To move your keywords from position ~90 to the first or second page of Google, you’ll need a combination of technical SEO fixes, content upgrades, and off-page efforts.
Here’s a detailed roadmap:
1. Check Keyword Relevance and Intent
Verify search intent: Make sure your content matches what users expect for that keyword (informational, transactional, etc.).
Re-target if needed: If your content doesn’t satisfy the intent, rewrite or restructure it accordingly.
2. Optimize the On-Page SEO
- Title & Meta Description: Use the keyword naturally in the title tag (under 60 characters) and meta description (under 160 characters) to boost CTR.
- Header Tags (H1–H3): Include the keyword in the H1 and sprinkle related terms in H2s and H3s.
- Keyword Placement: Ensure the keyword appears in the first 100 words and last paragraph.
- Image Optimization: Use relevant images with proper ALT tags and filenames including keywords.
3. Improve Content Quality
- Word count: Compare with top 5 ranking pages—match or exceed the average content length.
- Content depth: Cover subtopics, FAQs, statistics, examples, and actionable tips to increase topical authority.
- Use LSI Keywords: Add semantically related phrases to help Google understand the topic better.
4. Improve Internal Linking
Link from relevant pages: Use anchor text with variations of your target keyword.
Add from high-authority internal pages: This passes link equity to your underperforming pages.
5. Check Technical SEO
- Page Speed: Ensure your page loads within 2.5 seconds (use Google PageSpeed Insights).
- Mobile Optimization: Use responsive design for better UX and ranking.
- Indexing: Use Google Search Console to confirm the page is indexed and not blocked by robots.txt.
6. Build Quality Backlinks
- Guest Posting: Write high-quality guest articles in your niche linking back to the page.
- Link Reclamation: Use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to find unlinked mentions of your brand and request a backlink.
- Skyscraper Technique: Create better content than competitors and ask sites linking to them to switch to yours.
7. Update & Republish the Content
Update your post’s publish date and mention “Updated for 2025” in the intro.
Make significant additions or improvements before republishing to signal freshness to Google.
8. Use Schema Markup
Add relevant schema (e.g., FAQ, Article) to increase click-through rate and enhance visibility in SERPs.
9. Monitor and Iterate
Use Google Search Console and GA4 to track:
- Clicks
- Impressions
- Average position
- Adjust based on data monthly.