Everyone’s SEO strategy is essentially similar at the foundational level: Find keywords people are searching for and create optimized content to rank for them. But how can you do this more effectively?
In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to get results with the Orchard SEO Strategy, developed by Sajid Insights.
Are you looking for the Middleman Method? You can jump to that section or watch our YouTube video on the topic.
What is an SEO Strategy?
An SEO strategy is a step-by-step plan designed to improve your website’s visibility on search engines like Google. It involves creating and optimizing content with the aim of driving more organic traffic.
Here’s the outline of the strategy we’ll discuss:
- Plan: Benchmark SEO performance and set a goal
- Plant: Use “seeds” to find and target winning keywords
- Pick: Find low-hanging fruit keywords to optimize for
- Press: Make optimizations to boost rankings
1. Plan: Benchmark SEO Performance and Set a Goal
The overarching goal of any SEO strategy is to increase traffic, but this needs to be made more specific. Set a clear, actionable goal using the SMART framework:
- Specific: Define a specific number like increasing organic traffic by 10%.
- Measurable: Use tools like Google Search Console (GSC) or Ahrefs to track traffic.
- Attainable: Set realistic goals based on your current traffic data.
- Relevant: Ensure your goal aligns with your business objectives, like generating leads or sales.
- Time-bound: Set a timeline, like aiming to achieve the goal in six months.
For example, if you’re getting 1,000 visitors per month, a 10% increase over six months could be an achievable target.
To check your current traffic in Google Search Console:
- Go to the Search results report.
- Select the last 28 days.
- Check your total clicks.
Record your goal in an SEO template to keep everything organized and measurable.
2. Plant: Use “Seeds” to Find and Target Winning Keywords
You can’t generate traffic without targeting the right keywords. Start by identifying seed keywords—those broad terms that are related to your business.
To find these:
- Use tools like Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.
- Input broad keywords related to your industry, such as “digital marketing” or “SEO services.”
- Narrow the results by filtering for keywords with low difficulty scores (e.g., KD < 20).
Once you have a refined list, evaluate the traffic potential and business relevance of each keyword. At Sajid Insights, we recommend using a business potential score to assess how each keyword could drive revenue.
3. Pick: Find Low-Hanging Fruit Keywords to Optimize For
Ranking on the first page of Google doesn’t guarantee high traffic, especially if you rank at the bottom. You want to target keywords where you’re ranking in positions 2-10 and optimize for them. These are your low-hanging fruit.
To find them:
- Use a rank-tracking tool to monitor your keyword positions.
- Filter for keywords where you rank between positions 2-10.
- Identify keywords with a high volume of searches and business potential.
If you can push a ranking from #5 to #2, the increase in traffic could be significant.
4. Press: Make Optimizations to Boost Rankings
To climb higher in rankings, re-optimize content by focusing on the following areas:
a) Cover the Topic in Full
Check if your content fully covers the topic by comparing it to the pages ranking above you. Use tools like Ahrefs to identify subtopics or angles you might have missed.
b) On-page SEO
Revisit on-page SEO elements, especially your title tags and meta descriptions. Ensure they’re aligned with search intent and are compelling enough to drive clicks.
c) Internal Links
Internal linking helps distribute PageRank across your site and can boost rankings. Use tools like Ahrefs to find missed internal linking opportunities.
d) Backlinks
Backlinks remain one of Google’s most important ranking factors. If your competitors have more backlinks, you’ll need to build links from authoritative websites to stay competitive.
Bonus: The Middleman Method
At Sajid Insights, we understand that building backlinks for commercial pages can be challenging. That’s where the Middleman Method comes in. Instead of building links directly to your product or service pages, create an informational piece of content—your “middleman.”
Here’s how it works:
- Identify a money page you want to rank higher, like a service page.
- Create or find relevant blog posts or resources on your site.
- Build links to the informational post, which will pass PageRank to your money page through internal links.
This approach allows you to build authority for your money pages indirectly, making them more likely to rank for competitive keywords.
Sajid Insights has helped numerous businesses improve their SEO using tailored strategies like the Orchard SEO strategy. Start implementing it today, and if you need assistance, feel free to contact us!