In Brief
SEO is essential for every business operating online today. Studies show that Google’s first position receives nearly 28% of all clicks, mobile-friendliness and loading speed directly affect visibility, and long, high-quality content brings more organic traffic. Strong backlinks remain one of the most important ranking factors.
SEO, or search engine optimization, is of critical importance for every online business today. It helps your website rank higher on Google and other search engines so that more people can find you. But how exactly does SEO work and what results does it deliver? Let’s take a closer look at some recent studies and numerical facts published online. These will help you better understand why it’s worth investing in SEO, even if you are not the biggest digital expert.
The Impact of the First Page of Search Results is Still Powerful
One of the most important things in SEO is getting to the first page of search results. Why? Because most people never look beyond the first page. Studies show that this is still true, and even more so than before.
- The click-through rate (CTR) for results on the first page of Google is significantly higher. For example, a Semrush study showed that the page in the first position receives an average of 27.6% of all clicks. This number drops sharply starting from the second position and beyond. This means that if your website is at the top of the search results, there is a much higher probability that people will visit it. Source: Semrush Blog
Mobile-Friendliness and Page Speed are Critical
Today, people use the internet mainly on mobile phones. Therefore, it is very important for search engines that your website is mobile-friendly and fast. Google highly values these factors, and they directly affect your position in search results.
- Websites not optimized for mobile lose traffic. According to Backlinko data, mobile-friendliness is of critical importance, and Google indexes mobile versions first. This means that if your website does not work well on mobile, it directly affects your visibility. Source: Backlinko
- Slow page loading drives visitors away. Google’s own research has shown that even a one-second delay in mobile page loading can reduce conversions (such as purchases or inquiries) by up to 20%. This number highlights the importance of page speed not only for SEO but also for user experience. Source: Google Think with Google
Quality content is still king
While technical SEO and page speed are important, there is no getting around high-quality and relevant content. Google’s algorithm is becoming increasingly smart and is better at evaluating the value of content for the user.
- Long and comprehensive content tends to rank higher. A HubSpot study found that blog posts longer than 2,000 words receive significantly more organic traffic. This doesn’t mean every post needs to be incredibly long, but it suggests that thorough and value-providing content is preferred. Source: HubSpot Blog
- E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) is important for credibility. Google’s quality guidelines emphasize E-A-T principles, meaning search engines value content created by experts that is authoritative and trustworthy. This is especially important in the health, finance, and legal sectors. Source: Google Search Quality Rater Guidelines
Link building continues to be an important part
External links, or links pointing to your site from other websites, have been and continue to be one of the most important SEO factors. They act as votes of confidence in favor of your website.
- High-quality backlinks correlate with higher rankings. BrightEdge research shows that having high-quality and relevant backlinks continues to be strongly associated with better positions in search results. It is important to emphasize quality over quantity. Source: BrightEdge
These latest studies confirm that SEO is a dynamic field that requires constant attention and adaptation. Even if you are not an SEO expert, it is important to understand these principles and invest in your website’s visibility to reach more potential customers and achieve success in the digital world.