SEO keeps changing. Google updates, AI-driven search, and new ranking signals shift the rules faster than ever.

But SEO isn’t dead. It’s not fading away. In fact, it’s still one of the most reliable ways to grow organic traffic, attract customers, and build authority.

If you want better visibility, you need to sharpen your SEO. Basics like title tags and simple link building are no longer enough. You need strategies that separate you from the noise.

We’ll walk you through advanced SEO methods that go beyond the basics. These are the same techniques trusted by top-ranking websites and marketing teams.

When applied correctly, they can help you:

• Drive steady growth in organic traffic.
  
• Win top rankings for competitive keywords.
  
• Build authority that stands out in crowded search results.

If your rankings are flat, your traffic is declining, or you’re stuck outside the top results, the steps in this guide will help you turn it around.

Method	Effort Level	Focus Area
Show Real Experience in Content	High	Content Strategy
Add Unique Insights & Data	High	Content Strategy
Win Featured Snippets	Medium	SERP Optimization
Create Linkable Assets	High	Link Building
Update Content with GSC Data	Medium	Content Refresh
Target New & Trending Keywords	High	Keyword Strategy
Improve User Experience Signals	Medium	Technical SEO / UX
Shift from ToFu to BoFu Keywords	High	Conversion SEO
Use Broken Link Building	High	Link Building
Boost Site Speed	Medium	Technical SEO
Expand Beyond Google Search	Very High	Brand Authority

Before we go further, this guide is not a beginner’s SEO tutorial. If you want a foundation first, start with our guide on what SEO is in digital marketing. For a deep dive into link strategies, you can explore our ultimate link building guide.

Here’s what I’ll assume about you:
You know the fundamentals.
You have built some links and fixed your technical issues.
You want measurable growth in rankings, traffic, and conversions.

Traffic alone is not the only metric worth tracking. Conversions, engagement, and authority matter just as much. But there is still plenty of organic traffic available. This guide shows you how to capture it.

Use Real Experience to Build Trust

Effort: Very High
Area: Content Strategy
Summary: Hard to scale, but crucial for trust, authority, and stronger rankings under Google’s E-E-A-T framework.

Search engines reward content that feels authentic. Readers do too. When your content lacks real experience, people lose trust. That means fewer clicks, fewer sign-ups, and fewer sales.

Google made this clear when it added an extra “E” for “experience” to its E-E-A-T guidelines. The update asked one question every writer should consider:

Does your content demonstrate actual use, personal testing, or lived knowledge of the topic?

AI can draft words, but it cannot show human experience. That’s your edge.

Show Real Use, Not Empty Claims

Readers can spot the difference between vague statements and real examples. Compare these two lines:

Generic: “This CRM platform offers excellent automation.”
Experience-driven: “When I tested this CRM, I set up a 5-step automation that cut my lead response time by 40% in a week.”

The second line gives proof. It builds confidence because it is rooted in practice, not assumption.

Capture Evidence as You Work

Document your process while testing tools, campaigns, or strategies. Add screenshots, quick case notes, or even short videos. Examples might include:

• A keyword tracking dashboard after optimization
  
• An email sequence showing open and click rates
  
• A before-and-after of a redesigned landing page
  

This type of visual proof makes your content more trustworthy and more link-worthy.

What if You Lack Firsthand Experience?

Avoid publishing advice you cannot back with proof. Instead:

• Ask a colleague or customer who has tested the tool or process.
  
• Conduct a small trial or experiment before writing.
  
• Build a short case study with actual results.
  

Search engines and readers value experience because it sets apart content that’s useful from content that’s generic. If you cannot show it, your content risks blending in.

Add Information Gain to Stand Out

Effort: Very High
Area: Content Strategy
Summary: Difficult to execute, but highly effective for differentiation, backlinks, and stronger search rankings.

Information gain means giving readers something new that they cannot already find in the top search results. Instead of repeating what is already ranking, you add a unique layer of insight.

This approach helps you stand out in crowded SERPs and earns natural backlinks, since other websites want to cite original data and useful resources.

But balance matters. If your content strays too far from the search intent, Google and readers may see it as irrelevant. The key is to combine core query satisfaction with fresh insights.

