![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/david-vs-goliath-800.jpg\")
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What does it take to beat a giant? Sometimes trying to fight your way up the ranks of search results may feel like an impossible battle. No matter how much you improve your site, establish quality connections, and wait patiently, those giant sites above you simply will not budge.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re a David going up against a Goliath, there\u2019s still hope. Let\u2019s go over an SEO strategy that can keep your content alive on page one of the search results when you are competing against the big guys.<\/p>\n
I’ll be covering 9 simple steps to help ensure victory:<\/p>\n
You can\u2019t analyze the competition effectively without tools. So, as you go into battle, the first step is to have a good arsenal of weapons. Here is a list of SEO tools that can help you perform many different functions as you gather intel on the competitors:<\/p>\n
It\u2019s amazing how much of an opponent\u2019s SEO strategy you can see in an instant with the right tools.<\/p>\n
Competitive research strengthens any marketing project, but for search engine optimization<\/a>, you can\u2019t do without it.<\/p>\n The sites that are the most relevant, trustworthy, and high-quality for a given user\u2019s search query and perceived intent rank the highest. So what better way to find out what the search engines want than to look at the victors?<\/p>\n You may think that only businesses offering the same service, product, or information you do should qualify as true competitors. But in the search engine results pages, those first-page results are all<\/em> competing to take your place \u2014 no matter what type of website. And so far, they may be winning!<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/p>\n You may find that all your big competition has invested in their website structure. But in some cases, they may not have. Either way, examine how their navigation and content are structured, looking for what may be missing on your own site and\/or how your site can do better.<\/p>\n SEO siloing is a strategy well worth investing in. This search engine optimization technique structures a website\u2019s content by grouping related webpages together in hierarchical categories based on how people search.<\/p>\n Search engines like Google promote organizing your site in a hierarchical structure like this because it\u2019s not only helpful for search engines but also good for website visitors.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/p>\n If there are certain keywords that are dominated by big websites (with big budgets) in the search results and you\u2019re simply no match, rethink the strategy. Going after the longer keyword phrases often levels out the playing field.<\/p>\n Long-tail keywords can actually drive a lot of traffic. Ahrefs published some interesting data on the opportunities that lie within long-tail search terms<\/a> that are worth looking at.<\/p>\n If you are an ecommerce site, you can add supporting articles that target long-tail keyword phrases. For example, if your business sells frozen yogurt dispensers, write articles about things that fro-yo shops might find helpful like how to install a frozen yogurt dispenser.<\/p>\n This will have the double SEO benefit of increasing your relevance for the main keyword and potentially ranking for some long-tail phrases that will bring new traffic to your site.<\/p>\n You can find other opportunities to beat the competition through keywords too. Say, for example, your competition has just lost rankings for a particular keyword (which you can discover with tools like Semrush\u2019s Organic Research<\/a> tool). You can analyze those webpages and see how you might beat them with your content.<\/p>\n Another question to ask yourself: Why are they searching for or wanting that information?<\/em> If searching for \u201cSEO,\u201d for example, consider related queries like \u201chow to get traffic to your website.\u201d<\/p>\n Think about why that searcher cared enough to do the search \u2014 why did that search matter?<\/p>\n To be least imperfect compared to your competition, you want to analyze the competition\u2019s webpages and then make sure your page meets or exceeds them. Using the right tools, on-page optimization information is easily attainable. For example:<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/p>\n In some cases, you might find yourself competing in the search results with things like Wikipedia entries or featured snippets (position zero). In these cases, structuring your webpage content can help you compete.<\/p>\n Just some of the ways you can structure a page include using:<\/p>\n For featured snippets in particular, you can use the Featured Snippets+<\/a> tool to find out more data on how to optimize the page for your keyword.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re competing against Wikipedia pages, you might get an edge if you take the subject matter a step further than they do. Cover the subject equally well, including the structure of the page, but add \u201chow\u201d content to give it a boost. Wikipedia is good at answering the who, what, and when, but rarely addresses the how.<\/p>\n Spying on your competition\u2019s link profile can help you uncover what links and how many of them you might need to beat a certain webpage.<\/p>\n You can use tools like our Link Reports<\/a> (powered by Majestic) to discover more about your competitors’ link profiles.<\/p>\n Once you have a good picture of the links to their webpage versus yours, you might think about identifying the quality, relevant domains linking to your competition from whom you want a link from too.<\/p>\n Remember that quality<\/em> and relevance<\/em> can trump the quantity<\/em> of links, so use discretion when sizing up the domains.<\/p>\n If you have a whole-SERP SEO strategy, you can stop worrying about beating just the 10 blue links.