How SEO can help you beat the competition with deep pockets?

Once upon a time, there was a website that was so invisible, it could have been a ninja. But then, it discovered the power of SEO and became a digital rockstar!

However, it wasn’t long before other companies with big budgets started giving it intense competition. But our little webby was not to be outdone – it doubled down on SEO, got creative with its content, and fought tooth and nail to stay on top.

And in the end, it emerged victorious, proving that with determination and the right SEO strategy, even the little guys can take down the big dogs.

The end.

SEO – Search Engine Optimisation, can act like a magic mana for ninja websites. And it can also help underdogs fight off their more powerful, and resourceful rivals.

But how? You may ask.

And sometimes, you just have to Ask.

Unlocking the Power of SEO: The Key to Digital Success

Welcome to the Digital Age!

As the world moves online, it’s time for your business to join the revolution. With the rapid advancement of digital technologies and the shift towards E-Commerce, even offline shopping is now online.

To succeed in this fast-paced world, your business needs a strong online identity.

And SEO provides your business with its own green card!

Still not convinced? Let’s look at what the numbers have to say.

Need more convincing? From untapped opportunities to unimagined growth, the sky’s the limit when you harness the full potential of SEO for your business.

However, like all good things, there’s a catch.

Staying on top of the SEO game can be a challenge, especially in competitive markets, with more established brands dominating the SEO real estate.

So, what exactly are the advantages bigger companies have over underdogs? Let’s find out.

How bigger companies have an SEO edge over others?

By understanding the advantages that larger brands hold, you can level the playing field and outsmart the competition.

So, what exactly gives bigger companies the SEO advantage? Let’s get a closer look.

• Their budget

When it comes to SEO, bigger isn’t always better – but it certainly helps.

With a larger budget at their disposal, big sites can launch a full-scale attack on the competition using multiple digital marketing strategies. From content creation to social media marketing, they have the resources to dominate the digital landscape.

• Brand image

Big companies have a secret weapon in SEO – their established brand.

With years of investment in building recognition and trust, their name alone can improve click-through rates and encourage brand searches. Plus, Google tends to favor these established players, giving them an edge in the search results.

• Link profile

Bigger companies like Amazon have a vast online presence. Thus, they boast an extensive network of high-quality backlinks from diverse sources, giving them a mighty edge over smaller independent businesses.

• Domain authority

The longer a site has been around, the more history it has accumulated and the more valuable its domain becomes. As a result, it gains higher domain authority and is perceived as a more trustworthy and credible source.

• Market promptness

With greater resources, a larger and well-funded website can swiftly respond to events and remain up-to-date with the latest trends.

• Trustworthiness

When it comes to online businesses, trust is key. For example, Apple’s long-standing reputation as a reliable and dependable brand makes them a preferred choice over smaller, lesser-known businesses.

However, don’t let the bigger competition intimidate you.

Remember the story of David and Goliath?

Smaller companies too have certain advantages at their disposal.

Advantages of smaller companies

Small businesses have secret weapons to take on the Goliaths of their industry. Here are some of the advantages they have over their larger competitors:

• Passion

Passion drives successful small businesses. The dedicated people behind small businesses are motivated by a deep love for what they do, which translates to an invested approach to customers and excellent work.

• Custom approach

Small businesses listen to their customers and develop tailor-made solutions that fit their specific needs. This gives them an edge over larger businesses that tend to have a one-size-fits-all approach.

• Agility

Smaller businesses can move quickly and easily by frequently reassessing and adapting their plans as needed. This means they can get things done more efficiently than larger businesses that have to navigate through layers of management.

• Authenticity

Smaller brands can focus on authenticity and building a strong niche following, which can lead to positive brand associations and greater brand awareness.

Points at a glance

Advantages of smaller companies over bigger ones

So, how exactly do you beat the big guys at their own game?

Crush the Giants: Unbeatable SEO Strategies for Dominating Your Market

The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it. – Moliere

Breaking into a highly-competitive SEO market and toppling bigger, established rivals is no walk in the park.

