Google is the undisputed king for businesses looking to boost organic traffic. It crawls the web and ranks pages based on their relevance and usefulness to users across virtually every topic. We don’t just trust Google’s results—we depend on them.

Given Google’s immense power and influence, securing a first-page spot for your small business might seem like a pipe dream. However, this same power makes it more attainable than ever for small and local businesses to achieve high search rankings—without spending a dime!

This post will delve into several actionable steps you can take to propel your business to the top of Google’s first page using two free strategies: website optimization and listing optimization. Before diving into the tactics, we’ll examine the importance of the first page.

While it’s clear that reaching Google’s first page is a worthwhile (if not crucial) goal for any business, let’s first explore its specific benefits to help you prioritize your business strategy.

Contents

• Why is the first page of Google important?
• How does first-page ranking benefit your business?
• How many different ways can you get on the first page of Google for free?
• How to use your website to get on the first page of Google
• How to use your business listings to get on the first page of Google

Why the first page of Google is important

Google’s search results are becoming more sophisticated—with Knowledge Panels, answer boxes, expandable related questions, local results, and more. With so many ways to stand out, aiming for top ranking is worth the effort, especially since traffic and click-through rate plummet as you descend the search results.

Traffic and engagement drop sharply after the first few results.

Getting on the first page means significantly higher click-through rate

It’s no secret that the first page of Google captures most of the traffic. But did you know there are substantial differences in click-through rates for top versus bottom results? One study reveals the following click-through rates based on Google position:

• First result: 36.4% clickthrough rate
• Second result: 12.5% clickthrough rate
• Third result: 9.5% clickthrough rate

CTR continues its downward trend, reaching a mere 2.2% for the tenth result (usually, there are up to 10 organic results per page, even fewer now with local results, ads, answer boxes, and other new features). If you’re not at the top of Google search results, you’re missing out on a significant chunk of clicks.

Get immediate exposure

Top-ranking Google search results now also appear in “Position Zero” answer boxes, also known as featured snippets:

Securing a top spot on Google could land you a featured snippet, giving your business instant exposure and boosting your credibility.

Top position traffic share

Another study discovered that the top Google result snags 33% of search traffic. The higher you can position your website on Google, the stronger your search presence and brand authority become. How strong is your SEO and online presence? Find out in 90 seconds with our free website grader!

How does first-page ranking benefit your business?

Understanding the various goals that achieving a top Google ranking can help your business achieve is essential.

Improve your visibility

Imagine you have a physical store. Would you rather set up shop on the town’s main road or a quiet side street? The main road, naturally.

With 167 billion searches per month, being on Google’s first page is akin to setting up your business on the busiest road in town. Increased website visibility leads to greater brand awareness. The more familiar consumers are with your brand, the more receptive they become to conversion activities.

Generate more leads

Now, consider choosing between the main street of a diverse town and a town populated solely by your ideal customers. There are as many Google first pages as there are search queries. Your goal is to land on the first page for queries your ideal customers are using.

This way, you’re discovered by consumers actively searching online with the intent to purchase or engage. These individuals are the most likely to convert into leads and customers for your business.

Increase engagement

According to Adweek, 81% of shoppers conduct online research before buying, and Google is the go-to for this. With answer boxes, the “People also ask” section, and local results displaying contact information, maps, reviews, ratings, and descriptions, Google’s search results page alone empowers consumers to learn about, compare, and engage with your business before clicking on your result.

A “People Also Ask” section.

Drive website traffic

Snippets and answer boxes have their limitations. While a search engine results page can sometimes provide all the necessary information, some queries inevitably lead people to click through to a website. Remember that it often takes multiple engagements with a business before someone converts into a customer, making interactions with your website crucial.

Being on Google’s first page dramatically increases traffic to your website. Conversely, not being on the first page puts you at a significant disadvantage. In fact, the first page of Google captures at least 71% of web traffic (some sources claim up to 92%), and the second page is a distant second, plummeting to 6% of website clicks. This sharp decline in web traffic underscores the critical importance of Google’s first page.

Increase your industry authority

Reaching Google’s first page involves consistently creating high-quality content that Google recognizes as fulfilling its searchers’ needs. While this takes time, the resulting increase in traffic and trust is well worth the effort.

Furthermore, writing regularly about your industry and business requires staying attuned to your target audience’s needs and the latest industry developments. Appearing on Google’s first page is essential because it fosters the development and maintenance of a robust knowledge base for your business to stand on.

Earn trust

Google’s algorithm is designed to identify spammy, suspicious, and low-quality content. Consistently appearing on Google’s first page signals to consumers that Google trusts you as a reliable source of information, and consumers trust businesses that Google trusts.

