9 Proven Ways to Improve Your SEO Performance
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the most powerful ways to drive organic traffic, improve visibility, and grow your online presence. Whether you’re running a blog, an e-commerce site, or a local business page, your ability to show up in search engine results directly impacts how many people find and interact with your content.
The good news? You don’t need expensive SEO tools or subscriptions to make meaningful progress. Many improvements can be made using free resources and a strategic approach. From updating outdated pages to optimizing on-page elements and building high-quality backlinks, there are plenty of cost-effective ways to boost your search rankings.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through nine proven strategies to improve your SEO performance—without spending a dime. Each method is based on trusted best practices and is designed to help beginners and seasoned marketers alike. Whether you’re just starting or trying to refine your current strategy, these tips offer practical, actionable steps you can start implementing right away. Let’s dive in.
9 Ways to Improve SEO Performance
1. Update Existing Content
One of the quickest and most effective ways to improve your SEO performance is by updating existing content. Instead of constantly creating new blog posts or landing pages, revisiting older content allows you to boost rankings and generate more organic traffic from assets you’ve already created.
Why does this work? Over time, content can become outdated, misaligned with search intent, or fall behind competitors in terms of depth and quality. Updating allows you to bring it up to date and make it more relevant and competitive.
To identify underperforming pages, use a free tool like Google Search Console (GSC).
Here’s how:
- Go to the “Search results” report.
- Check the box next to “Average position.”
- Review queries where your site ranks below position 8.
- Identify the pages ranking for those queries.
Once you’ve chosen which content to improve, follow these key steps:
- Match search intent: Understand what users are really looking for and format your content accordingly. For example, if people are looking for product comparisons, a “best of” list format might work best.
- Refresh outdated data: Replace old statistics, remove broken links, and update information to keep your content current.
- Add target keywords: Naturally include your primary keywords, as well as synonyms and related terms.
- Build internal links: Connect the updated page to other relevant content on your site to boost its SEO value and help search engines better understand its context.
Small updates can lead to significant SEO improvements.
2. Target Low-Competition Keywords
Targeting low-competition keywords is one of the smartest ways to improve your SEO performance—especially if your website is new or doesn’t yet have high authority. These keywords are typically long-tail phrases with lower search volume and minimal competition, making them easier to rank for in search results.
Why are they useful? Because even though each individual term might not drive massive traffic, collectively they can attract highly relevant visitors. Plus, they often signal high intent—meaning users are more likely to convert when they land on your page.
To find low-competition keywords, start with Google Keyword Planner:
- Go to the “Discover new keywords” section.
- Enter a broad topic or “seed” term related to your niche.
- Click “Get results” to view keyword suggestions.
Now refine the list:
- Focus on long-tail keywords: These are longer, more specific phrases like “best project management software for freelancers.”
- Filter by competition: Even though the tool’s competition score is primarily for paid ads, it’s still a helpful SEO indicator. Choose keywords marked as “low” or “medium” competition.
- Check search volume: Aim for keywords with at least 100 monthly searches to ensure you’ll get meaningful traffic.
Pro tip: Don’t just target these keywords—outperform existing content that ranks for them. Study the top-ranking pages and create something more comprehensive, helpful, and engaging. Add visuals, answer common questions, and structure the content for readability. That’s how you win rankings without competing in oversaturated spaces.
3. Improve Your Site’s User Experience
User experience (UX) plays a critical role in your SEO performance. Google wants to rank websites that offer the best possible experience for users—and it measures this using various engagement signals through systems like Navboost.
Navboost tracks how users interact with search results. If users click on your link, stay on your site, and engage with your content (rather than bouncing back to the search page), Google sees that as a positive signal. These behaviors indicate that your content is helpful and relevant—key factors in achieving and maintaining higher rankings.
To improve your site’s UX and send the right signals to search engines, follow these essential tips:
- Use a clean layout: Keep your design simple and clutter-free. Use consistent fonts, proper spacing, and a logical structure to help users focus on the content.
- Speed up page load times: A slow website frustrates users and can drive them away. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix speed issues. Optimize image sizes, use caching, and reduce unnecessary code.
- Ensure mobile responsiveness: Most users browse on mobile devices. Your site should adapt seamlessly to all screen sizes, with readable text, tappable buttons, and no horizontal scrolling.
- Simplify navigation: Create a clear menu structure with intuitive categories. Use internal linking and breadcrumbs to help users find what they’re looking for quickly.
By enhancing UX, you not only keep users engaged but also improve SEO performance organically—without relying on paid tools or tactics.
