How to Build Competitive SEO Strategies (and Actually Rank #1)
- zackadriel07
- Feb 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 20
At urBIZassist, we did something wild — we beat HubSpot on Google.
Yep. Our page ranks #1 for “Free Startup Kit”, recently surpassing the SEO market leader HubSpot, proving that small teams can outsmart the big players with the right SEO moves.
We share our story. Here’s how to build a competitive, low-cost SEO strategy that gets you noticed — fast, with the strategy to follow.
1. Know Your Keywords (aka Digital Currency for Competitive SEO Strategies)
Identify relevant keywords and phrases that your target audience is searching for.
Use tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to find keyword opportunities.
Focus on long-tail keywords for more specific targeting and less competition, if your authority with Google is not established yet.
Branded Keywords
Branded keywords include the name of a specific brand, company, or product. They are used by users who are already familiar with the brand.
Examples:
“Nike running shoes”
“Apple iPhone”
Benefits:
Higher conversion rates due to brand recognition.
Lower competition in paid advertising due to specific targeting.
Improved customer loyalty and trust.
Non-Branded Keywords
Non-branded keywords do not include any specific brand names.
Examples:
“running shoes”
“smartphones”
Benefits:
Wider audience reach, attracting new customers.
Opportunity to educate potential customers about products/services.
Potential for higher organic traffic through diverse searches.
Long-Tail = Less Hype, More Hits!
Keyword mapping is a crucial step in optimizing your website for search engines. It involves assigning specific keywords to individual pages on your website to improve their visibility and ranking in search results. Below is a structured approach to keyword mapping focused on impact:
Compile a list of potential keywords.
Group keywords based on relevance and intent.
Map key words to pages and urls by assigning long tail, low competition keywords
Prioritize keywords based on their potential impact.
Then, include the keywords in content, title tags, meta descriptions etc. Be sure to avoid keyword cannibalization by ensuring unique keywords for different pages.
2. Make Google Fall in Love with Your Content: On-Page SEO
On-page SEO refers to the practice of optimizing individual web pages to improve their search engine rankings and attract more relevant traffic by enhancing content quality, keyword usage, and HTML elements. Key steps required include:
Title Tags: Ensure each page has a unique and descriptive title tag.
Meta Descriptions: Write compelling meta descriptions to improve click-through rates.
Header Tags: Use H1, H2, H3 tags to structure content and highlight important information.
Content Optimization: Incorporate keywords naturally and ensure content is valuable and relevant.
Image Optimization: Use alt tags and optimize image file sizes for faster loading and include relevant keywords.
3. Technical SEO
Technical SEO refers to the optimization of a website's infrastructure and backend elements to improve its visibility and performance in search engine results. Follow tips below:
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly and responsive.
Improve site speed and performance.
Use HTTPS for security and trustworthiness.
Create an XML sitemap and submit it to search engines.
Fix crawl errors and broken links.
4. AI Tools
There are several AI tools available that can significantly enhance SEO efforts by automating tasks and providing data-driven insights. AI can save hours — if you use it smartly. Try these:
SurferSEO / Clearscope: to optimise blog content.
Gemini or Jasper: for headline ideas, outlines, or captions.
InLinks / Linkee: to find backlinks and / or strengthen internal linking.
Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs offer keyword research, backlink analysis, and competitive analysis, while Clearscope and SurferSEO help optimize content for better ranking and to attract the desired audience.
AI can enhance writing quality, assisting with content creation, and integrating keywords naturally. AI can also help with outline, structure, titles, and headings, based on criteria you articulate.
5. Analytics and Monitoring
SEO analytics and monitoring involve the continuous assessment of website performance metrics and search engine rankings to optimize visibility and improve organic traffic.
Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track performance.
Monitor keyword rankings and organic traffic regularly.
Analyze user behavior to identify areas for improvement.
Adjust your strategy based on data and insights gathered.
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