Last updated on December 22nd, 2015
Even with how essential keywords are to SEO, they are not the only important factor you need to consider when optimizing a website. Eye-catching design and usability is another key factor that Google looks for when assigning rankings, as is title tags, header tags and META descriptions.
In short, the way your website looks and is built can make a big significant difference in terms of your page’s search position.
What Google Looks For
Aside from keyword studies, Google uses numerous other aspects to determine your website’s page rank. Some are easy enough for you to perform in an afternoon or two; however, their ease shouldn’t fool you—they can actually dramatically improve your SEO. More importantly, failure to consider your website’s code can end up negatively impacting your Google ranking.
Title Tag
Title tags show in the top browser bar. With the modernization of internet browsers (namely the introduction of tabs), title tags don’t show up any more. This, however, doesn’t make them any less important. Title tags indicate to search engines what the page’s content is about. Typically, they are about 55 characters long.
Header Tags (H1, H2, H3)
Headings tell Google what each section of your page is about. They indicate the page’s content in such a way as to catch a reader’s eye. Header tags (H1, H2, H3) all carry a different weight, with H1 (the heading that goes directly below the headline) being most important.
META Tags
META descriptions won’t affect your SERPs, but fail to use them properly and you’ll see a hit on your click through rates. Think of META tags as a sales pitch for SERPs.
Properly implementing tags on your website is just one simple way that you can improve your SEO practices without a terrible overhaul of your business. For other suggestions about how to improve your SEO, continue browsing SEO Advantage’s blog and knowledge center.