With the always changing list of Google's Webmaster Tools, it is easy to overlook some of the more basic essential settings that can really aid earn you better search rankings.
Within this write-up, I'll show you several of the most useful ones which will give your website the best chance of a higher search engine ranking.
All these tools etc. are located in Google's Webmaster Tools web pages.
1. Set Your Geographic Target
Helps: Improve your position in nearby search results
Location: Site configuration > Settings
Setting your geographic target helps Google to associate your website with the specific area you are targeting. We have seen some impressive favorable ranking changes for our (blank) after enabling this setting, so make certain it is correct for your web site.
2. Upload Your current XML Sitemap
Helps: Make certain the website is actually indexed
Location: Site configuration > Sitemaps
Uploading an XML Sitemap supplies Google with a map of the site which aids them examine your written content and increase the amount of URLs that are incorporated in their index. This can be especially essential for larger websites which have a big amount of brand name and product pages.
3. Optimize Your Sitelinks
Helps: Enhance click-through to core internet pages
Location: Site configuration > Sitelinks
Sitelinks are links to a site's internal web pages that will be reflected in search findings. Google automatically generates these backlinks for some internet sites; nonetheless these can be altered utilizing webmaster tools.
If your site is displaying sitelinks, get rid of any non essential pages from the list.
4. Look at Google's HTML Suggestions
Aids: Strengthen your placement in search results
Location: Diagnostics > HTML Suggestions
Google's HTML recommendations contain any concerns that Google identified after were crawling your web site. These may may include issues with duplicate or missing META data as well as any un-indexable material in your web site.
If Google finds any issues together with your internet site, click on each to learn more and correct any issues.
5. Check Your Page Loading Times
Assists: Improve rankings and customer satisfaction
Location: Labs > Site performance
With Google using page speed being a ranking factor, it's additionally a good idea to be sure your pages are loading as fast as possible. Use this tool to watch the load time of pages on your web site and optimize this when possible.