Google Ranking factors must know as a website owner/Blogger/Publisher

Google ranking factors are various types that essential for website owners, bloggers, publishers, etc. There are more than 200 factors that effecting in Google’s website ranking. This entire factor can summarize by 10 categories. Such as-

1. Google ranking factors (GRF) under domain category
2. GRF under on-page optimization category
3. GRF under off-page optimization or backlink category
4. GRF under website structural level category
5. GRF under user interaction category
6. GRF under Google algorithm rules category
7. GRF under social media signals category
8. GRF under brand name category
9.  GRF under on-site web spam category
10. GRF under off-site web spam category

For better understanding about Google ranking factors, need to specify which factors are under which categories. If you want to rank your website better, you have to read carefully and apply the rules thoughtfully during optimization.

1. Google ranking factors (GRF) under domain category

• Domain age

The well-established site has an older domain. On the other hand spamming site has a new domain. That’s why, more SEO expert’s opinion, domain age is a vital factor of Google ranking.

• Keywords in domain

Keywords in the domain are a major Google ranking factor. But it has controversial opinions. Most of the SEO experts believe, it has a positive impact on Google rankings.

• Keyword as first word in domain

The site which has keyword as first word in domain will get more privilege than which site has no keyword in the domain name or middle or end of the domain name.

• Domain registration date length

Well established site has long domain registration date length for overcoming expiring date stress. On the other hand spamming site has less domain registration date length. That’s why, more SEO experts opinion, domain registration date length is a vital factor of Google ranking.

• Keyword in sub-domain

Selected keywords in sub-domain are a major Google ranking factor. But it has controversial opinions. Most of SEO experts believe, it has positive impact for Google rankings.

• Exact match domain

High quality exact match domain has extra edge in Google ranking than low quality exact match domain compared with your competitors.

• Domain history

Google’s ranking algorithm so smart. It uses domain history for selecting good or bad site. For good site Google’s give higher ranking in SERP

• Public Vs private whoIs

WHOIS-It is an internet service used to look up domain name information. It stands for “who is responsible for this domain”. If you registered as a private, the internet user can not view your domain name information like address, email, contact number, etc. But if you registered as a public, the internet user can view your domain name in formations. The public is legal on the other hand private is illegal.

• Penalty for whois owner

If Google identifies a particular person as a spammer and he has more than one site. All sites will be affected.

• Country LTD extension

It is the most important Google ranking factor. Google gives high priority for ranking for that specific country LTD extension though its limit globally.

2. GRF under on-page optimization category

• Keywords in page title tag

Getting higher ranking keywords should keep in the page title tag. It is a strong on page SEO signal and it will boost your ranking in SERP.

• Title tag starting with  keywords

For getting Google higher ranking keyword should keep at the starting point in the page title tag.

• Keywords in meta description

Keywords in the Meta description providing relevancy signal and it makes a big difference in Google ranking

• Keywords in H1 tag

Keywords in H1 tag boost ranking of your website in SERP

• Keywords in H2 & H3 tag

Keywords in H2 & H3 tag, there is a chance for getting higher ranking of your website compare to missing keywords in H2 & H3 tag.

• Keyword use in frequently in phrase documents

Using keyword frequently in phrase document getting chance for higher ranking of your website in SERP

• Content length

The website which has long content is getting higher ranking in SERP compare to thin content website.

• Keyword density

Keyword density provides relevancy signal and getting higher ranking in SERP

• LSI (Latent Semantic indexing ) keywords in content

LSI keywords in content is the symbol of quality content that makes higher ranking in SERP

• LSI keywords in title and meta description

Here, LSI keywords in the title and Meta description provides a relevancy signal and increases ranking of the website.

• Page loading speed with HTML

The higher page loading speed with HTML website getting high ranking compare to lower page loading speed with HTML website.

• Page loading speed via Chrome
• Canonical tag

Canonical tag preventing Google for considering pages similar and duplicate content.

• Duplicate content

Duplicate content giving negative impact in the Google ranking

• Image optimization

Image optimization giving positive impact of Google ranking in the SERP

• Urgency  of content update

The Urgency of content updates giving a positive impact on Google ranking in the SERP

• The magnitude of content update

Magnitude of content updates giving a positive impact on Google ranking in the SERP

• The frequency of page update

Frequency of page updates giving positive impact of Google ranking in the SERP

• Keywords prominence

You should keep keywords within 100 words in your page content. It provides relevancy signals that giving higher ranking privilege in Google search engine.

• Keywords word order

You should maintain keywords word order in the page content. Because, an exact match of searcher`s keywords in a page content getting chance for higher ranking than the same keywords phrase in different word order.

