Want to get ahead of your competitors in SERP results without using the same old SEO tricks? Most SEOs are busy stuffing keywords, getting backlinks, and writing unnecessary blog posts. Even though some less common SEO tactics aren’t very well known, they can help you get more traffic and result in higher ranks in search results, especially in niches with a lot of competition.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is essential for getting your information seen by the right people at the right time. But what makes you different if you follow the same plan just like the others?
That is why, in this blog, we’ll look at some effective but less well-known SEO strategies that can give you the edge on your competitors..
Table of Contents
SEO Tactics to Improve Your Traffic
Here we will discuss some powerful SEO strategies to give your website a competitive edge.
Schema Markup & Structured Data
Schema markup is a type of code that helps search engines better understand your content. It enhances your pages’ appearance in search results with features like star ratings or FAQs. Beyond basic schema, FAQ, How-To, Speakable, and Review schemas can improve visibility. Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper and Schema.org make deployment simple.
Internal Linking Optimization
Internal Linking connects one page of your website to another. Most individuals link at random. However, relevant and explicit linking can improve your SEO. No other page on your site points to them using a hyperlink. Tools like Screaming Frog and Ahrefs help you find pages on your website that aren’t linked from anywhere else and show how links are shared between your pages, so you can improve your site’s SEO.
Also, employ a variety of anchor texts (clickable terms in a link) and organize relevant topics. This helps search engines better understand your content and boosts low-performing pages.
Content Pruning and Historical Optimization
Not all content improves your SEO; some can potentially harm it. That is why it is critical to routinely remove or correct old, thin, weak, or duplicate content.
If you have numerous posts on the same topic, merge them into a stronger, more helpful post. Update your top-performing pages with new statistics and graphics to keep them ranking high and user-friendly. This helps keep your site clean, relevant, and attractive to search results.
Image SEO
Image SEO involves more than simply adding alt text. Begin by labelling your image files with essential keywords, rather than arbitrary titles like “IMG123.jpg”. Use the WebP format to make photos load faster while maintaining quality.
Make an image sitemap to help search engines discover and index your pictures. Add lazy loading so images load only when needed, and use a CDN (Content Delivery Network) to accelerate delivery. Don’t forget to share your images on Pinterest because it can bring in additional traffic you might miss.
Leveraging Log File Analysis
Leveraging log file analysis helps you monitor how search engines and visitors access your website at the server level. Checking your server logs will help you identify URLs that bots never crawl or crawl too frequently for no apparent reason. This allows you to identify and resolve crawl difficulties. You can also discover “deadweight” pages that bring no value but are still crawled, so they waste your crawl budget. Cleaning these up helps search engines focus on your most critical sites.
Technical improvements with significant impact
Minor technical adjustments can significantly improve SEO. To accelerate website loading, use HTTP/2 or HTTP/3. Set the appropriate cache-control headers and preload crucial resources.
Check your DNS settings regularly using a DNS records lookup tool to ensure they are accurate and complete. Incorrect or misconfigured DNS records (such as missing A, AAAA, CNAME, or MX entries) can lead to slow response times or even make your website inaccessible to users and search engine crawlers. After updating any DNS configurations, use a DNS propagation checker to confirm that changes have taken effect globally and that your website remains reachable without downtime.
When moving from one domain to another (like switching your website to a new domain), it’s essential to do it carefully because this process can be tricky. To make it easier and keep your SEO safe, use 301 redirects to send visitors and search engines from the old domain to the new one. Also, update all your important links and notify Google about the change through Search Console.
Additionally, create unique 404 error pages that help visitors stay on your site by offering useful links, instead of just showing an error message. This improves user experience and reduces visitors leaving your site.
Using Reddit and Quora for Keyword Mining
Reddit and Quora are excellent resources for identifying real-world queries and problems your competitors may overlook.
By searching these forums, you might get ideas to write about. Turn popular threads into extensive blog pieces or FAQ sections for your website. This allows you to identify long-tail keywords and specific phrases that are easier to rank for and can drive focused traffic to your website.
Expired Domains and Content Revival
Expired domains can be a valuable resource for SEO. ExpiredDomains.net is a helpful tool for finding niche-relevant domains with a strong backlink profile. When you find it, you can either redirect the domain to your website or bring back old content using the Wayback Machine and update it with your brand.
This provides a quick boost in authority and traffic without starting from scratch. Before using a domain, ensure that it has no history of spam. This strategy can help you establish trust signals and rank higher in search results when executed properly.
Conclusion
While popular SEO practices are essential, the lesser-known tactics typically provide websites with a competitive advantage in congested sectors. You may improve your site’s performance by using sophisticated schema markup, optimizing internal links, removing old content, improving image SEO, and reviewing log files. Technical changes, such as DNS optimization and propagation checks, assure maximum uptime and crawlability. Meanwhile, Reddit and Quora provide important keyword data, while expired domains give speedy authority gains. Adopting these underappreciated methods will help you remain ahead of competitors and create long-term traffic growth.
About the Author: Leif Larsen
I am a content marketing specialist with over six years of experience. I’m passionate about developing strategic content marketing plans that help businesses grow. Over the years, I have contributed to several well-known publication websites. Currently, I focus on assisting SaaS companies in enhancing their online presence through SEO, content marketing, and link building. Feel free to connect with me via email or LinkedIn.