How can I rank on Google?

If you’re starting up your business, one of the biggest priorities is getting your business out there and making it findable. For most people, that means making it visible online. And setting up your website may be the first step but that doesn’t necessarily mean people will find you. You need to come up with a plan to actually rank on Google aka make your website findable when people search for businesses similar to yours. 

In this article, we’ll explain how to best rank on Google, and although there are other search engines out there (Hi Bing, if you’re indexing this page), Google is by-far-and-large the most used search engine. In fact, Google monopolises the market share with over 90% of searches being done via Google. So, if you need to start somewhere, it's best to start with the globes favourite search engine.

What does it mean to “rank on Google”?

When people talk about ranking on Google, they’re usually talking about where their website appears in the search results.

Google ranking positions explained

Google results are shown in a list (or sometimes boxes, maps, and fancy widgets). The closer you are to the top, especially on page one, the more likely people are to click on your website. Positions 1–3 are prime real estate. But page two? That’s basically Google’s version of the lost and found. 

Organic rankings vs snippets vs Maps vs paid ads

Not all Google results are created equal:

• Organic rankings: Free listings earned through SEO (the good stuff)

• Featured snippets: Highlighted answers Google pulls from content it trusts

• Local Maps results: Businesses shown based on location and relevance

• Paid ads: Sponsored results you pay for (useful, but not SEO)

  
  

Why SEO drives organic rankings

SEO (search engine optimisation) is how you tell Google: “Hey, this page is relevant, useful, and deserves to be here.”

Without SEO, Google’s just guessing. And Google doesn’t like guessing, and neither do we! 

Understanding Google’s ranking factors

Google uses hundreds of ranking signals to decide which pages deserve to show up where. No, they won’t tell us all of them (they like to keep some secrets)), but we do know the big categories that matter most.

The core ranking pillars

Relevance

Does your content actually answer the search query? If someone searches “how can I rank on Google” and your page talks about baking sourdough, you’re out.

Authority

Does Google trust you? This comes from backlinks, brand mentions, and overall credibility.

User experience (UX)

Is your site easy to use, readable, and not a pop-up nightmare?

Technical quality

Is your site fast, secure, mobile-friendly, and crawlable?

Nail these, and you’re already ahead of most of the internet.

Keyword research: The foundation of ranking

Before you write a single word, you need to understand how people search.

Keyword research isn’t about stuffing phrases into a page and hoping they stick. It’s about understanding intent. When someone types a query into Google, they’re telling you what they want, whether they realise it or not.

Someone searching “how can I rank on Google” isn’t looking for vague marketing talk or a sales pitch. They want clarity. Guidance. A sense that they’re finally being let in on how this all works.

Choosing the right keywords means balancing relevance, competition, and specificity. Broad keywords might look impressive, but long-tail phrases (the more detailed, conversational searches) are often where the real opportunities live. They’re clearer, more intentional, and far more likely to convert.

How to choose the right keywords

Look for:

• A main keyword (e.g. how can I rank on Google)

• Supporting keywords (e.g. rank higher on Google, SEO tips, how Google rankings work)

• Long-tail keywords e.g. longer, more specific phrases with clearer intent and less competition

  
  

Tools you can use to find the right keywords

Free:

• Google Search Console

• Google Keyword Planner

• AnswerThePublic

Paid:

• Ahrefs

• SEMrush

• Moz

Creating high-quality content that Google wants to rank

Here’s the truth: Google doesn’t rank content because it’s optimised. It ranks content because it’s helpful.

SEO-friendly content works best when it forgets it’s trying to rank and focuses instead on being the best possible answer. That means clear structure, logical flow, and enough depth that the reader doesn’t need to click back and keep searching.

Google pays attention to how content is written. Pages that are easy to read, well-organised, and genuinely informative tend to perform better because users engage with them. They stay longer. They scroll. They trust what they’re reading.

This is where experience and expertise matter. Google wants to surface content written by people who clearly understand the topic,  not just because they’ve researched it, but because they’ve lived it. Add original insights, real examples, and up-to-date information, and you’re giving Google something it can confidently stand behind.

Google’s entire job is to give users the best possible answer. Your job is to be that answer.

Satisfying search intent

If someone asks “how can I rank on Google?”, your content should:

• Explain the process clearly

• Go deeper than competitors

• Be genuinely useful (not just SEO fluff)

Structure matters

Use:

• Clear headings

• Logical flow

• Short paragraphs

• Bullet points where helpful

If it’s painful to read, it won’t rank.

Add value Google can’t ignore

Think:

• Real examples

• Up-to-date dataPractical advice

• Original insights

E-E-A-T still matters

Google looks for:

• Experience

• Expertise

• Authority

• Trustworthiness

On-Page SEO best practices

On-page SEO is less about tricking Google and more about making its job easier.

