How to Increase Google Rankings | Top Ranking Factors

Google is constantly updating its algorithm, and if you're not keeping up, your rankings (and traffic) can suffer. This guide breaks down how to increase Google Rankings with long-term strategies like AdaptiveSEO, content optimization, technical fixes, and smart use of AI.

Google is constantly tweaking its search algorithm, and even a single update can shake up the rankings. Just look at Google’s update history—extensive, confusing, and overwhelming. The impact is real: thousands of businesses, from small shops to large corporations, have seen their rankings torpedoed, traffic drop, and sales tumble overnight. If you want to increase Google Rankings and avoid getting blindsided, you need a long-term strategy that adapts to Google’s changes—because doing nothing isn’t an option.

Google is constantly tweaking its algorithm, and even a single update can shake up results. Thousands of businesses—from small shops to global brands—have seen traffic and sales disappear overnight after updates.

If you want to increase Google Rankings and avoid getting blindsided, you need a long-term strategy that adapts to Google’s changes—because doing nothing isn’t an option.

75% of users never scroll past the first page of Google search results.

If you want to protect your business and climb higher, you need a long-term SEO strategy that adapts as Google changes. At WSI, we call this AdaptiveSEO™—a flexible, data-driven approach that focuses on sustainable organic growth, not quick hacks.

Once we show you how to get on the same page with Google, you'll understand how to implement a stable, lasting ASEO strategy.

How Does Google Rank Pages?

Google won’t reveal its “secret recipe”, but we do know it uses hundreds of ranking signals to decide which pages deserve top spots. Google guards its ranking algorithm like it’s the recipe for Coca-Cola.

The most important signals include:

• Page speed and mobile-friendliness
• Keyword relevance in titles, headers, and content
• Content quality and usefulness
• Backlinks from trusted sites
• User engagement (clicks, bounce rates, time on page)
• Technical SEO health (crawlability, HTTPS, structured data)

What are Google Ranking Factors?

Google considers hundreds of signals, but the biggest players fall into three categories:

• Well-Structured Content
  • Useful, original, keyword-relevant, fresh, and backed by E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness).

• Keyword Relevance

• Are you using the right keywords in your titles, headers, and body text? Do they match what users are searching for? Relevance is key.

• Page Experience

• If your site is slow, hard to navigate, or painful on mobile, Google notices. Speed, mobile-friendliness, and clear layout all factor in.
• Backlinks (a.k.a. Who’s vouching for you?)
  • Links from reputable websites tell Google your content is credible. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the better.
• E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
  • This one’s especially important for content in health, finance, or legal topics—but it applies everywhere. Basically, are you a trusted source?

• User Engagement

• Are people clicking your link and staying on the page? Or bouncing right back to the search results? Google takes that as a hint.

• On-Page SEO

• This includes meta titles, descriptions, header tags, alt text for images—basically, how well your page is structured and labeled.

• Technical SEO

• Crawlability, site structure, HTTPS security, XML sitemaps, and structured data all help Google understand (and trust) your site.

• Mobile-Friendliness

• Google now uses mobile-first indexing, which means your site’s mobile version is what gets evaluated. If it’s clunky, your rankings suffer.

• Freshness of Content

• Is your content up to date? Google favors recent, relevant pages—especially for trending topics or fast-changing industries.

Step-by-Step on How to Rank the Highest on Google

Instead of chasing every new update, focus on building a strong SEO foundation that adapts over time. Here’s a structured approach:

Step 1: Audit Your Current SEO Performance

• Review which pages are performing well and which aren’t.
• Use Google Search Console and GA4 to identify ranking keywords, high-traffic pages, and problem areas.
• Update outdated content, remove thin pages, and refresh underperforming assets with stronger information.

Step 2: Fix Technical Issues

• Address broken links, crawl errors, and slow load times.
• Ensure your site has a mobile-first design, HTTPS security, and clean URLs.
• Use structured data and XML sitemaps to help Google index your pages properly.

