What are Google’s top 3 ranking factors?
Links – Content – RankBrain
What will help you rank higher on Google? Finally, we have an answer from Google themselves for the top 3 factors that matter most for search ranking.
At this point, we know that RankBrain is the third most important ranking factor. We were told by Google almost one year ago. Unfortunately, Google hasn’t revealed the first two until recently. In a Q&A with Google, Andrey Lipattsev, a Search Quality Senior Strategist at Google said what the other two are:
I can tell you what they are. It is content. And it’s links pointing to your site.
Lipattsev clarified that there was “no order” of importance when it came to the three. Now we know what the top 3 ranking factors are but it’s still unknown how much weight each one carries.
Of course, Google looks at many other factors but links, content, and RankBrain themselves are the top 3. Even within each of those categories, there are many subfactors to consider as well.
Google’s ranking algorithm has been a constant mystery. Google has said that social media isn’t a ranking factor but we know it still holds some level of importance. Otherwise, we wouldn’t post as often on Twitter or Facebook. By Google saying that links, content, and Rankbrain are definitive factors in ranking, it’s a big achievement for SEO specialists. Especially since there are more than 200 factors consider. It helps to start mapping out some sort of algorithm. We now know what improves ranking, but also make sure you know what hurts too.
But We Knew About Links and Content Before
True. We’ve known for a long time that content and links matter. Although the importance of having links has come into question in recent years. This should not change anything about your day-to-day strategies. It does give us another piece of the ranking factor puzzle and provides content marketers with more ammo to defend their practice and push for growth.
So now you learned about Google’s top 3 ranking factors. Now learn how they play a role in Google’s newly updated Penguin 4.0 algorithm.
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FAQs
What are Google’s top 3 ranking factors?
Google’s top 3 ranking factors are content, links pointing to your site, and RankBrain. These elements help determine how websites are ranked in search engine results, although there are over 200 other factors Google considers as well.
What is RankBrain and how does it affect search rankings?
RankBrain is Google’s machine learning algorithm that helps process search queries and improve the relevance of results. It analyzes user behavior to refine how Google ranks websites, making it one of the top 3 ranking factors.
Why are links important for SEO?
Links are important because they act as endorsements for your website. High-quality, authoritative backlinks signal to Google that your content is valuable, which can improve your search rankings. However, low-quality or spammy links can hurt your ranking.
How does content impact Google rankings?
High-quality, relevant content helps your website rank higher by providing value to users. Content that is well-written, informative, and aligned with search intent is more likely to perform well on Google, making it a critical ranking factor.