{"id":187049,"date":"2025-04-16T03:18:10","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T08:18:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/?p=187049"},"modified":"2025-04-16T03:18:10","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T08:18:10","slug":"how-to-rank-for-keywords","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Rank for a Keyword (8&nbsp;Steps)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"intro-txt\">You have a target keyword. You want to have your website appear in the search results for that keyword.<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you do that? How do you actually rank for a keyword?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow this guide to find out&nbsp;how.<\/p>\n<div class=\"intro-tok\" id=\"intro_tok\" style=\"display:none;\"><div class=\"intro-title\">Contents<\/div><a href=\"#\" class=\"expand-dots\"><span><\/span><span><\/span><span><\/span><\/a><\/div><!-- notionvc: 1a067237-d846-4b41-b4d9-0a226011aaa2 -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"1. Make sure you\u2019re targeting the right keyword\" data-section=\"target-the-right-keyword\"><!-- notionvc: 5991ea7d-685c-44fe-b338-bfbf1f21bbf0 -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_kayrmi88bgvu\"><\/a>1. Make sure you\u2019re targeting the right keyword<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 80956d20-675c-43ff-8ad0-0f18e70d65ce -->\n\n\n\n<p>Just because a keyword exists doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the right one to target.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sometimes a keyword is merely a subtopic under a broader, main topic. Or it might be an alternative way of phrasing that\u2019s not the most popular one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google knows this, and thus ranks almost the same pages for all of those keywords. For example, our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/keyword-research\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/keyword-research\/\">keyword research guide<\/a> ranks for 2,100 keywords:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"884\" height=\"788\" class=\"wp-image-187050\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank.png\" alt=\"Number of keywords our keyword research guide ranks for\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank.png 884w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank-477x425.png 477w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank-768x685.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 884px) 100vw, 884px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>Most of them are simply variations of the main topic of \u201ckeyword research\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"904\" height=\"1326\" class=\"wp-image-187051\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-ranks-for.png\" alt=\"The keywords our keyword research guide ranks for are mostly variations \" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-ranks-for.png 904w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-ranks-for-290x425.png 290w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/the-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-ranks-for-768x1127.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 904px) 100vw, 904px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You also want to make sure you\u2019re not targeting a keyword that nobody is searching for. Otherwise, you\u2019ll waste all your time and effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How can you find out if you\u2019re targeting the right keyword? Easy: go to <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a> and enter your target keyword. For example, let\u2019s say I enter \u201chow to create content\u201d. Here\u2019s what I&nbsp;see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1508\" height=\"880\" class=\"wp-image-187052\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/search-volume-traffic-potential-and-parent-topic.png\" alt=\"Search volume, traffic potential, and parent topic for &quot;how to create content&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/search-volume-traffic-potential-and-parent-topic.png 1508w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/search-volume-traffic-potential-and-parent-topic-680x397.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/search-volume-traffic-potential-and-parent-topic-768x448.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1508px) 100vw, 1508px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>So, search volume tells me that the keyword \u201chow to create content\u201d is searched for 500 times a month. However, it\u2019s likely a subtopic and not a main one because its overall Traffic Potential is much higher at 1,200.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"sidenote\"><div class=\"sidenote-title\">Sidenote.<\/div><!-- notionvc: cf37689d-c4ae-444c-bc28-898c76602799 -->Traffic Potential is the total amount of organic traffic that the #1 ranking page for your target keyword gets from all the keywords it ranks&nbsp;for.<\/div><!-- notionvc: cf37689d-c4ae-444c-bc28-898c76602799 -->\n\n\n\n<p>Parent Topic tells me that the likely main topic is \u201ccontent creation\u201d. So, this topic is worth targeting because it has a high traffic potential but we should be targeting \u201ccontent creation\u201d instead (and not \u201chow to create content\u201d.)