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7 Ways to Beat Google’s Algorithm

Search Optimization

7 Ways to Beat Google's Algorithm

By now, you’re probably aware of how Google constantly updates its search ranking algorithm.

If you’re wondering why, well, it’s to improve its search engine performance and offer a better search experience to its users. As great as it sounds, it can also be a headache to website owners, SEO professionals, and digital marketers alike. Every update has an impact on their site rankings, affecting their traffic in a not-so-positive way.

As an experienced Florida SEO company, we know how frustrating it is to have to keep up with Google’s latest updates. Imagine ranking on the first page one day, and the next day, you find your website on page three. Can’t get more discouraging than that, huh?

However, don’t give up just yet. What if we told you that there’s actually a cheat sheet for that? That’s right, you can beat the Google algorithm and retain a solid ranking in the search results.

That’s what this article’s all about. But before we can dive into these life-saving hacks, let’s have a quick run-through of Google’s ranking factors as of the latest Google algorithm update.

  • Site design: It should be user-friendly and easy to navigate.
  • Content relevance: Users should find your content useful and valuable. Using the right keywords and keeping search intent in mind are a must.
  • Page speed: Any website with poor loading speed creates a poor user experience. And, a poor user experience means a low ranking for Google.
  • User engagement: Google automatically sees sites with high bounce rates and few return visitors as having low quality.
  • Link quality: Linking to informative and relevant content is one way to tell Google that you deserve a high ranking.
  • HTTPS status: Google will always choose websites that are more trustworthy, which means that having an SSL certificate can boost your ranking.
  • Mobile-friendliness: Since Google uses your site’s mobile version for ranking and indexing, optimizing your website and web pages for mobile devices is an essential factor for ranking.

Keep in mind that it's not just Google that uses these key ranking factors, but other search engines as well.  Make sure that you prioritize each and every one of them.

Beat Google’s  Algorithm with These 7 Proven Tactics

Are you ready to boost your page rankings and stay a step ahead of Google's search algorithm? These tips should do the trick!

1. Prioritize User Experience (UX)

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Sometimes, a good user experience is all it takes to get you to the top of Google’s search engine results page. The search engine has always been transparent about its desire to improve user experience, and so should you.  

Things like site navigation, click-through rates (CTR), and page load speed can make a massive difference in improving your rankings.

To enhance your site navigation, you’ll need to streamline website menus and create a site map. Take time to check whether all of your navigation links are working.

One of the easiest ways to improve load speed is by optimizing your images. Another is by deactivating the plugins you’re no longer using. Such simple actions can impact your page speed.

Coming up with catchy titles and meta descriptions can improve your CTR, though you have to make sure that they align with the content of your page. Creating quality and compelling content will keep your audience coming back for more, which brings us to the next pro-tip to beating the Google search algorithm…….

2. Generate 10x Content

As the name implies, 10x Content is content that’s at least 10 times better than the best result you see when you’re searching for the keyword or phrase.

What’s great about it is that such content has higher chances of ranking well on Google for a given keyword.  Any blog post that possesses the 10x Content qualities may also receive more social shares and links compared to regular content.

So, what does it take to create a piece of 10x Content to satisfy the Google search algorithm? Here are the criteria:

  • It should be considerably different in scope and in detail from other pages that serve a similar audience or user intent.
  • It should be able to solve a problem or answer a question by providing comprehensive and accurate information or resources.
  • It should have excellent UI and UX on any device.
  • It should evoke an emotional response from the audience.
  • It should answer user's search query.
  • It should deliver content uniquely and unexpectedly.
  • It should have the three R’s - reliable, remarkable, and relevant.

As soon as Google sees these qualities on your page, expect to show up on the first page when users are searching for your target keywords. The key is to understand search queries, particularly the ones your target audience usually look for, so you can keep creating quality content.

3. Clean Up Your Links

Take a careful look at your backlink portfolio. Does it contain many spammy or irrelevant links, or perhaps links that stem from negative SEO? If so, it’s time to clean them up.

That's right - your links are considered a ranking factor by Google algorithms.

Use Google Webmaster Tools to identify and categorize bad links. That way, Google won’t hit you with a manual or algorithmic unnatural link penalty.

You might also want to reach out to the site owners who house these links, and you can use programs like URL Profiler for that. Don’t forget to document your efforts as you go along.

4. Reach Out to Leading Sites for Backlinks

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Another thing our Florida SEO experts have noticed is that the Google algorithm would always prioritize quality backlinks in terms of authoritativeness. However, you can only rely on top websites for these links.

One of the secrets to successful link building is to create outstanding content that addresses the concerns or questions of your target audience. Creating and promoting infographics on trending topics will also work. Just be sure that you include reliable data and keep the visuals as attractive as possible.

Once you’re satisfied with your work and are seeing many visitors, that’s the time you reach out to sites with fairly good authority that might be interested to share your content.

What’s more, well-written content can even fetch some quality backlinks for you.

5. Optimize for Mobile

As previously mentioned, mobile-friendliness is a major Google ranking algorithm. If you haven’t optimized your website for mobile yet, there’s still time to make changes before you hurt your ranking.

The first thing you need to do is to design a responsive website. This means that key elements such as formatting, text size, and link will be automatically converted when your site is viewed on a mobile device.

Additionally, a “mobile-friendly” tag underneath applicable SERP listings will significantly influence which sites Google users want to visit. No doubt, people who are on their phones will be clicking on the link with the tag.

6. Put Relevance First Before Optimization

While it might be tempting to stuff your content with as many keywords as you want, that’s not exactly the way to do it if you aim to please Google.

In 2019, Google released an update that uses a deep learning algorithm called BERT, or Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers.

The Google algorithm aims to gain a better understanding of natural language and intent of phrases, instead of focusing on specific keywords. It ranks relevant content better, as opposed to content that’s filled with keywords to the extent that it’s no longer coherent.

In other words, Google bots are becoming to think like humans. And so, it’s time to ditch keyword stuffing and focus on creating the best content you can ever create.

7. Find an Alternative to Google AdWords

AdWords has always been a primary way companies have arranged for targeted pay-per-click advertising. Unfortunately, due to the competitive nature of keyword bidding, it has become increasingly expensive.

For this reason, you might want to consider cheaper alternative platforms that are just as, or even more, useful. Platforms such as StumbleUpon, Flipboard, or any niche site specific to your brand not only help cut advertising costs, but they can diversify audience reach too.  

Need a Top Florida SEO Agency to Help You Fulfill Your Online Goals?

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Whether it’s optimizing your website for mobile, creating a responsive web design, doing keyword research to ensure quality content that converts, or providing good backlinks, Digital Resource is your go-to for all things digital.

We’ll gladly help you outsmart Google and beat its algorithm every time it updates a new one. Our team always stays on top of the latest Google Algorithm updates!

Contact us now to learn what else we can do to take your business to the next level!

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