If your website is stuck on page two of Google search results, you’re not alone. Many business owners face this frustrating situation. You’ve done the basics—added keywords, published content, and built a few links—but your site just won’t break through to page one. So what’s missing?
In the digital world, SEO is a powerful tool, but it’s not a one-time task. Search engines are constantly changing, and what worked six months ago might not work today. In this article, we’ll explore practical, easy-to-implement strategies to improve your website ranking and push your pages from page two to page one.
Why Being on Page Two Isn’t Good Enough
Studies have shown that more than 70% of users never scroll past the first page of search results. That means if your website is on page two, it’s practically invisible to most users. Even if your content is great, poor website ranking can keep your audience—and potential customers—from ever finding you.
Being stuck on page two often means you’re close but not quite there. It’s usually a sign that your SEO is working, but it needs fine-tuning. The good news? A few targeted changes can often lead to noticeable improvements.
Start with a Fresh SEO Audit
The first step to fixing any problem is identifying what’s going wrong. An SEO audit will give you insights into your site’s technical health, keyword usage, backlink profile, and more.
Key areas to check:
- Are your target keywords used naturally throughout the content?
- Is your page mobile-friendly and fast-loading?
- Are there any broken links or crawl errors?
- Do you have duplicate or thin content?
Improve Your On-Page SEO
Your content might already be good—but is it optimised for the right keywords? And is it sending the right signals to Google?
Here’s what to focus on:
- Title tags and meta descriptions: These should be unique, include your main keyword, and entice users to click.
- Header structure: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags to break up content and help search engines understand the page structure.
- Keyword placement: Naturally include your primary and secondary keywords in the first 100 words, subheadings, and conclusion.
- Internal linking: Link to other relevant pages within your website to spread authority and keep users engaged.
Small tweaks in on-page SEO can make a big difference in website ranking over time.
Focus on Search Intent
One common reason pages get stuck on page two is that they don’t match the searcher’s intent. In other words, your content might not be answering the right question.
For example, if someone searches “how to improve website speed,” they’re likely looking for a step-by-step guide—not a sales page. Review the top 5 pages currently ranking for your keyword and see what kind of content is performing best.
Then ask yourself:
- Does my content fully answer the user’s question?
- Is it better or more detailed than the current top-ranking results?
- Can I add something unique—like examples, visuals, or updated info?
This strategy helps your content become more useful, which can lead to better website ranking and user engagement.
Build Strong Backlinks
Google sees backlinks—links from other websites to yours—as a vote of confidence. If high-quality, relevant websites link to your content, it tells search engines that your page is trustworthy and valuable.
Here are a few ways to earn backlinks:
- Write guest posts for industry blogs
- Create shareable content like infographics or statistics round-ups
- Reach out to websites mentioning your brand and ask for a link
- List your business in credible directories
Backlinks take time to build but are a major ranking factor in SEO.
Use Updated, Engaging Content
Google prefers fresh content. If your page has been live for a while without updates, that could be holding it back.
Consider:
- Updating the article with new statistics or insights
- Adding internal links to newer pages
- Embedding a short video to increase time on page
- Expanding the content with FAQs or case studies
Engaging content not only pleases search engines but also keeps users on your page longer—another positive signal for SEO.
Technical SEO: Don’t Overlook It
While content and keywords are important, technical SEO plays a big role too. Issues like slow site speed, poor mobile design, and crawl errors can prevent your page from moving up in rankings.
Here’s a checklist:
- Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to check your speed
- Make sure your site is secure (HTTPS)
- Ensure pages are properly indexed with a working sitemap
- Fix any duplicate content or broken links
Even minor technical issues can block your SEO progress, especially when you’re already close to page one.
Measure, Monitor, and Adjust
SEO isn’t a set-and-forget task. Regularly monitor your keyword rankings, page traffic, and bounce rates using tools like Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
Ask yourself:
- Which pages are gaining traction?
- Which keywords are slipping?
- What content brings the most engagement?
Based on this data, continue refining your content, adding backlinks, and improving user experience.
Final Thoughts
Breaking past page two in Google rankings may seem difficult, but it’s absolutely possible with the right SEO strategy. Focus on understanding what search engines—and users—expect from your content. Improve your technical setup, build backlinks, and keep your content fresh and relevant.
Remember, SEO is a long game. It may take a few weeks or months to see major changes, but with consistent effort, you’ll start seeing your website ranking rise—and more importantly, your traffic and conversions will follow.
