How to improve website search engine rankings in 2024
September 29, 2024
When I first entered the world of website development, I thought creating a stunning, functional site was all it took to succeed.
But soon, I learned a hard truth: it doesn’t matter how amazing your website looks if no one can find it.
That’s where search engine optimization (SEO) comes into play.
It wasn’t until my early projects started failing to show up on Google that I realized there was a whole hidden system controlling visibility.
It took time, testing, and plenty of trial and error, but over the years, I cracked the code to consistently rank websites higher on search engines.
In this article, I’ll share the lessons and tactics I’ve learned from two decades of experience in helping websites rise from obscurity to the top pages of Google search results.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to enhance your current strategy, these tried-and-true methods can help you improve your website’s rankings.
Let’s dive into it.
Lesson 1: Content is Still King
One of the first big projects I worked on was for a local restaurant that wanted more people to find them online.
They had a beautiful website, but it wasn’t ranking well in search engines.
After taking a look, I saw why—they didn’t have much content for Google to crawl and index.
Whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions, or how-to guides, the more high-quality, relevant content your site has, the better it will perform in search results.
How I Fixed It
For the restaurant, I suggested they start a blog.
They began posting recipes, tips on hosting dinner parties, and even some behind-the-scenes stories about their chefs.
Not only did their website get more visitors, but their search engine rankings also improved.
The lesson here is simple: if you want to rank higher in search engines, you need to create valuable content that answers your audience’s questions.
Lesson 2: Keywords are the Foundation
In the early days, I didn’t really understand the importance of keywords.
But after years of trial and error, I learned that keywords are like signposts that help search engines understand what your site is about.
I once worked with a small online store that sold handmade soaps.
They had great products, but their website traffic was low.
When I checked their site, I realized they weren’t using the right keywords.
They had beautiful descriptions, but they weren’t using the terms people were actually searching for.
The Keyword Fix
I did some keyword research and found that people were searching for terms like “organic soap,” “handmade soap,” and “natural skin care.”
We updated the product descriptions and blog posts to include these keywords naturally, without stuffing them in.
Within a few weeks, their rankings improved, and so did their sales.
The takeaway? Do your keyword research and use those keywords strategically in your content, titles, and meta descriptions.
Lesson 3: On-Page SEO is Your Secret Weapon
One of the most overlooked aspects of SEO is on-page optimization.
I remember helping a business that offered home renovation services.
They had great content, but their website wasn’t optimized for search engines.
On-page SEO involves optimizing individual pages on your website to make them more search engine-friendly.
This includes things like using title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags correctly.
Optimizing the Renovation Site
For the home renovation business, I started by optimizing their title tags and meta descriptions.
Instead of generic titles like “Services,” I used more descriptive titles like “Home Renovation Services in [City Name].”
I also made sure their headers (H1, H2, etc.) were used properly and contained relevant keywords.
The result? They started ranking higher for local search terms, and their site became much more visible to potential clients.
Lesson 4: Backlinks are Like Votes of Confidence
Here’s a lesson I learned the hard way: backlinks are incredibly important for SEO.
When I first started out, I thought having a well-designed website with great content would be enough.
But then I realized that backlinks—links from other websites to yours—are like votes of confidence in the eyes of Google.
I was working on a website for a fitness trainer who wanted to rank higher in search results.
Even though their content was great, they weren’t getting much traffic.
That’s when I knew we needed to build backlinks.
Building Backlinks
I reached out to local health bloggers and influencers, asking them to mention the trainer’s services on their websites and link back to us.
We also created guest posts for other blogs, which included links back to the trainer’s website.
As we built more backlinks from reputable sites, the fitness trainer’s rankings started to climb.
Within a few months, they were ranking on the first page for many of their target keywords.
The lesson here is simple: the more high-quality websites link back to you, the more authority your site gains in the eyes of search engines.
Lesson 5: Mobile-Friendliness is Non-Negotiable
Years ago, having a mobile-friendly site was a nice bonus.
Today, it’s essential. I learned this while working with an online clothing store.
Their website looked great on a desktop, but on a mobile phone, it was a nightmare to navigate.
People were bouncing off the site before they even had a chance to browse their products.
Going Mobile-Friendly
We redesigned the site using a responsive design, which made it work perfectly on both desktop and mobile devices.
As soon as we did this, their rankings started to improve—Google prioritizes mobile-friendly sites because more than half of all internet traffic comes from mobile devices.
If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, not only will you lose visitors, but your search engine rankings will suffer as well.
Lesson 6: User Experience Impacts SEO
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is that user experience (UX) plays a big role in SEO.
I once worked with a tech startup that had a great product, but their website was confusing and hard to navigate.
People weren’t spending much time on the site, and as a result, their rankings were low.
Search engines pay attention to how users interact with your site.
If people are bouncing off your site quickly or not engaging with your content, search engines will assume it’s not valuable.
Improving UX
For the tech startup, we simplified their website’s layout, made navigation easier, and added clear calls to action.
We also improved the site’s speed, so visitors didn’t have to wait long for pages to load.
These changes not only improved user experience but also boosted their rankings.
Google started to see their site as more valuable because visitors were staying longer and engaging more.
Lesson 7: Regular Updates Keep You on Top
Here’s something I didn’t realize early on: SEO is not a one-time job.
Search engines are constantly changing, and if you’re not updating your site regularly, your rankings can drop.
I’ve worked with several businesses over the years that launched a great site, saw a spike in traffic, and then wondered why their traffic declined after a few months.
The answer was simple—they weren’t updating their content or keeping up with SEO trends.
Staying Current
I always tell my clients to keep their websites fresh.
Whether it’s updating old blog posts, adding new content, or optimizing for new keywords, regular updates signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant.
One client I worked with started adding new blog posts every week and updating older ones with fresh information.
Their traffic increased steadily, and they were able to maintain their high rankings.
Thank you very much..
I am going to implement these on my website.
I will definitely come back if it works out
Glad you found it useful.
You will definitely come back with a testimony.