Tag: surprising

Surprising ways stress can affect your whole body

Stress, often considered a mental or emotional response, can have surprising and far-reaching effects on the entire body. 

While it’s natural to associate stress with psychological strain, it’s important to recognize its physical repercussions. 

In response to stress, our body undergoes changes in hormone and chemical secretions. Most of these secretions are produced by the adrenal gland, a small organ positioned atop the kidneys. 

The hormones released from this gland serve multiple functions, including initiating the “fight-or-flight” response, regulating metabolic processes such as blood sugar levels, managing the balance of salt and water, and facilitating pregnancy.

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY MAY IMPACT YOUNG ADULTS TWICE AS MUCH AS TEENS, HARVARD SURVEY FINDS

While these hormones can be life-saving in moderation, their prolonged presence can lead to significant detrimental effects.

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, primarily functions to inhibit processes that might obstruct the body’s “fight-or-flight” response. To be more specific, it alters the way the immune system reacts and obstructs the proper functioning of the digestive, reproductive, and growth-related systems.

Stress is a complex foe that can have a negative impact on multiple parts of your health. It can trigger a spectrum of digestive issues, ranging from stomach discomfort and indigestion to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

Stress can also interfere with your eating patterns, episodes of overeating or undereating, which can contribute to fluctuations in body weight.

Beyond its digestive implications, stress can manifest in your skin, exacerbating conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. Additionally, it can trigger allergic reactions, often leading to discomforting skin issues like hives.

The impact of chronic stress extends even further, encompassing your cardiovascular health. It’s associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol, have the capacity to elevate blood pressure and promote inflammation within blood vessels.

For women, stress initiates a reduction in the production of estrogen and progesterone while elevating cortisol levels. This particular blend frequently leads to erratic and uncomfortable menstrual cycles and can have adverse effects on both emotional well-being and libido.

In the case of men, stress prompts a decline in testosterone levels and an upsurge in cortisol, which subsequently translates to feelings of fatigue and a notable decrease in sexual desire.

When it comes to lifestyle interventions, physical activity is a top recommendation. 

Exercise stands out as the most effective way to mitigate stress and lower cortisol levels.

Avoid responding to non-urgent emails and phone calls.

Consider taking breaks or practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress effectively. 

Adopting a balanced, nutritious diet and steering clear of smoking, alcohol consumption or recreational drug use are fundamental steps to reduce stress.

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Nonetheless, it’s crucial to keep in mind that if you feel that stress is having a substantial impact on your health and overall quality of life, it’s wise to seek guidance from a health care professional. 

Drawing on your medical history and unique situation, a health care expert can provide personalized advice and solutions.

Practicing stress management techniques such as meditation and exercise, and seeking support from professionals, can help reduce these surprising and often detrimental effects on the body.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

3 Surprising Ways Personal Financing Affects Business Funding

It makes sense that, if you do not separate your business credit from your personal credit, you could run into issues. Most get that if they fund their business with their personal credit, their personal finances could suffer. But, did you know that even if you have separated everything beautifully, the reverse can still be true? Here are 3 ways personal financing can affect your ability to get funding for your business.

How Does Personal Financing Impact Business Lending?

Some business funding options consider your personal credit score no matter what. For example, all traditional loans, SBA loans, and even the Credit Line Hybrid focus on personal credit score. Generally, they want to see a personal score above 650, though there are exceptions.  The issue goes beyond this however.

Factors that Affect Personal Credit

The number one factor that affects personal credit is paying on time.  However, some other factors that can affect your personal credit score include:

  • How many accounts are reporting payments?
  • How long have you had each account?
  • What type of accounts are they?
  • How much credit you are using on each account versus how much is available

This last point is important. It includes everything from credit card debt to personal financing for auto loans and mortgages. If you max out your limits on everything without paying it down significantly, your personal credit score will be negatively impacted. All of this means, you could be making all payments on time and still run into issues.

#1:Your Personal Credit Score Can Affect Your Business Credit Score With the Business Credit Reporting Bureaus

It’s true. Some business credit reporting agencies take your personal credit into account. They use your personal credit in the calculation of the business credit score they release to lenders. This means if your personal credit score is bad, your business credit score could suffer.

