When I first started out with SEO, getting #1 on Google in 90 days felt like a distant fantasy. However, with a series of planned actions, focused efforts, and a lot of learning, I was able to attain this aim. In this article, I’ll reveal the ultimate SEO content strategy that allowed me to rank #1 on Google in 90 days. This guide contains insider tips and strategies that are not discussed on most websites, as well as statistics and personal tales to keep it both educational and fascinating.
What is SEO Content Strategy?
An SEO content strategy is a thorough plan for optimizing content for search engines, intending to increase organic traffic and search engine ranks. This includes keyword research, on-page optimization, content production, link building, and ongoing performance monitoring.
Step-by-Step Guide to Ranking #1 on Google in 90 Days
#1. Setting clear goals and KPIs
To begin, create specific SEO goals and key performance indicators (KPIs). These objectives should be specified, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
Example:
- Increase organic traffic by 50% within 90 days.
- Rank #1 for the target term “SEO content strategy.”
Expert Tip: Use Google Analytics and Google Search Console to monitor your progress.
#2. In-depth Keyword Research
Keyword research is the foundation of any effective SEO strategy. Identifying high-value keywords with an appropriate combination of search volume and competitiveness is critical.
Example: Using Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Google Keyword Planner, I noticed that long-tail keywords such as “SEO content strategy for beginners” had low competition but high search traffic.
Expert Tip: Use long-tail keywords for faster ranking and more targeted traffic.
#3. Creating High Quality Content
SEO relies heavily on content. High-quality, relevant, and entertaining content is required to rank better in Google.
Example: I wrote detailed instructions, how-to articles, and listicles that added actual value to my audience. Each piece of content was optimized for certain keywords, headings, and meta descriptions.
Expert Tip: Use a content template to ensure consistency and quality throughout the content creation process.
#4. On-page SEO optimization
On-page SEO is the process of optimizing individual web pages so that they rank higher and receive more relevant traffic from search engines. This involves improving title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and images.
Example: I used meaningful title tags and meta descriptions that contained my goal keywords and were engaging enough to elicit clicks.
Expert Tip: To achieve proper on-page SEO, use tools such as Yoast SEO or Rank Math.
#5. Building Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are critical to SEO performance. High-quality backlinks from authoritative websites can dramatically improve your rankings.
Example: I contacted industry influencers and websites about guest blogging opportunities, resulting in high-quality backlinks to my content.
Expert Tip: Prioritize developing relationships with industry leaders and giving value through guest pieces and partnerships.
#6. Technical SEO
Technical SEO entails improving your website for the crawling and indexing stages. This includes making the site faster, more mobile-friendly, and providing a secure connection (HTTPS).
Example: I used tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights and GTmetrix to increase the loading time of my website and make it mobile-friendly.
Expert Tip: To discover and resolve technical issues, regularly audit your website with tools like as Screaming Frog and Google Search Console.
#7. Monitoring and analyzing performance
Continuous monitoring and analysis are essential for optimizing your SEO strategy and ensuring long-term success.
Example: I used Google Analytics to monitor my website’s performance, user behavior, and conversion rate. The Google Search Console enabled me to monitor my search performance and detect any problems.
Expert Tip: Review your analytics data regularly and alter your strategy in response to insights and performance measures.
How Lamphills SEO Content Strategy Works
Let us look at how our content strategy works
#1. Find topics with search traffic potential.
The purpose of developing SEO content is to achieve high rankings on Google. This implies that you’ll need to target themes that your potential buyers are looking for.
Here’s the simplest technique to uncover terms with search traffic potential:
- Go to Ahrefs’ Keyword Explorer.
- Enter a few broad keywords relating to your site or niche (for example, marketing, SEO, keyword, and blog keywords).
- Go to the Matching Terms report.
- Filter terms with Traffic Potential (TP).
From here, look through the report to see what terms your potential clients are searching for.
