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SEO Basics for Websites: How to Rank Higher on Google
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By John Fernandes on Jan 13, 2025
~ 5 minutes to read-
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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is very important for raising website visibility and attracting organic traffic.
Over 90% of Internet users use a search engine to begin their online search and a massive 92% of these users resort to Google. According to another research, 75% of consumers only look at the first page of Google search results. This means that if your website is not on the first page of the search results, potential customers will not get any chance to reach you.
Read on to understand the fundamental SEO strategies to ensure you increase your rank on Google.
SEO Strategy & Planning
Identify Your Niche and Topics
Before creating content, understand your target audience. What are they searching for? What problems do they need help with?
Use tools like:
Google Trends – See what’s trending in your industry.
AnswerThePublic – Find common questions related to your topic.
Reddit and Quora – Discover what people are discussing in your niche.
Once you know who your audience is, it’s easier to create content that meets their needs.
Focus on Topical Authority
Google prefers websites that cover an in-depth topic. Instead of writing one isolated blog post, create clusters of related content.
For example, if your niche is fitness, don’t just write about “Best Exercises for Beginners.” Instead, build a content cluster:
- Beginner’s Guide to Strength Training
- Best Workouts for Fat Loss
- How to Track Your Workout Progress
- General Mistakes When Starting A Workout Routine
If you have multiple pages on the same topic the search engine sees you as an expert on that topic and ranks your content higher.
Target the Right Keywords
Not all keywords are equal. Some are too competitive, while others don’t bring the right audience.
Use tools like:
SEMRush – Analyze keyword difficulty and traffic potential.
Ahrefs – See which keywords competitors rank for.
Google Keyword Planner – Find low-competition, high-intent keywords.
Best approach:
Start with low-competition keywords to gain traction.
Gradually target more competitive keywords as your authority grows.
Refine Your Keyword Strategy
Make data-driven decisions by researching and prioritizing keywords that align with your content goals.
Optimize Your Keyword Research
Content Optimization
Write High-Quality Content
Google prioritizes helpful, valuable content. If your page answers user questions better than competitors, it will rank higher.
How to create great content:
- Answer the reader’s main question in the first few sentences.
- ProvIde step-by-step solutions to their problems.
- Use clear, short sentences to make content easy to read.
- Add examples, data, and case studies for credibility.
- Format content with subheadings, bullet points, and visuals.
Optimize for Search Intent
Users search with different intents:
- Informational (e.g., "How to improve SEO?")
- Transactional (e.g., "Best SEO tools to buy")
- Navigational (e.g., "Google Search Console login")
Make sure your content matches the intent of the keyword. If users want a step-by-step guide, don’t give them a sales pitch.
Use Keyword Placement Wisely.
Google analyzes where your keyword appears. Ensure it’s placed:
- In the title and URL
- In the first 100 words
- In headings (H1, H2, H3)
- Naturally throughout the content
- In alt text for images
Avoid keyword stuffing—Google penalizes websites that overuse keywords unnaturally.
Improve Readability
People scan content quickly. Google ranks content that’s easy to digest.
To improve readability:
- Use short paragraphs (1-2 sentences per paragraph).
- Add bullet points for clarity.
- Bold key information to highlight important points.
- Use subheadings to break up sections.
Create Content That Converts
Make your pages engaging, infovrmative, and easy to consume for better ranking and user experience.
Improve Your Content Strategy
On-Page SEO & Technical Optimization
Optimize Meta Titles & Descriptions
Your meta title and meta description affect click-through rates (CTR).
- Meta Title: Keep it under 60 characters and include your target keyword.
- Meta Description: Write a 155-165 character summary that entices users to click.
Example:
Meta Title: 10 SEO Tips to Rank Higher on Google (Fast & Easy)
Meta Description: Learn 10 proven SEO techniques to boost your Google ranking. Easy steps for beginners!
Improve Internal Linking
Link to other relevant pages on your site. This helps:
- Users navigate your content more easily.
- Google understand your site structure.
- Boost rankings for underperforming pages.
Each page should have 3-5 internal links where relevant.
Well-placed internal links improve navigation and search visibility.
Backlinks & Off-Page SEO
Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks (links from other websites) boost credibility and help Google trust your content.
How to get backlinks:
- Guest posting – Write for high-authority sites in your industry.
- Skyscraper technique – Find existing content, improve it, and ask for links.
- Industry directories – Submit your site to niche directories.
Keypoints: Avoid buying backlinks—Google penalizes websites for spammy links.
Promote Content on Social Media
Google considers social signals in rankings. Share your content on:
Expand Your Reach with Authority Links
Backlinks are one of the strongest ranking factors—focus on quality over quantity.
SEO Monitoring & Growth
Track Performance with Google Analytics
Monitor:
- Which pages bring the most traffic?
- What keywords are ranking?
- Where are users dropping off?
Use Google Search Console to fix errors and optimize underperforming pages.
Gradually Target Competitive Keywords
Once you rank for low-competition keywords, start targeting more competitive terms. This builds long-term traffic.
Continuously Optimize Content
SEO never stops. Update old articles. Improve readability. Add new data and insights. The more value your content provides, the better it will rank.
Refine, Measure, and Improve
SEO is a continuous process—track performance, fix issues, and adapt to Google’s updates.
Conclusion
Focusing on attaining a higher rank on Google is all about the proper use of keywords, correct content optimization, technical changes to a website, and link building. A prime approach to enhancing search visibility and achieving increased organic traffic may be answered by paying attention to user intent, quality of the content, and performance of the website.
Therefore, if you require professional SEO services to enhance your website’s positions, YourDigiLab is the right place to visit. If you are a startup or scaleup looking forward to driving organic traffic and conversions, connect with our experienced SEO.
John Fernandes
John Fernandes is content writer at YourDigiLab, An expert in producing engaging and informative research-based articles and blog posts. His passion to disseminate fruitful information fuels his passion for writing.