{"id":12476,"date":"2025-03-03T14:50:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T14:50:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/"},"modified":"2025-03-03T14:50:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T14:50:06","slug":"organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/","title":{"rendered":"Organic Traffic: What It Is &amp; How to Increase It (6 Ways)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Growing your website starts with reaching the right people.<\/p>\n<p>Not random traffic.<\/p>\n<p>People actively searching for the solutions you provide.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where organic traffic shines.<\/p>\n<p>Unlike paid advertising or social media, organic traffic attracts visitors with clear intent.<\/p>\n<p>At Backlinko, organic traffic brings us over 571K monthly visitors\u2014each one specifically interested in SEO and digital marketing.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Users\" alt=\"GA \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Users\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.54571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ga-backlinko-users-feb-2025.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>In this guide, you\u2019ll learn all about organic traffic, including how to measure and increase it.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s start with what organic traffic is and how it differs from other traffic sources.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#What_Is_Organic_Traffic\" >What Is Organic Traffic?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Understanding_Organic_vs_Other_Traffic_Sources\" >Understanding Organic vs. Other Traffic Sources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Why_Organic_Traffic_Matters\" >Why Organic Traffic Matters<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Cost-Effective\" >Cost-Effective<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Builds_Authority\" >Builds Authority<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Drives_Targeted_Traffic\" >Drives Targeted Traffic<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Generates_Long-Term_Leads\" >Generates Long-Term Leads<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#How_to_Check_Organic_Traffic\" >How to Check Organic Traffic<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Organic_Research\" >Organic Research<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Google_Analytics\" >Google Analytics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Google_Search_Console\" >Google Search Console<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#How_to_Increase_Organic_Traffic_in_6_Steps\" >How to Increase Organic Traffic in 6 Steps<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#1_Fix_Technical_Issues\" >1. Fix Technical Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#2_Select_Keywords_with_Low_Difficulty_for_Your_Site\" >2. Select Keywords with Low Difficulty for Your Site<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#3_Refresh_Existing_Content\" >3. Refresh Existing Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#4_Target_Evergreen_Topics\" >4. Target Evergreen Topics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#5_Add_Internal_Links\" >5. Add Internal Links<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Bonus_Step_Optimize_Your_Link_Flow\" >Bonus Step: Optimize Your Link Flow<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#6_Build_a_Backlink_Strategy\" >6. Build a Backlink Strategy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/03\/organic-traffic-what-it-is-how-to-increase-it-6-ways\/#Future-Proof_Your_Traffic_Strategy\" >Future-Proof Your Traffic Strategy<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_Organic_Traffic\"><\/span>What Is Organic Traffic?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Organic traffic refers to visitors who land on your website or blog from unpaid search engine results.<\/p>\n<p>Think of it as people finding your content naturally when they search for information, products, or services.<\/p>\n<p>These unpaid clicks are organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>For example, if someone searches \u201c<a title=\"How to Conduct an SEO Competitor Analysis [Comprehensive]\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-competitor-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">seo competitor analysis<\/a>\u201d on Google and clicks on a regular (non-ad) result, that counts as organic traffic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 SEO competitor analysis\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 SEO competitor analysis\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.3242857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-serp-seo-competitor-analysis.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The key word here is \u201cunpaid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While you might see \u201csponsored\u201d or \u201cad\u201d results at the top of search results, clicks on these aren\u2019t organic traffic\u2014they\u2019re paid traffic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 CRM software \u2013 Sponsored\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 CRM software \u2013 Sponsored\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.78\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-serp-crm-software-sponsored.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>You earn organic traffic by creating high-quality content that matches what people are searching for (<a title=\"Search Intent and SEO: A Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/search-intent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search intent<\/a>) and optimizing it for search engines (<a title=\"What is SEO? The Complete Search Engine Optimization Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/what-is-seo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SEO<\/a>).<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Understanding_Organic_vs_Other_Traffic_Sources\"><\/span>Understanding Organic vs. Other Traffic Sources<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Search engines aren\u2019t the only way people find websites.<\/p>\n<p>Visitors might come from social media, email newsletters, or by typing your URL directly.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how different traffic sources compare:<\/p>\n<div class=\"table-responsive\">\n<table class=\"table table-primary table-striped table-hover\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">Traffic Source<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">How It Works<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Best For<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Organic<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users find you through unpaid search results<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Building long-term authority and consistent traffic<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Paid search<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users click your ads in search results<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Quick traffic for specific campaigns<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Direct<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users type your URL or use bookmarks<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Returning visitors and brand awareness<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Social<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users find you through social media<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Brand awareness and community building<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Email<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users click links in your emails<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Nurturing leads and customer retention<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"strong\" scope=\"row\" data-before=\"Traffic Source\">Referral<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"How It Works\">Users click links from other websites<\/td>\n<td data-before=\"Best For\">Building authority and partnerships<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Organic_Traffic_Matters\"><\/span>Why Organic Traffic Matters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Organic traffic isn\u2019t just about reaching your target audience.