So… What Does Google Want From You?

You’ve asked it, we’ve all asked it:

“What exactly is Google looking for from my site?”

You’ve added keywords. You have a Google Business Profile. You even got a few reviews.

Still not ranking?
Here’s the deal: Google’s not just looking at your website—it’s evaluating your entire digital presence.

And it’s using hundreds of signals to do it.

The Core Ranking Signals That Matter

Google doesn’t give away its full recipe—but we know what’s in the mix. Here’s what matters most in 2025:

📱 Mobile Usability

• Your site must load quickly and work flawlessly on smartphones.
• Bonus: Google’s “mobile-first” means your mobile site matters more than desktop.

🧠 Helpful, Relevant Content

• Are you answering the questions people are really asking?
• Do you offer unique insight or just restate what’s already out there?

🧭 Clear Site Structure

• Easy navigation
• Logical menus
• Internal linking to help users (and bots) explore

💬 Fresh Activity

• New content (blogs, pages, updates)
• Engagement on your Google profile
• Signals that your business is active and current

🔗 Backlinks and Mentions

• Do other trustworthy websites link to yours?
• Are you mentioned consistently in directories and citations?

⭐ Trust Factors

• Verified contact info
• SSL certificate (https)
• Privacy policies and transparent business details

👤 E-E-A-T

(Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)

• Especially important for industries like law, health, finance—but useful for everyone.

Why This Matters for Service-Based Businesses

Google isn’t comparing you to Amazon—it’s comparing you to the roofer across town or the inspector two zip codes away.

That means:

• Your mobile site must load faster than theirs.
• Your service page must be more relevant.
• Your reviews must be fresher.

The small stuff adds up.

How to Know Where You Stand

Ask yourself:

• Can a customer get every answer they need on your homepage?
• Are you adding helpful, search-friendly content at least monthly?
• Is your Google Business Profile updated weekly?
• Have you checked your site speed lately?

If not—Google’s probably giving love to someone else.

Managed Nerds Helps You Meet Google’s Standards

At Managed Nerds, we cut the guesswork and get strategic.

We help small service-based businesses:

• Run SEO audits to uncover issues
• Create fast-loading, mobile-friendly websites
• Use AI tools to generate relevant content regularly
• Monitor your Google Business Profile for ongoing improvements
• Offer monthly training so you understand what’s working

We don’t chase algorithms—we align with what works.

Want Google to Love Your Site (and Show You Off)?

Let Managed Nerds optimize your site for real-world ranking factors.
Because SEO shouldn’t be a mystery—it should be a strategy.