A core component of successful rankings in online search is trust. If you want Google’s trust and boost your online marketing efforts, you need to show that you are legit.
When you focus on the items that encourage Google’s trust, you are likely to rank better in online search. Here’s what you need to know:
1. Start with Content Quality
When I first started as an online freelancer, it was pretty easy to rank. Google was kind of new, online marketing was kind of new. If you wrote 350 words and made it mostly about the keyword, you were probably going to rank.
Things are different now.
Technology has advanced. There are chatbots and A.I. Google knows when your 500-word puff piece is just an attempt to stuff more keywords on your site. Instead, you need to focus on truly quality content if you want to do better in online search.
Your content to be relevant to your readers. It should also be as free as possible from grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. And it should be meaty. While it’s not going to kill you to have posts of 500 to 600 words, you will get even better results if you can write posts that are at least 1,000 words long.
Focus on quality content that offers good, relevant information, and you might be surprised at the trust Google shows you.
2. Website Authority
Google also wants to know that your website has authority. This relates to your link profile. Do you link out to reputable sources to bolster your case? Do others link to you?
The more quality, trusted sites that link to you, the higher your website’s authority in Google’s eyes. And that means trust and better placement in online search. Be careful, though. You won’t build authority with a lot of unnatural links. You want more natural links.
Hopefully, if you are consistent in creating high-quality content, and you can get the word out to already-trusted sites, your authority will increase over time.
3. Indexed Age
Finally, Google is going to look at how much time has passed since you were first indexed, as well as what’s been going on during that time. There’s no faking your indexed age (or your website authority). If you can remain consistent over time, your online search rankings are likely to rise. Start with quality content and website authority and be consistent in updating your site to keep in line with ever-evolving best practices.
Avoid Shady Online Search Practices
There really aren’t shortcuts. Yes, you can see short-term results with some online search hacks. However, it doesn’t take Google long to catch on. And when it does catch on to what you’re doing, it could mean serious consequences.
Stay away from people who promise the moon in a short amount of time. Instead, focus on what is likely to help you build trust with Google. Start with your content, and go from there.
Once you have that under control, you can work on other online search optimization strategies that include site speed, user experience, engagement, multimedia, and social presence.
Create a plan, and stick to it. Stay away from shady practices, and over time your website will earn Google’s trust and find success in online search.