4. Enhance On-Page SEO
On-page SEO refers to the practice of optimizing individual web pages to help search engines understand their content and rank them for relevant queries. It’s one of the most fundamental aspects of SEO and can significantly impact your visibility in search results.
Several key elements make up effective on-page SEO:
- Title tags: This is the clickable headline shown in search results. Make sure your title tag includes your target keyword naturally, stays under 60 characters, and encourages users to click.
- Meta descriptions: Though not a direct ranking factor, a compelling meta description (under 105 characters) can improve your click-through rate. Mention the keyword and clearly describe what the page offers.
- Headings (H1, H2, H3, etc.): Use a clear structure. Your H1 should contain the main keyword and be used only once per page. Use H2s and H3s to organize content logically, making it easier for users and search engines to navigate.
- Keyword placement: Include your target keyword and relevant variations throughout the content naturally—in the introduction, subheadings, and body text. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can hurt readability and SEO.
- Image alt text: Add descriptive alt text to all images, incorporating keywords where appropriate. This improves accessibility and helps Google understand the content of your visuals.
Ultimately, good on-page SEO comes down to clarity, structure, and relevance. Optimizing these elements ensures both users and search engines can easily interpret your content, which boosts your chances of ranking well.
5. Maintain a Strong Technical SEO Foundation
Technical SEO is the backbone of your website’s visibility. Without a solid technical foundation, even the best content can struggle to rank. Search engines need to crawl, index, and understand your website efficiently—technical SEO ensures that happens smoothly.
One of the biggest reasons technical SEO matters is indexing. If search engines can’t access or properly interpret your pages, they won’t appear in search results. Similarly, crawlability affects how much of your site Googlebot can discover and analyze during its limited crawl budget.
Here are a few essential technical SEO practices:
- Fix crawl issues: Use Google Search Console’s Coverage report to identify errors like “Page not indexed,” “Server errors,” or “Blocked by robots.txt.” Resolve these promptly to ensure pages are crawlable.
- Eliminate duplicate content: Repeating content across multiple pages confuses search engines. Use canonical tags to point to the preferred version or consolidate similar pages.
- Remove broken pages: Broken links (404 errors) lead to a poor user experience and wasted crawl budget. Regularly audit your site to remove or fix dead URLs.
- Use proper redirects: If you delete or move a page, set up a 301 redirect to preserve link equity and maintain SEO value.
Google Search Console (GSC) is your best free tool to monitor and resolve these issues. Check reports under “Pages” and “Core Web Vitals” to find and fix technical errors before they affect your rankings. Prioritizing technical SEO ensures your content gets seen—and ranked.
6. Build Quality Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other websites to yours—remain one of Google’s most influential ranking factors. They act as “votes of confidence,” signaling that your content is valuable, credible, and worth referencing. The more high-quality backlinks you earn, the more likely you are to rank higher in search results.
But not all backlinks are created equal. Links from relevant, authoritative sites carry more weight than random or low-quality ones. That’s why focusing on quality over quantity is key.
Here are some proven strategies to build strong backlinks:
- Find unlinked brand mentions: Use tools like Google Alerts or Ahrefs to discover where your brand is mentioned but not linked. Reach out to those site owners and politely request a backlink.
- Become a source: Sign up for HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Qwoted to provide expert quotes for journalists and bloggers. This can result in backlinks from major publications.
- Create link-worthy assets: Publish content that naturally attracts links—like original research, infographics, in-depth guides, or useful tools. These resources are often cited by other content creators.
When it comes to outreach, keep it personal, respectful, and relevant. Avoid spammy tactics. Explain why linking to your content benefits their readers, and always offer value.
Lastly, consistency matters. Link building isn’t a one-time activity—it’s an ongoing effort. Make it a regular part of your SEO strategy, and over time, those backlinks will compound your authority and rankings.
7. Win More Featured Snippets
Featured snippets are special boxes that appear at the top of Google’s search results, providing users with quick, direct answers to their queries. Sometimes called “position zero,” these snippets grab attention, drive more traffic, and boost your site’s authority.
Why do featured snippets matter? Because they increase your visibility and click-through rates, often outperforming regular search listings. Capturing a snippet can put your content front and center, ahead of competitors.
To identify snippet opportunities, start by manually searching your target keywords on Google. Look for queries where Google already shows a featured snippet—these often include:
- Definitions or explanations
- Step-by-step instructions or how-tos
- Lists or tables
- Quick facts or statistics
Next, optimize your content to fit the snippet format. Structure your pages with clear, descriptive headings that mirror the user’s question. Use bullet points, numbered lists, or short paragraphs to deliver concise answers.