• Outbound link quality

The outbound link to authority quality sites send a trusty signal to Google that improves ranking in SERP

• Outbound link theme

According to MOZ search engines inspect the page content that you link. If your page is about a car and your backlink with a movie page, then Google thinking of your page for a movie car.

• Grammar and spelling

Grammar and spelling is the indication of quality content. Quality content shows the wide range of content reader as well as getting higher ranking in Google search engine.

• Syndicated content

Original and quality content is getting higher ranking than scrape and low quality content. Google hate spinning content and penalize blog or website.

• Supplementary content

According to” Google Raters guidelines “supplementary content is helping to get higher ranking. For instance supplementary contents are currency converters, loan interest calculator etc.

• Multimedia in content

The Multimedia elements like image, video, etc are increasing content quality and getting higher ranking in search engine.

• Number of outbound link

A large number of outbound do follow link has negative impact of Google ranking

• Number of internal link

A large number of internal links has positive impact of Google ranking

• Broken links

Broken links have negative impact on Google ranking.

• Reading scores

Google is giving higher ranking for those sites where visitors stay longer period of time.

• Affiliates link

There is no impact for affiliate links to get ranking. But for more affiliate links in the sites, Google algorithm has closer looks for other quality signals, whether it reviewed or not.

• HTML errors

HTML errors are the vital ranking factors of Google ranking. More errors have negative impact in Google ranking that’s the maximum SEO expert’s opinion.

• Domain Authority ( DA) of page host

A page of higher domain authority is getting higher ranking than a page of lower domain authority in Google search engine.

• Page rank of the page

The page rank of the page has no importance in Google search ranking after 15^th April 2016.

• URL length

Small url length has good impact in SEO then long url length

• URL path

A page closer to home page getting higher ranking in SERP

• Human editors

Human editors influence the SERP`s

• Page category

For getting higher ranking page or post should be keep under appropriate category.

• WordPress tag

WordPress tag provides relevancy signal and getting higher ranking in search engine.

• Keyword in URL

Keeping keywords in url is giving very important relevancy signals and getting higher ranking in SERP`s

• URL strings

URL strings giving thematic signals about the page or post to Google that increase higher ranking in SERP

• Reference & sources

Reference and sources are giving indication of quality content that increase the ranking of the website in SERP. Reference and sources should be mention below of content for reader’s ready reference.

• Bullet pointer and number list

Bullet pointer and number list making content user friendly to the readers and makes readers happy. As we know, readers happy, Google happy that increase ranking.

• Page priority in sitemap

The page priority in sitemap getting higher ranking

• Numerous outbound link

The content which contain more outbound link has bad impact in reading that reduce Google ranking

• Page age

Old page with updated content getting higher ranking in SERP`s

• Quantity of other keywords

The presence of quantity of other keywords in the content shows the quality of content that increase ranking in SERP`S

• User friendly layouts

User friendly website layouts encourage to readers to stay long period of time in the website that increase higher ranking in search engine.

• Parked domains

To better understanding the parked domain, you have to understand first your main domain. For example, your main domain name is “ripti.info” and you purchase one more domain “ripti.net”.  This second domain “ripti.net” is your parked domain. According to Google update released in December 2011, decreased visibility of a parked domain in SERP`s

• Useful content

A content which helpful to your audience and increases engagement.

3. GRF under off-page optimization or backlink category

• Backlinks from aged domains

A backlink from the aged domain is giving more chance to Google ranking than a backlink from the new domain.

• Number of linking root domains

Linking root domains are the unique domain linking with your domain. If multiple backlink linking with your website from a single domain then all back link consider a single linking root domain. More number of linking root domain, more chance for higher ranking in SERP`s

• Number of links from separate C-Class IPs

More number of links from separate c-class IPs tells to Google, more sites is linking to your site.

• Number of page links

More number of page links, more chance to increase ranking, even linking page is from the same domain.

• Alt tag or image links

Keywords in alt tag or image links are giving higher ranking privilege in SERP`s

• Back links from .edu or .gov domains

According to maximum SEO experts, backlink from .edu or .gov is more possibilities for getting higher ranking in search engine.

• Authority of linking page

Backlink from Higher PageRank (PR) website, more possibilities for higher ranking in SERP`s

• Domain Authority (DA)

Backlink from Higher domain authority (DA) website, more possibilities for higher ranking in SERP`s

• Backlinks from competitors

More backlinks from competitors’, more chance for getting higher ranking in SERP`s

• Social shares of referring page

A lot of social shares of the source page of the backlinks influencing higher ranking in SERP`s

• Links from bad neighborhoods

Links from bad neighborhoods has negative impact in Google ranking

• Backlink from guest posting

Backlinks from guest posting has positive impact in Search engine optimization.

