Ever feel like you’re stuck on the same old SEO treadmill? It’s time to flip the script and uncover hidden gems that can genuinely transform your website’s traffic. In this guide, we dive into unexpected, proven tactics that will boost your site’s performance—backed by industry experts who know the ins and outs of SEO. .
This isn’t your typical boring lecture; it’s a refreshing look at proven strategies that blend solid know-how with a playful twist. Get ready to rethink your approach and discover SEO secrets that really work!
Use Targeted Keywords
One of the simplest yet most effective SEO tips that made a noticeable difference for my website was adding the targeted keywords in key places: the Meta Title, Meta Description, H1 tag, and the first paragraph of the content.
This single tweak drastically improved my rankings because it made it clear to search engines what the page was about, while also catching the attention of users browsing through search results.
Here’s how it worked: I optimized a blog post for the keyword “best baby strollers in 2024” by ensuring this exact phrase appeared:
- In the Meta Title, I used: “Best Baby Strollers in 2024 – Top Picks for Every Budget.”
- In the Meta Description, I included: “Looking for the best baby strollers in 2024? Discover our top picks designed for comfort, safety, and style.”
- The H1 tag echoed: “Best Baby Strollers in 2024.”
- In the first paragraph, I wrote: “Choosing the best baby strollers in 2024 can feel overwhelming, but this guide makes it simple by highlighting the top options for every budget.”
The result? The blog post moved from the third page of Google to the top 5 results within three weeks. The organic traffic to that page increased by over 250%, and it brought in more qualified visitors who were genuinely interested in the topic.
For business owners or bloggers looking for quick wins, this tip is a game-changer. Start by reviewing your current pages. If your targeted keywords are missing in these spots, update them strategically. Track your rankings over the next few weeks, and you’re likely to see an improvement. Just make sure the content delivers value so users stay on the page after clicking—because rankings mean little without engagement.
Ankit Prajapati
Owner, Consultant Ankit
Follow Crunchwiser on LinkedIn!
Remove Low-Traffic Posts
One incredibly effective SEO tactic we implemented was removing low-traffic posts (zombie pages). After cleaning up underperforming content, we saw a noticeable increase in overall traffic and CTR.
Why? Because search engines prioritize websites with high-quality content. When you have too many weak pages, they can dilute your site’s authority. Removing them helped search engines focus on our strongest content, improving rankings and organic visibility.
Before deleting, it’s always worth assessing whether a post can be updated or optimized. However, in some cases, cutting dead weight is the best move.
Aleksa Filipovic
Content & SEO Manager, MeasureSchool
Optimize Internal Linking
One simple SEO tactic that yielded surprisingly significant results for me was internal linking optimization with a strategic focus on topical authority.
A few years ago, I was working on a website that had great content but wasn’t ranking as well as it should have. The pages were scattered with no clear structure, and users often bounced after reading just one article.
I decided to revamp the internal linking strategy by mapping out a pillar-cluster model—connecting main topic pages with related subtopics using descriptive anchor text instead of generic phrases like “click here.”
The Results Were Game-Changing:
- 100% Growth in Organic Traffic: Within six months, organic traffic doubled as Google started recognizing the improved site structure.
- Ranking Boost: Pages that were previously stuck beyond page two saw an average improvement of 20-25 positions, pushing many into the top 10 results.
- Lower Bounce Rate: Users engaged more with the content, leading to a 20% reduction in bounce rate as they navigated seamlessly across related topics.
- Higher Conversions: With users spending more time exploring relevant pages, conversions (sign-ups, inquiries, or purchases) increased by 15%.
This experience proved to me that internal linking isn’t just about SEO—it’s also about enhancing user experience and guiding visitors to the most valuable content. It was a simple change, but the impact was massive!
Murali Krishna
SEO Analyst
Improve Page Load Speed
One simple but surprisingly effective SEO tactic is improving page load speed, specifically by optimizing images on a website. Here’s how this can yield significant results:
Example Tactic: Image Optimization
Problem: Slow page load times can hurt SEO as they affect user experience and increase bounce rates, which Google uses as a ranking factor.
Implementation:
- Assess Current Image Sizes: Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to identify images that are unnecessarily large and are slowing down your page load times.
- Optimize Images: Compress images without losing quality using tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim. Resize images to the maximum display size needed on your pages, rather than using CSS to resize large images to small displays. Convert images to more efficient formats, such as WebP, which offers significantly smaller file sizes compared to traditional formats like JPEG or PNG.
