What Does It Take to Rank on Google in 2025?

9. Secure Website (HTTPS)

Nobody wants to visit an “unsafe” site. Google doesn’t either. Switching to HTTPS protects user data and builds trust.

Pro Tip: Get an SSL certificate from your hosting provider to enable HTTPS on your site.

10. User Experience (UX)

Easy navigation and clean design keep visitors engaged. And Google notices. A well-designed site can improve dwell time and reduce bounce rates.

Pro Tip: Test your site on different devices and browsers to ensure a consistent user experience.

11. Title Tags

Write clear, click-worthy titles that include your primary keyword. Titles are the first impression users get, so make them count.

Pro Tip: Keep titles under 60 characters to avoid being cut off in search results.

12. Meta Descriptions

They don’t directly affect rankings but boost click-through rates. That’s a win. A compelling meta description can make the difference between a click and a missed opportunity.

Pro Tip: Include your primary keyword and a call-to-action in your meta descriptions.

13. Alt Text for Images

Helps search engines understand your visuals while improving accessibility. Alt text also benefits users with screen readers, enhancing their experience.

Pro Tip: Use descriptive and concise alt text that incorporates relevant keywords.

14. Structured Data Markup

Rich snippets = better visibility. Think FAQ sections or star ratings. Structured data makes your content more attractive in search results.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Google’s Structured Data Testing Tool to ensure proper implementation.

15. Image Optimization

Compress and name images descriptively to speed up load times and help search engines. Properly optimized images improve both performance and user satisfaction.

Pro Tip: Use modern image formats like WebP for faster loading and better quality.

16. Content Freshness

Keep updating your content to stay relevant. Search engines favor websites that regularly provide fresh and updated information.

Pro Tip: Set a schedule to review and update high-performing pages every 6-12 months.

17. Long-Form Content

In-depth articles often rank better. But only if they’re valuable. Covering a topic comprehensively builds authority and keeps readers engaged.

Pro Tip: Break long content into sections with clear subheadings for better readability.

18. Social Signals

Likes, shares, and engagement can boost your site’s credibility. Active social media presence often correlates with higher rankings.

Pro Tip: Add social sharing buttons to your website to make it easy for users to share your content.

19. Bounce Rate

High bounce rate? Visitors aren’t finding what they want. Fix it. Engaging and relevant content helps keep users on your page longer.

Pro Tip: Use analytics to identify pages with high bounce rates and optimize their content or layout.

20. Dwell Time

The longer users stay on your page, the better. It signals to search engines that your content is valuable and engaging.

Pro Tip: Add engaging elements like videos or interactive content to keep visitors on your page longer.

21. Content Readability

Write for humans, not robots. Keep it simple and engaging. Content that’s easy to read improves user experience and increases the time spent on your site.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Hemingway or Grammarly to assess and improve readability.

22. Video Content

Videos keep visitors around longer and enhance your content’s value. They are also a great way to explain complex topics and boost engagement.

Pro Tip: Add captions to your videos for accessibility and SEO benefits.

23. Local SEO

Optimize for “near me” searches if you’re targeting local customers. Local SEO helps your business appear in relevant local searches and maps.

Pro Tip: Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on Google My Business (GMB).

24. NAP Consistency

Your business’s Name, Address, and Phone number need to match across all platforms. Consistency builds trust and improves local SEO rankings.

Pro Tip: Use a tool like Moz Local to check and fix inconsistent NAP listings.

25. Google My Business

Keep your GMB profile accurate and active. A well-maintained profile can boost your local visibility and attract more customers.

Pro Tip: Post updates regularly and respond to customer reviews to stay active on GMB.

26. Voice Search Optimization

Answer conversational queries to capture voice search traffic. Use natural language and focus on long-tail keywords to optimize for voice search.

Pro Tip: Create an FAQ section to target common voice search queries.

27. URL Structure

Keep URLs short, descriptive, and keyword-rich. A clean URL structure improves user experience and makes it easier for search engines to crawl your site.

Pro Tip: Avoid using special characters and keep URLs consistent across your site.

28. Anchor Text

Use relevant, natural anchor text for your links. This helps search engines understand the context of the linked page.

Pro Tip: Avoid generic anchor text like “click here” and use descriptive phrases instead.

29. Schema Markup

Helps Google understand your content better. Structured data can enhance your search appearance with rich snippets.

Pro Tip: Use schema generators like Schema.org to create and test your markup.

30. Content Depth

Cover topics comprehensively, but don’t ramble. Detailed, well-organized content signals expertise and keeps users engaged.

Pro Tip: Research what competitors are covering and aim to provide even more value.

31. Outdated Content Cleanup

Remove or refresh old, irrelevant pages. Keeping your content updated shows search engines that your site is active and reliable.

Pro Tip: Audit your site quarterly to identify pages that need updates or can be repurposed.

32. Canonical Tags

Prevent duplicate content issues with proper tagging. Canonical tags help search engines know which version of a page to prioritize.

Pro Tip: Use canonical tags for pages with similar or identical content to avoid splitting traffic and rankings.