• Links to a domain homepage

Links to a domain homepage has positive impact in SERP`s

• No follow back links

No follow back link has not direct impact in Google ranking. This link indicates not to count as a link but who will control the traffic to click the linked website that increases additional traffic to your website.

• Diversity in link types

Back link from a single source is indicating web spam. But back link from different sources is a sign of natural link profile.

• Sponsored links

Sponsored links decreases the value of back link.

• Contextual links

Backlink from the inside of the page`s content is more powerful than backlink from elsewhere of the page

• Excessive 301 redirects to page

Excessive 301 redirects to page reduce the ranking in search engine.

• Anchor text of backlinks

Proper used of anchor text of back link provides relevancy signal for ranking in search engine.

• Internal link anchor text

Internal link anchor text provides relevancy signal for ranking in search engine.

• Link title attributions

Link title attribution provides weak relevancy signal for Google ranking

• Country TLD of referring domain

Backlink from country TLD of referring domain increase ranking In search engine for the that specific country

• Backlink locations in content

Back link location in the content at the beginning is more powerful than the end of the content.

• Backlink locations on page

Back link location in the content of the page is more powerful than footer or side bar location.

• Linking domain relevancy

Backlink from similar website is more powerful than unrelated niche website that increase Google ranking.

• Page level relevancy

Backlink from similar page content is more powerful than unrelated page content that increase Google ranking.

• Text around the link

Google can understand which link providing positive or negative review. Positive review carry more weight that helps higher ranking in SERP`s

• Keyword in the title for getting back link

Google is giving extra favor for those back links which has keywords in the linking page title.

• Positive link velocity

When people saying good about your website, Google also saying good that increase ranking in SERP`s

• Negative link velocity

When people saying bad about your website, Google also replying bad that reduce ranking in SERP`s

• Backlink from Hub pages

Backlink from Hub pages indicating higher ranking in SERP`s

• Backlink from authority site

Backlink from authority site is giving more privilege for ranking in search engine compare to other normal site.

• Backlink from Wikipedia source

Backlink from Wikipedia source is no follow link. But, maximum SEO expert believe, it has positive impact in Google ranking.

• Back link age

Google patent saying, old back link getting more ranking than new back link.

• Co-occurrence for back link

Google can understand what type of page it. So, surrounding of back link is most important for Google ranking.

• Real site back link Vs fake site back link

By using brand and interactional signal, Google can distinguish real and fake back link. Real back has positive impact in Google ranking.

• Natural link profile

Natural link profile has strong and positive impact in search engine.

• Reciprocal links

Exchanging link between two websites is called reciprocal links. It has negative impact in Google ranking. Google considering, it is a violation of link schemes.

• User generated content link

User generated content (UGC) link has negative impact in SERP`s

• Link from 301 redirects

Massive Link from 301 redirects has affect in search engine.

• Schema.org micro format

Schema.org micro format has positive impact in Google ranking.

• DMOZ Listed

Maximum SEO experts believe that Google giving extra preference for DMPZ listed site in search ranking.

• Trust rank of linking site

Backlink from trusted site giving more privilege for higher ranking in SERP

• Profile link from forum

Profile link from forum, nowadays Google started to devalue

• Word count of linking content

Back link from the content of more than 1000 words has more chance in higher ranking than the content of 300 words.

• Quality of linking content

Backlink from low quality content can harm your ranking in SERP

• Site wide links

Matt cutts confirmed that site wide links counted as a single link

4. GRF under website structural level category

• Quality and unique content

Quality and unique content is the asset of the website that increases ranking in SERPs. On the other hand Google hunting low quality and poor informative content for decreasing ranking in search engine optimization.

• Contact us page

You must provide a contact us page so that visitors can contact with you when necessary. If your whois information match with your contact information, you will get extra bonus for ranking in SERP`s

• Domain trust rank

If your website gets a large number of link from trusted site, then your domain is trusty domain. Trusty domain has positive impact in Google ranking in SERP`s

• Website architecture

A website with user friendly architecture loved by both visitors and Google that increases ranking in SERP`s

• Website update

Google has soft corner for that website which is frequently updating

• Page number

A website with large number of pages decreases navigability that has negative impact in Google ranking

• Sitemap

Sitemap is helping to index pages and posts more easily and systematically in search engine review pages.

• Website uptime

If your website is taking more time to upload that may hurt your website ranking.

