Nick Zviadadze 🇺🇦

Before we dive in… As usual - want this entire process executed for you? Let’s chat! https://mintseo.com/

1/ Most SEO fails for ONE reason: It's treated as a tactic, not an operational system. While everyone chases algorithm updates and "hacks"... The winners quietly build content machines that PRINT traffic and leads. Here's the exact blueprint we use for 7-figure clients:

2/ PART 1: TECHNICAL FOUNDATION Most "technical SEO audits" are expensive busywork. For sites under 10k pages, you only need these basics: - SSL certificate - Mobile responsive design - Site speed under 3 seconds - XML sitemap - Robots.txt file - Clean URL structure

3/ Speed optimization quick wins: - Use WP Rocket if on WordPress - Compress images with TinyPNG - Enable lazy loading - Set up browser caching - Use a CDN like Cloudflare - Minify CSS/JS files Don't obsess over perfect scores - aim for "good enough" then move on.

4/ URL structure basics: ✅ domain com/target-keyword ❌ domain com/category/date/long-title-with-many-keywords Keep it short. Include your target keyword. Skip everything else. And NEVER change URLs after publishing unless absolutely necessary.

5/ The only technical checklist you need: - Run GTmetrix (aim for under 3s load time) - Check mobile usability in GSC - Fix broken links with Screaming Frog - Eliminate duplicate content - Create and submit sitemap.xml - Set up proper redirects for deleted pages That's it. Move on to what actually matters.

6/ PART 2: KEYWORD RESEARCH - THE FOUNDATION This is where most SEO campaigns are won or lost before they begin. The fatal mistake? Finding keywords on a weekly basis instead of building a comprehensive database upfront. You need 200-300 keywords on day one. Here's how:

7/ Strategy #1: The Seed Keyword Expansion Start with 5-10 seed keywords: - Run each through Semrush Keyword Magic Tool - Filter KD 0-20, extract all relevant keywords - Up the filter to 20-40, extract more - Rinse & repeat across difficulty ranges - Group by topic clusters - Aim for 100+ keywords from this method

8/ Strategy #2: The "Too Niche" Goldmine Big brands ignore keywords that are: - Too specific - Too low volume - Too niche-focused Instead of "email marketing software" target: - "Email templates for yoga studios" - "Newsletter examples for therapists" - "Drip campaigns for online course creators"

9/ Strategy #3: The ChatGPT Persona Method Prompt: "You're a [target customer]. What specific problems would you Google related to [your topic]?" Example: "You're a fitness studio owner. What specific problems would you Google related to marketing your business?" This finds problems your audience ACTUALLY has.

10/ Strategy #4: The Keyword Gap Finder 1. Find 5 smaller competitors ranking well 2. Run them through Semrush/Ahrefs 3. Look for keywords THEY rank for but larger competitors ignore 4. Filter by position 1-10 5. Sort by traffic potential You've found proven keywords with manageable competition.

11/ Strategy #5: The "Shoulder Niche" Strategy Stuck in a competitive niche? Target keywords in adjacent niches. SaaS email marketing tool? Don't target "email marketing tool" Target: - "Sales follow-up templates" - "Customer onboarding sequences" - "Lead nurturing workflows"

12/ For EVERY keyword, do this validation: - Google it manually - Check who's ranking - Look for small sites in top 10 - Analyze content quality - Check domain authority If it's all major brands with perfect content, move on. There are better battles to fight.

13/ PART 3: CONTENT STRATEGY & CREATION Most content strategies fail because they lack focus and velocity. The key? Build topic authority through systematic execution.

14/ The Topic Cluster Strategy: 1. Pick ONE main topic (e.g., "email marketing") 2. Create cornerstone content first 3. Build 8-12 supporting articles around it 4. Interlink EVERYTHING 5. Complete one cluster before moving to the next

15/ Content velocity is your secret weapon. Your content can't start climbing rankings if it doesn't exist. Truth: The faster you publish QUALITY content, the faster Google recognizes your authority. For a new site, aim for: - 30-40 articles in 90 days - 3-4 articles per week minimum - 20-30k words/month

16/ The introduction formula that hooks readers: Most content loses 80% of readers in the first paragraph. Use the PAS formula to hook them: Problem: "Ranking new content feels impossible in 2025" Agitate: "While your content sits on page 5, competitors steal your traffic" Solution: "Here's our exact process to rank in under 90 days" Keep it under 150 words.

