With nearly half of the world’s population online, thousands of new websites are being launched daily. Brazil alone sees around 4500 new .br domain registrations each day, adding to the existing nearly 2 billion websites worldwide. Amid this vast online landscape, the key question arises: how can a website thrive and succeed?
The idea of “giving correctly” varies depending on an individual’s objectives in the online realm. Typically, website creators aim to reach an audience and various methods, such as SEO, are employed to achieve this goal.
A significant portion of website traffic comes from search engines such as Bing or Yahoo, but Google is currently the most popular search engine worldwide. Google’s algorithms determine which websites appear on the first page of search results, and about 90% of users click on results from the first page without going to the second page. To increase website traffic, it is essential to understand and optimize for Google’s algorithms.
Google’s algorithms are frequently updated to improve search results and enhance website quality, benefiting users by ensuring more relevant and reliable content appears first. To boost your site’s visibility, prioritize enhancements that enhance user experience and relevance.
Despite the frequent changes in algorithms and market trends, certain elements have become essential for website owners, including content, security, responsiveness, speed, and audience monitoring.
These elements have become stronger recently and will be further solidified in the future. They not only enhance user experience on your website but are also crucial for SEO. We will delve into each of these aspects thoroughly. Would you like to review them?
The main focus of your website is its content.
In 1996, Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, penned a piece called “content is king,” envisioning a future internet centered around a “content market” based on ideas, experiences, and products. Today, quality content reigns supreme on the vast landscape of the internet, with relevance being the key determinant of success.
To create top-notch content, it is essential to comprehend the characteristics and goals of your audience.
- It is important to assess your audience: consider who you are writing for, their research habits, and what they are looking for.
- The content should align with your audience by considering their demographics and communication preferences, such as video, text, infographic, or other formats, as well as using their preferred language.
- Do you know how to reach your audience effectively by using the correct keywords and implementing SEO strategies?
Longer texts tend to have higher search rankings due to their comprehensive nature and ability to offer more information to readers. Additionally, incorporating internal links to related content and using relevant keywords can further improve search engine rankings.
Is your content valuable and meets your reader’s needs? Neglecting these factors can result in low consumption of your material. Providing quality content helps establish authority and credibility, encourages engagement, and increases the likelihood of receiving comments and shares.
Security is essential for safeguarding your audience’s information.
Site security is becoming more important in attracting an audience because users expect it, it protects their information, and it impacts Google ranking. Chrome now informs users if a site is secure.
65% of top-ranking websites use HTTPS, which provides enhanced privacy and network security, according to SEMrush’s recent ranking factors survey.
An SSL security certificate is necessary for a website to operate with HTTPS, securing data exchanged between users and the hosting server. The certificate verifies the data’s origin and encrypts the traffic, ensuring that intercepted information remains secure.
Installing the digital certificate is quick and simple. Along with paid certificates, there are free alternatives available, such as Let’s Encrypt, a widely used free internet certificate. Some hosting providers also provide complimentary solutions to their clients. Once installed, your website will display a secure seal, typically depicted as a lock icon next to the URL. Failure to install the certificate results in an exclamation point warning users that the site lacks security.
An SSL certificate is necessary for virtual stores to ensure secure transmission of credit card information from customers. Many website creators and online stores offer SSL for free, and you can find different SSL options by reading an informative article on the topic.
Improved user experience through enhanced responsiveness.
The mobile phone is now the primary way people in Brazil access the internet, as reported by IBGE. Your website likely receives a high volume of traffic from smartphones. It is important to ensure that your site is compatible with all screen sizes, making it responsive to different devices.
Google has emphasized the significance of mobile-friendly websites by offering an SEO guide that highlights the importance of adapting websites for mobile devices due to the increasing number of searches coming from mobile phones.
More and more people are using mobile devices to shop online, according to a 2019 study conducted by CNDL and SPC Brazil. The study found that 66.8% of respondents made online purchases using their smartphones, making it the most popular device for virtual shopping.
It is beneficial to conduct the test provided on the Google website to receive a detailed evaluation of your website’s mobile compatibility, even if it is already optimized for mobile viewing.
To learn more, read our article on creating a mobile website.
4. The speed of your website is more important than you may realize.
In today’s digital age, speed is a crucial factor for websites to attract and retain users. Faster-loading pages not only save time and enhance user experience but also improve search engine rankings and lower operational expenses.
Google PageSpeed suggests that the initial content of a website should load in under 1 second on a mobile device. You can assess your site’s performance using this tool by entering your website URL to receive a score out of 100, with higher scores indicating better performance. Additionally, the tool provides recommendations for enhancements.
It is essential to select a design that works on all devices and optimize all images to improve your page’s responsiveness.
The site’s speed affects its Google ranking, making it essential to optimize for search engines. For more information on how speed impacts SEO, check out our article with data and tools to improve your site’s speed.
You must track your advancement in order to continue growing.
The only method to track the progress of your website is through analyzing data, a common practice among professional websites. Examining the inner workings of the website can help identify areas of success and areas for improvement.
There are various tools available for this measurement, with Google Analytics and Search Console being notable ones. Google Analytics offers insights into audience behavior, such as site access, user acquisition, and duration of visit, among other data points. On the other hand, Search Console reveals how Google perceives your site, including search appearance, keyword utilization, indexing status, and additional metrics.
These two tools can help you identify popular content, high bounce rates, optimization opportunities, Google’s site indexing, and potential issues impacting performance. By enhancing areas that require attention, you can achieve improved outcomes.
Making a website expand relies on your commitment.
There is no secret recipe for success. The key to increasing a website’s audience lies in investing in producing quality content and understanding how to rank well in user surveys in your niche.
When creating content, focus on providing value to your users and ensuring a positive website experience. View your site as a representation of your business or ideas and prioritize its maintenance for audience appreciation and value.
To ensure a website’s growth, it’s important to consider the hosting server quality as it can impact Google rankings.
If you want to find excellent value for your money, visit our website hosting comparison.
Text revised by Tathiana Sobroza
Published on 02/01/2018, with the latest update on 14/10/2020.