<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"2. Check your keyword has business potential\" data-section=\"check-business-potential\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_mggjixy3edr8\"><\/a>2. Check your keyword has business potential<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: fc788e11-ccb4-44fc-b59a-3d0fe55b36c8 -->\n\n\n\n<p>Ranking #1 means nothing if it doesn\u2019t help your bottom line. You don\u2019t just want search traffic; you want search traffic that converts to customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you chase a keyword, assign it a Business Potential score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1853\" class=\"wp-image-187053\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-score-business-potential.jpg\" alt=\"How to score business potential\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-score-business-potential.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-score-business-potential-413x425.jpg 413w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-score-business-potential-768x791.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/how-to-score-business-potential-1492x1536.jpg 1492w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>For example, the topic \u201ckeyword research\u201d scores a \u201c3\u201d, because it\u2019s nearly impossible to do good keyword research without a tool. For \u201ccontent creation\u201d, it\u2019s likely a \u201c2\u201d because you can make content without a tool, but you can do it even better with&nbsp;one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You want to prioritize keywords that score at least a 2 and&nbsp;above.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"3. Figure out search intent\" data-section=\"figure-out-search-intent\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_q0ucfpi5ssi8\"><\/a>3. Figure out search intent<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 180cff4e-28ec-4d73-8c2a-faf930819c7b -->\n\n\n\n<p>Sure that your target keyword is the keyword you want? Awesome. Now you need to know what Google wants to&nbsp;rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google ranks pages that best satisfy what people are looking for. So, if your content doesn\u2019t match what users expect to see, you won\u2019t&nbsp;rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you know what Google is looking for? Easy: look at the SERPs to figure out search intent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, if we look at the top-ranking pages for \u201ccontent creation\u201d, we see that they\u2019re mostly beginner\u2019s guides on content creation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1198\" class=\"wp-image-187054\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/serp-overview-for-content-creation.jpg\" alt=\"SERP Overview for &quot;content creation&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/serp-overview-for-content-creation.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/serp-overview-for-content-creation-426x425.jpg 426w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/serp-overview-for-content-creation-768x767.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/serp-overview-for-content-creation-120x120.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>An even faster way to figure out search intent is to simply click the <strong>Identify intents<\/strong> button in <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/keywords-explorer\">Keywords Explorer<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1838\" height=\"1022\" class=\"wp-image-187055\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/identify-intents-feature-in-keywords-explorer.jpg\" alt=\"Identify intents feature in Keywords Explorer\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/identify-intents-feature-in-keywords-explorer.jpg 1838w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/identify-intents-feature-in-keywords-explorer-680x378.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/identify-intents-feature-in-keywords-explorer-768x427.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/identify-intents-feature-in-keywords-explorer-1536x854.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1838px) 100vw, 1838px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>So, if we want to rank for this keyword, we\u2019ll likely have to make a beginner\u2019s guide that covers what content creation is, how to create, and&nbsp;more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\"><!-- notionvc: 9e486828-b785-420e-81f6-2e7d808f94de -->\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/search-intent\/\">Search Intent in SEO: What It Is &amp; How to Optimize for&nbsp;It<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 9e486828-b785-420e-81f6-2e7d808f94de -->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"4. Identify important subtopics\" data-section=\"identify-important-subtopics\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_xbjb10knxgs3\"><\/a>4. Identify important subtopics<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 079fe396-834f-4631-a447-c6e223d14865 -->\n\n\n\n<p>Good <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/seo-content\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-content\/\">search content<\/a> is exhaustive: it covers all the steps of the process, lists all the resources the reader needs, and answers all the questions that need answering. It delivers on its promises and leaves no important gaps in its information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/docs\/fundamentals\/creating-helpful-content\">Google\u2019s Helpful Content guidelines<\/a> ask: \u201cDoes the content provide a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the&nbsp;topic?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1248\" height=\"426\" class=\"wp-image-187056\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/googles-helpful-content-guidelines-asks-does-the.png\" alt=\"Google's Helpful Content guidelines asks &quot;Does the content provide a substantial, complete, or comprehensive description of the topic?