The Google algorithm has hundreds, if not thousands of signals when determining where websites rank for a search. Taking action on which factors carry the most weight can be the difference between success and failure. If you are able to implement these 3 factors, in my experience, will deliver noticeable organic ranking results.
Mobile First
Google started warning website owners back in March 2015 that websites need to start accommodating mobile visitors or your rankings will be affected. When April 21 2015, the day Google claimed a mobile factor in it’s algorithm, came and went it didn’t create the upheaval expected.
However, you can bet it makes a difference today, 2 years since implemented and mobile search visitors continue to increase over desktop. On January 10, 2017 Google gave notice again about mobile first where “content is not easily accessible to a user on the transition from the mobile search results may not rank as highly.” From the sounds of it Google is stepping up the weight it places on mobile friendliness in its algorithm.
This can also affect you if you are using pop ups on your website, or as Google calls them intrusive interstitials.
Claim Your Local Business Listings
According to LSA Insider, over 50% of local retailers still haven’t claimed their Google My Business listing. This is a pretty easy win to accomplish to help Google display your correct information on local search results. So it’s critically important that you do this right away.
Keyword Research
Google seems to be providing less and less keyword data. This gap is trying to be filled by two of the largest SEO software providers, Moz and Ahrefs.
What’s really changing in the Keyword Research game is the introduction of RankBrain. To sum it up, ‘Rank Brain is an artificial intelligence (AI) program used to help process Google search queries.‘ Contextually relevant phrases is the new focus of keyword tools and teaches us that to stuff every variation of a phrase with your keywords is not going to help.
