Google recently updated its documentation about ranking factors, removing page experience from the “ranking systems” documentation. It doesn’t mention HHTPS directly in its current documentation about page experience, but does mention security. While we captured over 40 different page metrics for each URL examined, most did not show any significant influence on search ranking. This was largely expected, as (for example) the number of connections a web browser uses to load a page should likely not impact search ranking position. For the purposes of brevity, in this section we will just highlight the particularly noteworthy results.

Keeping tabs on your local SEO ranking factors and your progress is integral to understanding the effectiveness of your local SEO strategies. Specifically, tracking your rankings in the local pack for targeted keywords can provide valuable insights into your local search engine rankings. The speed at which your website loads and its friendliness towards mobile users are important factors for SEO success. Search engines, particularly Google, prioritize websites that provide a seamless and efficient user experience across all devices.

Top SEO Ranking Factors Startups Need to Know in 2025

On average, posts in the first 10 positions on Google search have 1,447 words. Another way to boost your content quality is by keeping it fresh and updated. Google favors newer content, whether it was recently published or thoroughly updated.

For example, websites from UK should have the majority of backlinks coming from other sites located in UK. For example, websites that have 80% of their backlinks coming from directories, can raise a flag to Google that something is unnatural, and someone is doing some sloppy SEO. Learn all about how to boost your Google rank with backlinks from our Link Building Guide.

As computer vision models advance, search engines will better understand and surface relevant images and videos. Analyzing search intent allows you to check if a keyword is relevant and develop an effective content plan. And marketers have made informed guesses about other ranking factors. All it means is that as you’re doing research, you should only pull from reliable sources with high domain authority. To be honest, for your users’ sake, you should probably be doing this anyway to ensure you provide the most value.

A slow-loading site or one that performs poorly on mobile devices can negatively impact your search engine rankings, reduce user engagement, and lower conversion rates. At its core, front-end performance is focused on creating a fast, responsive, enjoyable user experience. There is literally a decade of research from usability experts and analysts on how web performance affects user experience.

• As explained, the algorithm is constantly changing – by using a YouTube SEO tool you can stay on top and track your results.
• And then look at the keywords’ search results pages to gauge relevancy and competition levels.
• However, there is evidence they play a role in a site’s initial ranking, and some professionals believe they’re used to group pages.
• Look into keyword SERP analysis to determine what competitors are ranking for the same terms.

For one educational blog, the “beginner’s guide” articles initially had an average viewing time of under 30 seconds. In my audits, I use DA as an initial measure to assess ranking potential. Domain Authority, developed by Moz, estimates how likely a site is to rank highly in search results. Although Google does not officially use DA, many SEO professionals find it useful. For more information on calculating your organic click-through rate, see organic click-through rate. If your page appears in the search results yet has a low CTR, you may be missing out on potential visitors.

#6 – YouTube Links

Google’s systems also consider content usability—i.e., whether the content is safe and easy to access and interact with. On average, the #1 organic result has a 10x higher click-through rate than the #10 organic result. When done right, you can see an instant 12% lift on driving sales. I highly recommend that you use OptinMonster for growing your email list and sales. Other powerful All in One SEO features include schema markup, smart XML sitemaps, robots.txt editor, SEO health check, and more. Since people get the answer to their questions directly, they may have no reason to continue to the content.

Critical Components of Semantic Search:

Having unique images and videos to support your main content is a quality signal. I recommend investing in a good graphics design team who will produce unique images. You should take advantage of this and ensure you include your target keyword. Matt Cutt’s originally suggested that private Whois data can be combined with other factors as a negative signal.

Knowing how search engines discover, evaluate, SEO Anomaly and rank web content allows you to make informed decisions about optimizing your website and crafting your SEO strategy. There would be no point to links if they didn’t direct searchers to something. Content is more than just words; it’s anything meant to be consumed by searchers — there’s video content, image content, and of course, text.