\u201d\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/googles-helpful-content-guidelines-asks-does-the.png 1248w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/googles-helpful-content-guidelines-asks-does-the-680x232.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/googles-helpful-content-guidelines-asks-does-the-768x262.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1248px) 100vw, 1248px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>To find out what subtopics you should cover, enter your keyword into <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/ai-content-helper\">AI Content Helper<\/a> and it\u2019ll suggest subtopics to cover. For example, here\u2019s what it suggests for \u201ccontent creation\u201d:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What is content creation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AI in content creation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Steps involved in creating content (e.g., ideation, planning, creation, etc.)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content performance analytics<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Role of SEO in content creation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content strategy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Types of content<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Content creation tools<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"693\" height=\"2048\" class=\"wp-image-187057\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/subtopics-recommended-by-ai-content-helper-for-co.png\" alt=\"Subtopics recommended by AI Content Helper for &quot;content creation&quot;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/subtopics-recommended-by-ai-content-helper-for-co.png 693w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/subtopics-recommended-by-ai-content-helper-for-co-144x425.png 144w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/subtopics-recommended-by-ai-content-helper-for-co-520x1536.png 520w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 693px) 100vw, 693px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>All important subtopics if you want to create a comprehensive beginner\u2019s guide.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"5. Develop a unique angle\" data-section=\"develop-unique-angle\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_1a0siu8gsr3b\"><\/a>5. Develop a unique angle<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: e76f5896-7195-4d31-9b85-5c8fa886e83e -->\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s be honest: the Internet doesn\u2019t need another generic article about your topic. If someone searches for your keyword, there are likely hundreds of thousands, even millions, of results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why should anyone care about&nbsp;yours?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the content game, \u201cgood enough\u201d is no longer, well, good enough. With <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/google-ai-overviews\/\">Google\u2019s AI Overviews<\/a> stealing clicks and people turning to <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/best-ai-search-engines\/\">AI search engines<\/a>, generic content is becoming increasingly invisible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even if you manage to create the most comprehensive guide ever, you\u2019ll still fail if your content looks and feels like everything else out&nbsp;there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Your content needs a unique angle that makes people think, \u201cWow, I\u2019ve never seen it presented this way before!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you find these unique angles? There are three approaches:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Experimentation<\/strong>: Be the original source and create your own data that others will want to cite. Conduct a mini-experiment, run a poll, or collect data from your user&nbsp;base.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Experience<\/strong>: Anyone can write theory. Few can write from hard-won experience. Share your firsthand insights from doing or trying something.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Effort<\/strong>: Most content creators are lazy. Use that to your advantage. What could you add to your content that would make competitors look at it and think, \u201cThat would be too much&nbsp;work\u201d?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, when <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/author\/ryan-law\/\">Ryan Law<\/a>, our Director of Content Marketing wanted to write about the <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/best-ai-image-generators\/\">best AI image generators<\/a>, he didn\u2019t just list them out. He actually went and tested all of&nbsp;them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1354\" height=\"688\" class=\"wp-image-187058\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ryan-reviewed-the-best-ai-image-generators-by-actu.png\" alt=\"Ryan reviewed the best AI image generators by actually testing them\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ryan-reviewed-the-best-ai-image-generators-by-actu.png 1354w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ryan-reviewed-the-best-ai-image-generators-by-actu-680x346.png 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/ryan-reviewed-the-best-ai-image-generators-by-actu-768x390.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1354px) 100vw, 1354px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\"><!