Build your audience

As previously mentioned, securing a spot on Google’s first page necessitates creating high-quality, evergreen content. This type of content is a gift that keeps on giving, as it can be repurposed and shared across various marketing channels, including social media, email, and paid ads.

Your content-driven efforts to reach Google’s first page will provide ample material and opportunities to engage with your target audience, nurture leads, and remain top of mind.

Speed up your sales cycle

Consumers today have a plethora of choices and access to all the information and tools needed to discover, evaluate, and decide about a business. Where do they begin their research? Google! Landing on Google’s first page helps you attract those top-of-funnel leads and kickstart your sales cycle.

How many different ways can you get on the first page of Google for free?

Getting on Google’s first page is not only a common goal for small business owners but also an achievable one. Google prioritizes quality over quantity. Consequently, a larger company or a bigger budget doesn’t guarantee a top ranking. Several factors influence Google’s algorithm. And thanks to the diverse components of Google’s results page, various media types can achieve first-page status, including:

• Blog posts and website pages (in organic results)
• Your Google Business Profile (in the local/maps section)

Optimizing your Google Business Profile ensures your business and its ratings appear for local queries.

• Snippets of your website content (in Google’s numerous search results page features, including “People also ask” and the answer box)
• Your landing pages (This falls under the paid ads section, which isn’t free but still worth mentioning. For more help using paid strategies to reach Google’s first page, see this post on Google Ads tutorials.)

Now, let’s return to the two free methods for achieving a first-page presence.

How to use your website to get on the first page of Google

The practice of aligning your website with search engine ranking factors is known as search engine optimization (SEO). You don’t necessarily optimize your entire website at once but rather each page individually. Here’s how:

1. Determine your keywords

First, identify the search queries you want Google to answer with your website pages. These are called keywords—which can be single words or phrases.

Examples of keywords include:

• “MA tenant laws”
• “salon near me”
• “brunch Boston”
• “air conditioner repair Brighton”
• “how to plug a leaky roof”
• “how to get on the first page of Google”

Each page on your website should target a different set of keywords to prevent them from competing with each other.

The ideal keywords for your business are those your ideal customers are typing in to find the products and services they need. For assistance choosing keywords for your business, try our Free Keyword Tool.

2. Tell Google what keywords you’re using

Google operates by crawling the web, ranking millions of existing pages, and storing them in an index. When a user conducts a search, Google can then sift through its more organized index (instead of the entire web) to quickly deliver relevant results.

Therefore, another crucial step to appearing on Google’s first page is making it as seamless as possible for Google to scan, index, and retrieve your site. Achieve this by incorporating keywords in the following areas:

Meta title

Every blog post and page on your website has a meta title. This title appears as a header at the top of your page and as the title of that page’s listing in search results (depending on your CMS settings).

Meta description

The meta description is the short blurb displayed beneath the title in Google’s search results.

Besides informing Google about your page’s content, the meta description provides searchers with a quick overview of what to expect if they click on your page, increasing relevant clicks. Thus, the meta description helps Google position your business on the appropriate first page for the right searches and assists Google users in finding you there.

URL

Your URL comprises your domain name (e.g., nexus-security.github.io), followed by a forward slash and text separated by dashes.

Incorporating keywords in your URL helps Google quickly identify your page’s subject matter. Moreover, the URL appears between the title and meta description in search results. A clean URL that aligns with the page title is more visually appealing, trustworthy to users, and better suited for first-page appearances.

Alt tags

Google can only interpret images with a text alternative (i.e., alt tag). Including keywords in your alt tags allows Google to detect further relevance for that page and feel more confident placing you on its first page of search results.

3. Write for humans

Naturally, the body of your page’s content is the most critical area to include the keywords you’re aiming to rank for. However, it’s vital to incorporate these keywords naturally rather than forcefully and excessively. In fact, Google can now detect keyword stuffing, which will land you far, far away from its first page.

The key to reaching Google’s first page is providing valuable, trustworthy, easy-to-read, yet informative content that keeps your target audience engaged and returning for more. Sharing your existing knowledge conversationally is both free and straightforward. Remember that if you want to rank on Google’s first page for a specific keyword search, your page needs to deliver the information, not just the keywords, users seek when typing that search into Google.

4. Emphasize location

Another free strategy to get your website pages on Google’s first page is targeting location-based queries. Ensure your website clearly indicates your city and/or geographic area through your contact page and potentially blog posts and service pages. This way, when someone searches “your industry” + “your city,” Google will recognize that information and display your business as a “near me” search result.

Even if a user doesn’t specify a location in their search, Google will still deliver geographically relevant results based on their IP address. Therefore, local SEO is not only free but always crucial (even during a pandemic).