17/ Your content MUST be better than the top 3 ranking posts. "Better" means: - More comprehensive - More actionable - Better examples - Clearer explanations - Better visuals - More current information "More words" ≠ better.

18/ Creating SEO Landing Pages That Convert Your money pages drive 80% of your revenue. Create dedicated landing pages for: - Product category + use case - Service type + industry - Product vs. competitors Structure them with: - Keyword in H1, title, meta - Clear value proposition - Social proof/testimonials - SEO content section - FAQ targeting PAA questions

19/ URL structure for landing pages: For services: [http://domain.com/services/ser... For local: [http://domain.com/locations/ci... Example hierarchy: /locations/ ├── Personal Injury NYC │ ├── Car Accident Lawyer NYC │ └── Malpractice Lawyer NYC └── Personal Injury Boston

20/ Landing page internal linking strategy: - Create services dropdown in nav - Link from homepage to core services - Link from blog posts to relevant services - Use exact-match anchor text - Build supporting content that links to landing pages

21/ PART 4: USING AI TO SCALE CONTENT CREATION AI can 3x your content production if used correctly. Most fail because they use AI as a writer, not as an assistant. Here's the framework that actually works:

22/ Step 1: Train Your AI Properly Create a Claude project and feed it: - Your best-performing content - Competitor articles - Industry terminology - Brand voice examples - Case studies and real data Now it knows your niche AND your voice.

23/ Step 2: Create Detailed Outlines First - Google your target keyword - Analyze top 3 ranking posts - Create outline better than competitors - Check "People Also Ask" boxes - Add unique sections competitors miss - Plan custom graphics/examples Pro tip: AI still sucks at creating outlines

24/ Step 3: Generate Content Section-by-Section Instead of "Write me a blog post about email marketing" Say: "Write the section about email segmentation. Include: - Common segment types - Example workflows - Metrics to track - Real-world use cases" This targeted approach produces better content.

25/ Step 4: Make AI Content Human AI content fails because it's generic. Add: - Personal stories - Specific metrics from your experience - Custom screenshots - Step-by-step processes you've used - Actual costs/prices - Real examples with results - Opinions and hot takes

26/ Step 5: Edit Ruthlessly AI content editing checklist: - Replace generic intros with PAS formula - Cut fluff transitions - Add custom visuals - Include specific numbers and data - Remove "in today's digital landscape..." - Add step-by-step instructions - Fact-check everything - Verify tool names, features, and pricing

27/ PART 5: ON-PAGE OPTIMIZATION Your content needs proper optimization to compete. Here's what actually moves the needle:

28/ Title tag formula: - Keyword at the start - Include numbers when relevant - Add year for freshness - Use power words - Keep under 60 characters - Add parentheses for context Example: "Email Marketing Strategy: 9-Step Guide for SaaS (2025)"

29/ Content structure checklist: - H1: Main keyword + clear value - H2s: Use related keywords naturally - H3s: Break down subsections - Short paragraphs (2-3 lines max) - Bullet points for scanability - Strategic bold text - Table of contents - Custom images with alt text

30/ Image optimization: - Descriptive filenames with keywords - Proper alt text (not keyword stuffed) - Compressed images (<100KB if possible) - Custom graphics > stock photos - Screenshots with annotations - Diagrams explaining complex concepts - Real examples with visual proof

31/ Internal linking strategy: - 5-10 internal links per post minimum - Link to relevant content in same cluster - Use keyword variations as anchor text - Link from high-authority pages to new content - Create "hub and spoke" clusters - Monthly internal linking audit This distributes authority throughout your site.

32/ PART 6: LINK BUILDING THAT WORKS IN 2025 Content alone won't get you to page 1 for competitive terms. You need backlinks. Here are the strategies with proven ROI: