SEO Basics: How to Improve Your Website's Google Ranking

In today’s digital world, having a website isn’t enough—you need to make sure people can find it. That’s where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. SEO helps your website appear in search results when people look for the products, services, or information you offer. Whether you run a blog, a small business, or an e-commerce site, understanding the basics of SEO can significantly improve your visibility and traffic.
In this blog, we’ll break down the core SEO fundamentals and show you how to improve your website’s ranking on Google.
What Is SEO?
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher on search engines like Google. The better your SEO, the more likely your site will appear on the first page of search results—where most users click.
SEO includes both on-page (changes you make on your site) and off-page (external factors like backlinks) techniques that tell Google: “This website is trustworthy, relevant, and valuable to users.”
Why Google Ranking Matters
75% of users never scroll past the first page of results
Higher rankings = more clicks, leads, and conversions
Organic traffic is cost-effective and long-term
If you want to drive traffic without relying heavily on paid ads, SEO is your best friend.
Key SEO Basics to Improve Your Ranking
1. Keyword Research
Start by identifying what your audience is searching for. Use tools like:
Google Keyword Planner
Ubersuggest
Ahrefs or SEMrush
Choose relevant, high-traffic, low-competition keywords and use them naturally across your content—especially in titles, meta descriptions, and headers.
2. On-Page SEO Optimization
This includes:
Title Tags: Keep them under 60 characters and include your keyword
Meta Descriptions: Write compelling summaries (150–160 characters)
Header Tags (H1, H2, H3): Organize content for readability and SEO
Image Alt Text: Describe images to improve accessibility and search visibility
Internal Linking: Link to related content to keep users on your site longer
3. Quality Content
Google prioritizes useful, original, and engaging content. Focus on:
Answering user intent
Updating old blog posts
Using a clear structure and natural language
Tip: Long-form content (1,000+ words) often performs better in search rankings.
4. Mobile-Friendly Design
With most users browsing on mobile, your website must be responsive. Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check your site.
5. Website Speed
Google considers loading speed a ranking factor. To improve speed:
Compress images
Use caching tools
Upgrade to faster hosting
Minimize CSS and JavaScript files
6. Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other reputable websites to yours. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the more credible your site appears to Google.
How to earn backlinks:
Guest blogging
Partnering with influencers
Creating shareable content (infographics, guides)
7. Technical SEO
Make sure your website:
Has a secure HTTPS connection
Uses a clean, crawlable URL structure
Has a proper XML sitemap submitted to Google Search Console
Avoids broken links or duplicate content
Bonus Tip: Use Google Tools
Google Analytics: Track user behavior and traffic sources
Google Search Console: Monitor indexing, errors, and keyword performance
PageSpeed Insights: Get tips to improve your site speed
Final Thoughts
Improving your website’s Google ranking doesn’t happen overnight. SEO is a long-term strategy that requires consistency, updates, and attention to detail. But the payoff—organic traffic, higher visibility, and better conversions—is worth the effort.
If you’re just getting started, focus on these SEO basics. And if you need expert help, Kriz Digital can assist with a custom SEO strategy tailored to your business goals.