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How Search Engine Results are Calculated

Dylan Fernandez

SEO growth. Search engine ranking illustration concept for web landing page template, banner, flyer and presentation

We’ve all used Google.

We’re used to typing in a simple word or phrase and getting millions of results across thousands of pages. We even have a name for it.

We call them SERPs, or Search Engine Results Pages.

Here’s what we’ll teach you:

The SERPs

These are the pages that show up after you type a search query.

You get the most relevant and highest-ranking information in various ways – but we’ll talk more about that later.

Google is the most popular search engine by a long shot, even over Bing and Yahoo. We’ll talk more about Google in this article.

The goal of marketing professionals is to show up on the first page of SERPs, and there are a lot of SEO tactics that can help. Getting to the top spot has become more difficult as Google’s algorithm changes.

What’s the reason?

Google SERPs get more clicks from the top than anywhere else. On the first page, pages that sit in the first spot have a 34.36% click-through rate (CTR) and a better chance of attracting a consumer.

We’ll discuss what search queries are, what search intent is, and how the Google algorithm affects those results for a better understanding of SERPs

Keywords and Search Intent

A search query is a string of words that you type into a search engine to find stuff online.

In addition to the search query, a user’s search intent is also outlined.

Unique search queries fall into four categories:

Having a good understanding of search intent and queries can help marketers better target their content

The SERP Process

The Google algorithm determines the SERPs.

Users see Google’s search results because of Google’s three-stage process.

There are three stages:

You can’t rank on the first page of Google SERPs by just going through Google’s three-step process. Search engine optimization gives pages that rank well a competitive edge.

In short, do your best to satisfy users by answering their queries and following Google’s rules, and you may find yourself on the first page, or perhaps the first spot, of Google’s search results.

Discover how you can optimize your SERP rankings by reading on!

Pay-per-click versus organic results

How do SEO and SEM differ?
Anyone conducting a search query will see two kinds of results: paid and organic. These results will be displayed depending on what information you are seeking.
Following, we’ll discuss the two types, their functions, and when you might see them.

In terms of Paid Results

When you enter your search query, you will often see paid results as the first result. These are usually displayed before organic search results on the first page of results, in the form of paid search ads or shopping ads.
Owners of these websites compete with one another to secure this advertising space. Bidders compete for the ad space that’s available.

In terms of Organic Results

The organic results appear if there are no paid results. When there are no paid results, the organic results will appear just below the Google search bar.
With organic results, people can compete with other websites for top positions. Marketing, on the other hand, uses SEO to move their websites up the ranks without utilizing paid strategies.
In the SERPs, organic methods can take months to succeed. However, if Google determines a website’s content is of the highest quality for users, it can have lasting effects.
You can also see organic results in the search results as a featured snippet, which normally appears above the normal organic results and below the paid results.

What Are My Options to Improve SERP Rankings?

In order to improve your brand’s visibility on SERPs, you can use a combination of paid and organic methods.

There are two main types of marketing strategies: paid advertising and organic search engine optimization. Here is an explanation of each.

Make use of paid advertising

Pay-per-click (PPC) ads are just one of many search engine results page features used by users.

PPC advertisers bid a certain amount of money for a position in those search results and are charged each time a user clicks on their ad.

Businesses can use PPC ads to gain visibility for pages that rank well organically for the desired keyword. PPC ads may help you compete for first-page rankings on the first page of SERPs if, for example, you want to rank for a specific search term, but it’s highly competitive and improving rankings organically has proved challenging.

Paid ad strategies are effective for generating leads for many businesses. The majority of users ignore those ads, so it’s best to develop a strong strategy and conduct A/B tests before spending too much money on PPC campaigns.

Keep these other practices in mind when creating a PPC campaign:

  • Choose your keywords wisely. Research terms relating to your brand and that satisfy a user’s search to use keyword tools such as Keyword Overview Tools and Google Ads’ Keyword Planner.
  • Clearly define when you want your ad to appear. If you don’t want an ad to appear, use negative keywords to let Google know.
  • Monitor your campaign carefully. Analyse the popularity of your ad and what people do when they click on it. Your campaign can be strengthened by determining what works well and what you need to improve.

Improve Your Organic Results

Ads with immediate results are great, but budgets can only last so long. A better option would be organic SEO if you want to take part in a longer, more successful game of increasing rankings, especially if you’re launching a business on a limited budget.

Organic SEO tactics have proven to be five times more effective than paid advertising for businesses.

Which methods do you use to improve your organic search results?

Changes will start to occur if you adhere to these seven best practices.

  • Research keywords that interest users. With Keyword Overview Tools, you can find exact keyword matches and related keywords to improve your content’s ranking.
  • Comprehend your content thoroughly. Create content that provides in-depth information on the topic, incorporates semantic keywords, and answers users’ questions.
  • Identify opportunities to build backlinks. After you produce a piece of content, consider promoting it so that other sites can share it or link back to your site.
  • Engage your audience with your content. Include it in social media posts and email promotions to help build engagement.
  • Optimize your on-page SEO. Including technical aspects of your page, such as title tags and meta information, will help boost rankings for your target keyword. Get a free SEO health check for On Page SEO and more this is an excellent tool to use for this purpose. *Speak to ME (Dylan) to get one for your domain*
  • When appropriate, prioritize local search. If you are a local business, claim your Google Business Profile page and optimize it to appear in the local pack.
  • Adapt your content to the SERP features. Google bots can better understand what your website or page is about when you use schema mark-up. You can add mark-ups to recipes, products, reviews, and more!

You should improve your organic listings first if you want more authentic results that last longer than an ad campaign.

Rankings in the SERPs can be drastically improved by building a great organic SEO strategy.

Final Thoughts

The success of a website and business depends on a well-optimized website that encourages clicks and engagement. You can improve your digital marketing in all aspects of your business by using the right tools to utilize SERPs and their features.
O’Brien Media SEO Packages is a valuable and easy way for professionals to make it in the SERPs. Speak to us today to find out more and see our SEO service page
After gaining this knowledge, you can kickstart your website improvements, begin ranking higher, and achieve your SEO goals in unimaginable ways!
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