Stuck in a needle-free optimization cycle?
This post reveals white hat techniques that can potentially double, triple or even 10 times increase your traffic from organic search.
Google’s website ranking system includes a number of algorithms designed to give the “best” results.
These algorithms take into account many factors, including query words, relevance, page usability, source expertise, geo-location, and settings.
Furthermore, the weighting of these factors depends on the nature of the query.
For current topics, freshness has great weight.
For dictionary type definition, site trust and authority play a larger role.
To ensure that the algorithms work as intended, Google employs an army of quality evaluators.
They follow strict guidelines developed by Google to ensure that the algorithm’s output meets the standards set for page quality and needs met. You need to read these guidelines for anyone who is serious about building a website with the best performance.
According to Google, their search algorithm looks at five key factors in determining which results appear at the top of their search results:
By addressing these five factors, you will put yourself in a position to outperform the competition. Here are some specific tips on how to do it:
1. Mobile First
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I first started promoting the “first mobile” approach to SEO in March 2015, after calling Google’s pending mobile update “mobilegeddon”.
The name was caught, but the April 21, 2015 update did not cause as much of a shock as expected at the time.
However, everyone warned that the cell phone is here, not the “future” anymore. Those who ignored the warning to mobilize later paid the price.
Today, Google is all-in on a mobile device.
If you’re not sure if your site meets the eligibility criteria for mobile devices, log in to your Search Console account and see the Mobile Usability Report.
Google will report mobile issues there so you can take appropriate action to comply.
2. Claim Your Business Listing
Google Business Profile, formerly known as Google My Business, is a free business listing.
Business profiles appear in Google Search, Google Maps, and Google Shopping. If your business has a physical location or travels to customers, you can create a business profile on Google.
Top 5 Google Business Profile Benefits
As Google continues to improve its ability to deliver hyper-local results, it is crucial to have complete and accurate information on Google’s business profile.
This is still an easy win, as many companies have not even requested their listing yet.
3. Improve Your Page Experience
The Google page experience is defined by a set of signals designed to measure how users respond to a web page. This measurement exceeds the value of the basic information.
It uses Core Web Vitals, a set of metrics that measures page load performance, interactivity, and visual stability, as well as mobile adaptability, HTTPS, and intrusive interstitial guidelines.
How Does Page Experience Affect Rankings?
In cases where several pages can meet the search criteria for relevance, the site experience has more weight.
The page that provides the requested information still outperforms the page with less relevance but a better page experience.
In short, the site experience can be a turning point for the SERP.
4. Focus On User Experience (UX)
Google has always encouraged webmasters to focus on providing a good user experience.
As the algorithm gets “smarter,” websites that do so benefit the most. A good user experience goes much deeper than writing pure code.
According to this study from the Oxford Journal, “The goal of UX design in business is to improve customer satisfaction and loyalty through usability, ease of use, and satisfaction with product interaction.”
For our needs the product is your website. The goal is to first determine the user’s intent, and then develop a methodology for smooth navigation – a methodology that evokes positive emotion and leads to an overall good experience.
Incorporating UX best practices is easy. The web is full of templates and tips.
What distinguishes professionals from amateurs is A / B testing.
Each of us has our own prejudices that will affect the way a website is built.
By performing a series of experiments, you will be able to quantify what works and what doesn’t, and continue testing until you are correct.
5. Do Your Keyword Research
That’s right- keyword research is still important.
As Google provides less keyword information, third parties such as Ahrefs and Semrush have developed their own keyword tools to fill the gap.
However, the way keyword research results are performed and used has changed thanks to RankBrain and BERT.
At its core, RankBrain is machine learning. This allows Google to put things in context instead of relying solely on metadata strings. Google now understands language nuances such as origins, synonyms, and answers.
BERT is an acronym for Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers.
The primary goal is to provide better search results for longer and more conversational searches where suggestions like “for” and “for” affect the context of the query.