<\/p>\n A whole-SERP SEO strategy analyzes the features that show up most in the search results for target keywords and then optimizes for them. Features can be anything from videos to images to featured snippets and beyond.<\/p>\n The more real estate you own on the search results page, the less concerned you can be about beating that one blue link. And the more traffic you can drive too.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/p>\n If you and your competitor both provide the exact same product or service, and they are more authoritative and established than you, you\u2019ll need a lot of original content to have a chance of competing online.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s doable! If you are in ecommerce, for example, it can be as easy as replacing generic product descriptions from manufacturers with unique content. Or, if you can\u2019t avoid them contractually, supplement them with lots of original text.<\/p>\n Take a look at more opportunities to create content by doing a gap analysis, too. You can use Ahrefs Content Gap<\/a> tool to find out which keywords your competition is ranking for that you\u2019re not.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also want to poke around the competition\u2019s website to see if it offers any helpful content that you don\u2019t \u2014 for example, tutorials, guides, videos, etc. You\u2019ll probably need to make your site at least as full-featured to be competitive. More user engagement can mean a lot of things to Google.<\/p>\n Some of your competition may simply have more E-E-A-T (Google\u2019s evaluation of a website\u2019s or webpage\u2019s experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness). While these kinds of sites may have tremendous clout in the search results, you can increase the E-E-A-T of your site and its content to compete.<\/p>\n Learn more:<\/p>\n As you head into battle and watch your competitors\u2019 maneuvers, you\u2019ll find out their strengths and weaknesses (and yours too!). Capitalize on them to develop an SEO battle plan to do what they do, only better.<\/p>\n I invite you to <\/em><\/strong>request a free consultation<\/em><\/strong><\/a> if you\u2019d like to discuss how we can help with your website needs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Conquering search engine rankings presents a formidable challenge, especially when faced with larger competitors. However, adopting a strategic approach and embracing your brand’s distinct advantages can pave the way for SEO success.<\/p>\n Understanding the Playing Field<\/strong><\/p>\n Before diving into the tactical aspects, it’s crucial to understand your competitors’ SEO strategies comprehensively. Analyze their keywords, content quality, backlink profiles, and user experience. This assessment provides valuable insights into what’s working for them and where their opportunities lie.<\/p>\n Unearthing Your Unique Value Proposition<\/strong><\/p>\n Identify your unique value proposition (UVP) to stand out from the crowd. What sets your brand apart? Whether it’s exceptional customer service, niche expertise, or innovative products, emphasizing your UVP attracts users and appeals to search algorithms seeking relevance and authenticity.<\/p>\n Targeted Keyword Research and Content Optimization<\/strong><\/p>\n Keywords remain the backbone of SEO. Conduct meticulous keyword research to pinpoint terms relevant to your business. Focus on long-tail keywords that reflect user intent. Craft high-quality, informative content around these keywords, ensuring it’s engaging, well-structured, and easily shareable.<\/p>\n Building a Robust Backlink Profile<\/strong><\/p>\n A strong backlink profile establishes your website’s authority and credibility. Cultivate backlinks from reputable sources within your industry. Collaborate with influencers, create shareable infographics, or produce insightful guest posts. Quality over quantity is key, as search engines prioritize authoritative links.<\/p>\n Technical Excellence and User Experience<\/strong><\/p>\n Technical SEO is the backbone of your strategy. Ensure your website loads swiftly, is mobile-responsive and has clear site navigation. User experience (UX) is equally crucial\u2014deliver a seamless journey for visitors, from easy-to-follow content to intuitive calls to action.<\/p>\n Step-by-Step Procedure: Crafting an SEO Strategy to Outperform Competitors<\/strong><\/p>\n By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to develop an SEO strategy that competes with larger rivals and positions your brand for top search rankings and sustained success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you’re in a David vs. Goliath scenario competing against the big guys, you have to fight to keep your content alive on Page 1 of the search results. Follow these 9 easy steps to ensure victory.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":96563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1404,1629,1474,1232,1476],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
<\/a>3. Structure Your Site<\/h2>\n
![\"Sample](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/SEO-siloing.jpg\")
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<\/a>4. Rethink Your Keywords<\/h2>\n
<\/a>5. Improve Your Webpages<\/h2>\n
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![\"Bruce](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/BC-WP-plugin-summary.png\")
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<\/a>6. Structure Your Pages<\/h2>\n
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<\/a>7. Get More, Better, or the Same Links<\/h2>\n
<\/a>8. Get More SERP Visibility<\/h2>\n
![\"Google](\"https:\/\/www.bruceclay.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Google-search-results-1.png\")
Screenshot of Google search results showing all the different opportunities<\/em><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n
<\/a>9. More Quality Content<\/h2>\n
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Pre-Battle Pep Talk<\/h2>\n
<\/a>FAQ: How can I develop a winning SEO strategy to overcome larger competitors and achieve top search rankings?<\/h3>\n
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