- Implement Efficient Loading: Use lazy loading techniques, which load images only as they enter the viewport (the part of the web page visible to the user), not all at once on initial page load.
By implementing these image optimization techniques, the load times of the pages were significantly reduced. This improvement not only enhanced user experience but also positively impacted SEO rankings:
- Improved Page Speed Scores: Tools like PageSpeed Insights showed a noticeable improvement in scores post-optimization, indicating better performance.
- Reduced Bounce Rates: As the site became faster, users were less likely to leave the site prematurely, reducing bounce rates.
- Increased Organic Traffic: Faster load times contributed to better rankings in search results, driving more organic traffic to the site.
- Higher Conversion Rates: With enhanced user experience from faster loading times, the site saw an increase in conversion rates, as users were more likely to engage with content and complete actions like purchases or sign-ups.
This seemingly straightforward tactic of optimizing images goes a long way in improving overall site performance and SEO, highlighting how basic optimizations can lead to substantial benefits.
Inali Patel
Digital Marketing Specialist, Tech NewsCast
Target High-Intent Keywords
I focused on BOFU (Bottom of the Funnel) and MOFU (Middle of the Funnel) topics to ensure I had gained reader attention in these two groups. Also, I deviated from the norm of targeting generic and high-competition keywords as most marketers do. I chose high-intent search queries that committed users were actively using. Businesses focus on TOFU (Top of the Funnel) content, which creates awareness but does nothing for conversions.
Shifting my attention to BOFU and MOFU topics allowed me to attract users who were already at the stage of making a purchase or seeking specialized information about a product. Also, being the first to cover trending topics allowed me to rank faster before others covered these topics. Using this new approach for a while led to the following:
- High Click-Through Rate (CTR): the use of targeted keyword-optimized headlines and content separated my content from the crowd, and it was visible in my rankings, which showed a spike. Also, optimizing metadata with keywords and using actionable CTAs encouraged engagement.
- Increased Organic Traffic: selecting trending topics helped drive organic traffic as there was less competition, and my content ranked faster. Search engines prefer to prioritize pages with helpful and new content, which my blogs qualified for, helping me get to page one of the results pages in a shorter time.
- Improved Engagement: by aligning my content with the needs of BOFU and MOFU users, I could offer them the value they were looking for through targeted and specialized content. It resulted in a lower bounce rate and higher session durations as users clicking on my content found what they were looking for.
- More Ranking Opportunities with Fresh Content: Content that has just been indexed and is relevant has the highest chance of ranking on Google. By being the first to cover new and trending topics, my content was indexed faster and, therefore, ranked higher and quicker than anyone else who wrote on similar titles.
I found that creating unique content on trending topics and having an audience-focused approach drove organic traffic up, raised engagement levels, and led to improved overall SEO efforts for my website. This basic approach was strategic and highlighted how timing and intent-backed content creation lead to significant results.
Shailendrakumar Kori
SEO Manager, D’Genius Solutions
Optimize Internal Linking
One simple SEO tactic I implemented that delivered surprising results was optimizing internal linking with strategic anchor text. Instead of just linking randomly within blog posts, I built a structured internal linking strategy that connected high-performing pages with lower-ranking but relevant ones. I also ensured anchor text was natural yet keyword-rich, reinforcing topical authority.
Within weeks, I noticed a jump in rankings for several target pages that previously struggled to gain traction. Organic traffic increased by over 40% without any new backlinks, and time-on-site improved as users navigated deeper into related content. This approach not only helped with SEO but also improved the user experience by guiding visitors through a logical content journey. The biggest lesson was that even small, overlooked elements like internal links can have a massive impact when implemented strategically, making it a low-effort, high-reward SEO win.
Georgi Petrov
CMO, Entrepreneur, and Content Creator, AIG MARKETER
Optimize For Search Intent
One simple SEO tactic that yielded noticeable results was optimizing existing content for search intent. By identifying pages with declining or stagnant traffic, I used Google Search Console to review the search queries driving impressions but not clicks.
Then, I changed the content to match user goals better. I made headings clearer, added relevant keywords naturally, and made sure the content answered the question fully.
For example, a blog post targeting “best productivity tools” initially focused on a generic list. After identifying queries like “best free productivity tools for remote teams,” I expanded the post to include a dedicated section on free tools for remote workers. This change significantly boosted click-through rates and engagement.
