SEO · 20 Sep 2021 · 2 min read

SEO factors you need to know to rank your website higher

Google is reported to weigh around 200 different signals when ranking a page. Staying on top of every one of them isn’t realistic, but a handful of factors do most of the work when it comes to ranking higher.

Here are five worth prioritising.

Secure hosting (HTTPS)

A site without an SSL certificate is at a real disadvantage — browsers flag it, and Google treats HTTPS as a baseline trust signal. If your site isn’t already running on HTTPS, that’s the first fix to make.

Mobile-friendliness

Roughly 60% of Google searches now happen on a phone, and Google’s ranking is based primarily on the mobile version of a page. A site that isn’t properly optimised for mobile is working against itself before anything else gets considered.

Google Business Profile

A complete, verified Google Business Profile listing puts your service details, address, phone number, and reviews directly in search results — and it’s one of the more direct ways to convert a search into a sale. Fill in category, service area, and pricing details fully rather than leaving the listing sparse.

Page speed

A slow-loading page pushes up bounce rate, and Google treats that as a sign the page isn’t serving the visitor well. Checking site speed regularly alongside SERP position keeps both moving in the right direction.

Shares, likes, and overall visibility across social platforms feed indirectly into how Google evaluates a site’s authority. A consistent presence — sharing content and running the occasional campaign across the platforms your audience actually uses — supports the rest of your SEO work rather than replacing it.

Conclusion

None of these factors work in isolation. A secure, fast, mobile-friendly site with a complete Business Profile and real social visibility compounds better than optimising for any one signal alone.