What are the main SEO ranking factors?

Google uses over 200 signals, but the most influential include:

• Content quality & relevance: Helpful, original, and comprehensive answers to user queries.

• Backlinks: Links from trusted, authoritative websites remain critical for ranking.

• Mobile-friendliness: With mobile-first indexing, your site must perform well on smartphones.

• Page speed & Core Web Vitals: Slow, unstable, or unresponsive pages frustrate users and hurt rankings.

• On-page signals: Titles, headings, structured content, and internal links.

• User behavior signals: High CTR, low bounce rate, and time spent on page indicate user satisfaction.

Other secondary factors include domain age, HTTPS security, user experience design, image optimization, and local SEO signals like Google Business Profile. Social signals and brand mentions can also indirectly influence visibility by boosting authority and awareness.