Experian Business Credit

Experian is different from the other two main business credit reporting agencies in one very important way. Of course, business credit is credit in a business’s name. It depends on how well a company can pay its bills. Yet, Experian uses both consumer and business credit information to gauge risk. They find a blended score is more accurate and predictive.

FICO SBSS

This score is becoming increasingly common and it’s a lot trickier. FICO SBSS stands for FICO Liquid Credit Small Business Scoring Service. Unlike your personal FICO, the SBSS reports on a scale of 0 to 300. The higher the score the better, and most lenders demand a score of at least 160.

The scoring model for this score is not the same as other business credit scoring models. It uses your business and personal credit scores, but it does so much differently than Experian.

The  formula for calculations is proprietary and well-guarded by FICO. They do not make the information public. Unlike the other business credit reporting agencies, you cannot request a copy of your report or see your score. Here’s why.  Surprisingly, this score can actually vary from lender to lender. That’s right,  two different lenders can get two different scores for your business from FICO SBSS at the same time.

FICO SBSS Calculation

Here’s how that works. Lenders can ask for certain factors in the score to carry more weight than others. Your score can vary depending on how a lender weighs each factor. One lender may put more weight on your personal credit score or your business credit. Meanwhile, another may choose to weigh annual revenue as more important than payment history. It is their choice.

FICO searches business credit information from business credit agencies. This includes D&B, Experian, and Equifax. They use this information  in the calculation of your score. So, your score with these bureaus affects your FICO SBSS.

The only way to ensure that your personal credit doesn’t impact your business credit in a negative way is to keep your personal credit in good order. This is because you really can never know which factors the lender is going to weigh more or less for that matter.

#2: You May Have to Use a Guarantor to Get Business Funding

Because some types of funding require a strong personal credit score, you may need to use a guarantor to get access. This includes some funding types that can help you build business credit, like the Credit Suite Credit Line Hybrid.

Credit Line Hybrid

A credit line hybrid is a form of unsecured funding. Our credit line hybrid even works for startups, and you can get a better interest rate than a secured loan. It reports to business CRAs, but you need a FICO score of at least 680 to qualify.

However, if your personal FICO isn’t that great, you can use a guarantor with good credit to get approval. It’s no-doc financing, meaning you do not have to turn in any financial documents. Using a guarantor could be worth it if you need funding quickly.

#3 Personal Financing Can Affect Overall Fundability

Business lending, at its core, is affected by the Fundability of your business. There are 4 core factors that affect business Fundability, and each of these factors is made up of a number of principles. Personal financial statements and other data bureaus are included in these factors.

Financial Statements

Some lenders will ask for personal financial information no matter what. Others may only look at them if the business is not considered creditworthy on its own. When it comes to personal financial statements, lenders are usually looking primarily at tax returns. It’s best to have a tax professional prepare them. Other information lenders may ask for include check stubs and bank statements, among other things.

Bureaus

There are other agencies that hold information related to your personal finances as well. ChexSystems is one example. They track bad check activity, and their report makes a difference when it comes to your bank score. If you have too many bad checks, you will not be able to open a business bank account. That, in turn, will cause serious fundability issues.

LexisNexis and the Small Business Finance Exchange also fall into this “other bureaus” category. They can have all sorts of information on you, like:

  • Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
  • Do you have a bankruptcy or short sale on your record?
  • How about liens or UCC filings?

While these bureaus do not directly generate credit reports, they do share information with certain credit agencies. They then use this information for their reporting.

This means personal finance information they hold can affect the fundability of your business, and thus your business lending options.

Personal Financing Can Affect Your Ability to Get Business Funding

Whether it’s credit card debt, a mortgage, or just how you handle your personal bank account, your personal finance management can affect your ability to fund your business.

You cannot change that entirely.  Still, you can limit the extent to which this is true. Separating your business from yourself and building a strong business credit score is the best way. Lenders will be able to depend less on the personal financing aspects of your creditworthiness, and focus more on the fundability of the business itself.

The post 3 Surprising Ways Personal Financing Affects Business Funding appeared first on Credit Suite.

3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses

Business Licenses and Permits – Are They Really Necessary?

While not every company needs to have business licenses and permits, it’s still vitally important to check. Make sure because there are consequences to not having licensing.

Check out why business licenses and permits matter. And along the way, get specifics on licensure in North Carolina, Massachusetts, Florida, and Washington State.

