Search engine optimization is always a bit of a puzzle. Consider for instance, that Google has over 200 ranking factors that they use in their algorithm and that they switch them up hundreds of times a year. True, most of these are minor changes, but when you’re filtering 3.5 billion searches a day, the criteria you use for producing the most relevant search results
Critical SEO Ranking Factors in 2019
The good news here is that you don’t need to worry about every single ranking factor. Some of them are such minor players that they hardly matter at all. Instead of giving yourself a headache trying to piece together an unsolvable puzzle, here are four SEO ranking factors that you’ll want to focus on specifically.
Domain Security
One of the reasons for Google’s success as a search engine giant is that they’ve built a reputation of trust. When someone initiates a Google search, they know they’re going to be presented with relevant, trustworthy results. The quality and security of your website plays directly into this reputation, so Google isn’t going to give you a priority rank when you haven’t taken the time to secure your domain.
To drive home the point, search engine users can easily spot whether or not your website is secure, simply by looking in the address bar. If you don’t have an SSL certificate for your website, getting one should priority number one for 2019.
Speed
Last year, Google took major leaps in establishing the importance of speed as a ranking factor. For starters, they made mobile speed an official ranking factor – meaning that sites that weren’t previously optimized for mobile were going to take a hit.
Secondly, they went full force with mobile first indexing. While mobile first indexing isn’t just about how quickly your site loads on mobile devices, speed is a critical component in why mobile sites get priority treatment.
Backlinks
Backlinks are a component of SEM that has been important for years, and this isn’t changing in 2019. On the surface, backlinks are essential because they generate a steady stream of traffic back to your website. If we dig a little deeper, we discover that backlinks help Google to establish whether or not you’re a website that reputable, trustworthy and authoritative in your industry. These are factors that play into UX, which is one of the most important elements of SEO.
Quality Content
Content marketing is a vehicle that delivers many of the elements of SEO. This doesn’t mean that all content is created equal. Search engines are going to place a priority on websites that provide quality, value-rich content.
For instance, if you’re in the fitness industry and publish an article about yoga poses that has already been done dozens of times, it’s not going to perform for SEO the same way a piece on just one or two of those poses, that really digs deep into the practice and benefits, will. Longer, specialized content helps to establish your authority in subjects relevant to your industry.
SEO Ranking Experts
We’re excited about the direction SEO is going in 2019. If you would like to know how to bring your SEM strategy into the New Year, we offer the SEO services that will amplify your online presence and ultimately improve your SEO ranking. Contact us today and speak to one of our digital marketing professionals today.
