How To Be More Visible (on Google)

For many businesses, getting to the top of Google's search results is much like climbing the treacherous slopes of the Himalayas: not everyone makes it to the top. And the ones that didn't make it (R. I. P.) mind as well be invisible to any of the potential customers who use Google to find businesses like theirs — [more than 8.5 billion people](https://www.oberlo.com/blog/google-search-statistics#:~:text=But how many is that,Internet Live Stats%2C 2022).). So, how can you ensure that your business website reaches the peak position on Google's search engine results pages (SERPs)?As hard as a trek it can be, there are strategies and techniques out there that will appease the Google Gods. From link building and optimizing your website for mobile to using social media, there are a variety of ways that you can improve your Google domain ranking. At the core of it all is your website. Your website needs to be keyword-optimized. This means including the keywords you want to rank for throughout your site's text, titles, tags, and descriptions. It also means regularly updating your website’s content to keep up with Google's ever-changing algorithms. But of course, there's a lot more to mastering the big climb to the top of Google search. In this article, we'll explore some of the most effective strategies and techniques for improving your rankings and getting more visibility online.

How to Google Better?

If you want to improve your chances of appearing higher in Google search results, the main objective is to gain visibility. There are a variety of ways to do this, but the most powerful method is to optimize your website content using SEO (search engine optimization). Here are some Google SEO best practices to improve your ranking:

Aligning Your Content with “User Search Intent”

Google’s algorithm is designed to provide users with the most relevant search results for their query, so it's important to frame your content in a way that resonates with what your target audience is looking for. You can do this by including relevant keywords, using natural language and phrasing, and tailoring your content to the specific search terms people are using. For example, if you run a plumbing company, you might use keywords like “best plumbers near me” and “best plumbing repairs”At Wizard of Ads™, we help business owners in residential home services rank at the top of Google so they can get better leads and better customers. If you are interested in learning how to do better on Google, book a call with us today to learn more!

Conduct Better Keyword Research

To create content that ranks well in Google search, you need to start with better keyword research. Keyword research is the process of finding and analyzing terms related to your topic that people are actually searching for on Google. You can use a tool like Google Keyword Planner to find popular keywords related to your topic, and then use those keywords throughout your website and in your blog posts to improve your chances of ranking high in Google searches.

Get Other People Talking About You

The Google Gods see your website as more relevant when other websites point to your website. This is known as backlinking. This is why many digital marketers use online directories to increase your domain rank. The more backlinks, the more relevant. Not all backlinks are created equal though. If the site that is backlinking to you is known to Google as a bad apple, it will actually hurt your rank. Backlinks from website with high domain ranks, like news websites or government websites, will improve your rank. Google also likes it when you show up on credible local websites link other local businesses, little league teams, and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Test Your Article Title

Once you have your keywords and content fully written, it's a good idea to test the article title before publishing. This can help you ensure that your title accurately reflects the content of the post, while also encouraging clicks from potential readers. One way to do this is by doing an EMV test. EMV stands for emotion, marketing value, and volume, and it's a quick way to gauge the potential success of your title. A great tool is Coschedule’s Headline Analyser. To conduct an EMV Google test, use the keywords you've selected and see how well they perform when used in different types of titles. For example, a title that uses your keyword along with a question mark or exclamation point might perform better than one that simply states your keyword.

Optimize Your Meta Description

Once you've chosen your title, it's time to optimize your meta description. This is a brief summary of the post that will show up under the URL when someone does a Google search. To write a meta description that engages your audience, try using some of your keywords in this section as well. You should also keep it short and sweet — Google only displays the first 156 characters of your meta description, so make sure that what you write is both interesting and concise. The ultimate goal of the meta description is to encompass what value your content is going to provide and give them a reason why they should click on it.

Use H1, H2, H3 Tags Strategically

H1 tags are used to denote the main headline of your content and typically include one or two keywords that you want Google to rank for. H2 and H3 tags should be used for subheadings within your article, highlighting other important keywords and phrases. By using these tags strategically, you can help Google better understand what your post is about and rank it higher in the search results.

Alt Text Images

Including alt text for images is another great way to add keywords to your site and boost your ranking. While it's important not to overdo it with keyword stuffing, adding a few relevant keywords in the alt text of your images can help google understand what they are and rank them higher as a result. Be sure that your text is specific to the image, and not just a generic description. For instance, it wouldn't make sense to choose words like "purple" and "apple" as your alt text, but phrases like "vintage apple print shirt", or "purple boho maxi dress" would be much more effective.

Utilize Internal Linking

Another way to optimize your site is to use internal linking. This simply means that you link from one page of your website to another, which tells Google that these pages are related and helps keep users on your site longer. You can do this manually by adding links throughout the content of your site, or you could also set up automated internal links by using a plugin like SmartCrawl.