Traffic potential is the projected monthly organic search traffic to a keyword’s top-ranked page. Because pages tend to rank for multiple keywords rather than just one, traffic potential is a more accurate estimate than search volume.
If your competition receives a lot of search traffic that isn’t from branded terms, you may target those as well.
Here’s how to locate them:
- Go to the Ahrefs Site Explorer.
- Enter the competitor’s domain.
- Go to the Top Pages Report.
This report displays a website’s top pages based on anticipated organic traffic and the keywords that drive the most traffic to each page. So, taking our blog as an example, we could theoretically research on moz.com:
#2. Check their business value
A keyword’s business worth, or business potential, refers to how easy it will be to pitch your product while covering a specific keyword.
For example, if you own an internet company that sells coffee equipment, it will be far easier to market your own product on a topic like best coffee makers vs why does coffee make me drowsy.
Keywords having the most commercial potential should be prioritized in your SEO content strategy.
Here’s a handy sheet for determining the “business potential” of keywords.
The value of a keyword to your business determines its score. So there is no correct method to score it—a “3” for you could be a “1” for others.
#3. Analyze ranking potential
Certain keywords are more difficult to rank than others for a variety of reasons. So, while you shouldn’t completely shun difficult keywords (especially if they have economic value), you should consider ranking difficulty while targeting them.
In Ahrefs, ranking potential means that we can rank in the top three using our current resources.
But how do we know we’ll be able to place among the top three? We accomplish this by evaluating four items.
Backlinks
Backlinks are one of Google’s primary ranking factors. It has even stated this itself.
This means that the present top-ranking pages will be more difficult to compete with as they accumulate more high-quality backlinks.
To estimate how many backlinks you’ll need to rank in the top ten search results, use Ahrefs’ Keyword Difficulty (KD) score. To rank for the term “how to make kimchi,” we’d need backlinks from approximately 77 domains.
So to conduct a more detailed analysis, navigate to the SERP overview and look at the Domains column to discover how many websites connect to each page.
These numbers, however, merely indicate the amount of backlinks. Quality also matters. To understand link quality, look at each page’s backlink profile. You can accomplish this by clicking the number in the Backlinks column.
Authority
Google personnel have stated that Google does not assess a site’s authority. Nonetheless, many SEOs believe that authoritative websites have an easier time ranking on Google, so they often use a website authority metric—for example, Domain Rating (DR)—when analyzing ranking difficulties.
SEOs are skeptical because they believe that even though Google does not have an internal website authority metric, website authority can still influence rankings:
High-DR sites have more high-authority pages (via backlinks), and internal links from those pages may help other pages rank higher.
For certain inquiries, searchers like to see reputable brands.
If you think this makes sense and wish to measure website authority, you may look at the DR ratings of the top-ranking sites in Keywords Explorer’s SERP overview area.
If they are all significantly higher than your own DR, consider prioritizing alternative keywords.
Search intent
Google understands why searchers are looking for a specific query and delivers what they want to see.
For example, Google understands that users searching for how to make kimchi want to learn how to prepare Korean fermented food. So, as expected, the SERPs are primarily how-to guides:
To study each keyword’s search intent, Google your target keyword and examine the SERPs for the three Cs:
- Content type: Are they blog entries, landing pages, product pages, or something else?
- Content format: Are they listicles, how-tos, recipes, tools, or something else?
- Content aspect: Is there a main selling point, such as how easy it is?
You’ll want to make sure you can meet the search intent for the terms you wish to target. For example, if the SERPs need you to create a free backlink tool, such as a backlink checker, and you lack the necessary resources (such as a large link database), you will most likely be unable to compete for that phrase.
Quality
If someone tests 47 air purifiers only to create a blog post, the content quality will be difficult to beat.
It’s hardly surprising that they rank first for a competitive query:
To outperform Wirecutter, you’ll probably need to examine a similar amount of air purifiers or do something new and unusual. That will take a lot of time and resources.