33. H1 and Header Tags

Organize content with clear, keyword-rich headings. Proper headers improve readability and help search engines understand your content structure.

Pro Tip: Use only one H1 per page and ensure it reflects the main topic of the content.

34. Domain History

Spammy history? That’s a red flag for Google. A clean domain history improves your credibility and ranking potential.

Pro Tip: Use tools like Wayback Machine to review your domain’s past activity before purchasing it.

35. Keyword Cannibalization

Avoid competing against yourself with multiple pages targeting the same keyword. This can confuse search engines and dilute your rankings.

Pro Tip: Consolidate similar pages into one comprehensive piece to strengthen rankings.

36. Core Web Vitals

Focus on load speed, interactivity, and visual stability. These metrics are essential for providing a seamless user experience.

Pro Tip: Use Google’s PageSpeed Insights to monitor and improve your Core Web Vitals scores.

37. Multilingual Content

Target global audiences with properly localized content. A multilingual strategy can expand your reach and boost rankings in different regions.

Pro Tip: Use hreflang tags to indicate language and regional targeting to search engines.

38. Engaging Headlines

Catchy, informative headlines attract clicks. Headlines that stand out can significantly improve your click-through rates.

Pro Tip: Use numbers, questions, or power words to make your headlines more compelling.

39. Custom 404 Pages

Even error pages can improve user experience. A custom 404 page helps users find what they’re looking for instead of leaving your site.

Pro Tip: Add links to popular pages or a search bar on your 404 page to guide users back.

40. Content Clusters

Organize related content into clusters with a pillar page. This structure improves navigation and helps search engines understand your site’s hierarchy.

Pro Tip: Link supporting pages to your main pillar page to consolidate authority and improve rankings.

41. Exact Match Domains (EMDs)

Not as powerful as before but still useful if done right. An EMD can help if it’s relevant, trustworthy, and provides high-quality content.

Pro Tip: Focus on building authority and trust rather than relying solely on an exact match domain.

42. Podcast SEO

Transcripts and metadata can help rank your audio content. Podcasts with optimized descriptions and keywords can attract more listeners.

Pro Tip: Add show notes and timestamps to your podcast episodes to make them more accessible and searchable.

43. Affiliate Links Management

Too many can hurt trust. Use sparingly. Balance affiliate links with original, high-quality content to stay credible.

Pro Tip: Use no-follow tags on affiliate links to avoid potential penalties from search engines.

44. Content Sharing Platforms

Distribute your content across multiple channels to increase visibility. Sharing on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn can drive traffic back to your site.

Pro Tip: Customize your content for each platform to maximize engagement.

45. Time-on-Site Metrics

Keep users engaged to boost rankings. Longer visits signal to search engines that your content is valuable and worth promoting.

Pro Tip: Add interactive elements like quizzes or infographics to make your content more engaging.

46. Customer Reviews

Positive reviews boost trust and local rankings. Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google or Yelp.

Pro Tip: Respond to all reviews, positive or negative, to show you value customer feedback.

47. AI-Generated Content

If you’re using AI, ensure it’s edited for accuracy and personality. AI can save time but needs human oversight to align with your brand voice.

Pro Tip: Use AI to assist, not replace, your content creation process for the best results.

48. Core Topic Authority

Having content that demonstrates your expertise in a specific area builds trust with search engines and users. Creating detailed, interlinked pages about a subject strengthens your authority.

Pro Tip: Develop a content strategy around core topics with supporting articles that link back to a pillar page.

49. User Comments and Engagement

A website with active user engagement signals is of value to search engines. Encouraging comments can improve rankings and create a sense of community.

Pro Tip: Respond to comments promptly and encourage discussions by asking questions in your content.

50. E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

Google prioritizes content that comes from credible sources. Demonstrating expertise and authority on your site can boost your rankings.

Pro Tip: Include author bios, credentials, and links to authoritative references to establish trust.

How Do Google Search Rankings Work?

Google search rankings are determined by a complex algorithm that evaluates numerous factors to deliver the most relevant results for a user query. Here’s a structured guide to help you understand the process:

• Crawling: Google uses bots, known as crawlers or spiders, to scan the web and find new or updated pages.
  Ensure your site is easily crawlable by having a clean URL structure and using an updated sitemap.
• Indexing: After crawling, Google organizes the content into its index, which is like a giant library of web pages.
  Use descriptive titles, meta tags, and structured data to help Google understand your content during indexing.
• Ranking: When a user performs a search, Google evaluates indexed pages using its algorithm to rank them based on relevance, quality, and user experience.
  Focus on high-quality content, backlinks, and site speed to improve your ranking position.
• Serving Results: Google displays the most relevant and high-ranking results on the search engine results page (SERP).
  Optimize your content for featured snippets, local search, and rich results to stand out. Understanding these steps can help you optimize your SEO strategy for better visibility and traffic.

Conclusion

Ranking high on Google is about creating a user-focused experience to shoot your page to the top of search engine trends. Ready to level up your SEO? Start with optimizing these 50 factors and watch your site climb the ranks.

Looking for professional help? Profeo offers expert link-building services to boost your domain authority and improve your rankings effectively.