When it comes to running a website, one of the most important factors in its success is how easily it can be found by potential customers. And in the world of online search, Google is the top dog.
So, if you want to ensure that your business is visible to as many people as possible, it’s essential to create a Google friendly website.
But how can businesses do that?
In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the key steps you can take to optimise your website for Google search.
Seven ways to create a Google friendly website
Google has 4.3 billion users (according to SEMrush). So it’s a no brainer that when creating a new website, whether it’s a brand new domain name, or an upgrade from an existing site – it needs to be Google friendly if you want to see strong results.
From good user experience and responsiveness, to well-thought-out content and SEO, there are a number of ways you can get search engines on your side.
1. Choose the right keywords
The first step in creating a Google friendly website is to choose the right keywords. These are the words and phrases that people are most likely to use when searching for your site.
You can identify these keywords through a number of ways. Put yourselves in the position of your customers. What would you search for to find your businesses products or services?
The second is to use tools such as Google’s keyword planner, or software such as SEMrush to carry out competitor research. These tools will help you refine and identify the keywords that are most relevant to your website to then add to your meta data and website content.
2. Optimise your site's structure
Once you’ve identified your keywords, the next step is to optimise your site’s structure. This includes things like your site’s URL structure, internal linking, and site navigation. Your website’s structure should be logical and easy to navigate, with clear categories and subcategories. This will make it easier for Google to understand your site’s content and index it properly.
3. Create high-quality content
One of the most important factors in creating a Google-friendly website is to create high-quality content. This means creating content that is well-written, informative, and relevant to your audience. Your content should also include your chosen keywords, but avoid “keyword stuffing”. This is the practice of cramming as many keywords as possible into your content, and it’s a big no-no in Google’s eyes.
You should also aim for around 500-600 words per page for Google to fully index and rank your website accordingly.
4. Use meta tags and descriptions
Meta tags and descriptions are elements that provide information about your website to the search engines. They include the title/browser tag, which appears at the top of your page and tells Google what your page is about, and the meta description, which provides a brief summary of your page’s content. Make sure that your title tags and meta descriptions are well-written and include your chosen keywords.
5. Optimise your images and videos
Images and videos can play a big role in creating a Google friendly website, but they need to be optimised properly. This means using descriptive file names and alt tags that include your keywords. It also means compressing your content to ensure that they load quickly, as page load speed is an important factor in Google’s ranking algorithm.
6. Build high-quality backlinks
Backlinks are links from other sites that point to your site. They’re a key factor in Google’s ranking algorithm, as they signal to Google that other sites consider your site to be authoritative and relevant.
To build high-quality backlinks, focus on creating high-quality content that other sites will want to link to or articles that they will publish on their website. You can also reach out to other businesses in your industry and ask if they would be willing to link to your website from theirs.
7. Monitor your site's performance
It’s important to monitor your site’s performance regularly. This includes tracking your website’s traffic, bounce rate, and other key metrics to ensure that your site is performing well. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track your site’s performance and identify any issues that may be impacting your search rankings.
How QBD can help
Creating a Google friendly website takes time and effort, but it’s essential if you want to attract as many visitors as possible to it. Your website is like your shop window, so you need it to perform as best as it can to generate more leads and sales for your business.
QBD has been building and designing websites since 2001 and offers a variety of website types and styles to suit all businesses. Whether you’re looking for a brochure website to educate potential clients about your services, or an eCommerce website to sell your products directly to customers, we can help get you in Google’s good-books.
Get in touch today to speak to our friendly team of creative, technical and digital experts.