However, it’s certainly not impossible either.

Below, we have listed some of the most effective SEO strategies that you can load into your arsenal, and fire away at your opponents.

1. Conduct a complete SEO analysis of your competitors

Stay one step ahead of your SEO competitors by conducting a thorough analysis of their strategies.

Because your success hinges on learning from your competitors – what works for them, and what doesn’t.

One important thing to note here is that you shouldn’t create a carbon copy of someone else’s website. This can be termed as Digital Piracy, which Google doesn’t take lightly.

Moreover, to outshine the competition in a cut-throat industry, it’s crucial to assess ranking signals at both the macro and micro levels.

Macro signals are key players, but don’t overlook the micro signals which could make all the difference in your SEO strategy.

To achieve top rankings, it’s crucial to analyze what the industry leaders are doing at a macro level and use their strategies as a benchmark for your own success.

So, harness your inner Sherlock, and get ready to scrutinize stuff.

However, to really get an edge over your competition, you’ll need to delve into the nitty-gritty details of what’s making them tick.

To outshine in a competitive digital landscape, you can’t leave any stone unturned.

However, the SEO information that you can gather from your competitors can help you out perform them in search.

2. Keyword research

However, Goliath companies use keywords in thousands and optimize them all. You can’t.

For example, you have a small business where you manufacture printers. Now, you want to compete with giants like HP.

How do you do that?

You carry out a complete SEO audit.

Try to discover the relevant keywords that your target audience uses while searching for printers by utilizing keyword research tools such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs.

You shouldn’t solely focus on transactional keywords like:

• Buy printers online
• Affordable printers for sale
• Best deals on printers

Keywords like these are already being used by HP, a company with market authority. Thus, they will be difficult to rank.

 Instead, you should create a comprehensive keyword map comprising informational, transactional, and commercial keywords. This will enable you to effectively target your potential buyers with tailored content that caters to their needs throughout their entire buyer journey.

For example, if you search on Google with the keyword “top 10 wireless printers for small offices”, this is what you will find on the SERPs page:

As you can see, HP is nowhere present in the first page. And this is a golden opportunity for you to step in. You can try creating great blogs with this keyword- content that people would actually want to read.

Remember we mentioned Buyer’s Journey before?

Let’s see an example of what a buyer’s journey looks like.

Now let’s see what kind of keywords you need to target people with content throughout the buyers journey.

Top of the funnel keywords-

Mid Funnel Keywords-z`z

As you can see, we had searched for a mid-funnel keyword previously : top 10 wireless printers for small offices

You can make videos around this topic and target YouTube and Facebook audience. You can also bring organic traffic to your website and spread awareness.

Creating evergreen and pillar content around printers is also a very good strategy to improve your ranking . You can target both commercial and transactional keywords to make these type of content.

• How-to guides: These guides can cover a variety of topics, such as how to set up a printer, how to troubleshoot common problems, and how to use specific features.

• Comparison articles: These articles compare different printers on a variety of factors, such as price, features, and performance.

• Case studies: These studies highlight how printers have helped businesses and individuals achieve their goals.

• Blog posts: These posts can cover a variety of topics related to printers, such as new printer technology, tips for saving money on printing, and how to use printers for marketing purposes.

• Infographics: These graphics can visually illustrate complex topics related to printers, such as the different types of printers, the benefits of using a printer, and how to choose the right printer for your needs.

You can also reach out to those websites publishing the lists of top printers, and request them to include your product on the list too. Or maybe you can write a great guest blog about say “laser printers” and include backlinks to your own site.

Now once you start getting traffic with the above-mentioned keywords you can start focussing on transactional keywords.

Transactional Keywords:

• Buy printers online
• Affordable printers for sale
• Best deals on printers
• Printers with free shipping
• Buy laser printers
• Inkjet printers on sale
• Printers with warranty
• Where to buy printers near me

So, make every keyword count. Focus on a select few that you have a real chance of ranking for and that will bring you the best return on investment.

