I’ve been in the SEO and digital marketing for a shor time, and while trends come and go, there are a few tactics that continue to deliver consistent ranking improvements for my clients and projects.
Here’s my list of practical SEO ranking advice that I stick by in 2025. Hopefully, a few of you will find this useful, particularly if you have to do SEO as well as other digital marketing channels.
1. Put Search Intent Before Keywords
SEO nowadays is more about why a user is searching rather than what they’re searching for. Aligning your content with the user intent (informational, transactional, navigational) will enhance dwell time and reduce bounce rates — two engagement indicators.
2. Smarter Keyword Research
Not about volume anymore. I concentrate on:
Long-tail keywords
Semantic variations
Question-based phrases
Pro tip: Ahrefs + Google’s “People Also Ask” reveal hidden gems that competition often overlooks.
3. Tighten Up On-Page SEO
Still essential in 2025. Ensure:
H1s and H2s are well-structured
URLs are short + keyword-optimized
Primary keywords naturally appear within the first 100 words
Internal links are descriptive and useful (enhances crawlability)
4. Content Depth > Word Count
Yes, long content can be effective — but thin content masquerading as long content won’t. Prioritize:
Answering user questions thoroughly
Including stats, visuals, and insights
Steering clear of fluff
I typically shoot for 1,200-1,800 words, depending on the niche.
5. UX & Speed Optimization
Page speed has a direct effect on SEO, particularly with Google’s Core Web Vitals in the mix. Optimize images, use lazy-loading, and follow a mobile-first principle. The tools I depend on: Google PageSpeed Insights, GTMetrix, and Cloudflare for CDN.
6. Backlink Quality Over Quantity
Google’s link quality filters are tighter than ever. My favorite tactics:
Guest blogging on niche-specific sites
HARO for PR-type backlinks
Digital PR stunts (original research + shareable resources)
Relationship-building, not link-building
7. Establish Topical Authority
Google is paying attention to brands/sites that show authority in a topic. I organize topic clusters around a pillar page, with supporting content linking to each other to build authority.
8. Periodic Content Refresh
Refreshing older blog posts with new insights, updated stats, and improved internal linking has yielded me significant ranking increases. I routine audit and update evergreen content every 6-9 months.
9. Apply Schema Markup Intentionally
Rich snippets = more CTRs. My advice is to implement FAQ schema, review schema, and article schema wherever possible. Google’s Rich Results Test tool is your new best friend.
10. Track Everything
Organic growth = data-informed decisions. I always track:
Organic CTRs (through Search Console)
User behavior (through GA4)
Keyword ranking fluctuations (Ahrefs / SEMrush) I experiment and optimize meta tags, headings, and content structures based on this data.
hi
hi there