At the time of its launch in October 2019, Google predicted that BERT would affect 10% of all searches in the United States.
The new generation of keyword tools takes this into account by generating relevant data such as parent topics, keyword groups, and search intent.
Armed with this information, users can develop contextually relevant content.
6. Have A Well-Rounded Content Marketing Plan
According to the Content Marketing Institute, 51% of all respondents said it was harder to get audience attention today than it was just a year ago.
Since content is one of the main factors in Google’s ranking, it’s important to correct it. Once again, this is a great opportunity for those who are willing to invest time to make it happen.
Everyone is talking about creating “great content,” but what does that even mean?
It really comes down to having useful content, finding the right audience, and then reaching out to that audience.
This doesn’t have to be a hard exercise. It comes down to empathizing with your potential clients and customers. Ann Handley created the following formula to sum it up:
Useful x Pleasant x Inspired = Innovative content
Great content comes in many different forms. A well-rounded content marketing plan will include a combination of the following:
7. Pay Attention To On-Page Optimization
Did you know that Google publishes its own initial search engine optimization guide? You’re working now.
Despite its name, this guide is a great resource for anyone looking to maximize their chances of appearing in Google search results.
The guide covers the key basics on the page, including best practice examples for optimization:
Additional resources to improve page optimization:
8. Link Building Supercharges All Other Efforts
There may come a day when links will be less important for ranking, but that day has not yet arrived. The key is to get the right kind of links.
Links that are relevant to your site. Links that require human editorial review. Types of relationships that are earned.
My favorite approach to making relevant links is building a resource center. The Resource Center can run on almost any type of site. In addition to attracting connections, a good resource center helps build trust and authority.
Learn more about this approach and more by downloading Link Building for SEO: A Complete Guide.
The Bottom Line
Organic search is a game of inches. There is no best way to dominate SERPs. But it doesn’t have to be overdone.
If you just focus on the eight areas listed above, you can double, triple, or even increase traffic 10 times.
Featured image: goodbishop / Shutterstock
Blue Hat SEO is essentially the study of advanced internet marketing and search engine optimization techniques. Blue Hat SEO covers advanced knowledge of both Black Hat and White Hat SEO.
Is SEO free?
SEO Explorer is a free tool for researching keywords and links.
Does Google charge for SEO? Appearing in organic search results like Google is not a cost, and making changes to improve the SEO of your website can greatly affect your search rankings over time. Learn more about how Google Organic Search works and find tips to get started here.
Is SEO paid or free?
SEO is for organic traffic – so these are unpaid or free ads, and SEM is for targeted ads that you pay for. They can be complementary, but only if the website itself is first SEO-friendly, then SEM has a better chance of success.
Is SEO organic or paid?
SEO is that SEM is a paid strategy, and SEO is an organic strategy. Like most things in the search industry, definitions related to search marketing have evolved. Some traders may consider SEM to be an umbrella term that includes both paid and organic strategies.
Is SEO free on Google?
Free SEO Analytics Tools With detailed information from Google Analytics, digital marketers can customize their content strategy and figure out what works and what doesn’t. Google Analytics is one of the best free SEO tools that every digital marketer should use.
Is SEO paid or unpaid?
Search engine marketing includes both SEM and SEO Search engine marketing (SEM) involves buying traffic using paid ads while search engine optimization (SEO) involves earning traffic using unpaid methods.
What is SEO on Instagram?
What is Instagram SEO? Instagram SEO means optimizing your Instagram content to find it in search results. When someone searches for a relevant keyword or hashtag in the Instagram search box, you want your account or content to appear at the top of the list.
How can I optimize my Instagram for Google? 5 Instagram SEO Tactics to Increase Your Reach
- Optimize your Instagram profile for search. Your Instagram profile (also your Instagram biography) is the best place to include relevant keywords and search terms. …
- Use real hashtags. …
- Use the right keywords. …
- Add replacement text to images. …
- Maintain a quality account.
Does Instagram rank on Google?
