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Simple Things to Make Your Site Rank Better

By Kent Campbell
January 1, 2024
13 minute read

Having a strong online presence is crucial for the success of any business. One of the key components of a successful online presence is a high ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). When your website ranks higher on search engines like Google, it becomes more visible to potential customers, leading to increased organic traffic, conversions, and revenue.

This comprehensive guide will explore 17 effective techniques to improve your website’s ranking in 2024. These techniques have been proven to drive organic traffic and boost search engine optimization (SEO). By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your website’s visibility, increase its chances of ranking higher on SERPs, and ultimately grow your online business.

Improve Your Website Loading Speed
Optimize for Featured Snippets
Enhance Dwell Time
Utilize Sitelinks
Create Linkable Assets
Target Keywords with High Commercial Intent
Expand Your SERP Real Estate
Rank for “Topic + Statistics” Keywords
Optimize Old Content for User Intent
Leverage Content Partnerships
Repurpose Content into Different Formats
Use Broken Link Building
Find Backlink Opportunities with “Backlink Gap”
Target Brand New Keywords
Utilize Concept Visuals
Develop a Strategy Using Industry Glossaries
Secure Backlinks from Content Curators
Conclusion

1. Improve Your Website Loading Speed

One of the most important factors that impact your website’s ranking on Google is its loading speed. Pages that load quickly rank higher on SERPs than slower-loading pages. To ensure that your website loads quickly, you can follow these tips:

Compress your site’s images to reduce their file size.
Consider moving to a better hosting provider to improve server response time.
Reduce the file size of your web pages by minimizing unnecessary code.
Eliminate or optimize third-party scripts that may slow down your website’s loading speed.

To assess your website’s loading speed, you can use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights or Semrush’s Website Checker. These tools will provide insights into specific areas where you can improve your site’s loading speed.

2. Optimize for Featured Snippets

Featured snippets are selected search results that are displayed at the top of Google’s SERPs, providing users with concise answers to their queries. Ranking in a featured snippet can significantly increase your website’s visibility and drive more organic traffic. To optimize your content for featured snippets, you can follow these steps:

Identify keywords that you already rank for on the first page of Google.
Analyze the type of featured snippet that appears for those keywords (e.g., definition, list, table).
Create content that specifically targets the format of the featured snippet.
Craft a section of your content that fits perfectly within the featured snippet box, providing a concise and informative answer.
Monitor your rankings to see if your content appears in featured snippets, and make adjustments accordingly.

By strategically targeting featured snippets, you can increase your chances of capturing the top spot on Google’s SERPs and driving more organic traffic to your website.

3. Enhance Dwell Time

You want people to spend a lot of time on your pages.

Dwell time refers to the amount of time visitors spend on your website after clicking on a search result. Google uses dwell time as an indicator of the quality and relevance of your content. Longer dwell times suggest that visitors find your content valuable and engaging, which can positively impact your website’s ranking. To improve dwell time, consider the following strategies:

Embed relevant videos on your web pages to increase engagement and encourage visitors to stay longer.
Create in-depth and comprehensive content that provides valuable information and answers to users’ queries.
Improve the user experience by ensuring your website is easy to navigate and visually appealing.
Optimize your content for readability by using clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points.
Monitor your website’s analytics to identify pages with low dwell times and make improvements accordingly.

By focusing on improving dwell time, you can not only boost your website’s ranking but also provide a better user experience for your visitors.

4. Utilize Sitelinks

Sitelinks are additional links displayed below a website’s main search result on Google. These links provide users with quick access to specific pages within your website, enhancing the visibility and click-through rate of your search results. To increase the chances of Google displaying sitelinks for your website, you can follow these steps:

Create a clear and organized website structure with a logical hierarchy.
Use descriptive anchor text for your internal links to help Google understand the content of each page.
Implement a table of contents on longer pages to enhance navigation and provide users with easy access to specific sections.
Optimize your website’s navigation menu to ensure it is user-friendly and easy to navigate.

By utilizing sitelinks, you can make your search results more prominent and increase the likelihood of users clicking through to your website.

