Imagine pouring time, effort, and resources into creating a fantastic website, only to realize that no one can find it. Frustrating, right?
Every day, 252,000 new websites are launched, all competing for the spotlight on the world's most popular search engine.
And with daily internet traffic surpassing 4 billion gigabytes, where do you begin? How do you navigate to ensure your business isn't just a drop in the ocean? It can be overwhelming and challenging to know where to start.
We've compiled 15 straightforward steps to elevate your business to Google's first page in 2024. This guide is designed to provide clarity and direction.
Luckily, You Don’t Have to Do It Alone!
Years ago, if you wanted to get your website on the first page of Google, it often meant spending hours reading articles and trying to figure things out by yourself. You'd sift through piles of information and, at times, even then, not know if you were on the right track. But times have changed.
For example, with our AI website builder, Durable, we bring you a modern touch that most traditional guides lack.
Our SEO tools are designed to simplify the whole process. They are smart, easy to use, and directly target the needs of businesses. And the best part? We have crafted them to get you on Google and keep you there.
The traditional guides will tell you to target your website with keywords. You’ll need to use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ubersuggest to find out terms related to your business or industry that are frequently searched for. Look for keywords with high search volume and low competition.
With the Durable AI website builder, much of this process is simplified. Using the Durable platform, it understands the importance of keywords and automatically incorporates relevant terms into your site's content. This reduces the manual effort on your part. This means your site is better positioned to be found by potential customers right from the start.
And for those businesses with a physical location, our website builder automatically includes a map. This boosts your local SEO, making it easier for nearby customers to find you.
Another thing is we have an optimization suggestions checklist in the backend of your website to guide you. Here’s how it works:
- Claim a custom domain: We give you a unique domain name. It looks professional and also makes your site more memorable for visitors.
- Enable indexing: If your website doesn’t appear in Google Search results yet, there’s an option to get that sorted out.
- Create your blog: Blogs drive traffic and improve your SEO. Our checklist will guide you in creating a blog for your website.
- Add social links: If your website doesn't have links to your social media channels, we guide you on how to add them.
To access these optimization tools, go to your website's backend. Click on 'Website', then 'Optimize'. There, you'll find the checklist. Click 'view' beside each suggestion and follow the easy steps provided.
So far, we've just scratched the surface of what's possible with Durable and the advancements in modern SEO tools.
Let's delve deeper and explore more comprehensive strategies and actions you can take. Next, we'll dive into ways to make your website appear on Google to give you a thorough understanding and actionable steps to achieve visibility on Google.
How to Make Your Website Show Up on Google
- Craft and Submit Your Sitemap
- Boost Your Online Presence Via Social Media
- Master Your Internal Navigation
- Prompt Google with Indexing
- Use Clean and Descriptive URLs
- Prioritize Mobile Users
- Speed Up Your Pages
- Manage Your Meta Tags
- Offer Fresh and Valuable Content
- Detail Your Images for Search
- Transition to HTTPS
- Plant Your Flag on Google Maps
- Maintain Consistency in Business Details
- Gather and Showcase Reviews
- Stay in the SEO Loop
1. Craft and Submit Your Sitemap
The number one step in getting your business on page one of Google is ensuring Google is aware of the content on your website.
One way to achieve this is through a sitemap. A sitemap acts like a blueprint. It provides search engines with a list of all the pages on your website, aiding them in crawling and indexing.
Tip: If you're venturing into this alone, there are various online tools, like XML-sitemaps.com, Yoast SEO, and SEMrush, that allow you to generate sitemaps. Once generated, you can add this sitemap to the Google Search Console. This lets Google know about the structure of your site, improving the chances of it appearing in search results.
If you're using our Durable platform, things get even simpler. Durable inherently considers the SEO needs of its users. A specific SEO setup is generated whenever a new page is created on Durable.
However, it's readily available on the home page setup for those who prefer a general SEO configuration. This removes the need to manually create a sitemap for each new page, saving time and ensuring consistency.
Also, Durable aids in streamlining the process of indexing your site on Google:
- Open Google Search Console and input your website's URL.
- To verify your website's ownership, copy the provided HTML tag and paste it into the Head Code section of your Durable website. Once added, click "Verify".
- Navigate to "Go to Property" and add your sitemap. After a brief wait -sometimes requiring a page refresh - your sitemap will be successfully added.
- You can then inspect your site's URL and request indexing.
Post this setup, your website will appear on Google Search within 24-48 hours. However, the duration might vary based on Google's server propagation times.
While the traditional method requires various steps and tools, Durable streamlines the process, making it more intuitive and efficient.
