How to top the search results in Google.

In the digital age, appearing on the first page of Google search results has become a major goal for any website or online business. The vast majority of users don't make it past the first page, which makes SEO a key factor for increasing traffic and business success. In this simple guide, we'll learn how Google works in ranking results, influencers, and top tips for improving your site's visibility in search results.

How does Google Web Page Ranking work?
Google relies on three main stages of page ranking:

  • Crawling: Google sends programs called Googlebot to explore new and updated web pages, by tracking links between pages.

  • Indexing After discovering pages, Google analyzes their content, such as text, images, videos... It stores it in its huge database known as the Index.

  • Ranking When a user performs a search, Google's algorithms use this index to determine the most relevant and reliable pages to view according to the search query.

What factors affect page ranking?
Google relies on several factors to determine the ranking of results, including

  •  Google's algorithms compare a user's query to the content of a page to ascertain relevance, not only through words, but also by understanding the user's intent using artificial intelligence.

  • Content Quality Google prefers useful, professionally written content that adds real value to the reader. Google uses the E-E-A-T  principle which stands for experience, efficiency, authority, and reliability.

  • UX user experience such as website speed, mobile compatibility, ease of navigation, and attractive design.

  • Technical SEO includes settings such as sitemap, robots.txt file, and site security using HTTPS.

  • Backlinks The more trusted sites that link to your site, the more trusted you will be with Google.

  • Behavior used such as click-through rate on your site, how long a visitor stays on the page, and return rate.

  • Local relevance If you are looking for local services, Google prefers to show companies that are close to the user's location and whose information has been updated regularly.

Where can your site appear on Google?
Your site may appear in several forms within search results, including

  • Traditional organic results are blue links arranged by algorithms.

  • Featured snippets  are short answers at the top of the page.

  • Frequently Asked Questions People Also Ask is a display of questions related to research.

  • Media results Photos, videos, shopping appear for special queries.

  • Paid ads appear at the top and bottom of the page, and are marked with the word ad.

  • Artificial Intelligence Overview Google has started to offer intelligent AI-based summaries of complex query answers.

How to make your site top the search results?
Here are the top strategies recommended by SEO experts

  • Create high-quality content
    Write content that genuinely benefits your audience. It should be comprehensive, organized, and easy to understand. Answer the questions people are looking for, and use images and videos to support your content. Also, make sure to update your content regularly to stay up-to-date.

  • Use keywords smartly
    Do a thorough search for the words your audience is using, and incorporate them in a natural way into headings, paragraphs, subheadings, meta descriptions, and alt text for images. Don't overdo it so that Google doesn't consider it an annoying filler.

  • Improve the user experience on mobiles
    More than half of your web traffic comes from phones, so make sure your site is designed  to be responsive and easy to navigate on small screens, with decent loading speeds and compressed images.

  • Build backlinks from trusted sources
    : Make sure you get links from reputable sites, by posting high-quality content, collaborating with bloggers, or writing guest articles. Avoid fake or low-quality links, as they can negatively impact your site.

  • Set up a Google Business Profile
    If your business is local, create a Google profile that includes your address, phone number, hours of operation, and photos. Encourage customers to leave positive reviews. This will help you appear in local search results and Google Maps.

  • Improve the technical aspects of the site
    Make sure that Google crawls your site easily by

    • Submit a sitemap to Google Search Console

    • Verify the validity of the robots.txt file

    • Use the HTTPS protocol

    • Fix broken links

  • Use Google's free tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your site's performance, identify technical errors, and work on fixing them.

Improve UX
Make your site easy to use in terms of design, speed, and navigation. Use clear fonts, comfortable colors, and prominent navigation buttons. Make sure the pages are well-formatted to make it easier to read.

Update content regularly
If you have old articles, go back to them and update them with new information, and add additional keywords or new images if necessary. This helps keep you ranking, or even improve it.

Using AI tools
There are tools like Semrush, Ahrefs, Surfer SEO, and Jasper that help you analyze performance, write content, or search for keywords. Tools like Reviewly  can also help you collect customer reviews.

Topping Google search results isn't impossible, but it does require a clear plan and continuous effort. By focusing on quality, user experience, keywords, and technical structure, you can significantly improve your site's ranking. And don't forget that Google prefers sites that add real value to users, so always make it your goal to serve your audience first, and the results will come cascadingly.