5. Create Linkable Assets

Linkable assets are high-quality pieces of content that are valuable and informative, making them attractive to other websites as a source for reference and citation. By creating linkable assets, you can increase the number of backlinks pointing to your website, which is a crucial factor in SEO. To create linkable assets, consider the following strategies:

Conduct in-depth research on a specific topic and create comprehensive guides or reports.
Develop infographics or visual content that presents complex information in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format.
Publish original research or studies that provide valuable insights and data.
Create interactive tools or calculators that offer unique functionality and utility to users.
Produce high-quality videos or podcasts that provide educational or entertaining content.

By creating linkable assets, you can attract backlinks from authoritative websites, increase your website’s authority, and improve its ranking on search engines.

6. Target Keywords with High Commercial Intent

When optimizing your website for SEO, targeting keywords with high commercial intent is important. Commercial intent refers to the likelihood that a user’s search query indicates their intent to make a purchase or engage in a transaction. By targeting keywords with high commercial intent, you can attract visitors who are more likely to convert into customers. To identify keywords with high commercial intent, consider the following strategies:

Conduct thorough keyword research using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to identify keywords that are relevant to your business and have a high search volume.
Analyze keyword metrics such as cost-per-click (CPC) and competition to determine the commercial viability of the keywords.
Focus on long-tail keywords that are more specific and indicate a higher level of purchase intent.
Optimize your website’s content, meta tags, and product descriptions to incorporate these high commercial intent keywords.

By targeting keywords with high commercial intent, you can attract qualified traffic to your website and increase your chances of converting visitors into customers.

7. Expand Your SERP Real Estate

Expanding your SERP (Search Engine Results Page) real estate refers to increasing your website’s presence and visibility on Google’s search results. By occupying more space on the SERP, you can increase your chances of attracting clicks and driving organic traffic. To expand your SERP real estate, consider the following strategies:

Optimize your website’s content to rank for multiple relevant keywords, increasing the likelihood of appearing in various search results.
Create compelling meta titles and descriptions that entice users to click on your search results.
Utilize structured data markup to enhance the appearance of your search result with rich snippets, such as star ratings, reviews, or event information.
Implement a robust local SEO strategy to appear in local search results, especially if you have a physical storefront or serve a specific geographic area.

By expanding your SERP real estate, you can increase your website’s visibility and attract more organic traffic from users searching for relevant keywords.

8. Rank for “Topic + Statistics” Keywords

One effective strategy to improve your website’s ranking is to target “topic + statistics” keywords. These keywords are highly valuable because they indicate a user’s intent to find statistical data or information related to a specific topic. By providing comprehensive and accurate statistics on a particular topic, you can attract backlinks from authoritative sources and increase your website’s visibility. To rank for “topic + statistics” keywords, consider the following strategies:

Conduct thorough research to gather relevant and up-to-date statistical data on your chosen topic.
Organize the data in a visually appealing and easily digestible format, such as charts, graphs, or infographics.
Optimize your content with the target keyword and include the statistics prominently throughout the page.
Promote your content to authoritative websites, journalists, and industry influencers to encourage backlinks and citations.

By ranking for “topic + statistics” keywords, you can position yourself as a reliable source of information and attract organic traffic from users searching for statistical data.

9. Optimize Old Content for User Intent

Optimizing old content for user intent is a valuable strategy to improve your website’s ranking and provide a better user experience. User intent refers to the underlying motivation or goal behind a user’s search query. Understanding and aligning your content with user intent can increase its relevance and value to users, leading to higher engagement and improved rankings. To optimize old content for user intent, consider the following strategies:

Conduct keyword research to identify the primary and secondary keywords associated with your old content.
Analyze the search results for those keywords to understand the user intent behind them.
Update and optimize your content to better align with user intent, addressing the specific needs and queries of users.
Improve the readability and structure of your content, incorporating clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points to enhance user experience.
Monitor the performance of your optimized content and make further improvements based on user engagement metrics and search rankings.

By optimizing old content for user intent, you can breathe new life into existing pages, improve their visibility, and attract more organic traffic.

