Top SEO Ranking Factors for 2024: Part 1
Also known as web page optimization, this still stands as the most important and vital part of your SEO strategy. From the hierarchy of pages, the header tags and schema, to UX and internal linking. Creating a website that a SERP like Google will want to show to it’s customers is not easy.
You need to cater to the clients of the search engine, and convince the web crawlers that you have the information they are looking for. That means not only providing the correct and best information possible. It also requires you to be writing the clearest headlines and keeping your site organized. The trick is focusing on who you are writing it for…
While your website is a funnel to turn viewers into real customers, most of the content is written for robots, not people. In fact, in 2023 the statistics show that the average consumer decided if they would stay on your site in 0.05 seconds!
So what does this mean? Well, there is two parts. First, you need to make your site extremely user friendly and it has to look top tier to keep your clients interest and trust.
Second, and arguably the most important – you need to design for robots first, and humans second. The reason we say this is the most important is because what good is a website funnel that no one can find? Unless you plan on spending thousands of dollars a month on Google and Social ad campaigns, we suggest ranking your site on google.
While the consumer is judging a book by its cover – the search crawlers are analyzing every bit of data to see if they think you’re the right fit for THEIR customers.
This includes:
how often the site is updated
is the information correct
how fast does it load
how many clicks to navigate to each page
do they have returning traffic
So let’s dive into what it takes to rank higher and get you ready for SEO in 2024.
SEO Tagging & Schema
Let’s talk about how SEO works for a minute. When you create a website, it joins the ranks of over 1.13 billion other sites on the world wide web. This simply means it is buried in a sea of information.
But do not fret! There is still hope. You can still be found by growing your business, creating organic and unique content, and optimizing your page. All you have to do is follow the algorithm… and luckily we are here to help.
The first step in ranking your page on search engine results pages (SERPs) is simply designing your website to be found. This can be amplified by proper header tags and schema mark ups.
What is a header tag?
A header tag (or H1, or title tag) is the most important line of text on your page. The H1 tag represents what the webpage is about, and will have a large contribution to your SERP rankings. Google likes to use it to derive if the information on the page lines up with the users search intent.
H1 is the first thing that a web crawler reads, and it will judge all succeeding information’s relevancy to this line.
This is why we suggest that you utilize a program like Ahrefs or Semrush in order to better understand the keywords and their saturation. This will enable you to better choose your H1 and position your page for success.
On-Page Keyword Optimization
Keep in mind, you will want to weigh the saturation of a keyword in a market against the searches. If the keyword you are targeting gets 10,000 searches but has a difficulty of 80+ then it may not be the right choice.
It’s always important to check your keywords with a tool like SEMrush as you may be surprised what terms people use. This is the best way to make sure your writing matches with the viewers search query. By missing then step you risk not showing up in the organic search results.
With the proper tools and analytical skills, you can find niche keywords that are overlooked by the competition and ripe for the picking.
This is why we suggest doing keyword research prior to the design of the website. That way you can measure the volume of the targeted keyword against the keyword density. This will help you understand what to write first, when creating content and structuring your site.
For a truly optimized site, you will want to line up the title tag with the alt text and meta descriptions as well (more on that later).
How does HTML tagging work?
HTML tagging helps search crawlers decipher the importance of information and headlines in a ranked priority. That means that the order of your tags should NOT be from 1-6, but in order of importance to search engines and keywords.
By properly using tagging you can make sure that Google is ranking your page most efficiently by only looking at the information that matters. So, a section with a H2, will always we ranked higher than a section with a H3 or higher.
For example:
Creating a webstore for your business
Calgary Ecommerce and Web Development
using the inspect tool to see the html tags of the previous example
White the first line here looks like the title to the human eye, it contains less important keywords and is there for ranked as an H3. The second line is made smaller to the human eye, and looks like a subtitle. Though upon using the inspect tool, you can see it is actually ranked of higher importance via it’s html tag.
To properly utilize this feature, make sure you are choosing headlines that are keyword rich – while giving lower rankings to navigational or fluff content.
an example of how schema can help you appear in a search engine as a rich snippet
How do you use Schema Markup?
So far we have gone over how to help robots understand what content is most important on your site. Next up is another extremely important SEO tool. This is the Schema Markup (also known as rich snippets).