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s about building assets that continue delivering value long after you create them.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why investing in organic search makes sense for businesses of all sizes.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost-Effective\"><\/span>Cost-Effective<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Organic traffic is one of the most affordable ways to attract qualified visitors to your website.<\/p>\n<p>This is especially true when you compare it to paid advertising, which costs anywhere from $0.11 to $0.50 per click, according to a <a title=\"How Much Does Google Ads Cost in 2025?\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webfx.com\/blog\/ppc\/much-cost-advertise-google-adwords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">WebFX survey<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s consider a leading home improvement site, The Spruce, as an example.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The Spruce \u2013 Homepage\" alt=\"The Spruce \u2013 Homepage\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.73285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/thespruce-homepage.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>They attract 9 million organic visitors monthly.<\/p>\n<p>This traffic would cost them an estimated $7.1 million if they paid for it through Google Ads.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  The Spruce \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 The Spruce \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.33571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-thespruce-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Pretty impressive, right?<\/p>\n<p>As you can see, organic traffic can deliver incredible ROI compared to the ongoing costs of <a title=\"24 Up-To-Date PPC Statistics to Know\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/ppc-statistics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">paid advertising<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Myth vs. fact:<\/strong> While organic traffic doesn\u2019t require paying per click, it\u2019s not exactly \u201cfree\u201d either. At a minimum, you\u2019ll be investing time into content creation and SEO. Many businesses also hire writers and editors to <a title=\"How to Scale Content Creation (Step-By-Step Guide)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/scale-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">scale content production<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Builds_Authority\"><\/span>Builds Authority<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Consistently ranking for search terms helps establish your site as an industry leader.<\/p>\n<p>NerdWallet demonstrates this perfectly.<\/p>\n<p>With 13.2 million monthly organic visitors and 5.2 million backlinks, they\u2019ve become the go-to source for financial advice.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Domain Overview \u2013 NerdWallet \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Domain Overview \u2013 NerdWallet \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.37857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/domain-overview-nerdwallet-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Their approach?<\/p>\n<p>Creating comprehensive content that displays <a title=\"Google E-E-A-T: Build Trust with People-First Content (Free Audit)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-e-e-a-t\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">E-E-A-T<\/a> (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) signals:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Author credentials and expertise<\/li>\n<li>Regular content updates with accurate information<\/li>\n<li>Citations to credible sources<\/li>\n<li>Real-world experience and testing<\/li>\n<li>Clear website policies and contact information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"NerdWallet \u2013 E-E-A-T content\" alt=\"NerdWallet \u2013 E-E-A-T content\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.85714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/nerdwallet-eeat-content.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>When they <a title=\"SEO Basics: Your Guide to Better Google Rankings\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-basics-for-beginners\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">rank #1 on Google<\/a> for terms like \u201cbest high yield savings account\u201d or \u201chow to invest in stocks,\u201d it reinforces their position as a trusted voice in personal finance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to invest in stocks\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to invest in stocks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.79\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-serp-how-to-invest-in-stocks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>And helps them build <a title=\"Free Website Authority Checker (Enter Any Domain or URL)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/website-authority\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">website authority<\/a> and confidence with every click.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Drives_Targeted_Traffic\"><\/span>Drives Targeted Traffic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When someone finds your site through organic search, they\u2019re currently looking for what you offer.<\/p>\n<p>Think about someone searching for \u201chow to optimize a blog post.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re not casually browsing\u2014they\u2019re sitting at their computer, working on content, and need guidance right now.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to optimize a blog post\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to optimize a blog post\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.02\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-serp-how-to-optimize-a-blog-post.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>If your site ranks highly for this search, you\u2019re reaching them at the perfect moment:<\/p>\n<p>When they\u2019re most likely to read your advice, implement your tips, or purchase a solution that helps them succeed.