Conquering the SERPs in 2024

April 08, 2024

Every digital marketer or website owner craves that coveted top spot on Google’s search engine results pages (SERPs). After all, who wouldn’t want their website to enjoy the visibility, credibility, and traffic that comes with a high Google ranking? This comprehensive guide unpacks 17 strategic approaches you can adopt to soar up Google’s SERPs in 2024 and beyond.

Table of Contents

  1. Understanding Google Ranking- The Basics

  2. Delving Deeper into Google Ranking Strategies

  3. The Deluxe Approach to Google Ranking

Understanding Google Ranking- The Basics

1. Keyword Selection: Aim for Feasibility

The foundation of any successful SEO strategy is effective keyword selection. It all begins by identifying the terms that your ideal customers are typing into the search box – these are your keywords. You’ll need robust keyword research tools to pinpoint what’s feasible for your website to rank for.

Key considerations in this process include:

  • Volume: The number of times the term is searched monthly.

  • Competition: The difficulty level in ranking for that keyword.

  • Domain Authority: The credibility of your website, which influences how easily you can rank for keywords.

  • Relevance: Ensuring the keywords are pertinent to your website and can bring in the right traffic.

2. Decoding Keyword Intent

There are primarily four types of keyword intent: informational, commercial, transactional, and navigational. For SEO purposes, you’re mainly looking at informational intent keywords. However, it’s essential to discern precisely the kind of information a user is seeking when they type in a specific keyword.

3. Embrace Long-Form Content

Ranking high on Google requires in-depth, long-form content centered around your target keyword. This is particularly applicable to blog posts, but can also be implemented for landing pages.

4. On-Page SEO: The Crux of High Google Rankings

On-page SEO is the lifeblood of a high Google ranking. Here is a brief checklist:

  • Keyword Placement: Ensure your keyword is present in your meta title, meta description, at least two H2s, image file names, image alt text, the URL, and naturally within the body of your page.

  • Internal Linking: Include links from at least three other pages on your site to the page.

  • External Linking: Incorporate 1-3 links on your page to relevant, trusted pages.

  • Meta Description Optimization: Keep it within 155-165 characters and clearly convey the value a reader will derive from your page.

Delving Deeper into Google Ranking Strategies

5. Leverage Long-Tail, Question Keywords

Long-tail question keywords not only align with users’ search intent but also provide opportunities to appear higher than the top results for broader, high-volume keywords—through the People Also Ask (PAA) section.

6. Skimmable Content is Key

Google is increasingly aimed at providing immediate answers. Therefore, presenting skimmable content can enhance your chances of appearing in rich results like the Featured Snippet, Passage Ranking, and even meta descriptions.

7. Make Clear, Explicit Statements

When targeting question keywords, ensure your content provides a clear answer while restating the question. This can increase your chances of appearing in the Featured Snippet.

8. Incorporate Meaningful Visuals

Images can significantly enrich your content and enhance user engagement, potentially helping your page climb higher in the SERPs. Also, this offers your images a chance to rank in image results.

9. Include a Table of Contents

A table of contents can provide a neat overview of your content and make it more user-friendly, which Google tends to favor.

10. Optimize Meta Titles

Your meta title, which appears on the SERP, should be concise (60 characters or less), front-loaded with the keyword, and similar to what’s already ranking on page one.

The Deluxe Approach to Google Ranking

Backlinks, or links to your page from another website, are a significant ranking factor. You can actively work towards gaining more backlinks for specific pages.

12. Utilize Search Queries

Search Console can inform you about the queries leading people to your page, helping you identify additional headings or keywords to target.

13. Capitalize on Video Content

Video content is becoming increasingly prevalent on the SERPs and provides an opportunity to rank higher, especially for how-to and tutorial keywords.

14. Focus on Pages Already Ranking

Improving the ranking of a page that’s already ranking relatively high can provide a significant traffic boost. Use an SEO tool to filter your organic keywords by position.

15. Conduct a SERP Analysis

If you’re keen on ranking at the top for a particular keyword, a SERP analysis can reveal what it will take to get there—and if it’s feasible.

16. Implement Schema Markup

While Schema.org markup isn’t a ranking factor, it can improve your visibility in search results and make your results more clickable.

17. Don’t Neglect Technical SEO

Various page-level optimizations can improve your ranking, such as image optimization and resolving indexation issues. You can check a page’s Core Web Vitals, mobile usability, and more using Search Console.

Recap: How to Rank Higher on Google

And there you have it! To rank high, higher, and highest on Google in 2024, follow these steps:

  1. Target feasible keywords

  2. Decode keyword intent

  3. Write long-form content

  4. Implement on-page SEO

  5. Leverage long-tail, question keywords

  6. Make your content skimmable

  7. Make clear, explicit statements

  8. Incorporate meaningful visuals

  9. Include a table of contents

  10. Optimize meta titles

  11. Get backlinks

  12. Utilize search queries

  13. Create video content

  14. Focus on pages already ranking

  15. Conduct a SERP analysis

  16. Implement Schema markup

  17. Don’t neglect technical SEO

With these strategies at your disposal, you are well-equipped to conquer the SERPs and meet your website traffic and conversion goals. Happy ranking!

Discover insightful articles and engaging content on Elise’s blog, covering a wide range of topics. Explore her unique perspective and enrich your knowledge.

Elise

Author

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