search for more relevant phrases.
These strategies are core to increasing the engagement rate. However, it is not easy to lay out the SEO-focused plan and act upon it. In this case, you can hire a trusted SEO services expert to improve your Google ranking and improve your brand visibility.
Why Rank Higher On Google?
After going through the strategies, one might wonder, Is ranking on Google that important?”. The answer is yes. Google is the search engine giant that improves your brand visibility and helps increase engagement rate.
Here’s why you should know how to rank higher on Google:
Improves Visibility
With the highest volume of searches on Google, it is imperative to put your business on the map. This will help people see your website instantly. And the more people they see, the more your brand gets visibility. Customers become familiar with your name and become receptive towards you.
Generates Leads
Your aim is to get on the first page of your customer’s search query. If you can answer their questions directly, the visitors will discover you and stay. They will check out your products or services and make a purchase.
Increases Engagement
By ranking higher on Google search, you can interact with the customers. They learn and engage with your company. It also allows them to compare your solutions with the competitors. However, if you provide the right answers, your website engagement rate will soar higher.
Drives Organic Traffic
The websites on the first page drive the most significant percentage of traffic. That’s because users do not want to browse through numerous pages to find what they are looking for. In most cases, if they don’t find the answer on the initial few sites, they close the browser. So, in order to bring website traffic to your website, aim to be one of the top pages in a SERP.
Earns Trust
Google’s algorithm is designed to flag spammy, low-quality, and suspicious content. In case you are constantly among the top Google performers, it indicates that your website is trustworthy. Also, customers trust the site that Google shows on the initial search page.
Wrapping Up
Being one of the top websites on Google’s search results is a common goal for every business owner. Since the search engine focuses on quality over quantity, it is important to take care of the same. Follow the key strategies discussed in the blog and achieve the first-page status within a short span. An SEO agency can help achieve the desired results and ensure that you consistently stay on top of the search results.
FAQs
1. How do You Get the #1 Ranking on Google?
You can rank the highest on Google by getting backlinks, doing a SERP analysis, and targeting already-ranking pages.
2. Can You Pay Google to Rank Higher?
No, you cannot pay Google to rank higher. Only with the right strategies in place can you achieve the goal.
3. Why do I have a Low Ranking on Google?
Your Google ranking can take a dip due to technical issues, a Google penalty, Google algorithm updates, or a change in the SERP layout.
4. How Much Time Does It Take to Rank at the Top of the Google Search Results?
It generally takes approximately 3 to 6 months to rank on top of the Google SERP. Ensure to follow the strategies for consistent results.
5. What is a 5-Star Google Ranking?
You get a 5-star Google rating when your customer satisfaction level is exemplary. It indicates your strong reputation and attracts more customers.