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the power of organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>By consistently appearing in these high-intent searches, you connect with people precisely when your expertise matters most.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Further reading:<\/strong> <a title=\"How to Create an Effective SEO Strategy\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/seo-strategy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Create an Effective SEO Strategy<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Generates_Long-Term_Leads\"><\/span>Generates Long-Term Leads<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While paid campaigns stop delivering the moment you pause them, organic traffic compounds over time.<\/p>\n<p>The key is creating content that matches what your audience is searching for at every <a title=\"What Is a Marketing Funnel? Complete Beginner\u2019s Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/marketing-funnel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">funnel stage<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Including when they\u2019re researching a problem, comparing solutions, or ready to make a purchase.<\/p>\n<p>This builds a sustainable pipeline of qualified leads that continues growing long after you publish the content.<\/p>\n<p>The best part? You don\u2019t have to depend on daily ad spend.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"The Value of Paid vs. Organic Traffic\u00a0\" alt=\"The Value of Paid vs. Organic Traffic\u00a0\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.86571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/the-value-of-paid-vs-organic-traffic-.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Important:<\/strong> Consider organic traffic an investment rather than a quick win. While your exact timeline will vary based on industry, competition, and content strategy, it can take four to six months (or more) before you start seeing significant organic traffic growth.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Check_Organic_Traffic\"><\/span>How to Check Organic Traffic<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Tracking your organic traffic reveals which content drives visitors and growth opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>It also proves your SEO ROI.<\/p>\n<p>These three tools make it easy.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Organic_Research\"><\/span>Organic Research<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Organic Research: Keyword Rank Checker\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/organic\/overview\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organic Research<\/a> tool goes beyond basic traffic metrics to show you the full picture of your organic performance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> A free Semrush account gives you 10 searches in Organic Research per day. Or you can use this link to access a <a title=\"Backlinko &amp; Semrush: 14-day PRO Trial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/lp\/backlinko-offer\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Start by entering your domain and clicking \u201c<strong>Search<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For this example, I used Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep site.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Search\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Search\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.38142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-search.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Right away, you\u2019ll see interesting data on your site\u2019s organic performance.<\/p>\n<p>For example, I learned that Sweet Peas and Saffron has:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>88.8K ranking keywords<\/li>\n<li>110.2K monthly organic traffic<\/li>\n<li>$33.8K in traffic value<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.73857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Click the \u201c<strong>Positions<\/strong>\u201d tab to discover every keyword you rank for.<\/p>\n<p>Filter by \u201cPositions,\u201d \u201cVolume,\u201d \u201cIntent,\u201d \u201cSERP Features,\u201d and more for deeper insights into your search performance.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Positions \u2013 Filters\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Positions \u2013 Filters\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.76285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-positions-filters.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>I filtered Sweet Peas and Saffron\u2019s results by \u201c<strong>Position #1<\/strong>\u201d and learned they have 791 organic keywords in the first spot on Google.<\/p>\n<p>Terms like \u201cair fryer chickpeas\u201d and \u201casian salad dressing\u201d drive consistent organic traffic to this site every single month.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Organic \u2013 Position filters\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Organic \u2013 Position filters\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.88142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-organic-position-filters.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The \u201cPosition Changes\u201d report shows where you\u2019re gaining or losing ground in search results.<\/p>\n<p>This helps you spot trends and react quickly to ranking drops.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Position Changes Trend\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Position Changes Trend\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.64571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-position-changes-trend.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For example, Sweet Pea and Saffron\u2019s post, \u201cEasy Homemade Fajita Seasoning,\u201d has recently seen a 2.6K decrease in traffic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Position Changes \u2013 Top Page Changes\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Sweetpeasandsaffron \u2013 Position Changes \u2013 Top Page Changes\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.46428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-sweetpeasandsaffron-position-changes-top-page-changes.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>When you see drops like this, you can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check if your content needs updating<\/li>\n<li>See if competitors have published better content<\/li>\n<li>Look for technical issues affecting the page<\/li>\n<li>Review if the search intent has changed<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The sooner you identify these issues, the faster you can fix them and recover your rankings.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Further reading:<\/strong> <a title=\"41 Best SEO Tools in 2025 (Free &amp; Paid)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/best-free-seo-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">41 Best SEO Tools (Free &amp; Paid)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Analytics\"><\/span>Google Analytics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a title=\"Google Analytics 4 (GA4): The Ultimate Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-analytics-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Analytics 4<\/a> (GA4) shows you where your organic traffic comes from and how visitors behave on your site.