What Does It Take to Rank Well for My Keywords?

We have a lot of people who come to us wanting to rank well for a specific keyword.  They often ask something like…

What is it going to take for me to rank well for this keyword?

Usually people want a specific answer – a specific number of links, a specific amount of content, a specific amount of time.

In this Search Engine Optimization Frequently Asked Questions (SEO FAQs) video blog, I address the question, What does it take to rank well for my keywords? and share  5 things that impact what it takes to rank well for a particular keyword. 

(The article below is a summary of the video, but you’ll get more details and examples if you watch the video.)

5 Things That Impact What It Takes to Rank Well for a Keyword

1. Technical SEO

Before we dive into anything else, let’s address your website’s technical health. Are there any issues preventing search engines from accessing your site? Does it load too slowly? Is the code messy? Fixing these technical aspects is your first step because if your website isn’t functioning smoothly, your chances of ranking well are slim.

2. Keyword Research

Choosing the right keywords is vital. Don’t make the mistake of targeting highly competitive keywords that are way out of your league. Start with thorough keyword research to identify terms that are both relevant to your website and feasible to rank for. It’s all about finding that sweet spot.

Relevance x Authority = Search Rankings

Search engine optimization comes down to basic formula. If a web page is relevant to particular keyword but has no authority, it won’t come up in the search results. Similarly, if a web page has a ton of authority but isn’t relevant to a keyword, it also won’t come up in the search results.

Therefore, almost every SEO tactic either has the goal of improving relevance or improving authority.

3. Relevance & On-Page Optimization

Relevance is a cornerstone of SEO. We improve a web page’s relevance to a keyword through on-page optimization. This means integrating your target keyword into your headings, text, title tag, and meta description. These tweaks signal to search engines that your page is a perfect match for that keyword.

4. Authority & Backlinks

Authority is the other side of the SEO coin. It’s all about the links. Search engines see backlinks to your site as votes of confidence, vouching for your content. The more high-quality, relevant websites link to you, the more authority your website gains. It’s like building a reputation in the digital world.

5. Competition

SEO is a competition.  Only 1 site can be Number 1 in the search results for a particular keyword. Only 10 sites can be in the top 10.

If you’re the only church in Springfield, Florida, it’s a bit of a breeze to secure the top spot for “Church in Springfield.” But, if you’re running a Christian school in Tampa, Florida, with 40 other schools vying for the same keywords, the game gets tougher.

So, what it takes to rank for each keyword depends on the number of sites competing for that keyword and the authority of their websites.

The bottom line is…

SEO comes down to a simple equation: Relevance x Authority = Rankings. 

When we onboard a new SEO client, we always start with an SEO audit. In the SEO audit we evaluate their website’s technical SEO, it’s authority, and do competition research. This audit is essential in developing an SEO plan that will actually succeed in getting good search rankings and more website visitors, so the client will reach their goals of more church visitors, school students, ministry impact, or business clients.

If you’d like to discuss church SEO or Christian SEO for your business, school or ministry, with one of our SEO experts, fill out the consultation request form below.

Comment and Discuss…

• What questions do you have about determining what it will take to rank well for your target keywords?

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