2024 Google Ranking Factors: Key Findings from Semrush Study

Explore Semrush’s 2024 Google Ranking Factors study: Key insights on content quality, backlinks, etc.

Semrush’s 2024 Google Ranking Factors Study offers a comprehensive guide to SEO strategies and the factors that impact website ranking.

The study delves into the intricate SEO world by examining over 300,000 search results to identify the elements most closely linked to higher rankings. This comprehensive analysis covers content quality, relevance, backlinks, on-SERP elements, user behavior, technical setup, and user experience metrics. Trusted by renowned brands such as Tesla and IBM, this research aims to equip SEO professionals with the insights needed to refine their strategies in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Here are some significant findings and recommendations from this study:

• Content Quality and Relevance: Content-related metrics, such as text relevance and content quality, correlate strongly with Google rankings. In SEO strategies, it is essential to create quality content that meets readers’ needs and covers the topic. Instead of focusing on the number of keywords or the freshness of the content, it is necessary to create content that covers the subject in a way that meets the readers’ needs.
• Backlinks: Earning backlinks from different domains still plays a vital role at both the page and domain level. Over time, the number of backlinks can effectively increase topic authority and drive traffic to pages.
• URL and Domain Metrics: Organic performance of pages and domains strongly correlates with high SERP positions. Updating and optimizing existing content to improve its rankings can significantly increase organic traffic.
• Factors on SERP: It has been discovered that using exact match keywords in title and meta descriptions is not essential to achieve high rankings. Instead, it is more effective for the content to be keyword-related and naturally include keywords that align with user intent.
• User Experience Metrics: While metrics related to user experience do not directly correlate with high rankings, these metrics can be used as an indicator of the technical soundness of the site.
• User Signals: Brand awareness and direct traffic are essential for high-ranking pages. Users’ recognition of the brand and access to the site through direct search may indirectly affect rankings.
• Technical Optimization and User Experience: Although technical elements such as Core Web Vitals and HTTPS show low correlation compared to other factors, it is vital to improve the overall user experience and maintain the site’s technical health.

In summary, this study shows that SEO strategies are not limited to specific metrics or technical factors but also encompass broad elements such as content quality, user experience, and brand awareness.

For SEO professionals, this study provides in-depth knowledge of current trends and practical strategies while also helping them understand the ever-evolving nature of SEO and how various factors interact. I highly recommend you read it.