Enhance the User Experience (UX)

An excellent user experience is an integral part of SEO, as it helps to keep users on your site for longer and encourages them to share your content. After all, what’s the point of ranking high on Google if no one wants to stay on your site? There are a few different things you can do to enhance the user experience, such as:

• Use short, concise sentences and easy-to-understand language.
• Use bullet points where possible to improve readability.
• Include images, infographics, videos, etc. that add value to your content and keep readers engaged.
• Make it mobile-friendly.
• Be sure that all links on your site are working properly and lead visitors to the appropriate destination.

Always Create Quality Content

Creating quality content is the key to ranking high on Google, as it helps to engage and capture the attention of your target audience. To create great trending content, you need to be able to answer common questions that your target readers are likely to search for. You clicked on this very article, for instance, to get answers to questions like "how to improve readability on google", "best practices for optimizing your site", or "ways to create engaging content". By addressing these questions directly in your content, you provide value to your readers and boost visibility.

Google Search Tips and Tricks

To be a Google guru, you should also learn the various tips and tricks that can be used when people start typing away in the infamous search bar. Here are some techniques that if you didn't know already, now you do!

The use of phrases in quotes (“”):

If you want to Google an exact phrase or set of words, then you should put them in quotation marks. For example, if you are looking for information on your favorite play, then you should Google "Romeo and Juliet".

The use of the asterisk (*):

Another handy google trick is the use of the asterisk. This can be used to replace other words or letters in your search query, allowing you to refine your results more effectively. For example, if you are looking for information on a certain type of animal, you could Google "wild *" and it will return results for wild cats, wild dogs, and other animals.

The use of the minus sign (-):

If you want to exclude a certain word from your Google search, then you can use the minus sign. For example, if you are looking for information on cats but don't want results about big cats, then you could Google "cats -big". This would return results about regular cats, but not big cats.

The use of “inurl:”

These Google search operators allow you to focus your results on specific websites or specific sections of websites. For example, if you wanted to google results only from Wikipedia, then you could use "inurl:wiki". Similarly, if you were looking for information about a certain topic but wanted to limit your results only to blogs, then you could use "site:blog".

The use of “vs”:

This Google operator can be helpful when you're trying to compare two things. For example, if you wanted to compare the search results for "apple" and "orange", then you could google "apple vs orange.”

The use of “DEFINE:”

If you're not quite sure of the exact meaning of a word or phrase and want to google the definition, then you can use google operators by prefixing your search term with "define:". For example, if you wanted to google the definition of "keyword", then you would simply google “define: keyword”.

The use of “~” operator:

If you want Google to include results that are similar to your search term, then you can use the "~" operator. For instance, if you google “motherhood ~pregnancy,” Google will return results that are similar to the term "motherhood", but also include results related to pregnancy. Google is a powerful tool for searching online content and finding information quickly and easily. Keep these search tools in mind when optimizing your keywords to make the most of your searches!

Google’s Easter Eggs

Google is well-known for its search engine, but did you know that the company also has a few tricks up its sleeve? Here are some of the most entertaining Google Easter Eggs that you can try out for yourself:

Type “tilt” to tilt your screen

This simple hack lets you see your screen from a different angle, which can be fun for exploring new perspectives or just for goofing around.

Search for Atari Breakout in Google Images

This classic video game from the 80s has become a popular internet meme, and you can easily play it directly on Google Images. Just search for “Atari Breakout” in the images section, and get ready to have some fun!

Use Google Lens to search images with an image

Google Lens is a powerful visual search tool that allows you to find similar images or learn more about the objects in your photos. Simply take a picture of an object and use Google Lens to explore all of its uses — it’s the perfect way to discover new and interesting things!

Google voice search “flip a coin”

Tired of having to manually flip a coin when you need to make a decision? With Google voice search, you can simply use your voice to “flip a coin” and get an instant result! Just say “OK Google, flip a coin” or “Hey Google, what’s heads or tails?These are just a few of the many Google trends that are both fun and useful, and most likely, your target audience will use these tools as well. Therefore, getting familiar with them will give you an edge over your competition.

Google-friendliness is the Key

You can be the most prepared hiker out there with the most extravagant hiking gear, but to get to the top of Mount Google, these things are nothing without the map that brings you to your peak potential. The same principle goes for google-friendliness. You can have the perfect website, but if no one knows how to find it, then it does you no good. This is why google-friendliness is key. Google-friendliness simply means optimizing your website to rank highly in google search results. By using the right keywords, creating high-quality content that is engaging and relevant to your audience, and building up a solid backlink profile, you can make your website more google-friendly and improve your chances of ranking highly in Google searches. While there is no surefire way to guarantee a top spot on Google, following these best practices can help increase visibility, and bring more traffic to your website. At Wizard of Ads™, we can brew up the elixir that takes you to the top — without all the hurdles, cliffs, and blasted snowstorms.Book a call with us today to watch your brand climb up Google’s ranks!