Step 3: Optimize On-Page SEO

• Write clear, keyword-rich titles and meta descriptions.
• Use a logical header structure (H1, H2, H3) that matches search intent.
• Add internal links to connect related pages and keep visitors exploring.
• Optimize images with descriptive alt text.

Step 4: Create Valuable, Quality Content

• Go beyond keywords—focus on content that genuinely helps users.
• Use blog posts, guides, and videos to cover your niche in depth.
• Include examples, stats, and case insights to build credibility.
• Keep content fresh with regular updates.

Step 5: Build Authority with Backlinks

• Earn mentions from trusted industry sites, media outlets, and partners.
• Publish thought-leadership content that naturally attracts links.
• Collaborate with influencers or local organizations to expand reach.

Step 6: Improve User Engagement

• Lower bounce rates by making content engaging and easy to navigate.
• Add visuals, video, and clear CTAs to keep people on the page.
• Monitor engagement metrics (time on page, scroll depth, conversion rates).

Step 7: Leverage AI and Data Insights

• Use AI tools to analyze keyword opportunities, track competitor moves, and optimize content for readability.
• Predict shifts in search intent and update your strategy before rankings drop.
• Automate repetitive tasks like internal linking, reporting, and meta tag suggestions.

Step 8: Maintain & Adapt

• SEO isn’t “one-and-done.” Monitor your Google results monthly.
• Watch for Google algorithm updates and adjust accordingly.
• Keep publishing, optimizing, and testing new approaches to stay ahead.

Foundational Components of Modern SEO

1. Keyword and Competitive Research

Said another way, keywords are the topics that you think your target audiences are most interested in reading about. By using things like the Google Keyword Tool and researching the topics your most successful competitors are writing about, you should be able to glean some keywords and topics that you can potentially rank well for in the SERPs.

2. Technical SEO Fundamentals

Search engines deliver such intuitive and human results that it's often easy to forget they function with the rules and codes of an algorithm. In order for web crawlers to understand and properly rank the pages on your site, it's best to perfectly implement technical SEO. This means that a foundation of optimal site speed, on-page basics, structured information architecture, and great user experience is an integral part of a lasting AdaptiveSEO™strategy.

3. Optimized Content Marketing Plan

An effective content marketing plan should help guide your target audience through the buying process, from discovery to final purchase. Different forms of content should be targeted toward various audiences, and everything you publish needs to be distributed effectively through your social networks.

4. Publish, Socialize, Share

Social signals are becoming an increasingly important part of discoverability within search engines, and popular social channels are a great way to enhance the reach and amplification of your brand's messages.

5. Benchmark, Report, Improve

Tracking, measuring, and analyzing data is critical to ASEO's success. Reviewing your ranking history, backlink profile, social signals, organic visits, conversions, and keyword performance will help you keep your long-term AdaptiveSEO™strategy on the right track.

How AI Can Strengthen Your SEO Strategy

AI isn’t replacing SEO—it’s reshaping it. From keyword analysis to content creation and predictive analytics, artificial intelligence can streamline your SEO efforts, helping you work smarter, not just harder.

At WSI, we help businesses leverage AI tools and insights to:

• Identify high-potential keywords faster using AI-driven search intent analysis
• Optimize content for relevance, readability, and performance in real time
• Predict shifts in user behavior so you can stay ahead of search trends
• Automate SEO tasks like meta tag suggestions, internal linking, and competitor monitoring
• Enhance reporting with smarter data visualization and actionable insights

AI is already changing how search engines understand content—and how users find it. We make sure your SEO strategy keeps up.

Contact Us to Develop Your SEO Strategy

Ready to stop guessing and start growing? Whether you’re trying to climb the search rankings, attract more qualified traffic, or build a lasting digital presence, a solid SEO strategy is the foundation. If your goal is to increase Google rankings in a meaningful, sustainable way, WSI can help.

At WSI, we combine data-driven insights, proven best practices, and decades of global experience to help businesses like yours get found by the right people—at the right time.

Speak to an expert and take the first step toward better visibility, stronger engagement, and measurable results.

Book a free SEO consultation with WSI and start climbing Google rankings today.