Google Is Like Your Grade-School Teacher: How to Ace Your SEO “Report Card”

Imagine Google as a grade-school teacher. This teacher has a detailed list of things you need to do to get the best marks—and a list of things you absolutely shouldn’t do. Your goal? Be the valedictorian, the top of the class, the business that ranks first when customers search for your services.

Google checks your “report card” based on what you do right and what mistakes you avoid. Here’s a simple guide to help you get straight A’s.

Reviews: Show You’re Trusted and Reliable

Do:

• Get lots of positive reviews. Reviews help build trust and social proof, which Google values. Check out Google’s guide on getting more reviews for best practices.
• Encourage customers to mention specific services and locations naturally in their reviews.
• Reply to reviews thoughtfully, calmly, and with relevant keywords to reinforce your services.
• Ask customers to upload photos with their reviews to boost engagement.
• Monitor your reviews regularly and respond professionally to negative feedback.

Do Not:

• Post fake reviews or testimonials—Google’s policies on fake reviews are strict and violations can lead to penalties.
• Ignore or delete negative reviews without responding professionally.

Website: Make Your Site a Star Student

Do:

• Have a great, mobile-friendly website that loads quickly. Google prioritizes mobile-first sites—see their mobile-first indexing guide.
• Use one clear topic per page with separate pages for each service or location.
• Create a page for every service you provide.
• Follow ADA accessibility best practices, like proper color contrast and readable fonts. Google’s Page Experience update covers accessibility as part of ranking.
• Use structured data (schema markup) to help Google understand your business better; learn more from Google’s structured data guide.
• Keep your website secure with HTTPS as recommended by Google Safe Browsing.
• Regularly update your website content to keep it fresh and relevant. Google emphasizes creating helpful content.
• Optimize your Google Business Profile photos with clear, high-quality images.
• Make your website easy to navigate with clear menus and calls to action.
• Optimize for voice search by including natural language phrases.
• Write unique meta titles and descriptions for each page; avoid duplication as recommended in Google’s SEO Starter Guide.

Do Not:

• Combine all your services into one big list on a single page.
• Stuff keywords unnaturally into URLs, Google Business Profile, footers, or content.
• Use duplicate meta titles or descriptions across pages.
• Use invisible text such as white text on white background—Google warns against cloaking and sneaky redirects.
• Use intrusive pop-ups that block content, especially on mobile. See Google’s policy on intrusive interstitials.
• Ignore user experience signals such as high bounce rates or poor navigation.
• Create multiple pages targeting the same keywords, which causes keyword cannibalization.

Off-Page SEO: Build Your Reputation Beyond Your Website

Do:

• Build quality backlinks from reputable, relevant websites. Follow Google’s guidelines on link schemes.
• Ensure your business info (name, address, phone number) is consistent across all online listings, as emphasized in Google’s guidelines.
• Keep your Google Business Profile and other directories up to date with accurate information.

Do Not:

• Get backlinks from link farms, paid links, or irrelevant directories (for example, a plumber listed in a lawyer directory).
• Use a business name that someone else nearby (within about 200 miles) is already using, as this can confuse customers and Google.
• Neglect your local citations on platforms like Yelp and Angie’s List.

Wrapping It Up: Getting That A+ on Your SEO Report Card

Think of SEO as your schoolwork and Google as the strict but fair teacher. Follow the “do” list to show you’re responsible, trustworthy, and knowledgeable. Avoid the “do not” list so you don’t get dinged for bad behavior.

By focusing on positive reviews, clear and focused website pages, good backlink practices, and keeping everything user-friendly and accessible, you’ll impress your teacher (Google) and stand out to customers.

Want help getting top marks and ranking above your competitors? We’re here to guide you through every assignment.