The 40 Most Important SEO Ranking Factors for Google

Have you seen improvement in rankings after improving user satisfaction? While this checklist gives you a number of link building guidelines, in truth, the greatest success comes when you color outside the lines. Since this process requires you to create at least one piece of “linkbait” content, it makes sense to create content that earns more and more links over time. Another similar tactic this pairs well with is broken link building. Whatever you choose, be sure to find who is linking to the competition, and earn those links for yourself.

• Google’s AI Overviews still need source material to generate their summaries.
• It’s also important for businesses interested in improving conversions and growing their revenue.
• However, our exact match domain system works to ensure we don’t give too much credit for content hosted under domains designed to exactly match particular queries.
• With Google rankings, engagement metrics are most likely part correlation and part causation.
• These typically happen because the request for the URL timed out, so Googlebot abandoned the request.

Ranking factors are signals search engines use to sort the search results according to their quality and relevance to the particular query. Every two years, Moz surveys the opinions of dozens of the world’s brightest search marketers and runs correlation studies to better understand the workings of search engine algorithms. We gather this data to gain insight into the factors that may help—or hurt—a website’s visibility in search engines.

Keyword Rankings

To avoid this, make sure your NAP matches exactly across your Google Business Profile, website, social media, and all online directories. If your business has ever changed locations, phone numbers, or branding, check for outdated listings and update or remove any incorrect information. I have 25 years hands-on experience in SEO, evolving along with the search engines by keeping up with the latest … They can serve as a mirror that business owners and SEOs can hold up to their own content to see how it aligns with Google’s criteria for high quality.

Bounce rate is possibly one of the most misunderstood performance indicators when it comes to search engine’s ranking algorithm. That’s why we spoke to experts all over the world to see what they consider the most important ranking factors to look out for in 2025. For many business owners, website optimization is more technical than they have time for. Before you can start optimizing for Google Maps, you need to create or claim your GBP. Without it, your business has no control over how it appears in local search results, and potential customers may see outdated or incorrect information. For example, you might be ranking on a page where very few users click, or your brand name may appear in a related search even when you are not relevant enough for engagement.

It’s focused on satisfying user intent rather than just targeting keywords. High-quality content prioritizes expertise, depth, credibility, and strong presentation over trying to manipulate rankings. With Google ranking factors 2025 becoming more sophisticated, websites prioritizing E-A-T will see improved rankings and trustworthiness. Many marketers believe that backlinks are one of the most powerful SEO ranking factors. But Google’s Gary Illyes said that links aren’t as important as people think. While E-E-A-T itself isn’t a confirmed ranking factor, it helps you create content that aligns with Google’s definition of quality.

Is text hidden within non-text content?

Search engines like Google use these signals to gauge a website’s value to users, influencing its ranking in search results. For instance, a high bounce rate might indicate that the site’s content is not relevant to the search query, or a low dwell time could suggest that the content is not engaging enough. Conversely, a high CTR from search results suggests that users find the title and description relevant and compelling. User experience (UX) signals encompass a range of factors that indicate how users interact with and perceive a website.

This is because directories often rank on the search results for local queries. So if you’re in those directories, the people who click on them in the search results may find your business. BrightLocal’s 2021 study shows that 17% of SEOs deem reviews the most important ranking factor for map pack rankings. But only 5% see them as most important for regular organic rankings. As long as you’re delighting your customers, your online reputation will grow on autopilot and rankings should improve. Local SEO is a game of two halves because Google shows two types of search results for local searches.

Instead, the shift means that Google views the mobile version as the primary version of the site. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can seem overwhelming due to the amount of information and techniques involved. However, by breaking it down into manageable steps, you can create a strong foundation for your website’s visibility and performance. If you put in the SEO Anomaly work, your startup business will see growth and success.

With time and continual SEO work, your site will improve its search ranking, but it won’t happen overnight. Fresh content attracts search crawlers and boosts search visibility while giving you something valuable to share with your audience, so it’s a win-win for your marketing strategies. This was a system designed to better ensure high-quality and original content was appearing in our search results. Announced in and given the nickname of the “Panda,” it evolved and became part of our core ranking systems in 2015. Our experienced SEO team can guide you through everything from keyword research and SEO strategy to redirects and site architecture.

Having your brand mentioned on popular sites with your keywords is a clear signal to Google. Native YouTube content, or links from YouTube itself, could influence rankings. It is generally thought that Google do not have access to Facebook’s data. The number of times your pages are shared on Facebook impacts your rankings.