Your page title, headings, URL, meta description, and image alt text all help Google understand what your content is about. When your main keyword appears naturally in these places, it reinforces relevance without feeling forced.

Internal links matter too. When you link between related pages on your site, you’re creating a clear structure that helps both users and search engines navigate your content. It’s subtle, but powerful.

Optimise your key elements

Use your main keyword naturally in:

• Title tag

• Meta description

• H1

• Subheadings

• Opening paragraph

• Image alt text

• URL slug

No keyword stuffing. Google’s smarter than that (and judgier).

Internal linking

Link to relevant pages on your own site. This helps:

• Users find more useful content

• Google understand site structure

Schema markup basics

Schema helps Google display rich results (FAQs, reviews, etc.). It’s not mandatory, but it is a ranking enhancer when done properly.

Building backlinks and site authority

If content is your voice, backlinks are your reputation.

When other websites link to yours, they’re effectively vouching for you. Google pays close attention to who’s doing the vouching. One high-quality, relevant backlink can be worth more than dozens of low-quality ones.

The best links aren’t bought or forced. They’re earned through strong content, original insights, digital PR, and genuinely useful resources. It’s slower than shortcuts, but it lasts far longer.

Backlinks are still one of the strongest ranking signals.

Why backlinks matter

They’re basically votes of confidence from other websites. The more high-quality sites linking to you, the more Google trusts you.

What makes a good backlink?

• Relevant to your industry

• From reputable sites

• Earned naturally (not spammy link farms)

Proven link-building tactics

• Guest posting

• Digital PR

• Original research

• Creating genuinely link-worthy content

Technical SEO essentials

Technical SEO is the quiet work that makes everything else possible.

A fast, mobile-friendly, secure website isn’t a bonus anymore, it’s the baseline. If your site loads slowly, breaks on mobile, or confuses search engines with messy structure, even great content will struggle to rank.

Cleaning up broken links, fixing duplicate content, improving Core Web Vitals, and making sure Google can crawl your site properly are all part of building a foundation that supports growth instead of holding it back.This is the behind-the-scenes stuff that quietly makes or breaks rankings.

Must-haves

• Mobile-friendly design

• Fast loading speed

• Strong Core Web Vitals

• Clean URL structure

• XML sitemap

• Robots.txt done right

• HTTPS security

Fix the boring-but-deadly issues

• Broken links

• Duplicate content

• Crawl errors

Technical SEO isn’t glamorous, but it’s essential.

User experience: The hidden ranking booster

Google watches what people do after they click.

If users arrive on your site and immediately leave, that’s a signal. If they stay, read, and explore, that’s another. While Google doesn’t measure consumer enjoyment directly, it’s very good at spotting engagement.

Clear navigation, readable content, and logical page flow all help keep users where they are, and that quietly reinforces your rankings over time.

Google watches how users behave on your site.

UX signals that matter

• Clear navigation

• Easy-to-read content

• Logical internal linking

Final tip: Stay ahead of algorithm updates

SEO isn’t static. Google updates its algorithm constantly, and the sites that survive aren’t the ones chasing loopholes,  they’re the ones focused on quality.

Refreshing old content, improving underperforming pages, and staying aligned with best practices keeps your site relevant long after it’s published. The mindset that wins is simple: always be improving.

SEO isn’t “set it and forget it.”

How BlackCat Content can help you rank on Google

Ranking on Google isn’t about one clever trick. It’s about doing the right things, consistently, over time.

It’s understanding how people search, creating content that genuinely helps them, and building a site Google can trust. That’s  where BlackCat Content comes in.

Whether you need clarity, strategy, content, or an honest look at what’s holding your site back, we help you turn “why isn’t this working?” into “oh… that’s why.”

No gimmicks. No guesswork. Just SEO that tells the right story, and gets found.

So, how can you rank on Google?

By:

• Understanding search intent

• Choosing the right keywords

• Creating high-quality content

• Nailing on-page and technical SEO

• Building authority

• Prioritising user experience

Consistency beats quick wins every time.

If you want help auditing your site, researching keywords, or creating content Google actually wants to rank, chat to us today. No fluff, no dodgy tactics, just SEO that works.

FAQs

What are some common mistakes that prevent you from ranking?

The most common mistakes include keyword stuffing, thin or low-value content, and ignoring technical SEO issues like slow load speeds or poor mobile usability. Many sites also struggle because they rely on low-quality backlinks or expect results too quickly. Ranking on Google takes consistency, not shortcuts.

How long does it take to rank on Google?

For most websites, it takes three to six months to see noticeable improvements in Google rankings. New websites often take longer, while established sites with authority may see results sooner. Competition, content quality, and site health all influence how quickly you rank.

How can I rank on Bing?

Many Google SEO best practices also help you rank on Bing. Bing values clear keyword usage, strong on-page optimisation, and well-structured content. If your website is fast, user-friendly, and technically sound, it can perform well on both search engines without a separate strategy.