How Search Engines Work: Crawling, Indexing, Ranking, & More

In fact, it’s smart to include variations of your main keyword in your content. Here are the most important ranking signals in Google’s algorithm right now (in 2022). In fact, webpages with fewer backlinks get much less organic traffic because they’re buried deep in the search results. No matter how optimized your webpage is, if your content is not valuable, then you can’t expect higher rankings.

Most Important Google Ranking Factors in 2025

In 2025, SEO success depends on great user experience, mobile-friendly sites, and quality content. Properly optimized images not only improve user experience but also help search engines better understand and index the content, which can lead to higher rankings. As mentioned, search engines continue working on their algorithms to improve their users’ experience. The focus points of SEO in 2025 are still high-quality content and technical factors like site speed, security and mobile parity. But there are more aspects that Google and other search engines deem important.

Semrush helps you:

• But what are the most important YouTube ranking criteria you have to consider?
• But this search engine has a much stronger reliance on social signals than Google.
• This patent refers to a weightage system that evaluates pages based on how long or short a click has been and the outcome plays one role in ranking the pages higher or lower in the SERPs.
• Learn more about how search engines work, from crawling and indexing to ranking and penalties, in this beginner’s guide.

This evaluation is used to structure pages in the search engine index, which ultimately results in user queries displaying the best possible ranking of the results display. The criteria for the evaluation of web pages and to produce this ranking are generally referred to as ranking factors. On-page SEO focuses on optimizing individual pages to improve search visibility and user experience. It involves aligning your content, HTML elements, and site structure with SEO best practices. This ensures search engines understand your pages while making them more engaging for visitors.

Because of that, getting more social shares does help your search engine rankings, if only indirectly. So when you optimize titles, descriptions, and content to get the clicks and deliver value on the other end, you can boost your search engine ranking. Longer content attracts more links and shares too, which are two other important SEO ranking signals we’ll cover shortly. The research suggests that content over 2000 words gets more top ten positions in Google search engine rankings.

HTTPS safeguards the integrity and confidentiality of data between a user’s computer and your website. Startups must secure their websites with an SSL certificate to enable HTTPS. By prioritizing Google Page Experience, your startup can attract, engage, and retain more users. Key components include mobile-friendliness, HTTPS, absence of intrusive interstitials, and Core Web Vitals. They usually know what they want and are looking for a place to buy it. These list elements make your content more readable, scannable, and easier to find key details.

It isn’t enough to “have a blog” if you aren’t using it to converse with customers. How your business is seen on social media has become one of the fastest-growing ranking factors since 2015. They should be; if they aren’t, you need an SEO service provider to whip your social into shape. An excellent social presence has other SEO advantages for your business; we review them more in-depth in the webinar. In essence, keyword research tools are essential for uncovering the terms that are most relevant to your audience and business.

But you can get the most value by focusing on the most important Google ranking factors first. SEO, or search engine optimization, is the strategic process of enhancing a website’s visibility and ranking on search engine results pages to increase organic traffic and online presence. Positive reviews not only paint your business in a favorable light but also provide a meaningful boost to your local search engine ranking score. This, in turn, increases the likelihood of your business featuring prominently in the local pack, improving its visibility for those using search location functions. While search engines use hundreds of ranking factors, some carry more weight than others. By focusing on the most influential factors, you can allocate your resources efficiently and create a targeted SEO BHS Links plan that delivers results.