-- notionvc: e97f9539-adda-46f2-ab13-7400cbd7a6aa -->\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-stand-out-from-ai-content\/\">How To Stand Out in an Ocean of AI Content<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: e97f9539-adda-46f2-ab13-7400cbd7a6aa -->\n\n\n\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"6. Create the actual content\" data-section=\"create-content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_m9zdtpdhdf0q\"><\/a>6. Create the actual content<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: 0ec2bbee-14c1-46cc-8543-9703c20e87be -->\n\n\n\n<p>Your outline\u2019s done, your subtopics are set. It\u2019s time to get the actual words out on the page. Set a time and handcraft it or use your best prompts on ChatGPT\u2014it\u2019s your choice. Just make sure&nbsp;you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Write introductions that grab readers by the collar<\/strong>: Either keep your introductions short and snappy or snap your readers out of their daze with a bold claim, surprising statistic, or counterintuitive truth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Write like a human talking to another human<\/strong>: You can use AI but don\u2019t sound like one. Be conversational. Share opinions. Use \u201cI\u201d and \u201cyou.\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Break up text<\/strong>: Use images, charts, blockquotes, bullets, numbered lists, and occasional one-sentence paragraphs to keep the reader\u2019s eyes moving.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Make your advice actionable<\/strong>: Don\u2019t just say \u201cconduct keyword research\u201d. Show exactly how with screenshots, templates, and specific steps. Remove all guesswork.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\"><!-- notionvc: e97f9539-adda-46f2-ab13-7400cbd7a6aa -->\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/seo-content-creation\/\">Follow My SEO Content Creation Process: How I Rank #1 on Google<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/ai-content-creation\/\">AI Content Creation: My Process for High-Quality, SEO-Friendly Articles<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div><!-- notionvc: e97f9539-adda-46f2-ab13-7400cbd7a6aa -->\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"7. Sprinkle the on-page SEO magic\" data-section=\"on-page-seo\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_mfb2fr4oeesl\"><\/a>7. Sprinkle the on-page SEO&nbsp;magic<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Think of on-page SEO as speaking Google\u2019s love language. Your content might be amazing to human readers, but it also needs to be communicated in a way Google understands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The checklist is really simple:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Include the target keyword in the title, URL, H1, and the intro paragraph.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write an engaging meta description.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link to other useful pages on your website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/alt-text\/\">alt text<\/a> to all your images.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"further-reading\"><div class=\"reading-title\">Further reading<\/div><div class=\"reading-content\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/on-page-seo\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/on-page-seo\/\">On-Page SEO: How to Optimize for Robots and Readers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"8. Build links to your content\" data-section=\"build-links\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_4f8jbu3tz91n\"><\/a>8. Build links to your content<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Links are a Google ranking factor. So, if you want to rank high on Google, it\u2019s likely you\u2019ll need links to your content. Especially if you\u2019re gunning for a highly competitive keyword.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To acquire backlinks, you need to give people a reason to link to you. Every link building strategy is a variation of a reason. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/guest-blogging\/\">guest blogging<\/a> works as a link building strategy because you\u2019re giving the other party a free piece of content in exchange for linking back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise for <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/podcast-link-building\/\">podcast link building<\/a>: you offer free insights as a guest and the podcast host links back to&nbsp;you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s why I say you need a unique angle for your content. If you have data, stories, or design that no one else has, it makes acquiring links an easier sell to other websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Link building is a massive topic on its own, so I recommend reading our <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/seo\/link-building\" data-ahr=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/link-building\/\">guide to link building<\/a> to learn how it&nbsp;works.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-nav-link clearfix\" id=\"section1\"><a class=\"subhead-anchor\" data-tip=\"tooltip__copielink\" rel=\"#section1\"><svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 14 14\" style><g fill=\"none\" fill-rule=\"evenodd\"><path d=\"M0 0h14v14H0z\" \/><path d=\"M7.45 9.887l-1.62 1.621c-.92.92-2.418.92-3.338 0a2.364 2.364 0 0 1 0-3.339l1.62-1.62-1.273-1.272-1.62 1.62a4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.885 5.884l1.62-1.62L7.45 9.886zM5.527 5.135L7.17 3.492c.92-.92 2.418-.92 3.339 0 .92.92.92 2.418 0 3.339L8.866 8.473l1.272 1.273 1.644-1.643A4.161 4.161 0 1 0 5.897 2.22L4.254 3.863l1.272 1.272zm-.66 3.998a.749.749 0 0 1 0-1.06l2.208-2.206a.749.749 0 1 1 1.06 1.06L5.928 9.133a.75.75 0 0 1-1.061 0z\" style \/><\/g><\/svg><\/a><div class=\"link-text\" data-anchor=\"But what about AI Overviews?