10. Leverage Content Partnerships

Content partnerships can be a powerful strategy to improve your website’s ranking and increase its visibility. By collaborating with other websites or influencers in your industry, you can leverage their audience and reach to drive more traffic and gain valuable backlinks. To leverage content partnerships, consider the following strategies:

Identify websites or influencers in your industry with complementary audiences and expertise.
Reach out to them with a proposal for collaboration, such as guest posting, co-creating content, or hosting joint webinars or podcasts.
Create high-quality and valuable content that aligns with the interests of their audience and provides mutual benefits.
Promote the collaborative content through your respective channels, including social media, newsletters, and email marketing campaigns.
Monitor the performance of the collaborative content, track backlinks, and analyze engagement metrics to measure the success of the partnership.

By leveraging content partnerships, you can tap into new audiences, gain valuable backlinks, and enhance your website’s visibility and authority.

11. Repurpose Content into Different Formats

Repurposing content into different formats is an effective strategy to maximize the value and reach of your existing content. By transforming your content into various formats, such as videos, infographics, or podcasts, you can attract different types of audiences and increase engagement. To repurpose your content, consider the following strategies:

Identify your top-performing content based on metrics like traffic, engagement, and conversions.
Determine the most suitable formats for repurposing the content, considering the preferences and behaviors of your target audience.
Transform your written content into videos, infographics, slideshows, podcasts, or interactive quizzes.
Optimize the repurposed content for the specific platform or medium you are using, ensuring it is visually appealing and easily consumable.
Promote the repurposed content through various channels, including social media, email newsletters, and content syndication platforms.

By repurposing your content into different formats, you can extend its lifespan, attract new audiences, and increase your website’s visibility and engagement.

12. Use Broken Link Building

Broken link-building is a powerful link-building strategy that involves finding broken links on other websites and offering your own content as a replacement. By providing value to website owners and filling the gaps left by broken links, you can earn valuable backlinks and improve your website’s authority. To leverage broken link building, consider the following steps:

Identify websites in your industry with broken links using tools like Check My Links or Broken Link Check.
Reach out to the website owners, notify them about the broken links, and offer your relevant content as a replacement.
Briefly describe your content, highlighting its relevance and value to their audience.
Monitor and track the success of your broken link-building efforts, keeping a record of the backlinks you earn and the impact on your website’s rankings.

You can turn broken links into valuable opportunities to improve your website’s authority and visibility by using broken link building.

13. Find Backlink Opportunities with “Backlink Gap”

“Backlink Gap” is a strategy that involves identifying websites that link to your competitors but not to your own website. By analyzing the backlink profiles of your competitors, you can uncover potential opportunities to gain backlinks and improve your website’s authority. To find backlink opportunities with “Backlink Gap,” consider the following steps:

Use tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush to analyze your competitors’ backlink profiles.
Identify websites that link to your competitors but not to your own website.
Reach out to these websites, highlighting the relevance and value of your content and requesting a backlink.
Provide a personalized and compelling pitch to increase your chances of securing backlinks.

By finding backlink opportunities with “Backlink Gap,” you can tap into existing networks and gain valuable backlinks to improve your website’s authority and visibility.

14. Target Brand New Keywords

Targeting brand-new keywords can be a highly effective strategy to gain a competitive advantage and increase your website’s visibility. By identifying emerging trends, topics, or search queries, you can create content optimized for these new keywords and attract early traffic and backlinks. To target brand new keywords, consider the following strategies:

Stay updated on industry news, trends, and emerging topics to identify potential new keywords.
Conduct thorough keyword research to assess the search volume, competition, and relevance of these new keywords.
Develop content specifically optimized for these new keywords, providing valuable and unique insights.
Promote your content through various channels, including social media, email newsletters, and content syndication platforms.
Monitor the performance of your content and the ranking of your targeted keywords, making adjustments based on user engagement and search rankings.

By targeting brand new keywords, you can position yourself as an early authority on emerging topics, attract organic traffic, and earn valuable backlinks.