2. Boost Your Online Presence Via Social Media
As of 2023, there are over 4.89 billion social media users worldwide. That's more than half of the global population. And this number is expected to continue rising. Leveraging these platforms will vastly amplify your online visibility.
The online visibility drives significant traffic to your site. Google recognizes websites that receive a high traffic volume as valuable, potentially influencing your ranking.
Also, social media can increase user engagement. If users spend more time on your site after arriving from a social platform, Google interprets this as your site providing valuable content, which can help rankings.
Reviews and mentions on social platforms like Facebook can benefit local businesses. Positive reviews and active engagement indirectly boost local search rankings.
Tips: Now, every social media platform has a unique audience and caters to distinct demographics and interests. Here's how you can effectively use the leading social media platforms:
- Facebook: Share posts regularly, engage with comments, and utilize Facebook Stories. Facebook Groups are also valuable for sharing expertise and directing users to your site.
- X: Use it for quick updates, sharing articles, and joining trending conversations. Engage with influencers and use relevant hashtags to reach a broader audience.
- Instagram: This visual platform is perfect for sharing images, infographics, and short video clips. Utilize Instagram Stories and IGTV for longer content.
- LinkedIn: Especially crucial for B2B businesses. Share industry insights, company updates, and engage with other businesses.
While organic growth on social media is essential, paid advertising gives your brand the necessary push. To help you come up with attention-grabbing ads, at Durable, we have a tool called Google Ad Writer.
Even though the tool is crafted for Google Ads, you can use it to craft compelling Facebook, Twitter, and Email marketing ads.
3. Master Your Internal Navigation
A well-organized internal linking structure makes it easier for visitors to navigate your site, find related content, and understand the relationship between different pages. This improves user satisfaction, potentially increasing their time on your website.
If visitors find it easy to move from one article or page to another because of effective internal links, they're less likely to leave your website quickly. A lower bounce rate indicates to search engines that your site is valuable to visitors.
Also, search engines like Google use bots to crawl and index your website. A strong internal linking structure ensures that bots can easily move from one page to another, helping in better and faster indexation of your content.
In their official documentation, Google says, “Make your links crawlable by using an <a> HTML element (also known as anchor element) with an href attribute, so that Google can find other pages on your site via the links on your page.”
Tips for Mastering Internal Navigation
- Start with a clear and logical structure. Your main categories should branch out to sub-categories, leading to individual pages or articles.
- Instead of using generic terms like "click here," use descriptive anchor texts that give an idea about the linked content.
- Rather than just linking to your homepage or main categories, link deeper into your site to individual articles or pages. This ensures even distribution of page authority.
- Overloading a page with internal links can overwhelm the user and dilute page authority. Find a balance.
4. Prompt Google with Indexing
Waiting for search engines to stumble upon your website isn't the most efficient strategy.
Instead, take a proactive approach by directly introducing your main pages to search engines to expedite indexing. Here's why and how you can prompt Google with indexing:
- Faster Visibility: While search engines like Google are efficient at discovering new content, manually submitting your pages ensures they are on the radar much quicker.
- Control Over Important Pages: You might have certain key pages that you want to be indexed and found quickly, such as new product launches or crucial blog posts. Direct submission puts these pages on the priority list.
- Stay Updated: If you've made significant updates to your existing content, manually prompting search engines ensures they notice the revised content.
Start by setting up an account with Google Search Console (GSC). This free tool from Google allows webmasters to monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot their site's presence in Google search results.
If you have a Durable website, see our guide on how to index your website in Google Search Console.
However, if you don’t want to go through the process of requesting indexing, no worries. Durable automatically generates sitemaps for your website and submits them to search engines. There is no need to create one or use third-party tools manually.
So, while search engines are good at discovering content, giving them a nudge by manually introducing your main pages ensures faster and more accurate indexing.
5. Use Clean and Descriptive URLs
A clean and descriptive URL offers clarity and context, aiding in understanding a page's content even before it's clicked on.
This kind of URL easily conveys the page's content, making it simpler for your visitors to understand what to expect, improving their overall experience.
Search engines prefer URLs that are easy to crawl and interpret. Descriptive URLs can also contain keywords, which can positively influence rankings.
Use readable words rather than long ID numbers in your URLs when possible.
Tips for Crafting Effective URLs
- Incorporate relevant keywords in your URL, but avoid keyword stuffing. This helps with SEO and also makes the URL more descriptive for users.
- Wherever possible, avoid numbers (unless relevant) and special characters, as they can be misinterpreted or cause errors.
- When separating words in a URL, use hyphens (-) instead of underscores (_). Hyphens are treated as spaces by search engines, making the words in the URL distinct.
Durable auto-generates URLs based on your page titles, ensuring they're readable and relevant.