\" data-section=\"ai-overviews\">\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_f3kvw2y76eva\"><\/a>But what about AI Overviews?<\/h2>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you Google your keyword today, you\u2019ll likely see a massive AI Overview:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1794\" height=\"1008\" class=\"wp-image-187059\" src=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ai-overview.jpg\" alt=\"An example of an AI Overview\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ai-overview.jpg 1794w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ai-overview-680x382.jpg 680w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ai-overview-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/an-example-of-an-ai-overview-1536x863.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1794px) 100vw, 1794px\"><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll likely be thinking two questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>How do I get in&nbsp;there?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is there still a point in ranking on Google? Shouldn\u2019t I do <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/llm-optimization\/\">LLM optimization<\/a> instead?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Firstly, don\u2019t panic. Take a deep breath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google\u2019s AI Overviews still need source material to generate their summaries. And that source material or citation, at least at the moment, still comes from search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, whether you want to call it LLMO, GEO, or the name of the week, it\u2019s no different from SEO. At least for the time being. I highly recommend reading <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/geo-is-just-seo\/\">Ryan\u2019s post on why this is so<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Tl;dr: The strategy remains fundamentally the same: Create exceptional, comprehensive, uniquely valuable content that serves user needs better than anything else out&nbsp;there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a id=\"post-187049-_x4iz7tw22bb4\"><\/a>Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even perfect content won\u2019t rank if search engines can\u2019t properly access and understand your site. Technical SEO issues can silently undermine your ranking efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I recommend signing up for our free <a href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/webmaster-tools\">Ahrefs Webmaster Tools<\/a> and running a crawl of your website. Catching and fixing glitches early can save you from mysteriously missing out on search traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How do you do that? How do you actually rank for a keyword? Follow this guide to find out&nbsp;how. Just because a keyword exists doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s the right one to target. Sometimes a keyword is merely a subtopic under<span class=\"ellipsis\">\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"read-more\">Read more \u203a<\/div>\n<p><!-- end of .read-more --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":146,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wp_typography_post_enhancements_disabled":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[335],"tags":[],"coauthors":[339],"class_list":["post-187049","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general-seo","odd"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Rank for a Keyword (8 Steps)<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Trying to rank for a keyword? This no-fluff guide walks you through picking the right one, creating awesome content, and making Google (and your readers) love it\u2014step by step.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Rank for a Keyword (8 Steps)\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Trying to rank for a keyword? This no-fluff guide walks you through picking the right one, creating awesome content, and making Google (and your readers) love it\u2014step by step.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SEO Blog by Ahrefs\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Ahrefs\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-04-16T08:18:10+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/ahrefs.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"884\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"788\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Si Quan Ong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@siquanong\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@ahrefs\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Si Quan Ong\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e09e43a1a939a6723fb3c1ebd243f2e7\"},\"headline\":\"How to Rank for a Keyword (8&nbsp;Steps)\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-16T08:18:10+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1733,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/how-to-rank-for-a-keyword-by-si-quan-ong-general-seo.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"General SEO\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to Rank for a Keyword (8 Steps)\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-rank-for-keywords\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ahrefs.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/number-of-keywords-our-keyword-research-guide-rank.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-04-16T08:18:10+00:00\",\"description\":\"Trying to rank for a keyword? 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