What is a Keyword Ranking?
Keyword Ranking refers to the position of a webpage in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for a specific keyword or search query. For example, if your webpage appears as the first result on Google for “best hiking boots,” it has a high ranking for that keyword. Websites often target multiple keywords, leading to numerous keyword rankings across various pages.
Why Are Keyword Rankings Important?
Keyword rankings are crucial because they directly impact the visibility and organic traffic a webpage receives. Higher-ranked pages attract more clicks and visits from search engine users.
- Top Positions: Approximately 75.1% of all clicks go to the top three organic results, with 31.73% going to the top-ranking page alone.
How to Find Your Keyword Ranking Position
To discover your keyword ranking position:
- Google Search Console: Provides average ranking positions for the keywords your site ranks for.
- Free Keyword Rank Checker: Tools like Ahrefs’ free rank checker can show your ranking position for any keyword.
- Ahrefs Webmaster Tools (AWT):
- Sign up for a free AWT account.
- Verify site ownership.
- Go to Site Explorer.
- Enter your domain or URL.
- Select the country for rankings.
- Click on the “Organic Keywords” report.
Best Practices for Improving Keyword Rankings
1. Optimize for Search Intent
Align your content with the search intent behind a keyword. Search intent can be:
- Explicit: For instance, “how to grill steak” clearly indicates a desire for cooking instructions.
- Ambiguous: For “steak seasoning,” the intent might be to buy pre-made seasoning or find a recipe.
To determine intent, analyze the top-ranking pages for the keyword. For ambiguous queries, look at what Google returns to understand what users expect.
2. Get More Backlinks
Backlinks are a major ranking factor. The more high-quality backlinks your page has, the better its chances of ranking. You can:
- Analyze Competitors: Use tools to see how many backlinks top-ranking pages have and what types.
- Replicate Links: Look for links pointing to top pages that you can replicate. For example, if a page on “steak seasoning” has backlinks from recipe roundup posts, you might contact those sites to feature your recipe.
3. Analyze Competitor Authority
Evaluate the authority of competing pages, usually indicated by metrics like Domain Rating (DR) or Domain Authority (DA). Pages from higher authority sites often have an easier time ranking well.
4. Review Content Quality
Content quality plays a significant role in rankings. Ensure your content is:
- Accurate and Up-to-Date: Information should be current and correct.
- Written by Experts: Expertise adds credibility.
- Unique and Well-Written: Offer unique insights and ensure the writing is engaging.
- Well-Formatted: A clean, professional design improves user experience.
FAQs
Can You Pay Google to Rank Higher?
No, you cannot pay for higher organic rankings. Google’s organic search results are based on merit and relevance, determined by its ranking algorithms. However, you can pay for placements in Google Ads, which appear as sponsored results separate from organic listings.
What’s the Difference Between Keywords and Search Queries?
In SEO, keywords and search queries are often used interchangeably. Both refer to the words or phrases people type into search engines. Keywords are the terms you target in your SEO strategy, while search queries represent the actual terms users search for.
