7 Ways to achieve standout results on Google search result in 2026

As a website owner one of your major achievements would be getting featured on the first page of Google’s search results. However, you also need to keep in mind the fact that it is always easier to get to the top when compared with staying over there for a sustained period of time. Therein, lies the challenge and in order to achieve that aim you have to have a broader view of things. Your efforts should not just stop with getting to the first page, you should also try and stay there as long as possible. You need to understand some basic facts.

Just being listed there will not help you in the long run – it will not get you the traffic you need. Normally, it has been seen that users tend to go for results that standout from the rest of the competition. The struggle for search engine supremacy is rather cut-throat these days and if you are not as competent as others, when it comes to making your search results noticeable, then you will fall far behind the 8-ball. Now, the question is how do you make your site good enough for the search engine results to show it time and again?

Relevant Page Titles:

Your page titles should be relevant and yet different from others. Now, how do you do that? You can the maximum number of characters. 50-65 is a good range for such purposes. Normally search results of Google never show more than 65 characters. You should also look at the pixel width your title tag is taking up. For example, if possible try and avoid wide letters such as W and A. Make sure that your title is no more than 70 characters.

Otherwise Google will simply ignore anything beyond that stage and could also report your title for a long title tag error. At the same time, you need to ensure that your title is relevant – it should be related to what your page wants to say. Your main phrases should be right there at the start of your title. If possible, you can also add a local touch to the page title.

Search Engine Friendly URLs:

It is always better if your domain name contains the keywords that you are looking to target. However, you need to realize that it is a bonus, not a given. So, avoid doing something silly like buying a domain name that is exactly what you want. Such a step could mean that you get caught up in the quicksand named exact match domain algorithm.

Ideally your URL should be such that people find it easy to search them. Your permalink structures should also be good enough to guarantee that you get figured on related searches. Your URL should convey the content of your website to the users so that they find it useful and Google ranks it high.

Attractive Meta-Description (with Call-to-Action):

Normally, meta-descriptions have no bearing when it comes to a website/webpage’s ranking. However, all the same, they can encourage the users to go for your website rather than that of your competitor. Your description should ideally be within 100 to 150 characters. If you either exceed it or do not reach the limit then it will be reported as an error in the Google Webmaster Tools.

Your meta-description should ideally convey what service is being provided by the particular page and then use call-to-action to make sure the visitor does something.

Google Authorship:

This is one of the most efficient methods when it comes to making sure that your website stands heads and shoulders above others in Google search engine results. It especially helps when you are the only one doing it in the category you are operating it. For example when you search Google for SEO you will also see a lot of people doing this but when you look for websites for sectors such as construction and real estate – ones that are not so much into technology – you will not see too many people writing their own content. In fact, you could be the only one.

Google Local:

If you are able to optimize your brand website for the local clientele you will always be benefited. Mind you, this is applicable for businesses of all shapes and sizes. You can also use tools such as MOZ Local in order to verify how correct your business listings are. When you fill out your profiles properly and claim the business listings Google comprehends your business to a greater extent. If you have citations from top class websites it will help your ranking – the more the merrier. When you help Google understand the connection between your website and business listings there is a good chance that the map listing will be shown right next to the search result as well.

Personalized Annotations:

Quite often we see that people are looking for recommendations since they consider them to be useful. So Google tries hard to make sure that such users get the recommendations they are looking for as often as possible. Since, people consider their friends’ suggestions to be trustworthy, personalized annotations are used in order to show when a blog post or webpage has been accorded a +1. You can add a Google+ badge or a +1 button on your webpage.

Google Reviews:

You can ask your clients and users to provide Google reviews and this will be a useful way to enhance your rankings in local search. You can actually make this a part of your regular procedure. In case of service industries it has been seen that they are able to ask specific people to provide reviews on their websites. On the other hand, entities such as hotels and restaurants keep a track of reviews and then take steps to deal with the complaints posted against them. The main aim is this case is to make sure that the bad reviews become good reviews in due course.