7 Things That Affect Your Website Position in
Google Search Results
I want to be #1 on Google!
You have no idea how many clients have told us, "I want to be #1 in the search results. Can you do it for me?"
Personalized search
People often don't realize that all search results on Google are personalized; the viewer's previous browsing history and location directly affect what Google displays in search results and why. On every computer, a search engine shows different search results to a viewer.
Here are just of few of the many things that can affect your Google search result:
- Previous browsing history
- What devices do you use - a mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop computer? The results could be very different.
- The physical location of your desktop computer (yes, your computer's unique IP address tells search engines the location of your computer).
- The physical location of your mobile device since your device has a GPS installed.
- Are you signed in to your Gmail account or not?
- What Google data center processed the search request? The search on the same keyword will generate different results in different parts of the country and various parts of the world.
- Is Google testing a new algorithm? This algorithm could be temporary or could be permanent, and it will affect your search results.
Search results on your device
And even if your website is #1 in search results, you are #1 only on your device! Your website may rank low in the results sent to another device (mobile phone, tablet, laptop, desktop) for the above reasons.
Position Zero or Featured Snippet
When search engines take a snippet from your website text and display it above the search results, the SEO people call being in a Position Zero. Sometimes, it is also called a Featured Snippet. Today, a website appearing in Position Zero is more valuable than being shown in Position #1.
The image below demonstrates a website text displayed in Position Zero.
Webmasters tools and average position
The average position exists. To find the correct average position of your website in search results for any given keywords, you must look at the statistical report displayed on your Google Webmasters Tools account. What is essential to know - your website might be ranking at #1 for a keyword in the USA, but it doesn't mean that the website will rank #1 in the UK.
Knowledge is power. Didn't we say it before? Knowledge is even more power in the search engines' optimization world.
What is SERP?
Search Engine Result Page or SERP, in short, is a listing that search engines display as a result of your keyword search. This listing may include websites, blog posts, the latest news, youtube videos, reviews, Wikipedia articles, plus many other things. It also includes Google Ads relative to your search.
Usually, the most relevant and the newest articles are displayed first.
Google "Sandbox"
Also, for the first three months (and sometimes even longer), search engines keep the new websites in a "sandbox." Search engines, Google, or Bing, don't owe us anything! There is nothing we can do about it.
If you know that your business can't wait for so long and your website must appear on the first page of search results right away, you should look into Pay-Per-Click advertising on Google and Bing.
Results improve over time
Search engines are very slow. It often takes two or three weeks for search engines to index a recently created website.
Even after the Home page appears in the search results, other pages will appear later. The website's position fluctuates all the time.
- People create new websites
- Google is testing the new algorithms
- Internet users create new ways of using search engines
- Your competitors optimize their websites for search engines
- Trends are changing
- The economy is changing, and more.
Patience is a virtue
Sometimes it takes nearly a year to see the benefits of optimizing every page for search engines. After 6 - 8 months, the website should start generating new business leads. If your website doesn't create new business leads after 6 - 8 months, then something needs to be fixed with the site. Send us an e-mail, and we can recommend what changes are required.
Last updated on January 2, 2024.
NEXT, read our article "SEO for Videos or Youtube Video Optimization."
DigitalMosaics.net is specializing in web design, web development, and search engine optimization.
E-mail: gale@digitalmosaics.net.