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to check your organic traffic on this platform:<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Reports<\/strong>\u201d in the left-hand menu.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Reports\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Reports\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.936\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/03\/ga4-reports.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Life cycle<\/strong>,\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Acquisition<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Traffic acquisition<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Reports \u2013 Traffic acquisition\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Reports \u2013 Traffic acquisition\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.67692307692308\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ga4-reports-traffic-acquisition.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Now, you\u2019ll see an overview of your site\u2019s performance, including organic search.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Traffic acquisition report\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Traffic acquisition report\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.74142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/02\/ga4-traffic-acquisition-report.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For a breakdown of which search engines drive the most organic traffic to your site, scroll to the traffic acquisition report.<\/p>\n<p>Next, click the plus sign to add a secondary dimension.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Traffic acquisition report \u2013 Plus sign\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Traffic acquisition report \u2013 Plus sign\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.61857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ga4-traffic-acquisition-report-plus-sign.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Select \u201c<strong>Session source<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Session source\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Session source\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.64\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ga4-session-source.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Now, you\u2019ll see an organic traffic breakdown by search engine.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GA4 \u2013 Organic Search \u2013 Session source\" alt=\"GA4 \u2013 Organic Search \u2013 Session source\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.73285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/ga4-organic-search-session-source.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Want to see which individual pages get the most organic traffic? Go to \u201c<strong>Engagement<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Pages and Screens<\/strong>\u201d and add a secondary dimension of \u201c<strong>Session source \/ medium<\/strong>.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Google_Search_Console\"><\/span>Google Search Console<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While GA4 tracks <strong>all<\/strong> search engines, <a title=\"Google Search Console: The Definitive Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-search-console\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Search Console<\/a> (GSC) focuses solely on <strong>Google<\/strong> traffic\u2014giving you detailed data about your Google search performance.<\/p>\n<p>Start by opening your GSC account and clicking \u201c<strong>Performance<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Search results<\/strong>\u201d in the left sidebar.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google Search Console \u2013 Performance \u2013 Search Results\" alt=\"Google Search Console \u2013 Performance \u2013 Search Results\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.75333333333333\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2023\/12\/google-search-console-performance-search-result.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Scroll to see the top queries and pages that attract organic traffic to your site.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll learn how many clicks and impressions each one gets.<\/p>\n<p>And each term\u2019s position on the <a title=\"What Are SERPs &amp; Why Are They Important for SEO?\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/serps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">search engine results pages<\/a> (SERPs).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Pages\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Performance \u2013 Pages\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.0642857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/11\/gsc-performance-pages.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Increase_Organic_Traffic_in_6_Steps\"><\/span>How to Increase Organic Traffic in 6 Steps<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There are dozens of ways to improve organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>But these six high-impact tactics consistently deliver the best results.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__visual-chart backlinko-image\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Traffic Growth Checklist\" alt=\"Organic Traffic Growth Checklist\" data-aspect-ratio=\"1.2871428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-traffic-growth-checklist.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Fix_Technical_Issues\"><\/span>1. Fix Technical Issues<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Technical problems can limit your organic traffic growth.<\/p>\n<p>This is why it\u2019s important to identify and fix them.<\/p>\n<p>First things first:<\/p>\n<p>Make sure Google is indexing your content.<\/p>\n<p>Go to Google Search Console and click \u201c<strong>Indexing<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Pages<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you see lots of non-indexed pages, don\u2019t panic just yet. This number will vary for every site.<\/p>\n<p>And preventing certain pages from being indexed can actually be a good thing.<\/p>\n<p>What matters is that your most important pages are properly indexed.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Page indexing\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Page indexing\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.86571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gsc-backlinko-page-indexing.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>View the \u201cWhy pages aren\u2019t indexed\u201d report to check for issues.<\/p>\n<p>This helps you distinguish between:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Intentionally excluded pages<\/strong>, such as duplicate content, form submissions, paginated pages, or anything else you don\u2019t want indexed<\/li>\n<li><strong>Important pages<\/strong> that should be indexed but aren\u2019t due to <a title=\"Redirects 101: A Beginner\u2019s Guide to Setup &amp; Best Practices\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/redirects\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">redirect errors<\/a>, accidental <a title=\"Robots.txt and SEO: Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/robots-txt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">noindex<\/a> tags, and other issues<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Why pages aren\u2019t indexed\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Why pages aren't indexed\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.95142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gsc-why-pages-arent-indexed.