Reason #1: Why Does a Business Need Licensing?

According to LegalZoom, “A business license is a government document that certifies a business is safe for the public. Exactly which kinds of licenses you require depends upon the kind of business you operate and where you operate it.”

Licensing is also a form of revenue for states, cities, and counties. But no matter how much profit a jurisdiction may get from providing licenses, licensure is still rooted in public safety.

Reason #2: Why Does a Business Need Permits?

According to Chron, “Business permits regulate safety, structure and appearance of the business community. They act as proof that your business follows certain laws and ordinances. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, and failure to comply often results in fines or even having your business shut down.”

Permits can be related to tax collections. They can also be related to zoning laws, which can be for public safety. For example, you probably can’t open a cattle feedlot or a chemical processing plant in a residential area

Applying for Variances

If you cannot, or do not want to, comply with a local ordinance, you can petition for a special permit called a variance. A variance essentially gives you permission to violate an ordinance. These are rarely granted and can be expensive due to legal fees. So make sure you need one before you request it.

Reason #3: Check Out What Happens if you Operate Without Business Licenses and Permits

So if a license is required, then get one. If you don’t, you could be forced to close. You may have to pay a fine. Your business could have to go through a probationary period before being allowed to reopen. The licensing authority (city, state, etc.) could refuse to grant you a license. Or your business could experience any combination of these.

If you don’t have a license, you could be sued for fraud. This is because it’s a misrepresentation if you open your doors without a license. After all, the public is reasonably expected to believe you have all necessary permits and licenses.

Your business reputation could take a tumble. Because customers may feel if you won’t follow the law, you won’t follow their directions, either. You could scare off prospects. As they might see your business as being fly by night.

So is it really worth it to not have licenses and permits? You should already know the answer to that.

Consider This: Licenses, Leases, Permits, and Registrations Are All on a Calendar

These all need renewal on a regular basis, so keep track of those dates. Keep a copy of all applications and forms in your business records. Make sure you follow all rules for displaying licenses and permits.

Most places require you to display the license prominently for your customers. Check to see if you need additional licenses before expanding your building, launching a new product, or offering a new service.

Consider This: Recordkeeping

When we talk about fundability, one of the areas we stress is keeping consistent records. Hence in addition to keeping track of renewal dates, you should also make sure all licenses, permits, etc. have the exact same business name, address, phone number, etc. And if any of these basics change, be sure to update all of these documents.

Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

Which Types of Federal Business Licenses Do You Need?

If a federal agency regulates your business activities, you will need a federal license. According to the Small Business Administration, businesses in the following industries will need a federal license:

  1. Agriculture
  2. Alcoholic beverages
  3. Aviation
  4. Firearms, ammunition, and explosives
  5. Fish and wildlife
  6. Commercial fisheries

These industries are also included on the list of industries that must have federal licenses:

  1. Maritime transportation
  2. Mining and drilling
  3. Nuclear energy
  4. Radio and television broadcasting
  5. Transportation and logistics

Which Types of Local Business Licenses Do You Need?

Local business licenses come from your state or city. They are determined by local laws. Federal licenses pertain to certain kinds of business activities. But a local business license means adhering to your state’s specific business regulations. To set up your business license, you often have to have a commercial address that must be a licensed business as well. You increase your chances of rejection if you use a non-licensed business as your address.

Which Types of State Business Licenses Do You Need?

States have various requirements. As a result, the rules for one will not necessarily apply to another. Here are a few example states to give you an idea of what’s needed, and where to get licensing.

Business Licenses and Permits in North Carolina

North Carolina does not have a generalized license to cover all bases. You’ll need to check your specific industry. The North Carolina Department of Commerce keeps the North Carolina Business & Occupational License Database. There are hundreds of business, occupational, and privilege licenses issued in North Carolina.

Some sample occupations that require licensing include:

  1. Truck Driver School Recruiter
  2. Asbestos Accreditation
  3. Certified General Real Estate Appraiser
  4. Kerosene Supplier

Business Licenses and Permits in North Carolina Cities Like Charlotte

Cities have their own licensing requirements. For example, in Charlotte, you will need to visit Charlotte Business Resources. The Licensing and Permitting page has a wealth of information on getting licenses not just in Charlotte, but also Mecklenburg County. The page answers basic questions on taxes and other topics of interests to business owners.

Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

Business Licenses and Permits in Massachusetts

In the Bay State, the Division of Professional Licensure (“DPL”) is an agency within the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.

Collectively, DPL boards and offices license and regulate over 150 trades and professions in Massachusetts.

From the Massachusetts government website page on the DPL, you’ll need to click on the board governing the appropriate industry to get more information on the licensing you’ll need.

Get a Business License in Mass.

There is also a topic page on the Massachusetts government website all about professional licenses and permits. From that page, you can learn about licensing requirements and laws governing basic professional categories such as:

  1. Health care
  2. The building trades
  3. Cosmetology

Getting a Business License in Massachusetts Cities Like Boston

In the city of Boston, the city’s website has a section on small business development. The Licensing Board issues and regulates licenses for alcohol, food, and lodging in Boston. The Consumer Affairs and Licensing Division licenses entertainment for restaurants and nightclubs. When it comes to liquor licenses, in some instances you will have to meet with the Neighborhood Association before a Board can proceed.

Business Licenses and Permits in Florida

On the My Florida License website, you can click on the names of several industries to learn all about their licensing requirements. These industries include:

  1. Electrical contractors
  2. Harbor pilots
  3. Certified public accountants (CPAs)

Get a Business License in Florida Cities

Many Florida cities have licensing requirements. For a list of Florida cities that links directly to their official websites, go to the Cities page at the State of Florida website. That website also has a Permits and Licenses page.

Business Licensing in Florida Cities Like Tampa

For example, the Tampa government website shows how to get construction permits in the city. Permits are required for, among other activities:

  1. Tree removal
  2. Adding or repairing/upgrading a pool or a spa
  3. The interior finishing of new construction

Business Licenses and Permits in Florida Counties Like Hillsborough

Florida counties have their own licensing requirements. For a list of Florida counties that links directly to their official websites, go to the Counties page at the State of Florida website. On that page, you can choose a county by name.

For example, for licensing information in Hillsborough County, go to the county website’s Apply page, then choose the Businesses tab. There you will find links to permits for activities such as:

  1. Fireworks displays
  2. Special events
  3. Doing construction, development, or utility work in the County’s Right-of-Way

Learn more here and get started with building business credit with your company’s EIN and not your SSN.

Business Licenses and Permits in Washington State

On the Washington State government website, go to the Department of Revenue page, and then to Open a Business, then to Apply for a Business License. You will need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:

  1. Your business requires city and state endorsements
  2. You are doing business using a name other than your full name legal name
  3. Or you plan to hire employees within the next 90 days
  4. You sell a product or provide a service that requires the collection of sales tax

You will also need to register with the Department of Revenue and get a business license if you meet any of the following conditions:

  1. Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more
  2. Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the Department of Revenue
  3. Or you are a buyer or processor of specialty wood products
  4. Your business meets Nexus threshold reporting requirement

Business License in Washington Cities

For city licensing, go to the Washington State government website and look under Manage a Business, then City License Endorsements. There is a list of many of the cities and larger towns in Washington. However, it does not include all cities and towns.

To be thorough, Google the name of the appropriate city or town if it isn’t listed. Check their government website directly, just to be sure.

Business License in WA State Cities Like Seattle-Tacoma (SeaTac)

For example, if you click on the SeaTac link, there is information on a general business license. The City of SeaTac requires a license for all businesses located within city limits or conducting business within city limits.

If you are not sure if you will do business within the city limits, contact the city directly before you apply. Costs depend on the total number of full-time equivalent employees at your business.

Business Licenses and Permits: Takeaways

Business licenses and permits can be easy to overlook in your initial excitement at getting your business off the ground. But don’t ignore them! Failing to properly license a business can result in fines and other penalties. It can also cost you in business from customers and prospects.

Always check state, county, and city/town websites when it comes to licensing. Or call the appropriate government offices to be sure your business is fully and properly licensed.

For more help with setting up a business and making it the best it can be, make sure to contact us. And find out just what our Business Credit Builder has to offer.

The post 3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses appeared first on Credit Suite.

