Achieving a page 1 ranking on Google within 30 days is highly improbable for most search terms, particularly competitive ones, due to the complex algorithms Google employs. Ranking is determined by a multitude of factors, and Google’s systems, as of December 2025, prioritise established authority and relevance, which take time to build.
Google’s ranking systems currently rely heavily on its core algorithm updates, including those impacting Search Generative Experience (SGE) which now includes AI-powered overviews. These systems analyse factors like content quality assessed by its Helpful Content System, backlinks from authoritative Australian websites (like .au domains), Core Web Vitals measuring page experience, and user interaction signals. Google Business Profile (GBP) optimisation is crucial for local searches, and in December 2025, GBP now integrates more directly with Search, impacting ‘local pack’ rankings. Google’s indexing process, while generally fast, can still take time, and new sites or pages require ‘crawl budget’ allocation. Announced for 2027, Google is planning further integration of AI-generated content into search results, potentially altering ranking signals, but the core principle of relevance and authority will remain.
Ultimately, Google’s ranking systems function by evaluating and comparing websites against hundreds of factors to determine the most relevant and authoritative results for a given search query.
