Everyone wants to be on the first page of Google, but only a few know how to get there. As we enter 2025, ranking #1 on Google is more competitive than ever but also more achievable if you follow the right steps.
Whether you’re a business owner, digital marketer, or just starting out, this step-by-step guide will show you exactly how to climb to the top of the search results using proven strategies that work today.
Let’s break it down into simple, actionable steps.
Step 1: Understand How Google Works
Before you can beat the competition, you need to understand how Google decides what to show users.
Here’s the short version:
Google wants to show the most helpful, relevant, and trustworthy content for each search. It does this by using:
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Keywords (words people search for)
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Backlinks (links from other websites to yours)
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User experience (how easy and useful your site is)
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Mobile-friendliness
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Page speed
So, your job is to make your site the best possible answer for what people are searching.
Step 2: Choose the Right Keywords
Ranking #1 starts with knowing what to rank for. Keywords are the words and phrases people type (or speak) into Google.
How to choose keywords:
- Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ubersuggest, or AnswerThePublic.
- Find keywords with good search volume (lots of people searching) but low competition (not too hard to rank for).
- Think like your audience what would you search if you were looking for your product or service?
Pro Tip:
Start with long-tail keywords they’re longer, more specific phrases like “best SEO tools for small businesses 2025.” They’re easier to rank for and bring in more targeted traffic.
Step 3: Create High-Quality, Helpful Content
Once you have your keywords, it’s time to create content that answers the searcher’s question better than anyone else.
What great content looks like in 2025:
- Gives real value (tips, steps, insights)
- Is easy to read (use short paragraphs, bullet points, and clear headings)
- Includes images or videos to help explain things
- Is updated and relevant to today’s search trends
For example, if you’re writing a blog about “how to rank #1 on Google,” your article should offer:
- Clear steps
- Easy explanations
- Examples and tools
Like this blog you’re reading right now!
Step 4: Optimize On-Page SEO
On-page SEO is what you do on your own site to help Google understand and rank your content.
Key on-page SEO tasks:
- Put your keyword in the title (like we did here)
- Use it in the URL, first paragraph, and headings
- Add meta title and meta description (what people see in search results)
- Use internal links (linking to other pages on your site)
- Use alt text on images (Google can’t “see” pictures, so describe them)
Example:
If your keyword is “SEO tips for 2025,” a good title would be:
“Top 10 SEO Tips for 2025 to Boost Your Google Ranking”
Step 5: Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
More than 60% of Google searches happen on mobile. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it will be hard to rank well.
How to check:
- Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test
- Make sure text is readable on phones
- Buttons and menus should be easy to tap
- Avoid pop-ups that cover content
If your site is built with WordPress or a modern website builder like Wix or Shopify, choose a responsive theme that automatically adjusts for mobile.
Step 6: Improve Page Speed
Google wants to show fast-loading pages. If your site is slow, users will leave and Google will notice.
How to fix it:
- Test your speed with PageSpeed Insights
- Compress large images
- Remove unnecessary plugins or scripts
- Use a good hosting provider
- Use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) if you get traffic from different locations
Even a 1-second delay can cause a big drop in user engagement so speed matters!
Step 7: Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. They are like votes that tell Google your site is trusted.
How to get them:
- Write helpful guest posts for other blogs in your industry
- Share your content on social media and forums
- Reach out to websites or influencers and ask for a link (if it makes sense)
- List your site in quality online directories
Be careful don’t buy backlinks or join spammy link schemes. Google is smart and will penalize bad links.
Step 8: Track Your Results and Keep Improving
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Use tools like:
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Google Analytics (to see your traffic and visitor behavior)
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Google Search Console (to monitor rankings and fix issues)
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Ahrefs or SEMrush (for deeper SEO analysis)
Watch your keyword rankings, traffic sources, bounce rate, and time on page. If a blog post is getting traffic, keep updating it to stay on top.
Bonus Tips for 2025
Use AI Tools the Right Way
AI can help you generate content ideas, analyze SEO data, and improve your writing. But always add your human touch real experience and insight still matter most.
Optimize for Voice Search
More people are using Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant to search. Use natural language and answer questions clearly to show up in voice results.
Stay Updated
Google changes its algorithm often. Stay current by following trusted SEO blogs like:
- Moz
- Neil Patel
- Search Engine Journal
Final Thoughts
Ranking #1 on Google doesn’t happen overnight. But if you follow these steps and stay consistent your site can reach the top over time.
Let’s recap:
- Understand how Google works
- Choose the right keywords
- Create helpful, high-quality content
- Optimize for on-page SEO
- Make your site mobile-friendly
- Improve your page speed
- Build strong backlinks
- Track your results and keep improving
If you do this well, you’ll not only rank higher you’ll also get more clicks, leads, and sales.
Need help putting it all together? The team at 90Leads can help you build a results-driven SEO strategy designed for 2025 and beyond.
