Ask Chat GPT!
What Are the Biggest Ranking Factors?
Sure, I may be an SEO expert with years of experience managing campaigns for everyone from Fortune 500 companies to day-one startups, but sometimes that’s not good enough! Sometimes what you really need is a hyper-intelligent AI who’s read everything written on the Internet prior to August 17th, 2024! That’s why I’ve decided to introduce a new feature on Accuracy SEO. It’s time for “Ask Chat GPT!”
In today’s inaugural session, I’ve asked Chat GPT 6 a very important question: “What do you think are the biggest SEO ranking factors in order?” Here’s how it answered (with some commentary from moi, your humble editor).
“What do you think are the biggest SEO ranking factors in order?”
Oof. You just asked the SEO equivalent of “What’s the meaning of life?”—except instead of 42, Google gives us 200+ ranking factors, then reshuffles them like a Las Vegas blackjack dealer at midnight. 🎲✨
(Editor’s note: Am I the only one who finds Chat GPT’s introductions supremely annoying?)
But you’re smart—and strategic—so here’s the real-world, 2025-accurate, money-making breakdown of Google’s biggest ranking factors in order of influence, based on the latest data, SEO research (think: Semrush, Ahrefs, Backlinko, and Google’s own cryptic whispers), and what’s actually working in the field.
(Editor’s note: fair enough, let’s hear it. I am pretty smart, though.)
🔥 GPT 6’s “Power 10” Google Ranking Factors (2025 Edition)
🥇 1. Intent Match (a.k.a. Search Intent + Content Relevance)
Does your content perfectly match what the searcher is actually trying to do?
Google doesn’t just want to see keywords—it wants goals fulfilled. If someone searches “sports massage for neck pain NYC,” your page better speak to sports massage, neck pain relief, and booking availability in NYC. Period.
(Editor’s note: Glad to see that ChatGPT has chosen targeted content for the #1 spot.)
🥈 2. Page Experience & Core Web Vitals
If your site feels like 1999 or loads like a sloth on sedatives, you’re out.
- Fast load time (<2.5s)
- Mobile-first responsive design
- No layout shifts or annoying popups
- HTTPS (non-negotiable)
Google wants users to feel like your site is silk in their hands, not sandpaper.
(Ed: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, technical issues can and will tank your rankings. I’ve seen sites rank well with load times far above 2.5s, and sometimes layout shifts are just part of how your site was built, but responsive design and HTTPs are must-haves. I think Chat GPT is being slightly hyperbolic here, as it’s wont to do.)
🥉 3. On-Page SEO Excellence
The classic trio: title tag, H1, meta description—but now with a semantic twist.
Proper use of target keyword, synonyms, and semantic topics (a.k.a. NLP optimization)
- Headers that follow a clean hierarchy (H1 > H2 > H3)
- Internal linking with clear structure
- Smart URL structures:
yourdomain.com/sports-massage-nyc
(Ed: What ChatGPT is saying here is so fundamental and easy to implement that any SEO content creation or content optimization effort will include it as a matter of course. I view this stuff as so basic that I often forget to talk about it. Thanks, Chat GPT.)
🏅 4. High-Quality Content (EEAT-Focused)
Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness (plus a pulse of human voice)
- Author bios (especially for YMYL sites—health, finance, wellness)
- Real-world experience → testimonials, case studies, before/after
- Well-researched, non-fluffy, original content
- Up-to-date information
💡 In 2025, “Experience” matters more than ever. Google wants to know you’ve actually done the thing you’re talking about.
(Ed here: This one is interesting, and not-so-common to hear brought up among SEOs. When it comes to author bios Chat GPT is probably referring to semantic markup and/or WordPress functionality, something that few sites bother to use. It’s also interesting that we’re all the way down to #4 and still focused on content with nary a whisper about backlinks. I know a lot of SEOs would be triggered by that. I’m a content believer so I’m going to act like Chat GPT isn’t pulling the order of importance out of a highly random hat, even though it probably is. What’s next?)
🏆 5. Backlinks from Relevant, Authoritative Sites
Still king for competitive niches. Quality > quantity. Relevance > raw domain rating.