Use Proprietary or Unique Data

Original data is one of the strongest ways to add value. You can create it by:

• Running small customer polls on product preferences
  
• Sharing anonymized performance data from campaigns you’ve managed
  
• Publishing insights from tools you use daily (like search volume shifts or click-through rate patterns)
  
• Collecting feedback from industry forums or private groups you’re active in
  

For example, instead of repeating “long-form content performs better,” you could show data from your own tests comparing 1,000-word vs. 3,000-word articles and their ranking differences.

Add Fresh Visuals That Explain Clearly

Custom visuals can deliver instant clarity where text alone cannot. Consider adding:

• Interactive charts that display trends over time
  
• Before-and-after SEO performance snapshots
  
• Heatmaps from a website redesign
  
• Step-based graphics for technical processes
  

Example: A simple chart showing how page speed improvements cut bounce rates can carry more weight than three paragraphs of text.

Expand with Expert Input

If you do not have proprietary data, reach out to experts for quotes. A single line of original commentary from a practitioner can elevate your page above a sea of generic advice.

Why It Works

Readers remember insights that are new and practical. Search engines reward pages that offer more depth and originality. Competitors may even link back to your findings, giving you long-term authority.

Optimize for Featured Snippets

Effort: Medium
Area: SERP Optimization
Summary: Easy to apply to existing content and can deliver a major boost in search visibility.

Search results look crowded today. AI-generated answers, paid ads, and “People Also Ask” boxes often push organic results further down the page. Featured snippets give you a chance to rise above the clutter.

These short answers appear at the very top of Google’s results. Securing one means extra clicks, stronger authority, and higher visibility for your brand.

Step 1: Identify Snippet Opportunities

Check your current rankings. Use Google Search Console or a tool like Ahrefs to find keywords where your page is already on page 1. Look for terms that display a featured snippet.

Step 2: Match the Snippet Type

Featured snippets usually fall into three formats:

• Definition snippets: Short, direct answers to “What is…” queries
  
• List snippets: Step-by-step guides, numbered lists, or bullet points
  
• Table snippets: Comparisons, pricing breakdowns, or data sets
  

When you identify the type, rewrite or add a section on your page that delivers the answer in the same format.

Step 3: Craft a Snippet-Friendly Section

Keep your answer short and direct—usually 40–60 words. Write it so Google can lift it directly into the snippet box. For example, if the query is “What is technical SEO?”, add a simple definition like:

“Technical SEO is the process of optimizing a website’s infrastructure so search engines can crawl and index it effectively. It includes site speed, mobile-friendliness, and structured data.”

That definition is precise, clear, and snippet-ready.

Step 4: Use Tools for Faster Wins

Instead of checking keywords manually, use a platform like Semrush Organic Research. Filter for keywords where your site ranks in the top 10 but does not yet hold the featured snippet. Those are your quick wins.

Why It Works

Even if your website does not yet rank #1, you can leapfrog higher authority sites by winning the snippet. It is one of the fastest ways to expand visibility without building new pages.

Create Linkable Assets That Attract Backlinks

Effort: Very High
Area: Link Building
Summary: Hard to build but powerful long-term drivers of authority, backlinks, and traffic.

Not all great content earns backlinks. In reality, most people link to sources. These are pieces of content that provide original data, tools, or resources worth referencing.

If you write a detailed blog post on content marketing, someone may read it. But will another writer cite it in their own article? That usually happens only when the content includes something unique. That is where linkable assets matter.

What Counts as a Linkable Asset?

A linkable asset is a resource created with backlinks in mind. It gives readers and creators something they want to cite. Examples include:

• Industry studies
  
• Surveys and reports
  
• Free tools or calculators
  
• Interactive templates
  
• Visual guides or infographics
  

Example: Original Industry Data

Instead of writing another how-to guide, publish survey results from your own audience. For example, a digital agency might share data on average email open rates by industry. That type of content is quotable and earns links from bloggers, journalists, and even competitors.

Example: Free Tools and Resources

Free tools also generate strong backlink profiles. For example:

• An ROI calculator for paid ad campaigns
  
• A headline analyzer for writers
  
• A free SEO audit template in Google Sheets
  

Even simple interactive tools can attract hundreds of backlinks if they solve a clear problem.

Example: Visual Resources

Visuals make complex topics easier to understand and share. You can create:

• Flowcharts that explain a process such as the buyer journey
  
• Comparison tables that highlight pros and cons of tools
  
• Infographics that summarize survey data
  

These resources spread faster because they save others time when they want to explain the same concept.

