10 Ways to Raise Your Site in Google
Ranking higher on Google is rarely about one trick. It is the combined effect of a technically sound site, content that actually answers the searcher's question, and a growing set of signals that tell Google your page deserves to be shown. Here are ten areas worth focusing on.
You raise a site in Google by making it easy to crawl and index, fast and mobile-friendly, genuinely useful for the searcher's intent, well structured on-page, internally linked, and backed by other sites that reference it — then improving all of that consistently over time.
1. Make Sure Google Can Actually Crawl and Index Your Site
Before content or backlinks matter at all, Google has to be able to find, crawl and index your pages. A page that ranks well but is accidentally blocked, orphaned or marked "noindex" will never show up, no matter how good the content is.
- Check your robots.txt file isn't blocking pages you want indexed
- Submit an XML sitemap through Google Search Console
- Review the Coverage/Indexing report for errors or excluded pages
- Make sure important pages aren't set to "noindex" by mistake
- Avoid orphan pages — every important page should be linked from somewhere else on the site
2. Improve Page Speed and Core Web Vitals
Page experience signals, including loading speed, visual stability and interactivity, factor into how Google evaluates a page. Slow pages also lose visitors before Google's ranking signals even come into play, since people simply leave.
Compress images
Large, unoptimised images are one of the most common causes of slow-loading pages.
Reduce unused code
Trim unnecessary scripts, apps and theme features that load on pages that don't need them.
Use a fast host/CDN
Server response time sets the floor for how fast every page on the site can be.
Test with real tools
Use Google's PageSpeed Insights and the Core Web Vitals report in Search Console to check actual numbers rather than guessing.
3. Get Mobile-First Right
Google primarily uses the mobile version of a page for indexing and ranking. If your mobile experience is cramped, slow or missing content that appears on desktop, that gap can hold the whole page back.
- Test the actual page on a real phone, not just a resized browser window
- Make sure mobile pages show the same content, links and structured data as desktop
- Check tap targets, font sizes and spacing don't force pinch-zooming
- Avoid intrusive pop-ups that cover the content on small screens
4. Match the Actual Search Intent
A page can be well written and still fail to rank if it answers a different question than the one people are actually asking. Before writing, look at what is currently ranking for the target query and note the format, depth and angle Google is already rewarding.
Signs intent is matched
- Your format mirrors what's already ranking (guide, list, comparison, tool)
- The page answers the question in the first few lines
- Visitors stay and scroll rather than bouncing back to search
Signs intent is missed
- The page is built around what you want to say, not what was searched
- High impressions in Search Console but very low click-through rate
- Short time on page followed by a return to the search results
5. Strengthen Titles, Headings and Meta Descriptions
On-page elements are what Google — and searchers — read first. They should be accurate, specific and written for a human deciding whether to click, not stuffed with repeated keywords.
Title Tag One clear, specific title per page
Include the primary keyword naturally, keep it readable, and make it specific enough that a searcher can tell exactly what the page covers before clicking.
Meta Description A genuine summary, not a keyword list
Google can rewrite meta descriptions, but a clear, honest summary of the page still improves click-through rate when it is used as written.
Headings One H1, logical H2/H3 structure
Use a single H1 that states the page's main topic, then break the body into H2 and H3 sections that follow a logical order a reader — and a crawler — can follow.
URL Short, readable, keyword-relevant
Keep URLs short and descriptive rather than long strings of parameters or unrelated words.
6. Write Content That's Actually Worth Ranking
Google's guidance consistently points toward content created for people first, with genuine expertise, first-hand insight or evidence behind it — not content produced purely to target a keyword. Thin, generic pages that duplicate what already exists rarely outperform the sources they copied.
- Answer the question completely, including the follow-up questions a reader would naturally have
- Add something the top-ranking pages don't already cover — an example, a clearer explanation, original insight
- Avoid keyword stuffing and repetitive phrasing aimed at algorithms rather than readers
- Keep claims accurate and avoid statements you can't support
- Write for the person reading it, then check the page still covers the target keyword naturally
7. Build a Deliberate Internal Linking Structure
Internal links help Google understand which pages matter most on your site and how topics relate to each other. They also move authority from strong, established pages to newer ones.
Link from strong pages
Add contextual links from your highest-traffic pages to newer or underperforming ones.
Use descriptive anchor text
Anchor text like "email marketing guide" tells Google far more than "click here".
Avoid orphan pages
Every page that matters should be reachable from at least one other page on the site.
Group related content
Linking related articles together helps establish topical relevance around a subject.
8. Earn Backlinks From Relevant, Trustworthy Sites
Links from other sites remain one of the clearest signals that a page is worth trusting. The goal is relevant, earned links rather than volume — a handful of links from sites genuinely connected to your topic tend to outweigh a large number of low-quality ones.
- Create content genuinely worth referencing — original research, useful tools, clear guides
- Reach out to sites that have covered your topic and offer something that adds value to their piece
- Fix broken links pointing to your site and reclaim unlinked brand mentions where relevant
- Avoid link schemes or purchased links that violate Google's guidelines — the risk generally outweighs the benefit
9. Add Structured Data Where It's Genuinely Supported
Structured data (schema markup) helps Google understand the content on a page and can make it eligible for enhanced results like FAQ dropdowns, review stars or breadcrumbs — but only when it accurately reflects content that's actually visible on the page.
- Use FAQ schema only for questions and answers that genuinely appear on the page
- Use Article schema for blog and guide content, with accurate author and date information
- Validate markup with Google's Rich Results Test before publishing
- Never mark up content that isn't visible to the visitor — this goes against Google's guidelines
10. Keep Existing Pages Updated Rather Than Only Publishing New Ones
Rankings aren't permanent. Pages that once ranked well can slip as competitors publish more current content or as the topic itself evolves. Reviewing and refreshing older pages is often faster than starting new ones from zero.
A simple refresh routine
- Check Search Console for declining pages. Look for pages that have lost impressions or clicks over recent months.
- Compare against current top results. See what's ranking now that wasn't when the page was first written.
- Update outdated information. Correct anything that's changed and remove anything no longer accurate.
- Add missing subtopics. Fill gaps that competing pages now cover and yours doesn't.
- Re-check technical basics. Confirm the page still loads fast, works on mobile and has no broken links.
A steady cadence of small improvements across existing pages compounds over time in a way that a single new post rarely matches on its own.
Put This Into Practice With MarketHealth
Whether you're building out content to promote MarketHealth offers or growing a site around health and beauty topics, the fundamentals above apply the same way. Review the programme terms, then create your account to get your tracking links.
Join MarketHealthFrequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to raise a site's ranking on Google?
Is content or backlinks more important for ranking?
Do I need to fix every technical SEO issue at once?
Does page speed really affect Google rankings?
How many backlinks do I need to rank higher?
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Can I use AI-generated content and still rank well?
A Note on This Guide
This article describes general SEO practices and does not guarantee any specific ranking position or timeframe. Search ranking depends on many factors, including competition, site history, content quality and Google's own algorithms, which change over time. Always check Google's current Search Central documentation for the latest guidance.