Advice for others:
- Regularly audit underperforming pages using tools like Google Search Console or SEMrush.
- Prioritize matching content to the specific intent of high-impression keywords—informational, navigational, or transactional.
- Refresh content with updated statistics, examples, or insights to ensure it remains relevant and valuable.
Small tweaks to align with what users are searching for can change average posts into high-performing ones.
Will Hawkins
Owner, Digital Business
Optimize Existing Content
One simple SEO tactic that surprisingly yielded significant results was optimizing existing content for search intent by updating old blog posts with better keywords, fresh data, and improved internal linking. Instead of constantly creating new content, I revisited underperforming pages, researched what users were actually searching for, and made small tweaks like adjusting headlines, adding structured data, and improving readability. The impact was noticeable—higher rankings, increased organic traffic, and better engagement metrics like lower bounce rates and longer time on page. Sometimes, refining what you already have can be more powerful than starting from scratch!
Danial Hussain
Sr. SEO Executive, Red Feature Tech
Clean Up Internal Linking
One of the simplest yet most effective SEO tactics I’ve implemented was cleaning up internal linking. A site had tons of orphaned pages and a messy structure, so I created a logical internal linking strategy, making sure important pages were linked contextually from high-authority pages. I also added breadcrumb navigation and fixed broken links.
The result? Organic traffic jumped by 40% in three months. Crawlers found pages more easily, rankings improved, and users stayed on the site longer because they had clear paths to follow. It was a reminder that sometimes, the basics—when done right—can move the needle more than flashy tactics.
Will Wright
Lead SEO Strategist, Direct Online Marketing
Target Long-Tail Keywords
One simple SEO tactic that has yielded surprisingly strong results for many businesses is focusing on highly specific, long-tail keywords from the outset. Rather than competing for broad, high competition terms, businesses that prioritize niche phrases often see faster traction, attracting more targeted traffic and building trust with search engines.
For example, one website saw a 30% increase in organic impressions within a few months simply by refining its keyword strategy to focus on user intent. By routinely tracking performance in Google Search Console and monitoring the number of queries each page appeared for, they were able to identify which pages were gaining traction.
As impressions and clicks increased, this signaled to search engines that the content was highly relevant, allowing them to strategically expand into broader keywords over time. This layered approach has proven to be an effective way to establish a strong SEO foundation.
For those looking to improve their organic visibility, the key takeaway is clear: start with long-tail keywords, monitor performance closely, and scale strategically as your site gains authority. This method ensures sustainable growth while avoiding the common pitfall of targeting overly competitive terms too soon.
Tom Ward
SEO Consultant, TPW Digital
Remove Underperforming Content
One simple SEO tactic that yields significant results for me, time and time again, is removing content. It’s really quite simple.
- I open GA4 and filter the /blog/ section.
- Next I go to Reports / Engagement / Pages and screens and then filter by path and screen class.
- I set the date range to the last 12 months, and export the data.
- Next, I calculate the average number of page views for all the blog content. Anything below that figure I sort (in collaboration with the client) into one of these categories:
- Remove: Archive and 301 redirect.
- Rewrite: If an article seems to have unfulfilled potential, we remove it at first, rewrite it using Surfer SEO, and significantly change it. I then republish it.
- Re-Use: Some articles can be reused in part. It might be that 2 or 3 articles can be spliced together, with some editing, to create an interesting new piece.
- No-Index: If an article is not relevant for the company, despite its high traffic, I add a no-index tag.
Content is king, right? Well yes, but not content for the sake of content. If nobody is reading your content, then it is bloating your site, wasting crawl bandwidth, and it looks manipulative if it contains keywords. Ultimately it is holding your site back. I see so much content pushed out, with the best of intentions (usually), only for it to sit there and do nothing.
Once content is audited and the steps above are followed, I always see an upturn in rankings.
Michelle Symonds
SEO Consultant, Ditto Digital
Beef Up Old Blog Posts
One dead-simple SEO trick I tried was just beefing up my old blog posts with some fresh internal links. I went through a handful of posts that were already ranking decently and I tossed in a few links pointing to other related pages on my site. Nothing fancy just made sure they fit naturally.
The result? Traffic shot up like crazy. I saw a 30% jump in organic visits within a couple of months and some of those linked pages started ranking too. Super easy, no cost, and it totally boosted my site’s performance.