3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses

Business Licenses and Permits – Are They Really Necessary? While not every company needs to have business licenses and permits, it’s still vitally important to check. Make sure because there are consequences to not having licensing. Check out why business licenses and permits matter. And along the way, get specifics on licensure in North Carolina, … Continue reading 3 Surprising Reasons Why It’s So Important to Get Business Permits and Licenses

5 Surprising Things the Top Ranked Sites on Google Have in Common

5 Surprising Things the Top Ranked Sites on Google Have in Common (And What You Can Learn from Them)

What separates the heavyweights of the search engine rankings from everyone else? That’s a question every good SEO constantly asks themselves as they look to outrank sites that seem to dominate Google for every relevant keyword (like Wikipedia or WebMD).

Unsurprisingly, these sites have more than a few things in common. It’s not just their age or authority either—factors that other sites can’t hope to match. There are plenty of similar qualities that help top sites stand apart from their competitors that you can copy and improve today.

Let’s review five of the most important and surprising factors and explain what you can learn from them and how you can use that to improve your own site.

1. Backlinks Reign Supreme

Let’s get the least surprising commonality out of the way first. The top-ranked sites on Google all have a serious number of backlinks. As we all know, high-quality backlinks almost always mean high rankings.

Research from Backlinko finds the first result on Google has an average of 3.8 times as many backlinks as the rest of the results on the first page.

The big boys have it made when it comes to acquiring more backlinks, too. They continue to get more backlinks over time as a result of their position in Google.

Research by Ahrefs finds that the top three results generate more new referring domains than the rest of the pages on Google. Pages ranked first and second get significantly more new referring domains. Those pages ranking first get between backlinks at a faster rate of between five percent and 14.5 percent per month.

top ranked sites Ahrefs study

It’s not just a large number of backlinks that are important. They need to be high quality, too. What does a quality backlink look like? It comes from an authoritative domain, is placed within its content, and has topical relevance to your website.

Let’s say you have a car blog. A link from another high-ranking car blog carries more weight and is of higher quality than a link from a major health website because it’s much more relevant to your niche.

You shouldn’t discount internal links, either. The biggest websites (and news outlets in particular) almost always put a lot of effort into making sure every new piece of content links back to several previous posts.

Great internal linking makes it significantly easier for Google to crawl your website and index your information. The easier your site is to crawl, the more likely Google will find and rank your content. They may not have the same power as backlinks, but internal links can still result in higher rankings.

All this is to say that you need to build backlinks in a scalable way if you want your site to compete with the biggest brands in your industry.

2. Provide High-Quality Content

Most top-ranking websites are well known for the quality of their content. Okay, some major sites don’t publish high-quality content all of the time, but every high-ranking site does produce exceptional content, at least some of the time.

Don’t forget, high-quality content doesn’t necessarily mean it’s longer or more detailed than everyone else’s. It might contain unique research that other companies can’t hope to copy. Or it could break a story. Or it could be designed better. Or it could go viral. There are lots of ways to create amazing content.

Doing so matters when it comes to SEO because high-quality content helps boost several ranking factors. It’s a magnet for backlinks, it reduces your bounce rate, and it should result in a higher clickthrough rate (CTR).

The top-ranked sites don’t just rely on the objective quality of their content, though. They also take steps to optimize it to perform better in Google. That means including keywords in header tags, throughout the content, in the page title, and in the URL.

Creating high-quality content isn’t easy, especially when there’s no objective way to determine how good your content is. That’s the job of your users. That being said, there are still steps you can take to make it more likely your users think highly of your content.

The first is to make sure it’s written by an expert. This is a pretty simple task for some top-ranking sites like media outlets. Journalists, by default, are experts on certain topics. However, there’s nothing stopping you from writing about your expertise or hiring expert writers, either.

You could even use a strategy adopted by some health websites, where content is written by a professional writer and then fact-checked by a medical professional. Doing so has the double benefit of having content written by an excellent writer while also being medically accurate.

3. Focus on User Experience

Top-ranking sites on Google put a premium on the user experience and do everything they can to keep customers coming back. This means having a great design, high-quality content as discussed above, an intuitive layout, and a great browsing experience in general. Yes, some of the highest-ranking sites may serve up ads on their pages, but they don’t ruin your browsing experience with them or use intrusive popup ads, either.