Below, we have a few tips for you on keyword research:

• Search for long tail terms

Find niche keywords that will attract users looking for your unique product or service, rather than trying to compete with larger companies on broad terms.

For example, as a digital newbie specializing in repair services, “home ac repair” is a tough keyword to compete on. But optimizing for “specialized home ac repairing services by experts” can boost your visibility.

• User intent

Choosing the right keywords can make or break your SEO campaign. Instead of targeting broad terms like “ac repair”, focus on specific phrases like “ac repairing solutions for offices” to capture customers who are actively looking for your services.

• Geography

Want to stand out as a local business? Then target more specific keywords like “home ac repairing Montreal” instead of broader ones like “home ac repairing Canada.” But, be sure to ensure that your narrowed geography still has a significant search volume.

3. Create GREAT Content

Another way to beat market goliaths is to create killer content. Or as we mentioned before, pillar content.

And if you want to be taken seriously, you better be creating content that leaves a lasting impression on your audience.

For example, if you have a small musical instruments business and trying to beat Yamaha, you need to have pillar content – content that comprehensively covers a topic.

The goal is to create content that blows away the mind of your reader. Or maybe make it so useful that they want to save it for future reference.

Try to research how goliath companies are creating their content, and try to shadow their tactics. Over time, you will find that you have a great content repository at hand that is actually useful and provides value to your readers.

4. On-site optimization

For SEO, you must walk and talk Google.

Make sure your website speaks Google’s language, or suffer from low rankings.

To rank high on Google, you need to make sure your website speaks its language. Here’s how you do it:

• Fix errors on your website

Google will tell you what needs fixing with its Webmaster Tools. Get an SEO-savvy web developer to sort it out once or twice a year.

• Make your UI/UX impeccable

Incorporating appropriate UI/UX design has the potential to significantly boost customer satisfaction. By ensuring your customers are content, you increase the likelihood of retaining them, which serves as the key to fostering strong brand loyalty.

• Craft pages for each primary keyword

Every product or service you offer should have a dedicated page. Take it slow and steady – Google likes ongoing optimization over one-time SEO tactics.

• Reclaim your backlinks

High-quality backlinks are gold. Weed out unsavoury or outdated links and get the right ones to boost your rankings.

5. Off-site optimisation

Want to outshine your big-shot SEO rivals? Focus on creating off-site content that naturally attracts links and establishes your authority with Google.

Boosting your off-page SEO is like building an impressive reputation beyond your own circle. It’s everything you do outside your website to show Google you’re a big deal.

From earning backlinks to building your social media presence, every step you take towards increasing your authority and trustworthiness can skyrocket your ranking on the SERPs.

Some steps you can take to boost off-site SEO are:

• Create valuable backlinks

Power up your digital strategy with authoritative backlinks that drive referral traffic to your site, establish trust with Google, and boost your search rankings.

While building quality links requires strategic planning and effort, the results are worth it for positioning your site as a reliable source of information.

• Use social media

Social media can be a game-changer in off-page SEO. It’s a powerful tool to amplify your content’s reach and score valuable backlinks from high-DA sites like:

• Guest contents

Create guest content for third-party websites as an effective online marketing technique. Reach out to sites with a similar audience to increase brand awareness, drive referral traffic, and gain valuable backlinks.

Nurturing these relationships with insightful content can bring in qualified traffic and leads.

Point to note: To land your content on a high-DA website, it’s crucial to create unique and highly sought-after content that will capture their audience’s attention.

• Local listings

Boost your business revenue, reputation, and search rankings with the ultimate off-page SEO technique: local SEO!

A.k.a. directory listings, local SEO is the tried-and-true way to make your business stand out in localized search results.

You can get found by customers in your area with localized search results! Whether they searched for your business by name or location, or their search was automatically tailored based on their IP address or current location, you’ll appear at the top of the results.

Listing your business in local directories not only boosts exposure and traffic but also generates a valuable backlink from a high DA site.