Ayush Shah
SEO Analyst, Link Publishers
Consolidate Existing Content
A surprisingly effective SEO tactic I implemented was content consolidation.
Merging similar blogs into comprehensive, in-depth guides and reducing the number of cannibalized content. By auditing the site for overlapping content in GSC and combining posts targeting similar keywords, we reduced content redundancy while enhancing topical authority.
The results were impressive. Within three months, organic traffic to consolidated pages increased by over 50%, and we saw a 20% improvement in the engagement metrics.
This approach not only streamlined our content strategy but also signaled to search engines that our guides were the most authoritative resources on their topics, boosting keyword rankings across the board.
Oscar Scolding
Senior SEO & Performance Strategist, SEO Sherpa
Create Statistics Pages
One simple SEO tactic that surprisingly yielded significant results was creating a series of statistics pages focused on various marketing topics. We covered a wide range of marketing/SEO statistics, from link-building trends to podcast statistics, ensuring we addressed these topics in every possible way. This approach helped us build more authority and made our site a trusted resource for data-driven marketing information. As a result, we saw increased organic traffic and improved the website’s search rankings.
Maria Harutyunyan
Co-Founder, Loopex Digital
Optimize Image Alt Text
I once decided to revisit the alt text on images across my website, something I had initially added without much thought. I noticed that many were either blank or filled with generic terms that didn’t add any real value.
Instead of treating it as a checkbox task, I began crafting descriptive, keyword-rich alt text for each image, ensuring it aligned with the page content. It took me a couple of days to go through the most important pages, but I wanted to see if this overlooked detail could make a difference.
About two weeks later, I noticed a spike in traffic from image search. A blog post that had previously received negligible attention was now appearing in results for a niche, long-tail keyword.
The sudden increase in image search visibility also brought in a steady stream of new users to the rest of the site. Analytics showed an improvement not just in impressions but also in engagement metrics, like time spent on the site.
This experience taught me that small, intentional changes can compound into big results. It was a lesson in paying attention to details others might skip. For someone looking for a quick yet impactful SEO win, optimizing image alt text could be worth exploring.
Erin Siemek
CEO, Forge Digital Marketing, LLC
Optimize Collection Pages
A while back, we onboarded a client in the retail industry with a significant brand name and reputation. The client told us from the get-go that any technical recommendations would be hard, if not impossible, to implement. We decided to focus on content and found out most of their collection pages weren’t optimized. Once we finished our keyword research, we mapped out all the pages based on their catalog and the biggest opportunities we identified.
The client implemented our recommendations, and within a few months, our non-branded rankings went up, including a 195% increase in keywords in top-3 positions. In this case, brand awareness and domain authority are the components that help us reach those whopping results, as Google trusted the brand and rewarded any optimizations. This wouldn’t have worked with the majority of the websites.
Christophe Deneulin
SEO Manager, Orange Line
Assign Specific Author Bios
Assigning different author bios to different blogs instead of having a single author for everything. If the content was about graphics or motion design, the author bio featured a designer or motion designer. If it was about business strategy, the blog was attributed to the founder or CTO. This added topical authority and made the content more credible to both readers and search engines. The impact was higher engagement, lower bounce rates, and improved rankings because Google values expertise and relevancy. Sometimes, small credibility tweaks make a massive difference in SEO.
Bhavik Sarkhedi
Founder & Content Lead, Ohh My Brand
Implement Schema Markup
Implementing schema markup specifically for service businesses had an unexpectedly powerful impact on our visibility. While everyone focuses on keywords and backlinks, we spent just three hours adding structured data that clearly communicated our service areas, pricing models, and specific offerings to search engines. Within weeks, our click-through rates increased by 37% despite no significant ranking changes.
More importantly, our conversion rates improved because the enhanced search results attracted more qualified visitors. The markup also triggered rich results for service comparisons, displaying our pricing tiers directly in search results. This simple technical implementation required minimal effort but dramatically improved the quality of our organic traffic.
Vick Antonyan
CEO, humble help
Use Expired Link Redirects
One of the most effective “outside-the-box” tactics that still works is using expired link redirects. Although this strategy requires careful planning and patience, if you can find an expired domain that previously belonged to a site within a similar niche with strong existing backlinks, it can significantly boost your results. We’ve observed websites jump from page 3 to the top 2 positions for highly competitive keywords simply by redirecting a valuable expired domain to them.
Adam Haworth
Managing Director, Fuunction