Why Linkable Assets Work

Backlinks are still one of the strongest ranking factors. By giving people a reliable source, you increase your chances of being referenced naturally. Unlike a standard blog post, a linkable asset can continue attracting links long after it is published.

Update Existing Content with GSC Query Data

Effort: Medium
Area: Content Optimization
Summary: Takes time at scale but can help your content rank higher and bring in more traffic.

Updating your current content is often faster and more effective than creating something new from scratch. The trick is to make updates that align with how Google already views your content, not just surface-level edits.

A simple way to do this is by using Google Search Console query data. This lets you see which keywords your content is already ranking for but not directly targeting.

Step 1: Open GSC and Filter Queries

Go to Google Search Console and head to the Performance report. Select the Queries tab and check the box for Average Position. Then:

• Sort by impressions from highest to lowest
  
• Filter by positions smaller than 20
  

This shows you keywords where you are already appearing but not yet ranking at the top.

Step 2: Find Keywords with High Impressions but Low Clicks

Look for terms that get a lot of impressions but few clicks. These are the easiest wins, since Google already finds your page somewhat relevant. Optimizing for them makes it more likely you will move higher in the results.

Step 3: Match Keywords to Pages

Click on a query to see which page is receiving impressions. Usually, one page will stand out as the most relevant. If multiple pages appear, choose the one with the closest alignment to search intent.

Step 4: Optimize Content for Those Queries

Use the query data to make targeted updates:

• If the keyword is close to your primary topic, update your title tag or meta description
  
• If it is a related keyword, add it naturally in a heading or within the text
  
• If the query is in a question format, create a small FAQ section or add a subheading that answers it directly
  

Need help with structuring optimized posts? Check out our guide on how to write blog content for practical tips you can apply right away.

Why It Works

If Google is already showing your page for a query, it sees your content as partially relevant. By optimizing for those terms, you give both users and search engines a stronger match, which improves clicks and rankings.

Target New and Trending Keywords

Effort: High
Area: Keyword Strategy
Summary: Harder to scale but can unlock fast traffic growth and backlink opportunities

Most keywords are competitive because thousands of sites already target them. Competing with those sites takes time.

But when you focus on new or trending keywords, you often face less competition. That gives you a chance to rank faster and attract attention before others jump in.

Why This Works

Search demand shifts constantly. New products launch, tools get updates, and industries evolve. Each shift creates fresh keyword opportunities. If you publish early, you can capture rankings and backlinks that latecomers miss.

How to Find New and Trending Keywords

Step 1: Monitor industry news
Stay tuned to blogs, podcasts, and press releases in your field. When a new tool, product, or feature comes out, note the terms people use to describe it.

Step 2: Use Google Trends
Search for emerging terms and track their growth curve. If a keyword shows sharp upward momentum, it’s a good candidate to cover.

Step 3: Watch social platforms
Twitter (X), LinkedIn, and Reddit often surface topics before they appear in search results. Look for repeated mentions of new tools, challenges, or methods.

Step 4: Explore tools like Exploding Topics
Platforms like Exploding Topics highlight fast-growing keywords across niches. They help you spot rising trends before competitors.

Step 5: Validate long-term potential
Not every trending keyword will last. Check whether the topic connects with your target audience and business goals. Favor keywords that are likely to drive sustained search traffic, conversions, and links.

Pro Tip

Combine trending keywords with evergreen ones. For example, instead of only writing “AI workflow builder,” pair it with a broader term like “AI automation tools.” This helps you capture both short-term buzz and long-term visibility.

Optimize for Key UX Signals

Effort: Medium
Area: Technical SEO / UX
Summary: UX may not be an official ranking factor, but it strongly influences engagement, conversions, and SEO performance

Google has never fully confirmed how much weight UX signals hold in rankings. But we do know clicks matter. It is also likely that dwell time, bounce rate, and engagement influence visibility.

Even if UX were not a ranking factor at all, improving it still helps your business. A smoother experience keeps visitors on your site longer and makes them more likely to convert.

How to Improve Key UX Signals

Step 1: Answer User Questions Fast
Users click your page because they want an answer. If they cannot find it quickly, they leave.
Place the most important information near the top. Summaries, bullet points, and short answers work well before diving into detail.

