As online content becomes increasingly saturated, ranking for keywords (even niche ones) is becoming more challenging.
However, ranking for competitive keywords is possible with the right strategy and approach. In this article, we'll explore how to rank for competitive keywords and provide you with some practical tips for success.
Remember, competitive keywords take longer to rank for. So, include low competition keywords in your plan too.
To create your SEO strategy, it's best to choose 2 or 3 high volume, high competition keywords as your main 'Topic' and then choose lower competition keywords as subtopics to create individual pieces. Then you can build up your content library.
High volume, high competition keywords require a lot of high-quality backlinks and many pieces of high-quality content in order to rank.
1. Conduct a Competitor Analysis
Before you start trying to rank for a competitive keyword, it's essential to conduct a competitor analysis. This involves researching your competitors to identify their strengths and weaknesses, as well as the strategies they are using to rank for your target keywords.
A competitor analysis should include the following steps:
Identify your main competitors: Use a keyword research tool to identify the websites that are ranking for your target keywords.
Analyse their content: Take a close look at the content that your competitors are publishing. This can help you identify gaps in the market that you can exploit.
Evaluate their backlink profile: Use a backlink analysis tool to evaluate your competitors' backlink profile. This can help you identify the types of sites that are linking to their content and the strategies they are using to build links.
Your competitor analysis will also give you an idea of exactly how many backlinks you will need in order to rank #1 for your chosen keyword and how much content you will need to create.
2. Create High-Quality Content
Creating high-quality content is a crucial aspect of ranking for competitive keywords. Google rewards websites that publish high-quality content that provides value to their audience.
To create high-quality content, follow these tips:
Conduct thorough research: To create content that stands out from the competition, you need to conduct thorough research on your topic. Use reliable sources, and don't be afraid to go beyond the first page of Google search results.
Focus on user intent: When creating content, focus on the intent of your audience. Try to understand what they are looking for and provide content that meets their needs.
Use visual aids: Visual aids such as images, videos, and infographics can help to break up your content and make it more engaging for your audience.
By creating high-quality content that meets the needs of your audience, you can increase your chances of ranking for competitive keywords.
3. Build High-Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are an essential aspect of SEO and can help you to rank for competitive keywords. However, not all backlinks are created equal, and it's essential to focus on building high-quality backlinks that are relevant to your niche.
To build high-quality backlinks, follow these tips:
Focus on quality over quantity: It's better to have a few high-quality backlinks than many low-quality ones.
Use guest posting: Guest posting on authoritative websites in your niche can help you to build high-quality backlinks and increase your website's authority.
Leverage social media: Social media can be a great way to build backlinks and increase your website's visibility. Share your content on social media platforms, and engage with your audience to encourage them to share your content.
By building high-quality backlinks, you can increase your website's authority and improve your chances of ranking for competitive keywords.
4. Optimise Your On-Page SEO
On-page SEO involves optimising your website's content and structure to improve its visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs). To optimise your on-page SEO, follow these tips:
Use your target keyword in your page title: Your page title is one of the most important on-page SEO factors. Make sure to include your target keyword in your page title.
Optimise your meta description: Your meta description is the short snippet of text that appears in search engine results pages. Make sure to include your target keyword and a compelling call to action in your meta description
Use header tags: Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) help to structure your content and make it easier for search engines to understand what your page is about. Use your target keyword in at least one header tag.
Use your target keyword throughout your content: Include your target keyword throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing.
Optimise your images: Optimise your images by using descriptive filenames and alt text that includes your target keyword.
By optimising your on-page SEO, you can improve your website's visibility in search engine results pages and increase your chances of ranking for competitive keywords.
5. Monitor Your Results
Once you've implemented these strategies, it's essential to monitor your results regularly. Use an analytics tool to track your website's traffic, rankings, and backlink profile. This can help you identify areas that need improvement and adjust your strategy accordingly.
Conclusion
Ranking for competitive keywords can be challenging, but it's not impossible. By conducting a thorough competitor analysis, creating high-quality content, building high-quality backlinks, optimising your on-page SEO, and monitoring your results, you can increase your website's visibility in search engine results pages and improve your chances of ranking for competitive keywords.
Remember that ranking for competitive keywords is an ongoing process, and it takes time and effort to achieve success. Be patient, persistent, and keep refining your strategy until you achieve the desired results. By following these tips, you can increase your chances of success in the highly competitive world of online business.