How can you guarantee page one Google rankings?
We all aspire to sit at the top of the first page of Google, but it’s not that easy. Most SEO companies will claim they will drive you to the top, but would it produce any real value for your business? Here we investigate the realities of achieving the number one position and the dubious promises made by so many SEO freelancers.
The Story Behind Ranking on Page One in Google
Around 8 out of 10, SEO companies guarantee results on Google. It’s an attractive proposition for many businesses – after all, the first page of Google is great for business.
Yet, the remaining SEO companies that don’t offer such assurances will probably get better results. That’s because some companies still insist they can guarantee your rankings when in reality, they really can’t.
It’s all about the keywords
You may in fact rank on the first page of Google for a specific keyword, but it’s not enough.
Simply put, some keywords don’t get sufficient searches for it to be worth your while being on the first page. Some don’t even get searched at all. It doesn’t help if you are on the first page of Google for a keyword that no one searches for; that won’t bring you any web visitors.
A popular tactic used by some SEO companies is to select a small number of keywords with a low search volume and then get your website to rank for those. And it’s fairly easy for them to do this because these low-volume queries have low competition. Nevertheless, bad SEO companies are able to say to you that they have put your website on page one, even though you won’t be seeing any actual advantage to your site.
Be on the lookout. You need to know the search volumes of the keywords they are ranking you for, to know if it will help your business at all.
So what exactly is a ‘good’ search volume?
It depends on the type of business you are in. Some are simply more competitive than others, and there will be more searches for specific keywords and/or phrases. It’s all reduced to demand – what the user wants when they search. The bigger your budget, the more keywords you can target, but the SEO service you get should nevertheless be relevant and have a decent search volume.
Why you can’t guarantee page one Google Rankings?
Google rankings are unsteady. Google consistently implements changes and updates their search algorithms, so it’s not possible to guarantee the first place for a specific period of time. That’s something that your SEO probably won’t tell you.
There are more, local results skew Google rankings. If you search for SEO companies near me and you travel just a few hours to a different location and search again, you’ll find different results. That’s because Google continually works to customise search results according to your geographic location. You want the best search experience, and that is why local optimisation is so important.
It’s not difficult to see why more SEO agencies are starting to steer away from this promise. It’s not good business anymore. Search engines are becoming increasingly complicated to influence and although you may have a great strategy to get good results on a regular basis, guaranteeing them is just impossible.
Google has often warned against SEO companies promising #1 rankings
SEOs should know that Google has some fairly straightforward marketing guidelines when it comes to optimising a website. Marketers tend to bend the rules a little to benefit their clients and their profits, but the fact remains the same:
No one can guarantee a #1 ranking on Google.
Someone who does, should not be taken seriously. Luckily, any reputable SEO firm won’t use this as a marketing tactic; they will tell you straight that it’s an ongoing process and although you are likely to get on the first page with their efforts, they cannot always guarantee it.
Google explicitly warns against companies that claim they can guarantee rankings or that they have an exceptional relationship with Google. This simply isn’t true and won’t help your rankings at all.
SEO services aren’t cheap – at least the good ones aren’t – but if you consider the work, research, data collection, and implementation that goes into a solid SEO plan, it will make good sense.
Working with a reputable SEO agency or SEO consultant.
The key to a successful SEO campaign and getting the best search results within Google is working with a reputable agency. An SEO team that has proven results, and has clients to prove it.
Successful SEO is not a one-off effort. An ongoing strategy should be continuously improved, tweaked and executed.
A successful SEO strategy also consists of numerous components. The most important of which is optimising your website for a specific list of keywords. This is why content is so important; good quality content will lay the foundation for your rankings within Google.
The next aspect to consider is beating your competitors. This can be done in many ways, and your SEO will explain this in more detail. You can also consider running paid advertising campaigns, among others. It all depends on your budget and your industry. But with the right tools, you have all the possibility of ranking well within Google – even on the first page.
We can help
Here at Andrew Talbot Design, we don’t promise number-one rankings on Google. But we do promise to help make valuable improvements to your website and ensure it’s working as you need it to drive organic traffic and sales to your site. Find out what we can do for you. Call 0117 927 3300 today!