6. Prioritize Mobile Users
More people are accessing the web via mobile devices than desktops — approximately 70% of web traffic comes from mobile phones.
Also, the 80% top-ranked websites are mobile-friendly.
So, ensuring that your website caters to mobile users is crucial for the user experience and search engine ranking.
Google, among other search engines, places a premium on mobile optimization.
How to Optimize for Mobile
- Ensure your website adapts to different screen sizes and orientations.
- Mobile users often browse on-the-go. Quick loading times are crucial. Compress images, utilize browser caching, and consider using a content delivery network (CDN) to speed up access for users globally.
- Mobile screens are smaller, which means navigation needs to be simplified. Use larger buttons, and ensure that clickable elements aren't too close together.
- Many mobile browsers don't support Flash. Using it hinders mobile users from accessing your content.
- Use tools like Google's Mobile-Friendly Test to check how well your site performs on mobile devices.
Websites created with Durable are automatically responsive. This ensures they adjust to fit any device's screen size.
7. Speed Up Your Pages
A study suggests that 32% of mobile users abandon a site if it takes longer than three seconds to load and 90% if it takes more than 5 seconds.
If users have to wait, they might reconsider their decision to subscribe, purchase, or engage with your site.
Search engines, like Google, factor in page speed when determining website rankings. Faster websites tend to rank higher in search results.
Tips to Enhance Page Speed
- Optimize Images: Large, high-resolution images can slow down your website. Use tools to compress images without losing quality.
- Minimize HTTP Requests: Reduce the number of elements on your page (like images, scripts, and CSS files), resulting in fewer HTTP requests and faster page loads.
- Use Browser Caching: Store parts of your website in users' browsers so they don't have to reload the entire page when revisiting.
- Minify Resources: Use tools to reduce the size of your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. This can significantly improve load times.
- Implement Content Delivery Networks (CDN): CDNs distribute the load, saving bandwidth and speeding up access for users across the globe.
Durable uses the global Content Delivery Network (CDN). CDN stores copies of your website on servers around the world. This means that users accessing your site are served content from the closest server, ensuring faster load times.
8. Manage Your Meta Tags
Meta Tags might not be immediately visible to your website visitors, but they communicate vital information about your web pages to search engines.
Search engines use meta tags to gauge the relevancy of your content to a user's search query. Properly optimized tags help your pages rank higher for relevant keywords.
Also, when content is shared on platforms like Facebook or Twitter, these platforms use meta tags to display a summary of the shared page, enhancing user engagement.
Meta tags include the meta title and description.
The meta title is the main title of your page, as seen in search engine results. It should be concise, relevant, and include primary keywords.
On the other hand, the meta description provides a summary of the page's content. It should be compelling, within the recommended character limit, and include relevant keywords.
9. Offer Fresh and Valuable Content
Search engines, including Google, prefer websites that regularly update their content. Frequent updates indicate a site's reliability and relevance, leading to better rankings.
Fresh content keeps your audience engaged, encouraging them to return to your site more often. This increases the chances of them taking desired actions, whether signing up for a newsletter, purchasing, or sharing your content.
So, if you still need to get one, a blog is a fantastic way to add new content continuously. Discuss industry news, share company updates, or provide educational content relevant to your audience.
Besides written content, incorporate videos, infographics, podcasts, and other formats to cater to different audience preferences.
However, to many entrepreneurs, starting a blog is daunting, especially when juggling the responsibilities of running a business.
However, Durable simplifies this entire process for you. Setting up and populating a blog becomes very easy with our AI Blog Builder.
In minutes, you can have a blog with posts tailored to your business and audience. What sets Durable tool apart is its blend of automation and personalization. While our AI efficiently generates content, you retain the freedom to inject your voice, make specific alterations to text, swap out images, and adjust the layout to resonate with your brand's identity.
10. Detail Your Images for Search
Images break up text, provide visual context, and help illustrate complex ideas simply. But beyond their visual appeal, images are a powerful tool for SEO, provided you optimize correctly.
With the rise of visual search tools and platforms, optimizing your images can drive traffic from image search queries.
For instance, consider a user looking for a specific style of vintage wooden chair. Instead of typing a description into Google, they take a photo of a similar chair they've seen at a friend's house or in a magazine and upload it to a visual search tool. The tool then searches the internet, seeking similar images in its database.
If your website has a similar chair for sale and the image of that chair is appropriately optimized with descriptive naming and relevant alt tags, it will appear in the search results. The user is then directed to your website, increasing the likelihood of a sale.
To make this possible, ensure that:
- Descriptive Naming: When you upload an image, avoid generic file names like "IMG123.jpg." Instead, name the image descriptively, like "vintage-wooden-chair.jpg."