• Location of server

The site is getting more ranking in those specific areas where server is located.

• SSL Certificate

Google is giving priority in ranking for those websites which has SSL certificate.

• Privacy policy page

Privacy policy page containing website is getting  higher ranking In SERP`s

• Duplicate on site meta information

Duplicate Meta information is harmful to SEO that decreases ranking in search engine

• Breadcrumb Navigation

Breadcrumb navigation is a modern style of user friendly website. It is indicating the location in the website for both visitors and search engine, where are they that increases Google ranking.

• Mobile optimization

Your site must be mobile user friendly otherwise your site will decrease ranking in SERP`s

• You Tube

You Tube videos in your post increase dwell time of your website that increase Google ranking.

• Site usability

Site usability must be user friendly that decreases bounce rate and increases higher ranking in SERP`s

• Google analytics and webmaster tools

Maximum SEO experts believe that Google Analytics and Google webmaster tools integrating with your website increases Google ranking.

• User review and feedback

Positive review and feedback from the user increase Google ranking in SERP`s

5. GRF under user interaction category

• Organic CTR for keywords

Organic CTR for specific keywords is boosting your website ranking.

• Bounce rate

Increasing bounce rate of your website indicating low quality website that decreasing your website ranking.

• Direct Traffic

Google is getting quality signal from chrome browser. Direct traffic is a quality signal for your website that increases your website ranking.

• Repeated Traffic

Repeated traffic is indicating your quality content that increases your website ranking.

• Block sites

Google closed the features block sites in chrome browser.

• Chrome bookmarks

Google collect data from chrome browser. The pages are bookmark in chrome browser getting higher ranking in SERP`s

• Google tool bar data

Google uses tool bar data for ranking website in SERP`s

• Number of comments

Number of comments indicating user interaction that Google want and  increases website ranking in SERP`s

• Dwell time

Dwell time means how long visitor stay in your website. More dwell time indicating quality content that increases website ranking.

6. GRF under Google algorithm rules category

• Query deserves freshness

Google prefers quality and fresh content that boosts your website ranking.

• Query deserves diversity

Sometimes Google adding diversity for ambiguous keywords in SERP`s

• Browsing History

Google collect data from browsing history and giving ranking in such away in search engine.

• User search history

Google is using search history for later searching. If you search auto blog, Google giving more auto blog-related sites higher ranking to you.

• Geo targeting

Google giving higher ranking for websites based on Geo targeting.

• Safe search

If safe search is on, Google not allowing to view curse words or adult content in SERP`s

• Google+ circles

Google + circles including sites getting more privilege in Google ranking

• DMCA Complaints

The sites by DMCA complaints getting negative ranking in SERP`s

• Domain diversity

Domain diversity has negative impact in search engine ranking.

• Transactional searches

Google shows different results for keywords that are related to transactional searches

• Local searches

Google is giving more privilege in ranking for local searches than international searches.

• Google news box

Google news box affecting on search engine results of a websites

• Brand preference

Brand preference is playing a vital role for a website in Google ranking

• Shopping results

Google sometimes is displaying shopping results as an organic search results that increase ranking in SERP`s

• Image results

Google sometimes is using organic listing for image that increases ranking in SERP`s

• Easter egg results

Google has more than 12 easter egg results that affect ranking

• Single site results for branding

Brand related keywords showing several results from the same sites that increases ranking in SERP`s

7. GRF under social media signals category

• Number of facebook shares

More number of Facebook shares, more ranking. It is acting as a backlink and more powerful than page-like.

• Number of facebook likes

Number of facebook likes affecting Google ranking

• Authority of facebook user accounts

Like and share from higher authority of facebook user account play a vital role of ranking in SERP`s

• Number of tweets

More number of tweets of a page play a important role of Google ranking in SERP`s

• Authority of twitter user accounts

Tweets from aged and high authority user profile with huge followers has positive impact in Google ranking

• Pinterest pins

Google considering pinterest pins as a social signal that increases ranking of a website in SERP`s

• Votes from social sharing sites

Votes from social sharing sites Google considering positive signal that increases ranking in search engine.

• Number of Google + 1`s

Maximum SEO experts believe number of Google +1`s has positive impact in ranking

• Authority of Google+ user accounts

Authority of Google + user profile accounts has positive impact in website ranking

• Known authorships

Google sometimes on certain conditions uses some form to determine the best & quality content. Therefore, increases the ranking of a website.

• Social signal relevancy

Google sometimes is considering social signal relevancy as a ranking factor.