Step 2: Structure Content for Easy Scanning
Most people skim first. If your content is easy to scan, they stay longer.
Make it scannable by:

• Using descriptive H2 and H3 headings
  
• Keeping paragraphs under three sentences
  
• Adding bulleted or numbered lists
  
• Using enough white space between sections
  

Step 3: Simplify Your Language
Clear writing improves readability for both people and search engines.
Practical tips:

• Use short words instead of complex ones
  
• Aim for a grade 6–8 reading level
  
• Avoid jargon, or explain it when needed
  
• Keep sentences under 20 words where possible
  

You can use tools like Hemingway Editor to test clarity and reading level.

Step 4: Add Visuals That Support the Content
Good visuals break up text and explain concepts more effectively.
Options include:

• Custom graphics or infographics
  
• Charts and comparison tables
  
• Step-by-step screenshots
  
• Short videos or GIFs
  
• Highlighted quotes
  

Visuals make content more engaging and memorable, which helps with dwell time and conversions.

Shift From ToFu to BoFu Keywords

Effort: High
Area: Keyword Strategy
Summary: Shifting to BoFu keywords helps you drive qualified traffic and increase conversions

A marketing funnel has three stages:

• Top of Funnel (ToFu) is awareness
  
• Middle of Funnel (MoFu) is interest
  
• Bottom of Funnel (BoFu) is action
  

For years, SEO strategies focused heavily on ToFu keywords. Content like “what is SEO” or “how does digital marketing work” brought in high search volume. The idea was to capture a wide audience and nurture them into buyers later.

But the search landscape has changed.

AI overviews, People Also Ask boxes, and instant answers now capture much of the traffic from informational queries. If you track your own site performance, you may have already noticed a decline in clicks from “what is” or “how to” searches.

Interestingly, rankings often remain stable. The problem is fewer users click through.

Why BoFu Keywords Are Growing in Value

Bottom-of-funnel keywords target users ready to make a decision. Instead of broad awareness queries, they reflect buyer intent.

For example, someone searching “website traffic checker” is not just curious. They want a solution right now.

That is why keywords like:

• “Buy [product]”
  
• “[Product] pricing”
  
• “Best [product] for [use case]”
  
• “[Product] reviews”
  
• “[Product] vs [Product]”
  

tend to drive more sales-focused traffic. While they may not always bring massive search volume, the clicks you do win are far more likely to convert.

No. Top-of-funnel content still serves important roles:

• It builds topical authority in your niche
  
• It supports internal linking and site structure
  
• It keeps your brand visible in AI-driven overviews
  

The strategy is balance. Invest more into BoFu for conversions while still maintaining ToFu content for authority and visibility.

Use Broken Link Building

Effort: High
Area: Link Building
Summary: A proven link building method that creates win-win outcomes for both you and the site owner

Broken link building is one of the simplest yet most effective outreach tactics. The idea is to find broken pages that still attract backlinks, then offer your content as a replacement.

It works because:

• You help site owners clean up broken links
  
• You provide a ready solution that saves them time
  
• You gain high-quality backlinks in return
  

Step 1: Find Broken Pages With Backlinks

Start by analyzing a competitor in a tool like Semrush’s Backlink Analytics.
Go to the “Indexed Pages” tab and filter by “Broken Pages.”
This shows pages on their site that no longer work but still have links pointing to them.

Look for:

• Pages with multiple quality backlinks
  
• Topics you already cover or could create content for
  
• Opportunities where your content naturally fits as a replacement
  

Step 2: Verify the Pages

Not every result will be useful. Some links point to irrelevant pages, outdated redirects, or low-quality sources. Always open the broken URL to confirm it truly returns an error.

Step 3: Check the Referring Links

Click the backlink numbers next to a broken page. Filter by “Best” to prioritize dofollow links that pass SEO value.
Focus on links that come from active blogs or recently updated resources. Those publishers are more likely to edit their posts.

Step 4: Create or Match a Replacement Resource

If you already have content that matches the topic, perfect. If not, create a high-quality replacement. Include updated statistics, examples, or visuals that make your resource even more valuable than the original.

Step 5: Send Personalized Outreach

When reaching out, keep your email short and helpful:

• Mention that you enjoyed their resource
  
• Point out the broken link
  
• Suggest your page as a better alternative
  

Website owners appreciate when you make their job easier. That is what makes broken link building such an effective long-term strategy.

Speed Up Your Website

Effort: Medium
Area: Technical SEO
Summary: Site speed alone won’t rank you, but it plays a key role in UX, engagement, and conversions

A slow website frustrates users and signals low quality to search engines. Google has included page speed in its ranking factors for years, and while it is not the most powerful factor, it still matters.

Fast-loading sites improve bounce rate, session time, and conversions. That means even small improvements in speed can impact both SEO and revenue.

Step 1: Benchmark Your Site Speed

Use Google PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix to measure your site performance. These tools show your current loading times and highlight areas for improvement.

Step 2: Compress and Optimize Images

Large image files slow down loading. Compress images before uploading and use next-gen formats like WebP. Tools such as TinyPNG or built-in plugins can handle this easily.

Step 3: Improve Hosting Quality

If your site is still slow after image compression, your web host may be the issue. Switching to a faster host or upgrading to managed WordPress hosting often produces an immediate boost.

Step 4: Minify and Reduce Code

Every extra line of CSS, JavaScript, or HTML adds weight to your pages. Minify your code and remove unused scripts. A plugin like WP Rocket can automate this process for WordPress sites.

Step 5: Remove Third-Party Bloat

Too many external scripts, ads, or tracking codes can kill performance. Audit your site and remove any scripts that are not essential.

Step 6: Monitor and Retest Regularly

Page speed optimization is not a one-time task. Test your site monthly, especially after adding new features or content.

A fast website builds trust with users and signals reliability to Google. Both are critical if you want to stay competitive in search results.

Build Your Visibility Beyond Traditional Search Results

Effort: Very High
Area: Brand Authority
Summary: Long-term play that strengthens brand presence across multiple platforms

Ranking on Google is still important, but search has evolved. Page 1 results are now crowded with ads, AI Overviews, People Also Ask, video carousels, and even forum discussions. That means relying only on traditional organic rankings limits your reach.

To stay visible, you need to expand beyond your website and build authority across multiple platforms.

Step 1: Create Content for SERP Features

If your competitors are showing up in video carousels, start publishing on YouTube. Short, clear tutorials or explainers can help you capture video spots while also ranking within YouTube search itself.

Step 2: Join Relevant Communities

Discussion boards like Reddit and Quora often appear in SERPs. By participating in these conversations (and providing genuine value), you can position your brand where people are actively searching for answers.

Step 3: Leverage Social Platforms

Google increasingly surfaces content from LinkedIn, TikTok, and other platforms. Sharing insights, visuals, and short-form videos gives your brand additional entry points into the search journey.

Step 4: Diversify Your Authority Signals

Building visibility across channels signals trust to both search engines and AI-driven systems. When Google’s AI Overviews or tools like ChatGPT pull in external context, brands with wider visibility stand a better chance of being mentioned. If you’re exploring how AI-driven search is reshaping SEO, check out our full guide on AI Search Generative Optimization.

Step 5: Treat This as a Long-Term Investment

This strategy takes time and consistent effort. But over time, you’ll reduce dependency on Google rankings alone while creating more touchpoints for your audience to discover your brand.

Expanding beyond traditional SEO does not replace your search efforts. It strengthens them. The more places your brand is seen, the more authority you build, and the easier it becomes to rank and attract traffic.

Need More Guidance to Improve Your SEO?

Improving SEO is about focusing on the strategies that will give you the highest return. There are countless tactics you could try, but spreading your efforts too thin often wastes resources without meaningful results.

The strategies we covered in this guide are proven methods that can strengthen your rankings, traffic, and authority when applied consistently.

If you want to go even deeper, we recommend checking out our complete SEO checklist for a step-by-step breakdown of everything you need to optimize your site effectively.

With the right priorities in place, you can build sustainable SEO growth and turn your website into a long-term traffic and revenue engine.

Recommended SEO Tools and Resources

You can apply the strategies in this guide using practical tools. Below are some trusted platforms and resources to help you take action:

• Semrush – Great for keyword research, tracking featured snippet opportunities, and auditing your site.
  
• Ahrefs – Strong backlink analysis, content gap research, and SERP insights.
  
• Google Search Console – Free tool for monitoring keyword rankings, impressions, and indexing issues.
  
• Screaming Frog – Useful for site audits, technical SEO checks, and identifying broken links.
  
• Canva – Simple way to create custom visuals, flowcharts, and infographics for information gain.
  

For more options, explore our full list of free SEO tools for 2025.

These platforms can speed up research, improve execution, and help you find quick wins.