Keep your responses brief and to the point, typically between 40–60 words, so Google can easily pull the content into a snippet. Adding schema markup where appropriate can also improve your chances.
By tailoring your content specifically for featured snippets, you enhance both user experience and your chance to dominate search results with prominent, valuable answers.
8. Combine Similar Pages Using Redirects
Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your website target the same or very similar keywords. This can confuse search engines about which page to rank, often leading to lower overall rankings for all those pages. Instead of boosting your SEO, keyword cannibalization dilutes your authority and divides your traffic.
To detect cannibalization, use Google Search Console (GSC). Check the “Performance” report for keywords where multiple pages are ranking. If you see several URLs competing for the same queries, that’s a clear sign of cannibalization.
Once identified, choose the best-performing or most relevant page as your primary target. This page should have the strongest content, most backlinks, or highest engagement.
Next, consolidate the content from other similar pages into that primary page. Ensure it covers all key topics comprehensively to provide the best user experience.
Finally, implement 301 redirects from the outdated or less valuable pages to your chosen main page. This tells search engines to transfer authority and ranking signals to the consolidated page, avoiding confusion and improving SEO performance.
By combining similar pages and using redirects wisely, you can eliminate keyword cannibalization, strengthen your site’s relevance, and boost your rankings effectively.
9. Demonstrate E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness—a set of criteria Google uses to evaluate the quality and reliability of web content. Originating from Google’s Quality Rater Guidelines, E-E-A-T is especially crucial for websites dealing with sensitive topics like health, finance, or legal advice, but it benefits all sites aiming for higher search rankings.
To demonstrate E-E-A-T, start with author bios that highlight the qualifications and experience of your content creators. Showing the real people behind your content adds credibility. Next, focus on original content that offers unique insights rather than copying existing information. Always cite reputable sources to back up your claims, which boosts authority and helps build trust.
Regularly update your content to ensure information remains current and accurate—this shows ongoing commitment to quality. Transparency also matters: provide clear contact information, privacy policies, and disclaimers when appropriate, so visitors know your site is trustworthy.
By consistently applying E-E-A-T principles, you signal to Google that your site is a reliable source of valuable information. This improves your chances of ranking higher while building long-term trust with your audience.
What to Do After Implementing These SEO Tactics
Once you’ve applied these SEO strategies, the next step is to monitor your performance regularly. Use Google Search Console (GSC) to track how your pages are performing in search results, including impressions, clicks, and any crawl errors. Keep an eye on keyword rankings to see which terms are improving and which may need more attention.
It’s also important to audit your updated pages regularly. This helps ensure your content stays relevant, accurate, and aligned with user intent. Continuously refine your content and link-building strategies based on performance data and industry trends.
Make it a habit to revisit key pages every quarter to refresh information, optimize for new keywords, and fix any technical issues. SEO is an ongoing process, and consistent effort will help you maintain and improve your search rankings over time.
Conclusion
SEO success doesn’t require expensive tools or complicated techniques—it comes down to consistent effort and smart strategies. By focusing on just one or two of these actionable tactics, you can start seeing improvements in your site’s visibility and traffic. Remember, SEO is a long-term game that rewards patience and persistence.
Don’t feel overwhelmed; small, steady changes add up over time. The key is to keep learning, testing, and refining your approach based on real data. So, why wait? Begin optimizing your site today using these free, proven strategies and watch your online presence grow steadily and sustainably. Your next level of SEO success starts now!
FAQs
Q1: How long does it take to see SEO results?
SEO results typically take between 3 to 6 months to become noticeable. The timeline depends on factors like your industry’s competition, how well you implement strategies, and your site’s current authority.
Q2: Do I need paid tools to improve SEO?
No, you don’t need paid tools to get started. Many effective free tools, such as Google Search Console and Google Keyword Planner, provide valuable insights to help you improve your SEO without any cost.
Q3: Is updating old content better than creating new content?
Often, yes. Updating existing content can boost rankings faster, especially if the page already has some authority or traffic. Refreshing data, improving relevance, and adding keywords can make a big difference.
Q4: Can beginners implement these strategies?
Absolutely. This guide is designed to be beginner-friendly with clear, actionable steps. Even if you’re new to SEO, you can apply these tactics and see progress.
Q5: How often should I review SEO performance?
It’s best to check your SEO performance at least once a month to track progress. Additionally, performing a comprehensive SEO audit every quarter helps catch issues and refine your strategy for ongoing growth.