How to Add Your Website to Google Search Results
Written by
Cedric Jackson
You’ve built a fantastic website, but you aren’t sure anyone will see it. When you type your keywords into the search bar, your site doesn’t come up in the Google search results. You know you need to fix this problem if you’re going to get any traffic to your site. Fortunately, you can solve this problem quickly by following some tips.
How Are Google Search Results Determined?
Google uses spiders to crawl websites. It analyzes everything from the keywords used to the speed of the site and then enters the website into the Google index. Once a site is in the Google index, it can be displayed in the search results.
The search engine giant uses an algorithm to determine the search results. While it doesn’t disclose what’s in the algorithm, marketers have discovered that ranking factors include keyword usage, site speed and structure, inbound and outbound links, and mobile usability.
Let’s go over some ways you can use Google’s algorithm to your advantage, so your personal or business website shows up in the results.
Submitting Your Site to the Google Search Console
Google needs to crawl your site before displaying it in the Google search results. Create a business account with Google and then go to the Google Search Console and submit your domain.
Then you’ll need to verify your website via the domain name provider, GA tracking code, HTML tag, GTM container snippet, or HTML file upload.
Are you overwhelmed by the idea of setting your site up in the Google Search Console? Website builders can do this for you. For instance, if you use Wix, install the Wix SEO Wiz. Along with analyzing your site and making recommendations to improve its search engine optimization, you can also connect to the Google Search Console with a simple click. This is one of the ways that Wix makes it easy to manage a website.
Once you submit your site, follow some tips to ensure it’s part of the Google search results so you can increase website traffic to your personal or business website.
5 Best Practice Tips to Get Your Site Found on Google
1. Make Sure Your Site Is Mobile Friendly
To provide the best experience for users, Google rewards websites that have mobile and desktop versions. The search giant realizes that people access websites from different devices, so if your business or personal website isn’t mobile-friendly, you can be left out in the cold.
While you could hire a web designer to make your site mobile-friendly, that isn’t necessary. Many website builders make it easy to create mobile sites. Take SITE123, for instance. This website builder offers responsive website layouts. The website automatically displays the correct size and format for the end-user. This is just one example of the way you can use a website builder to create a mobile-friendly business or personal website.
2. Create a Website That’s Easy to Navigate
Have you ever visited a site that’s difficult to navigate, only to back out and go somewhere else? You’re not alone. People don’t like websites that are difficult to navigate, and Google has taken notice. If your site is hard to navigate, Google will move you down in the site search results.
Your site’s navigation should be consistent, so it’s easy to use. You need to divide the site’s categories and make sure your navigation titles are accurate. Also, follow the three-click rule to ensure that all the information can be accessed in three clicks, and if you have a large website, use breadcrumbs to help people get back to the starting point. Squarespace and other website builders have templates that include breadcrumb navigation, making adding it a cinch. Use these tools, so your personal or business website shows up in the site search results.
3. Choose Keywords Wisely
Keywords play a significant role in Google search results. The robots analyze the keywords typed into the search bar and then choose sites that match. You need keywords in your site title, URL page slugs, page title, page and item descriptions, headings, and body text.
While some sites use short keywords, these won’t help you appear in the Google search results. Short keywords such as “photographer” have a large search volume, and you will have difficulty boosting your website traffic. Instead, use long-tail keywords such as “wedding photography in Birmingham, Alabama,” to get the results you want. After you choose your keywords, add them to your website.
Once added, use a tool such as the Wix SEO Wizard to analyze the keywords on your site. It will check the competition levels and recommend new keywords to use. You can improve your ability to appear in the Google search results with this useful tool.
4. Engage in a Link Building Campaign
Google analyzes internal and external links when indexing your website. Internal links are links that point to other pages on your site. These links are used to connect the content and show Google that it’s related.
External links are links that point to your website. These links can come from other blogs and websites and show Google that you’re an authority on a topic.
A successful link building strategy starts with fantastic content. You need to give people a reason to link to your site, so create blog posts that they’ll want to share. Then promote your content on social media and encourage others to do the same. Squarespace and other website builders make this easy by allowing you to automatically push your content to social media as soon as you update it. Squarespace also lets you add share buttons to your content so people who visit your site can share the content.
5. Claim Your Google My Business Listing
If you operate a local business, you also need to claim your Google My Business listing. You’ve likely seen these listings before. They pop up at the top of the search results when you search for local businesses.
For instance, if you Google “auto shop in NYC,” you will see a map and the listings for local businesses. These businesses have claimed their Google My Business listings, allowing them to show up in the Google Search results. The listings include a link to the business website, so you can jump in front of the pack by getting your listing. Just like with your site, you need to optimize your listing for SEO. Use the right keywords to let Google know to display your listing.
Boost Your Profile by Showing up in Google Search Results
It’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started, so your site shows up in the Google search results. If you’ve yet to build your site, use a website builder such as Wix, Squarespace, or SITE123. These options include tools that make it easy to increase your online presence and website traffic. If you’ve already built your site, follow these tips to get out in front of your audience.
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Cedric Jackson
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