The Instagram web app is mostly buried in JavaScript, which means that links to your individual Instagram posts from your Instagram profile don’t count as “real” links to Google. For this reason, the vast majority of Instagram posts are not indexed in search results.
Is Instagram good for SEO?
Instagram is perfect for optimization because it works like a small search engine, so SEO is worth it. Instagram ranks well on well-optimized pages and this attracts more active followers, encourages engagement and improves the trust rating of the pages. In return, it all leads to an even higher rank.
How do I get my Instagram on Google search?
One way is to open Google and type â € œinstagramâ € in the search bar. A list of results will appear, and you can click the “Add to Google” button in the upper right corner of the Instagram website.
Does Instagram affect Google ranking?
As another way to drive traffic to your business, Instagram can increase your company’s online presence and raise brand awareness, which is crucial when it comes to Google rankings.
Is Instagram good for SEO?
Instagram is perfect for optimization because it works like a small search engine, so SEO is worth it. Instagram ranks well on well-optimized pages and this attracts more active followers, encourages engagement and improves the trust rating of the pages. In return, it all leads to an even higher rank.
Does SEO work on Instagram?
Instagram SEO is a great place to start. Highlighting your content on search results pages can help you expand your organic reach. Understanding how SEO works on Instagram is important for any business looking to connect with new followers.
Social media is not a ranking factor, so it will not directly help your ranking. Although there is no direct correlation between them, the benefits of social media affect SEO. And if you’re trying to improve your SEO, it’s especially important to invest in social media.
Are GREY hat hackers punished?
So a gray hacker should expect to be punished by discovering company vulnerabilities. However, some companies are using their bug collection programs to encourage gray hat hackers to report their findings, and will provide a reward to avoid the wider risk that the hacker is using the vulnerability to their own advantage.
Who is the number 1 hacker with white hats? 1. Tim Berners-Lee. Known not for hacking, but for inventing the World Wide Web, Berners-Lee is undoubtedly a member of the white hat hacking camp.
Are white hats hackers?
A white hat hacker – or ethical hacker – is an individual who uses hacking skills to identify security vulnerabilities in hardware, software, or networks. However, unlike black hackers – or malicious hackers – hackers with white hats respect the rule of law that applies to hacking.
Is it illegal to be a white hat hacker?
Hackers with white hats use the same hacking methods as black hats, with one exception – they do so first with the permission of the system owner, making the process completely legal.
Are white hat hackers good?
Just like in the Wild West movies, White Hat hackers are considered good guys. They work with companies to improve the security position of their customers at the system or network level or to find vulnerabilities and exploits that could be exploited by a malicious or unauthorized user.
Is white hat a type of hacker?
1) White Hat Hackers White hat hackers are types of hackers who are professionals with expertise in cyber security. They are authorized or certified to hack the system. These White Hat hackers work for governments or organizations by entering the system.
Are black hat hackers punished?
Laws and Penalties Against Black Hat Hacking U.S. and state authorities can punish black hat hackers under a number of computer crime laws and other state and federal laws. Convictions for different categories of misdemeanors and criminal offenses include fines, imprisonment, or both.
Are black hat hackers ethical hackers?
Black hats and white hats Black hat hackers are malicious hackers, sometimes called crackers. Black hats lack ethics, sometimes break laws, and break into computer systems with malicious intent, and can compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of an organization’s systems and data.
What is the punishment for Blackhat hacker?
U.S. and state authorities can punish black hat hackers under a number of computer crime laws and other state and federal laws. Convictions for different categories of misdemeanors and criminal offenses include fines, imprisonment, or both.
Is it legal to be a grey hat hacker?
In most cases, gray hats provide valuable information to companies. Despite this, the white hat community – and much of the cyber world – does not view their methods as ethical. Gray hat hacking is illegal because the hacker did not get permission from the organization to try to infiltrate their systems.
Who is the No 1 hacker in world?