Some high DA directories are:

• Forum posting

Join the conversation and reap the rewards with forum posting! By sharing meaningful messages on online discussion boards, your business can enjoy a multitude of benefits, including:

• Gaining new customers and insights through forum posting!
• Engaging with your target audience directly.
• Addressing their questions and concerns in real-time.
• Boosting your business’s exposure and reputation.
• Better understanding your customers’ needs and preferences.

Find relevant forum threads and add value with your expertise.

Share your knowledge and help answer users’ questions while seizing the chance to include a link back to your website in the discussion.

6. Online reputation management

Things change with the blink of an eye in the online world. Thus, one day you might be #1 and in a flash that ranking can plummet to #7!

Because in the cutthroat world of SEO, you and your competitors are in a constant battle for the top spot! With everyone vying for the same audience, the slightest edge can make all the difference.

Source: Reputationx

So, don’t wait for Google to do the heavy lifting – take control of your online presence and make your mark!

By circulating your content across multiple channels and actively building your reputation, you can boost your search rankings and attract the attention you deserve.

Own your reputation and control the conversation around your brand! Keep tabs on your reviews across top-tier directories like Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places, and Yellow Pages, and take proactive steps to respond to negative reviews and generate positive ones.

Don’t forget to monitor social media engagement and respond to comments promptly.

In the world of SEO, a poor reputation is like blood in the water. And your competitors are hungry sharks, waiting to take a big chunk out of you.

Source: Reputationx

So take charge and build your brand’s online presence with diligence and care. With the right efforts, soon you can be a Megalodon!

• Multi-channel marketing

Your SEO strategy doesn’t work in isolation – social signals can impact your visibility and website traffic too!

Don’t leave your fate in Google’s hands – take a multi-channel approach to spread your content far and wide, giving consumers and other brands plenty of opportunities to engage with your organization.

Some channels to utilize on a daily basis are:

• Social media marketing
• Email marketing
• Paid search marketing
• Content marketing

You don’t have to be at the mercy of Google’s ever-changing algorithms! By focusing on these key factors, you can give your business a competitive edge that will keep you ahead of the pack.

Source: Martech

7. Go viral. Or die trying

Sometimes we see small brands and businesses blowing up online. And this sudden growth spurt can bring in a huge volume of organic customers.

Try to think of innovative ways through which you can go viral. Be it text, audios or videos, or even a smart marketing campaign, going viral can skyrocket your brand and propel you ahead of your goliath competitors.

Take the example of the “Tea for Trump” campaign.

 A small tea company from Kolkata, India called Tea-A-me managed to get viral globally. And the numbers say it all – 710 articles were published in 24 different languages across 65 countries. Digital engagement on Facebook and Twitter spanned across 81 countries, amassing an impressive 3.2 million views and over 22,000 tweets and mentions.

And they even managed to outnumber and outperform Tata Tea’s (a goliath tea brand from India) previous viral campaign.

How did it all happen?

The campaign took place at the time of the 2016 US presidential elections. A time when the whole of America and some parts of the world were worried about Donald Trump, especially for his views on immigrants, republicans, homosexuals, Mexicans, and women, among others.

Tea-a-trump took this opportunity to spread its message on a global scale. They sent 6000 bags of their green tea to Donald Trump – to “purify his mind.”

Their message was clear. They wanted Trump to drink their green tea so that he would become a better person.

Their simple, but well-thought-out marketing campaign blew off, aligning with a greater cause. This gave them huge brand recognition globally and also propelled them ahead of bigger and more resourceful competitors.

Key takeaway? Create viral content/campaigns.

Whew, that was a lot! But, when it comes to SEO, more is less.

Wrapping it up

If you have just embarked on your digital odyssey, the points mentioned above can help you navigate the seas of success. Also, if you are an experienced veteran these tips can still make waves in boosting your online presence.

So, let’s sum up in one quick glance:

These are your best bets when it comes to taking down Goliath websites and turning yours into a full-blown juggernaut from an invisible ninja!