15. Utilize Concept Visuals

Concept visuals are visual representations of complex ideas or concepts, such as infographics, diagrams, or charts. By utilizing concept visuals in your content, you can enhance the user experience, improve engagement, and increase the likelihood of earning backlinks. To utilize concept visuals, consider the following strategies:

Identify key concepts or ideas within your content that can be effectively visualized.
Create visually appealing and informative concept visuals, such as infographics or diagrams.
Incorporate these visuals into your content, providing clear explanations and adding value to your audience.
Promote your concept visuals through social media, visual content platforms, and relevant industry websites.
Monitor the performance of your concept visuals and track backlinks and engagement metrics to measure their impact on your website’s visibility and authority.

By utilizing concept visuals, you can enhance the appeal and accessibility of your content, attract more backlinks, and improve your website’s ranking.

16. Develop a Strategy Using Industry Glossaries

Industry glossaries can be a valuable resource for keyword research and content ideation. By utilizing industry glossaries, you can identify relevant keywords, topics, and concepts that are important in your industry. To develop a strategy using industry glossaries, consider the following steps:

Identify reputable industry glossaries or dictionaries relevant to your niche or industry.
Analyze the keywords and terms listed in the glossaries, noting their search volume and relevance to your target audience.
Incorporate these keywords and terms into your content, optimizing your website for industry-specific terms and concepts.
Monitor the performance of your optimized content, track keyword rankings, and user engagement to assess the impact of industry glossaries on your website’s visibility and authority.

By incorporating industry glossaries into your SEO strategy, you can improve the relevance and visibility of your content, attract targeted traffic, and enhance your website’s ranking.

17. Secure Backlinks from Content Curators

Content curators are individuals or organizations that aggregate and curate valuable content from various sources. By securing backlinks from content curators, you can increase your website’s visibility, authority, and referral traffic. To secure backlinks from content curators, consider the following strategies:

Identify content curators in your industry, such as bloggers, influencers, or industry publications.
Reach out to these content curators, highlighting the relevance and value of your content for their audience.
Provide a brief summary or teaser of your content, emphasizing its unique insights or perspectives.
Offer to collaborate or provide additional resources to enhance their curated content.
Monitor the performance of your secured backlinks and track referral traffic and engagement metrics to assess the impact of content curators on your website’s visibility and authority.

By securing backlinks from content curators, you can tap into new audiences, increase your website’s authority, and drive targeted traffic.

Conclusion

Improving your website’s ranking in 2024 requires a comprehensive and strategic approach to SEO. By implementing the 17 techniques outlined in this guide, you can enhance your website’s visibility, drive organic traffic, and increase your chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages. From optimizing your website’s loading speed and targeting keywords with high commercial intent to leveraging content partnerships and securing backlinks, each technique plays a crucial role in improving your website’s ranking and growing your online business. Keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process, and regularly monitoring and adjusting your strategies is essential for long-term success.

Take the time to evaluate your website’s current SEO performance, conduct thorough keyword research, and develop a comprehensive SEO strategy tailored to your business. By consistently implementing these techniques and staying current with the latest SEO trends and best practices, you can improve your website’s ranking, attract more organic traffic, and achieve your digital marketing goals.

Remember, SEO is a continuous process, and it requires dedication, patience, and ongoing optimization to achieve long-term success. Stay informed, adapt to industry changes, and regularly evaluate and refine your SEO strategies to stay ahead of the competition and maximize your website’s ranking potential.

Citations and Further Reading

Neil Patel, “17 Ways to Improve SEO Rankings in 2023,” Neil Patel Blog, link.
HubSpot, “SEO Strategy: Your Complete Guide to Search Engine Optimization,” HubSpot Blog, link.
Wordstream, “What is SEO? Search Engine Optimization Explained,” Wordstream Blog, link.
Backlinko, “SEO Copywriting: How to Write Content For People and Optimize For Google,” Backlinko Blog, link.
Moz, “Do Links Still Matter for SEO in 2023?,” Moz Blog, link.
Search Engine Journal, “How to Use Google Search Console for SEO: A Complete Guide,” Search Engine Journal, link.

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