Kevin Mitnick is a global authority on hacking, social engineering and security awareness training. In fact, the world’s most widely used end-user safety training package is named after him.
Who is the No 2 hacker in world?
| Kevin Mitnick | |
|---|---|
| Penalty | 1988: One year in prison. 1999: 46 months in prison plus 3 years of probation |
| Call sign | N6NHG |
| Web page | https://www.mitnicksecurity.com |
Who was the first hacker?
The first major hacking occurred in 1971 by a Vietnamese veterinarian named John Draper. He figured out a way to make free phone calls. This was later called “Phreaking”.
What is Advanced SEO?
Advanced SEO is simply any set of SEO techniques that require a certain degree of expertise. It varies from person to person, but let’s just say you probably won’t master these first few months.
What is the difference between basic and advanced SEO? As the name suggests, advanced SEO is far ahead of basic SEO and takes into account many more variables than the latter, thus improving on-page and off-page factors with more power and efficiency.
What is difference between white hat and black hat?
While white hackers work to find and solve security problems in the system, black hat hackers exploit vulnerabilities for selfish reasons, including financial gain, revenge, or enjoyment. Using tools such as viruses, malware and spyware, malicious hackers can obtain information and use it for criminal purposes.
What is the difference between black hats and white hats, give examples? Hacking by black hackers is illegal. Hacking by hackers with white hats is legal. They infiltrate or control websites, devices or other systems without the permission of the owner / authority.
What does a black hat Symbolise?
The meaning of a black hat in English is someone in a particular situation who is behaving for morally bad reasons, or something that shows who that person is: A group is considered to be some kind of black hat in a consulting business.
What does wearing a hat symbolize?
The hat represents authority and power. Because it covers the head, the hat contains thought; therefore, if it changes, so does the opinion. The covered head shows nobility, and different hats denote different ranks within the social heritage. Taking off your hat when entering the building shows respect.
What does a black hat symbolize?
The black hat is now often used in relation to a bad person, especially a villain or criminal in a movie, novel, play or real life. In western movies, the color of the hat was typically relevant to whether the cowboy was on the side of good or evil.
What does black hat mean in military?
“Black hat,” a term used to identify soldiers as instructors in an air school, refers to black baseball caps worn by instructors.
What does white hats stand for?
1: one who is worthy of admiration and honor. 2: a sign or symbol of kindness could be used by a few more guys in white hats – Robert Christgau.
What are white hats in the military?
Recently, the United States Air Force called on Synack ‘bug bounty’ to bring in so-called ‘ethical’ or ‘white hat’ hackers to find vulnerabilities in key IT systems. “Including those used to maintain weapons technology.
What is a white hat issue?
White hat hackers seek vulnerabilities or exploits only when they are legally allowed to do so. White hat hackers can investigate open source software, as well as software or systems they own or are authorized to investigate, including products and services that manage bug reward programs.
Why are white hats called?
White hat hacker is an outdated term for an ethical hacker. It comes from 20th century western movies in which good guys wore white hats. Modern experts call them ethical hackers.
What does a white hat do?
A white hat hacker – or ethical hacker – is an individual who uses hacking skills to identify security vulnerabilities in hardware, software, or networks. However, unlike black hackers – or malicious hackers – hackers with white hats respect the rule of law that applies to hacking.
Are white hat hackers good?
Just like in the Wild West movies, White Hat hackers are considered good guys. They work with companies to improve the security position of their customers at the system or network level or to find vulnerabilities and exploits that could be exploited by a malicious or unauthorized user.
Is white hat a job?
Ethical hackers who want a state job could work for the ministries of defense, homeland security, intelligence, justice or tax administration. These are just a few government agencies that hire white hats to secure their information systems.
What jobs do white hat hackers have?
White hat hackers are skilled programmers and information security engineers who find IT vulnerabilities and fix them before they are exploited. White hat hackers are required to adhere to the Council of EC Code of Ethics by performing only legal activities and always protecting the intellectual property of others.