Google Spills the Beans
on SEO
We all know ranking high in the SERPs (search engine results pages) is sometimes like finding a golden ticket. But what if I told you Google practically spoon-feeds us the secrets to true SEO success?
Yes, you read that right. Google basically handed us a roadmap and no one’s talking about it!
Here’s the thing: I’ve used this insider knowledge to skyrocket over a hundred pages to the coveted first or second position for their target keywords. Seriously.
Want to crack the Google code and dominate the search results? Well, here’s what you have to do to rank high up in the SERPs – courtesy of the big G.
By the way, if you’re also interested in reading about SEO for AI search engines, I suggest you read my dedicated article by clicking the link.
- Publish content about every relevant topic within your industry.
- Your content needs to be more valuable and interesting than your competitors’.
- Your page titles must match the search query quite strongly.
- Share and interlink all of your content.
- Your website and content must look modern, inviting, and mobile-friendly.
- Create the best user experience possible.
Surprised? Well, yes, it really is that simple – at least on the surface. Let’s dive deeper into what Google truly thinks great SEO is, be that for classic SERPs or SGE results.
Google’s Own Roadmap to SEO
Fire up your Search Console Insights. That’s where you can find all the info I’m about to present to you for yourself.
Think of it as your personal Google SEO treasure trove. Inside that treasure chest, navigate to “Achievements” and then the “In Progress” milestones. Here’s the real magic: click on “Success Tips“. There you have it – a treasure map straight from Google HQ.
Now, this treasure map needs some explaining and clarifying. So, let’s get into that right now, shall we?
So, what juicy SEO secrets are hiding in those Success Tips?
Publish Content About Every Relevant Topic Within Your Industry.
Google wants you to be the ultimate information hub within your industry. Their advice?
Leverage the “People Also Asked” and “Related Searches” sections that pop up on your competitors’ pages. Think of them as potentially missing puzzle pieces on your website.
Use these insights (and some intel from Google Trends) to craft content that fills those gaps. Basically, you’re becoming a content detective, uncovering the questions and topics your audience craves.
Produce as much content as needed to fill in all possible gaps on your website. This will help you become a topical authority – not only in the eyes of your website users but also in Google’s.
Your Content Needs to be More Valuable and Interesting Than Your Competitors’
Now that you’ve identified those industry hot topics, it’s time to unleash your inner innovator.
Here’s the secret sauce: Research the content that’s already ranking for those keywords and improve it. Think of it as friendly competition—you’re taking your competitor’s content and injecting it with steroids (metaphorically speaking, of course).
Add your personal experience to the content and make it truly unique to you. Pure regurgitation of other content doesn’t cut it. Add that personal touch to prove that YOU are the true expert.
Your Page Titles Must Match the Search Query Quite Strongly.
Here’s a golden rule from Google: your page title should be like a beacon, guiding your audience (and search engines) straight to your content.
In simpler terms, the title needs to be a near-perfect match for the search query someone might type into Google.
This proves that you know what your audience is looking for and will likely know what the answer is. Vague, similar-yet-not-really type of titles make your website users feel uncertain.
That’s something you want to avoid at all costs. So, make sure your titles are at least 100% semantically identical to what your audience is searching for.
Personally, I optimize H1s and H2s for search intent and often get a bit more creative with H3s and H4s. Works well for me.
Share and Interlink All of Your Content
Think of your content as a delicious meal. If no one knows it exists, how can they devour it? Here’s where content promotion comes in.
Share your masterpiece on social media, relevant online communities, and even other high-quality websites (with a backlink, of course).
Don’t forget to sprinkle internal links throughout your website, connecting your content like a beautiful web (pun intended).
If you don’t think your content is worth showing to other people, then why should Google? Prove to search engines and to your audience that your stuff is share-worthy.
Your Website and Content Must Look Modern, Inviting, and Mobile-Friendly
Imagine a user landing on your website for the first time. Is it visually appealing, easy to navigate, and mobile-friendly? That user will unconsciously ask themselves that question and answer it in about two seconds or less.
Let’s face it: If your website looks like it belongs in the dial-up era, visitors will bounce faster than a rubber ball. Invest in a modern, user-friendly website design that caters to the mobile-first world.
If the web page the user lands on fails the 2-second test, it’s over.
It won’t matter how great your content is. If the overall visual appearance and usability of your website stinks, the user will expect the content to be of lesser quality as well.
A bad user experience (UX) destroys any possibility of you ever being seen as an authority on the topic of your expertise – regardless of how good your content “secretly” is.
More on that note:
Create the Best User Experience Possible.
High-quality images and videos are the icing on the cake when it comes to user experience. No, scratch that! They’re the bread and butter!
Not only do they break up text walls and make your content more visually appealing, but they can also help explain complex concepts in a clear and engaging way.
Both – but mostly images – are insanely important when it comes to UX and making your site more visually appealing.
- Use custom images wherever possible. Photos of you, your business, your clients, or your products or services are always best.
- The second-best option (in my opinion) is custom-made images and pictograms that fit the style of your website. This option is for businesses that lack enough opportunities to show relevant imagery in the form of photos (like PTG Marketing).
- Avoid the use of stock photos. Everyone can tell they’re stock images, and they serve no purpose other than to fill in the gaps between your blocks of text. Do your users the honor of providing them with unique, custom images, and at least go with option number two.
On the other hand, videos help build trust with your website’s users FAST. Also, they entice users to stay on your site for longer and thus show search engines that your content is interesting and relevant.
Use both images and videos en masse to provide a great visual experience and build authority fast.
True SEO Boils Down to Creating Helpful, People-First Content
To summarize what Google itself says about SEO in one little paragraph:
To dominate the SERPs, craft a comprehensive content strategy that tackles every relevant industry topic, surpasses competitor content in value and intrigue, features titles perfectly aligned with search queries, and prioritizes user experience through modern, mobile-friendly design, strategic internal linking and high-quality visuals.
Simple enough, right? Well, if it were that easy, we’d all be in the top Google Search results.
But with this blueprint straight from Google, you do have the ammo in your arsenal to get to the top of the SERPs – as I’ve done many times.
Follow this SEO roadmap, and you’ll be well on your way to ranking success.
And if you need help with your website, you’re welcome to hit me up personally at patrick@ptg-marketing.com
Seriously, don’t hesitate to ask.
FAQs About SEO That Might Interest You
Resources Used to Write This Article:
Google Search Central. (n.d.). Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content. developers.google.com
Read the article
Google Search Console Insights. (n.d.). Success Tips within Achievements. search.google.com
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Papagiannis, N. (2020). Effective SEO and content marketing: the ultimate guide for maximizing free web traffic. John Wiley & Sons.
Read the book
Xinghai, W. (2023). Reimagining website usability: A conceptual exploration of SEO and UX design integration. Journal of Digitainability, Realism & Mastery (DREAM), 2(03), 60-66.
Read the publication
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