- Alt Tags: Add alt tags to every image on your site. These are textual descriptions that search engines use to understand the content of an image. For our example, an appropriate alt tag might be "Vintage wooden chair with carved legs."
11. Transition to HTTPS: Offer a more secure browsing experience
HTTPS (HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure) signifies that your website is secure and the data shared between the user and the server is encrypted. Transitioning from HTTP to HTTPS instills confidence in your visitors and gives your site a slight ranking boost in search engine results.
When users see the padlock symbol in the address bar, it reassures them that the site is secure, enhancing their trust and likelihood to engage.
Also, search engines like Google give preference to HTTPS websites. A secure site could be the difference between ranking on the first or the second page of search results.
Switching to HTTPS may sound technical, but Durable simplifies the process. When you build your website with Durable, we have HTTPS as a standard offering, ensuring you are secure from the outset.
12. Plant Your Flag on Google Maps: Highlight your local business in local searches
Many users turn to Google Maps to find businesses near them. By being listed, you increase your chances of being discovered by potential customers in your area.
And when users find your business on Google Maps, they can easily navigate to your location. This boosts foot traffic and leads to increased sales.
You need to submit your business using Google My Business to get your business on Google Maps.
Being on GMB ensures that potential customers find accurate information about your business and can help you stand out in local searches. Here's how to do it:
- Create or Claim Your Listing: Go to the Google My Business website.
- Fill in Your Business Details: Provide as much information as possible: business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
- Verify Your Business: Google needs to confirm that your business is genuine and that you're its legitimate owner or manager. Depending on your type of business, you may be able to verify through various methods, including by phone, email, postcard, or instant verification.
- Optimize Your Profile: Add high-quality photos of your business, products, or services. This helps potential customers see what you offer.
Now, while manually setting up and maintaining your business on Google Maps is doable, having a tool that streamlines the process and saves time and potential errors.
When you create your website using Durable, our platform automatically integrates a map of your business into your website.
The inclusion of a map aids in local SEO and provides potential customers with a visual representation of your location, making it easier for them to find and visit you.
13. Maintain Consistency in Business Details
Search engines prioritize businesses that have consistent information across the web. This consistency helps search engines determine the authenticity of a business, thus affecting your ranking in local search results.
- Regularly check all platforms where your business is listed. This includes social media profiles, business directories, and your website.
- Whenever there's a change in your business details, update it across all platforms. This could be a change in phone number, address, or even the business name.
- Consider using online tools or services like BrightLocal and Moz Local. They help in managing and maintaining consistent business information across the web. Some tools even notify you when inconsistencies are detected.
Although these tools can assist you in detecting and fixing inconsistencies, the onus is still on you to provide accurate and up-to-date information to these platforms.
14. Gather and Showcase Reviews
46% of consumers believe that online business reviews hold the same weight as personal recommendations from friends or family. This shows the influence reviews have on potential customers and the perceived trustworthiness of a business.
For instance, Google considers the quantity and quality of reviews when determining local search rankings.
A steady stream of favorable reviews can increase your chances of appearing higher in local search results, allowing more potential customers to discover your offerings.
Note:
- Proactively ask your satisfied customers to leave reviews. This can be done post-purchase, through follow-up emails, or even directly at your location.
- Engage with customers by responding to their positive and negative reviews. Thanking them for positive feedback and addressing concerns in less positive reviews can reflect a responsive and customer-centric business attitude.
- Highlight the best reviews on your website or in marketing materials. This builds trust and provides real-world testimonials to your product or service's efficacy.
15. Stay in the SEO Loop
SEO is not a one-time task. Search engines, especially Google, frequently update their algorithms.
So stay informed about these updates. You can adjust your strategies and ensure your website remains optimized for search. Subscribe to SEO news websites, forums, or newsletters for the latest information.
Also, many experts in the field regularly host webinars and workshops. Participate in these to gain insights and learn about the latest best practices in SEO.
Tip: Tools like Google Analytics offer insights into how visitors interact with your website. Monitor these metrics to know what's working and what's not, allowing you to tweak your strategies accordingly.
Parting Advice for Getting Your Business on Google
Trying to get your business noticed on Google can seem tough. Every entrepreneur understands the frustration of knowing they offer great services or products but struggle to be seen online.
We've walked you through the vital steps: the essence of a well-structured sitemap, the impact of social media in amplifying your presence, the emphasis on mobile optimization, the weight of consistent business information, and the influence of genuine customer reviews.
But you don't have to do this alone or get confused by all the technical stuff. Durable is here to help you. Our website tool uses AI to make your website look good and make sure people can find it easily. Our SEO features ensure your website will rank on the search engine results page. Better yet, you can launch a website with us for $0. What are you waiting for?
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