A great user experience is one of the reasons these sites are top of Google, after all. Google announced that user experience metrics would be used to rank sites, beginning in 2021. How your site loads, what it looks like, and how users interact with it contribute to your rankings, along with other factors like HTTPS, safe browsing, mobile friendliness, and the presence of interstitials.

Google puts such a big emphasis on your site’s user experience because it aligns with its goal of giving customers the best possible browsing experience. The search giant finds over half (52 percent) of users will be less likely to engage with a brand after a bad mobile experience. So why would it rank you if you have a high bounce rate?

Improving your site’s user experience and aligning it with the experiences provided by the top-ranking sites won’t just improve your rankings; it also makes commercial sense. Ad network Ezoic generated a 186 percent increase in earnings per 1000 visitors by improving the UX of a publisher.

4. Make Sure Your Page Speed Is Competitive

You’ve never had to wait for the New York Times to load, have you? That’s because top-ranking sites know the importance of delivering content as fast as possible. Page load speed has been a ranking factor for desktop searches since 2010, and Google announced it was also a ranking factor for mobile searches back in 2018.

Say it with me: A slower site means lower rankings.

You need to optimize for page speed if you want to mix it with the highest-ranking sites. It’s not so much about getting the edge over your competitors and making your site 0.1 seconds faster, however. It’s about having a site that’s fast enough to not impact the user experience negatively.

Research by Google finds over half (53 percent) of visitors abandon a mobile site if it doesn’t load in three seconds.

If you have a slow site, you won’t just get penalized for a poor load time. You’ll also get penalized for having a high bounce rate as users get fed up with waiting and choose a different site instead.

The easiest way to check your page speed is by using Google’s PageSpeed Insights tool. It will let you know how fast your site is, give it a score out of 100, and suggest improvements.

Top ranked sites page speed

If you want to have a seriously fast-loading page, read my advice on getting a perfect score with Google PageSpeed Insights.

5. Consider User Intent

Have you noticed how some top-ranking sites have several pieces of content that all seem to approach the same topic from a slightly different angle? That’s because they understand the power of user intent and the value Google places on it.

Google wants to serve up the best and most appropriate content for each query. A big part of that is understanding what the user is trying to achieve from their search. Are they trying to learn something? Research a topic? Make a purchase? Google delivers different results for each intent.

For instance, Google shows e-commerce pages where it thinks the user is trying to make a purchase, but it serves up blog articles for information-related queries.

Knowing what type of content Google thinks users want to see is key to becoming a top-ranked site, because you’re much more likely to get ranked if you create content that matches the user intent for each target keyword. This is why so many top-ranking sites have similar content targeting the same topics: to catch every user intent.

It’s not simply a matter of informational vs. commercial, either. There are dozens of types of informative content that users may want to access. In some cases, it’s a listicle. For other queries, a video may be more appropriate.

Taking time to understand the user intent for each keyword or topic you’re targeting can yield serious results. Marketing SaaS CoSchedule saw a 594 percent increase in search traffic when they aligned content with user intent.

Top Ranked Sites: FAQs

What do the top-ranking sites have in common?

They all have a lot of high-quality backlinks, great content, an excellent user experience, a fast-loading website, and content that matches the user’s intent.

Why do the top sites have so many more backlinks?

This is partly because of the quality of content but also due to the fact that they sit at the top of Google. This makes them an easy target for people trying to link to an authoritative source.

How can better content improve my rankings?

Better content can improve your rankings in several ways. High-quality content attracts more backlinks, but Google also rewards in-depth content and results in users spending a long time on the page.

Why does user experience matter?

Google wants to provide the best experience to its users. Part of that means sending them to sites that are easy to browse. It’s why user experience factors are now ranking factors.

How can I check my page speed?

Use the Google PageSpeed Insights tool.

How can I gauge user intent?

Google the keyword you want to rank for and look at the pages that appear in the results. If all of the content has the same format, that’s the type of content you should create.

Conclusion: What You Can Learn From the Top Ranked Sites

You can’t turn your website into a top-ranking site overnight. However, you can learn a lot from them and implement tactics they use to improve your site’s Google ranking. There are more than a few things they do in common, as you’ve learned.

Make sure you have a scalable system for generating backlinks, create high-quality content, focus on the user experience, ensure your site loads fast, and consider user intent when you create content.

Do these five things, and you could be well on your way to having a top-ranked site in the future.

What are you going to work on first?