SEO Techniques (That Work 99% of the Time)
I’m going to show you five of my favorite SEO techniques that help me achieve great results like this, this, and this. My name is Nathan Gotch, the founder of Gotch SEO Academy and author of The SEO Entrepreneur. Let’s dive right into technique number one, the Merger Technique.
I coined this strategy back in 2015 and have used it to dominate my SEO competitors across countless niches. And I’m not the only one—Neil Patel called me in 2016 to learn more about it. Since then, he has used it multiple times to boost his organic search traffic. Even other top SEO entities, like Backlinko and WebFX, employ this method. So, what is the merger technique? It’s about acquiring a relevant but inactive or “dead” business, then merging it with your own site by redirecting its traffic to you. When done correctly, this technique can enhance your site’s authority, making ranking for critical keywords easier.
To start, you’ll need a tool like SpamZilla. Here’s the process:
- Integrate Ahrefs: Start by setting your filters to find strong, available domains.
- Filter Results: Uncheck all country-specific domains unless they’re relevant to your location. For example, if you’re in Australia, prioritize
.audomains. - Research Available Domains: Look for “dropped domains” in SpamZilla, which you can buy without entering a bidding war.
When you find a strong domain, vet it thoroughly—this is critical. Choosing the wrong domain can hurt your SEO performance. Treat this like you’re acquiring a real business. Here’s what to do next:
- Focus on Relevance: Check that the domain’s link profile aligns with your site. Majestic’s topical trust flow within SpamZilla will help determine link relevance.
- Examine the Link Profile: Click “See more data” and examine the backlink profile for high-quality, editorial links rather than low-quality directory links.
- Analyze Anchor Text: Look for a natural blend of branded, unoptimized anchor text rather than spammy or foreign-language anchors.
- Review Domain History: Use the “Archive” feature in SpamZilla to see if the domain has ever been used for spam or other questionable purposes.
- Check Indexing Status: Ideally, the domain should be indexed in Google. If it’s not, investigate why. Sometimes domains lose their index if they’ve been redirected or inactive, but these can be acceptable reasons.
Once you have your domain, execute the merger by redirecting each URL from the acquired site to a relevant page on yours. It can take months to see results, but it’s worth the wait.
SEO Technique #2: Using AI to Uncover Untapped SEO Content Opportunities
Open ChatGPT and use this prompt: [enter prompt]. Then, head to Google Search Console, navigate to “Performance” > “Search Results,” and use a custom filter to identify keywords in positions greater than 50. These are what I call “clustering opportunities.” Often, these keywords are poorly optimized on the existing page, so there’s a chance to create new content and rank higher.
SEO Technique #3: Reverse Silo Method
The Reverse Silo method prioritizes link acquisition for content assets. Here’s how it works: drive backlinks to content-rich pages, then transfer that link equity to important but less link-worthy pages, like category or lead-gen pages. A great example of this is Candy Funhouse’s “Chief Candy Officer” role, which attracted numerous backlinks. The goal here isn’t to boost traffic to that page specifically, but to raise the site’s overall authority and benefit all pages.
SEO Technique #4: AI-Generated Linkbait
This strategy involves using ChatGPT to create unique linkbait tools or content. Here’s the process:
- Find Link-Worthy Competitor Tools: Use Ahrefs’ “Best by links” tool to analyze competitors’ linkable assets.
- Write a ChatGPT Prompt: Craft a prompt to generate a similar tool or asset.
- Implement the Tool: Use a plugin like WP Coder to integrate the code.
- Promote the Linkbait: Promote your tool to attract backlinks. I created a script timer that drives 500 organic visitors per month and has earned 11 backlinks.
SEO Technique #5: Fix Keyword Cannibalization
Keyword cannibalization occurs when multiple pages on your site target the same keyword, forcing Google to decide which one to rank. To spot cannibalization, look for:
- Ranking Volatility: If you see unusual ranking fluctuations, investigate potential cannibalization.
- Multiple URLs Ranking for the Same Keyword: Check Ahrefs to identify if multiple pages rank for the same keyword. If so, consolidate them or make sure each page targets different intents.
Once you resolve cannibalization, ensure each page has a distinct primary keyword. When unsure, Google the keyword to see what types of pages are ranking.
If you want more SEO tips, subscribe for more videos like this. And if you’re ready to take your SEO skills to the next level, consider applying to Gotch SEO Academy. Thanks for watching, and see you in the next one!