So, for the keywords you’re targeting, make sure you can compete with the top-ranking pages in terms of content quality.
After reviewing your preferred keywords for the four criteria, you can assign them a “ranking potential” score.
#4. Create high-quality, search-oriented content
Finding keywords with commercial potential, search traffic potential, and ranking potential is the foundation of our entire content strategy.
It enables us to create content that not only ranks highly on Google but also closely aligns with our business objectives. After all, it’s pointless to generate a lot of organic traffic if no one buys.
When we have a list of keywords that meet our criteria, it is time to create content. Specifically, high-quality, search-oriented content.
Let us break it down.
Search-focused content matches search intent for its primary target keyword. You would have already examined search intent while assessing ranking potential. The only thing left to do is match it.
For example, if you’re looking for strategies to attract visitors to your website, you’ll most likely need to create a list outlining the best methods.
And this is what we did:
High quality is subjective. Everyone’s definition will differ. Lamphills value content with R-E-A-C-H:
- Real – means authentic and original. Introduces something new to the table.
- Experienced – Written by someone with relevant experience and expertise.
- Accurate – Facts supported by credible sources, and perspectives clearly conveyed.
- Clear – Well explained, with no fluff or jargon. Illustrations are used when needed.
- Helpful – Truly resolves the issue at hand. Not simply words for the sake of words.
We do our best to ensure that all of the content we create meets these requirements
#5. Maintain high-quality and search-focused content
We do not simply publish content and then forget about it. We actively maintain it. This requires us to frequently update or rewrite our content.
Why are we doing this? There are a few reasons:
- Your post will not always rank on the first attempt.
- Your post’s ranking may fall.
- Some keywords’ search intent may change.
- Your content’s information may become outdated, affecting its quality.
SERPs are dynamic, and competitors can outperform you. You’ll need to figure out why they outrank you and beat them again.
How do we determine which content requires updating? Every quarter, each writer on the Lamphills content team reviews their content and recognizes two types of posts:
- Posts that require upgrading.
- Posts that require rewriting.
Each writer then joins a call with our head of content to discuss how these pieces of content might be enhanced. When the basic direction is agreed upon, each writer goes back and revises their content.
While this is our current approach, you do not have to follow it exactly. In fact, if you’re a WordPress user, installing Ahref’s free WordPress SEO plugin is the simplest way to determine which content needs updating. Set a goal term for each page, and it will alert you if rankings begin to fall.
Then, you can investigate to see if outdated content is the issue.
What is the Best Example of an SEO Content Strategy?
An example of an SEO content strategy is having an e-commerce website and including reviews and buyer’s guides to help your audience comprehend the advantages and downsides of different products. The site is structured so that category pages lead to subcategory sites, and subsequently to product pages. There’s no confusion.
SEO Strategy Template
Ready to implement a successful SEO strategy and boost your online presence? Download our comprehensive SEO Strategy Template now and start optimizing your website for maximum visibility and growth!
Key Takeaways
- Identifying and targeting the appropriate keywords is critical for achieving quick and successful SEO results.
- Consistently creating excellent, relevant, and interesting content is essential for drawing organic visitors and improving rankings.
- When optimizing your web pages for search engines, you should use focused keywords, appealing meta descriptions, and optimized images.
- High-quality backlinks from reputable websites can greatly improve your SEO rankings and provide targeted traffic.
- Regularly monitoring your SEO performance and making appropriate adjustments is critical for maintaining and boosting your search engine results.
Conclusion
Achieving a #1 ranking on Google in 90 days is difficult, but fully doable with the appropriate strategy and constant effort. You may dramatically increase your search engine ranks by focusing on comprehensive keyword research, high-quality content development, effective on-page SEO, quality backlink building, and continual monitoring. Are you prepared to implement these techniques and ascend to the top of Google’s search results? What problems have you encountered in your SEO journey, and how have you overcome them? Share your experiences and learn from one another.
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