This code snippet helps search engines understand the type of content on a page, rather than ranking its importance. By giving this information to search engines you help it verify the category of your website. From changing blog post to a listing, or a simply getting a FAQ to display on the SERP. Schema is vital to the structure of your site.
Additionally, it also adjusts how your content is displayed in the search results. This will greatly increase your click through rate and make your web page stand out.
Types of Schema Markup can include:
Product markup
Recipe markup
Review markup
Course markup
Organization markup
Local business markup
For a more in depth look at Schema Markup and how it can help your site appear organically in the SERP, check out last years in depth blog.
Is it easy to apply schema?
Implementing Schema can be a tricky task, and is best left with an experienced developer. It involves some source code alteration, which can cause problems if you make a mistake. With three main routes of implementation being JSON-LD, Microdata, and RFDa. Schema is implemented via a machine readable code, transforming how you appear on a results page.
For more information on schema, feel free to reach out to us directly or drop a comment on our Youtube! Stay tuned for the next blog and episode in our SEO web series, from your favorite Calgary Web Design Company. We will be covering the next biggest step in creating a website that ranks high on Google. User experience design.
How to write good content (for search crawlers)
this blog scored a 9.4
The importance of content writing cannot be overstated. At the core of this discipline lie four critical pillars: originality, keywords, readability, and tone of voice. These components not only enhance the visibility of your content on search engines but also significantly improve the engagement and retention of your audience.
This is cornerstone of effective content writing. In a digital world teeming with information, unique and fresh content stands out. It’s not just about avoiding plagiarism; originality reflects your brand’s unique perspective and voice. This uniqueness is what captures the interest of your audience and keeps them coming back for more. Moreover, search engines like Google prioritize original content, boosting your website’s SEO ranking and making it more visible to potential customers.
Keywords are the lifeline that connects your content to your target audience. They are the terms and phrases that your potential customers are searching for. Integrating these keywords seamlessly into your content is a skill that balances frequency and natural language. Overusing keywords can lead to a penalty from search engines, while using them sparingly may result in lost opportunities for ranking. Thus, it’s crucial to research and utilize relevant keywords strategically to ensure your content is both discoverable and relevant.
Readability is another essential aspect. It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. Your content should be easily digestible, with clear and concise sentences, organized structure, and a logical flow of ideas. This approach makes it easier for readers to understand and retain the information you present. Readability also includes the technical aspect of formatting – using headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to break text, making it more appealing and easier to scan for busy readers.
Lastly, the tone of voice in your content is the subtle yet powerful element that brings your brand to life. It’s how you connect with your audience on an emotional level, creating a sense of familiarity and trust. Whether it’s professional, friendly, informative, or persuasive, the tone should reflect your brand’s personality and resonate with your target audience. A consistent tone of voice across all your content helps in building your brand’s identity and can differentiate you from competitors.
Originality
This is cornerstone of effective content writing. In a digital world teeming with information, unique and fresh content stands out. It’s not just about avoiding plagiarism; originality reflects your brand’s unique perspective and voice. This uniqueness is what captures the interest of your audience and keeps them coming back for more. Moreover, search engines like Google prioritize original content, boosting your website’s SEO ranking and making it more visible to potential customers.
Keywords
Keywords are the lifeline that connects your content to your target audience. They are the terms and phrases that your potential customers are searching for. Integrating these keywords seamlessly into your content is a skill that balances frequency and natural language. Overusing keywords can lead to a penalty from search engines, while using them sparingly may result in lost opportunities for ranking. Thus, it’s crucial to research and utilize relevant keywords strategically to ensure your content is both discoverable and relevant.
Readability
Readability is another essential aspect. It’s not just about what you say, but how you say it. Your content should be easily digestible, with clear and concise sentences, organized structure, and a logical flow of ideas. This approach makes it easier for readers to understand and retain the information you present. Readability also includes the technical aspect of formatting – using headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs to break text, making it more appealing and easier to scan for busy readers.
Tone of Voice
The tone of voice in your content is the subtle yet powerful element that brings your brand to life. It’s how you connect with your audience on an emotional level, creating a sense of familiarity and trust. Whether it’s professional, friendly, informative, or persuasive, the tone should reflect your brand’s personality and resonate with your target audience. A consistent tone of voice across all your content helps in building your brand’s identity and can differentiate you from competitors.
Be sure to follow our blog and stay tuned for next weeks deep dive into how the structure of a website can affect both the user experience and rankings.