Want to know how to rank higher on Google and other search engines? If your website isn’t showing up on the first page of search results, you’re missing out on valuable organic traffic and potential customers. Higher rankings on Google mean more visibility, more clicks, and ultimately more sales without relying entirely on paid ads.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through 5 powerful ways to improve your SEO and increase your chances of ranking higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). From on-page optimisation and keyword research to improving your content quality and backlink profile, these strategies are designed to help you get noticed.

What Are Organic Search Rankings?

Organic search rankings refer to how high your website appears on the SERPs for specific keywords or search queries, without paying for ads. The higher your website ranks, the more likely users are to click through to your site.

To increase your visibility, focus on optimising page titles, meta descriptions, site speed, and user experience. These elements all play a critical role in how search engines evaluate your site.

5 ways to rank higher on Google

1. Focus on user experience (UX) for happier browsers

Search engines, especially Google, reward websites that offer a smooth, helpful, and mobile-friendly experience. Optimising for users, not just algorithms, is one of the most important things you can do to boost your SEO.

Here’s how to improve UX:

• Ensure your website is responsive and performs well on mobile devices.
• Use clear, readable fonts and a clean design.
• Fix any broken links, slow-loading pages, or technical issues that could frustrate visitors.
• Break content into sections with headings and visuals to make it easier to scan.

2. Implement on-page SEO to rank higher

On-page SEO involves optimising elements directly on your website, such as content, metadata, and HTML structure.

Key elements to optimise:

• Page titles and meta descriptions with relevant keywords
• H1 and H2 tags that reflect search intent
• Alt text for images
• Internal linking to related blog posts, products, or services
• Avoiding duplicate content

Always write for humans first, and search engines second. When your pages are informative and well-structured, both readers and bots will reward you.

3. Keyword research for on-point content

If you want to rank higher on Google, you need to understand what your audience is searching for. Keyword research helps you identify the terms and phrases with the right mix of search volume and competition.

When doing keyword research:

• Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs
• Target a mix of short-tail and long-tail keywords
• Align keywords with the intent: informational, commercial, or transactional

Once you have your keywords, weave them naturally into your page titles, headings, and body copy. Avoid keyword stuffing — always prioritise clarity and value.

4. Publish High-Quality Content That Answers Real Questions

Content is still king when it comes to SEO. Search engines prioritise content that is original, useful, and relevant to the user’s search intent.

What makes content high quality?

• It answers specific, relevant questions for your target audience

• It’s structured with headings, bullets, and images

• It’s free of fluff, spelling errors, and irrelevant information

• It includes internal links to related content and external links to trustworthy sources

Take time to craft thoughtful, well-researched articles, landing pages, and guides. High-quality content not only ranks well but also converts visitors into customers. Check out our 5 Steps to Content That Converts blog if you need some guidance on how to make sure you meet your audience where they are with the content they need.

5. Backlink strategy

Backlinks (links from other websites pointing to yours) are one of Google’s top ranking signals. But not all backlinks are created equal.

Focus on earning links from:

• High-authority websites in your industry

• Relevant blogs, online magazines, or directories

• Partners, collaborators, or press mentions

• Unlinked brand mentions (reach out and ask for a link!)

Even one backlink from a trusted source can improve your domain authority and give your site a major SEO boost. Avoid spammy or low-quality links as they can do more harm than good.

We hope we’ve helped you understand how to increase your SEO results by using these 5 ways to rank higher on Google and other search engines. We’d love to help you with your SEO to ensure that your web pages are ranking as highly as possible. For information about how we can support you and your SEO strategy, contact us today.

To discover more about the different ways in which efficient SEO can positively impact your website traffic, sales, and engagement, look at our News page.