5. Optimize for mobile

Websites that aren’t responsive won’t be found at the top of Google search results. Consumers now use phones and tablets more than computers and laptops, and most local searches originate from mobile devices. As a result, Google favors mobile-friendly websites. In fact, all sites are now indexed using mobile-first indexing.

A responsive design is ideal, as it allows your website to adapt to any screen size while maintaining functionality. However, even without a responsive website, you can make adjustments to ensure a seamless experience for mobile users.

6. Focus on user experience

Being mobile-friendly isn’t enough for a website. It must also be visually appealing and user-friendly. A website with intuitive navigation, clear calls to action, and readily available answers to visitors’ most pressing questions will keep them engaged longer and encourage return visits—which Google will note and reward with higher rankings. The higher you rank, the more traffic you’ll attract to your site, increasing your chances of appearing on the first page.

To optimize every aspect of your website, explore our Ultimate Website Audit Checklist (with an Epic 6-Tab Google Sheet).

How to use your business listings to get on the first page of Google

In addition to your website pages, your online business directory listings can also secure a spot on Google’s first page. Here’s what you need to do:

7. Create a Google Business Profile

Google Business Profile is evolving into one of the most potent (and free) tools for local businesses. Both Google Maps and Search utilize Google Business Profile to generate local listings (called Business Profiles). Creating a Google Business Profile is a quick and easy way to enrich your Business Profile with more information, increasing its likelihood of appearing on the first page of Google Maps and Search (in the local results section). Make sure to claim and verify your listing to monitor, maintain, and optimize your listing it.

8. Optimize your Google Business Profile

Speaking of optimizing your listing, I consider this a distinct strategy because while creating a Google listing can enhance your visibility, it has limitations in terms of ranking. Instead of settling for a bare-bones listing and hoping it appears for a couple of searches, optimize your Google Business Profile for maximum visibility. Here’s how:

Complete every section of your profile

A more comprehensive Google Business Profile increases your chances of appearing on the first page for a wider range of searches. In fact, complete Google Business Profile listings receive, on average, 7X more clicks than incomplete listings.

Keep your name consistent

Consistently use the exact same name for your business across all platforms. Google dislikes discrepancies, even minor ones like “Co.” versus “Company.”

Update your information

Inability to find your business, arriving to find it closed, or reaching an operator when calling can not only deter customers but also erode trust and lead to negative reviews. Stay on top of your Google listing, making necessary updates and changes to ensure it remains trustworthy enough to hold a top spot.

Upload photos to your listing

Google Business Profile aims to provide consumers with as much information about a business as possible before they even interact with it. This includes providing a glimpse into the business’s ambiance, so upload photos showcasing not only your products and services but also the atmosphere and people who frequent your establishment.

9. Obtain customer reviews

Google users value insights from other customers, so it’s no surprise that businesses with more positive Google reviews rank higher. Request reviews in person and create a review shortcut link for easy sharing across your online channels. While this technically falls under Google Business Profile optimization, remember that numerous other review sites exist, all impacting your ranking.

Reviews can secure you a spot in the “Local Pack,” which appears at the top of Google’s search results page.

10. List your business on other directories

While Google Business Profile is powerful, don’t neglect creating and optimizing listings on other popular directories like Yelp. Firstly, Yelp boasts high traffic and is highly trusted by Google, meaning your business’s Yelp page could very well appear on Google’s first page for relevant searches. Secondly, a robust listing with positive reviews enhances your overall online presence. Online reviews and links from other reputable sites send positive signals to Google, influencing its ranking algorithm.

Just like your Google Business Profile, ensure your other online directory listings are complete, accurate, consistent across platforms, updated, and actively collecting and responding to reviews. Remember to include photos in your online listings as well.

Utilize this free business listings grader from LocaliQ to assess the online presence of your Google Business Profile and other crucial listings.

How to get on the first page of Google [recap]

Climbing to the top of Google, or even simply improving your ranking, is achievable, even for small businesses. It demands effort and time but is one of the most impactful actions you can take for your business. By understanding where and how to make adjustments, you can give your business the visibility it deserves.

Employ these 10 tips to reach Google’s first page:

1. Devise a keyword strategy to target terms your target customers are searching for.
2. Integrate those keywords into your website content and HTML tags.
3. Write for humans (not search engines).
4. Target location-based searches.
5. Optimize for mobile devices.
6. Prioritize user experience.
7. Create a Google Business Profile.
8. Optimize your Google Business Profile.
9. Encourage and collect customer reviews.
10. List your business on relevant online directories.

Want to learn how nexus-security can help propel you to Google’s first page? Explore our range of digital marketing solutions and contact us today.