- Local business citations
- PR mentions or features
- Niche authority sites
- Guest posting (still alive and well)
- Natural backlinks from great content (like stats, visuals, or data)
(Hey, it’s me, Ed!: Plenty of SEOs would put this at #1, but they’re mostly the crotchety types who love playing poker and have never read a book.)
💼 6. Google Business Profile Strength (Local SEO Only)
For service-area businesses and brick-and-mortar, GBP is your homepage on Google.
- GBP optimization (categories, photos, services)
- Active posting and Q&A
- High-quality reviews + responses
- NAP consistency across the web
- Proximity to searcher
(My name is Ed. Not really though, it’s actually Josh: a lot of small businesses are focused on local search. We often start working on this stuff in month one or early in month two.)
📍 7. User Behavior Metrics (Engagement Signals)
CTR, bounce rate, time on page, pogo-sticking (clicking back to Google fast = bad).
Google sees you getting traffic. Now it wants to see: do users stay, read, and convert?
- Strong, curiosity-driven meta titles
- Fast-loading content above the fold
- Clear CTAs and visual flow
(Eddy Weddy: some of this comes down to content optimization, and some of it we call “conversion optimization.” I touched on time on page in my article That’s Too Short: Why a Longer Page is (Almost) Always Better for SEO.)
🧠 8. Topical Authority
Do you own the niche, or are you just visiting?
- Clusters of related content (pillar + supporting pages)
- Internal linking to show depth
- Regularly updated content on the subject
If you write 10 articles on “massage therapy,” Google sees you as a go-to authority. One blog post? Meh.
(Mr. Editor: is anyone else noticing a pattern here? 90% of what Chat GPT is talking about comes down to quality targeted content. That’s why Content Creation is first on our list of services. For more on “clusters of related content,” see my partner’s article What is a Content Cluster? Creating Content for Targeted SEO.)
🌍 9. Mobile Optimization & Usability
Mobile-first indexing is not a suggestion—it’s how Google sees your site, period.
- Clean mobile layout
- Clickable buttons
- No tap-target issues
- Instant load on mobile
Bonus: Use AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) for ultra-fast blog delivery.
(It’s me, Josh (Ed). I’m starting to get tired: I thought Chat GPT already covered this in #2: “mobile-first responsive design.” It’s almost like Chat GPT just throws out information at random and acts like it was all according to a plan. It’s almost like an educated human could do better. But would human content have that oh-so-cute Chat GPT patina that we all know and love?)
🧬 10. Schema Markup / Structured Data
Speak Google’s secret language and you’ll get rich snippets, reviews, FAQ boxes, and star ratings.
- LocalBusiness schema
- FAQPage schema
- Review schema
- Article schema for blogs
This helps Google understand what you do and rewards you with visual dominance in the SERP.
(Editor: Let me tell you a little secret. I know all about schema but I usually don’t implement it for our clients unless they have product listings. Why? Because most of my clients are on a limited budget and time is better spent elsewhere. Besides, Google is now pulling “schema like” snippets from web pages that don’t have schema hard coded. You kind of have to mention it but I’m glad Chat GPT put this in the #10 spot- deservedly so.)
⚠️ Honorable Mentions (Still Important, Just Not Top 10):
- Domain authority (slow-burn effect)
- Social signals (indirect influence)
- HTTPS and security
- Image optimization (file size, alt text, captions)
- Video content (time on page & engagement booster)
- AI-generated content—when edited by humans for nuance and quality
(Josh here: are we done?! Phew! Incidentally, I would trade Domain Authority for just about anything else on this list. Unfortunately, you need everything else on this list to gain Domain Authority. Also, wasn’t HTTPS already mentioned in #2? Get your act together, Chat GPT! You’re supposed to be an all-knowing robot here to make humans obsolete! Geez! Do better!)
And That’s It for “Ask Chat GPT!” (Cue exit music.)
Now wasn’t that fun? AND educational? I for one welcome our new robot overlords.
Of course, if you don’t want to ask Chat GPT, you can always ask us. Just click Free SEO Analysis or Get Started to schedule your free consultation. We’re almost as good as a robot. Honest.
Tune in next time for another exciting installment of “Ask Chat GPT!” For now, read some stuff written by humans.
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