• Website level social signals

The social signal of a website increases ranking in SERP`s

8. Google Ranking Factors under brand name category

• Brand name in anchor text

Brand name in anchor text is a strong brand signal that increases ranking in SERP`s

• Brand searches

Peoples are searching brand. If keywords available in brand name, then peoples can found this type of sites directly. In that way brand searches increases ranking in search engine.

• Brand website with face book pages & likes

Brand with facebook pages have normally a lot of like and shares that increases Google ranking

• Brand website having twitter profile with followers

Brand with twitter profiles have normally a lot of followers that increases ranking in search engine.

• Official LinkedIn company page

Most of the real business have official LinkedIn company page that proves the trustworthiness of the company. This page is helping to increases ranking of the company website in SERP`s

• Employees listed on LinkedIn

The presence of employees individual profiles in LinkedIn prove that they are working in your company and increase your brand value. And increase ranking for your website in SERP`s

• The legitimacy of social media accounts

A social media accounts with a lot of interaction with its followers proves more legitimacy accounts than an account with less interaction with its followers.

• Brand mentions on news sites

Brand mentions on the Google news sites increases ranking in SERP`s

• Co-citations

Google sometimes is considering non-hyperlink brand as a brand signal that increases ranking in search engine.

• Number of RSS subscribers

Google considering the number of RSS subscriber is a brand signal that increases ranking in SERP`s

• Office location with Google+ local listing

A real business has office location. Google checking the location data, based on this giving brand signal that increases ranking in SERP`s

• The website is taxpaying business

According to MOZ, Google looking the website is associated with taxpaying or not that indicating the brand signal.

9. GRF under on-site web spam category

• The panda penalty

The website with low quality content affected by panda penalty that decreases ranking in SERP`S

• Redirects

Sneaky redirects don’t like by Google that not only a negative effect in ranking but also penalized the website

• Pop up or disturbing ads

Google don’t like pop up or disturbing ads that has negative impact in Google ranking

• Over optimization of site

The website which is over optimization with excessive keywords has negative effect in ranking

• Over optimization of page

Google penguin algorithm is catching over optimization pages that have negative impact in search engine ranking.

• Ads above the fold

Google penalized that type of website which contains ads above the fold. Therefore decreases ranking.

• Affiliates sites

Some SEO experts are thinking Google has an extra inquiry for affiliate links that affect in the ranking.

• Hiding affiliates links

Google doesn’t like to hide affiliate links. It is not only a negative impact on ranking but also penalized the website.

• Auto generated contents

Google can catch auto computer generated content that doesn’t like. It is affecting negative ranking and the website penalized by Google.

• Excess   page rank sculpting

Excess page rank sculpting decreases ranking of website in SERP`s

• IP address flagged as spam

If any server flagged as spam, all sites of the server affected negative ranking in search engine.

• Meta tag spamming

Google can catch Meta tag spamming if happen then not only decreasing ranking but also penalized the website.

10. Google ranking factors under off-site web spam category

• Unnatural influx of links

Unnatural influx of links is the evidence of phony links that has negative impact in ranking

• Penguin penalty

As Google terms of service inform us Penguin penalty has negative impact in Google ranking.

• Link profile with high percentage of low quality links

Link profile with high percentage of low quality links has badly impact in ranking of a website.

• Linking domain relevancy

A website with a lot of irrelevant link, Google considering under penguin penalty that decreases ranking

• Unnatural links warning

Google sent warning for unnatural link detection through web master tools and decreasing website ranking in SERP`s

• Manual penalty

Manual penalty is deal by Google employees. If any website activities found like virus infection, cloaking, redirects or buying links which are against of Google terms of service.

• Poison anchor text

Poison anchor text like pharmacy keywords is a sign of spamming that hurt your website ranking.

• Selling links

Selling links is against of Google terms of service that decreases your website ranking.

• Google sand box

Google keep new sites in sand box which are getting sudden influx of links.

• Google dance

Google applying Google dance for those websites which are trying to play game with Google algorithms that seriously affects the ranking.

• Disavow tools

Disavow tools can remove manual or algorithm penalty of a website.

• Reconsideration request

By applying reconsideration request, a panelized website can get relief from penalty. And again visible in SERP`s

• Temporary Link schemes

Some peoples create and remove spammed links. Google can catch this type of temporary link scheme and penalized the website.

Final thought

If you follow the above-ranking factors during content writing, your website will view on the first page of the search engine result page. Google search engine algorithm always updating from time to time. Moreover, you have to update yourself always with Google algorithms up-gradation. And never try to do any activities against of Google’s terms of service. Otherwise, your website will be losing ranking in SERP`s

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