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Click any error to get details and request immediate indexing if needed.<\/p>\n<p>This can be a fast and easy way to recover lost organic traffic.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 URL is not on Google\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 URL is not on Google\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.29\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gsc-url-is-not-on-google.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Next, use Google\u2019s <a title=\"PageSpeed Insights\" href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PageSpeed Insights<\/a> to check your site\u2019s loading speed and <a title=\"Core Web Vitals: Essential Guide to Better Site Performance\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/core-web-vitals\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Core Web Vitals<\/a>\u2014Google\u2019s key metrics for measuring user experience.<\/p>\n<p>Slow, poorly performing pages drive visitors away and hurt your rankings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"PageSpeed Insights \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Mobile\" alt=\"PageSpeed Insights \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Mobile\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.75571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pagespeed-insights-backlinko-mobile.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>The tool will tell you if your site passes or fails the assessment.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019ll also tell you what went wrong and how to fix it\u2014like resizing images and reducing JavaScript execution time.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"PageSpeed Insights \u2013 Reducing JavaScript execution time\" alt=\"PageSpeed Insights \u2013 Reducing JavaScript execution time\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.18571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/pagespeed-insights-reducing-javascript-execution-time.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>For a complete technical health checkup, use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Site Audit: Improve the SEO of Your Website | Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/siteaudit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Site Audit<\/a> to scan your entire site.<\/p>\n<p>It uncovers hidden issues that could be limiting your organic growth:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Crawlability problems<\/li>\n<li>Internal linking errors<\/li>\n<li>Performance issues<\/li>\n<li>Site structure problems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Site Audit \u2013  Backlinko \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.89285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/01\/site-audit-backlinko-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Review the list of \u201cErrors\u201d first\u2014these are critical issues that could have the biggest impact on your organic traffic potential.<\/p>\n<p>Like <a title=\"Duplicate Content and SEO: The Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/duplicate-content\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">duplicate content<\/a>, broken internal links, and returned status codes.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Errors\" alt=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Errors\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.56\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/site-audit-backlinko-errors-2.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Select_Keywords_with_Low_Difficulty_for_Your_Site\"><\/span>2. Select Keywords with Low Difficulty for Your Site<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Want to know the secret to ranking faster?<\/p>\n<p>Don\u2019t go straight for keywords with the highest monthly search volume.<\/p>\n<p>Start with lower-difficulty terms that are easier to rank for.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s how to do it with Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Keyword Generator by Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/keywordmagic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keyword Magic Tool<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p>Enter a broad term like \u201cLinkedIn marketing\u201d and click \u201c<strong>Search<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 Search\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 Search\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.50571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/keyword-magic-tool-linkedin-marketing-search.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Note:<\/strong> A free Semrush account gives you 10 searches in the Keyword Magic Tool per day. Or you can use this link to access a <a title=\"Backlinko &amp; Semrush: 14-day PRO Trial\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/lp\/backlinko-offer\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14-day trial on a Semrush Pro subscription<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-note.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The tool will return a long list of keywords and metrics for each one.<\/p>\n<p>Including:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Search volume:<\/strong> How many times per month a keyword is searched<\/li>\n<li><strong><a title=\"The FREE Keyword Difficulty Checker (+ Guide) by Backlinko\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/keyword-difficulty-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Keyword difficulty<\/a> (KD):<\/strong> This is a score from one to 100, showing how hard it\u2019ll be to rank in Google\u2019s top 10 for the given term<\/li>\n<li><strong>Intent:<\/strong> The reason behind a user\u2019s search: they want information (informational), they want to compare options (<a title=\"Commercial Intent Keywords: What They Are &amp; How to Rank\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/commercial-intent\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">commercial<\/a>), they\u2019re trying to find a specific site (navigational), or they want to buy something (transactional)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 Keywords\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 Keywords\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.68857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/keyword-magic-tool-linkedin-marketing-keywords.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>\u201c<a title=\"LinkedIn SEO Tips: Optimize Your Profile And Content\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/linkedin-seo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn marketing<\/a>\u201d gets 4,400 searches per month but has a daunting keyword difficulty of 95.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s filter the results so we can find terms with lower difficulty.<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>KD<\/strong>\u201d on the menu and enter \u201c<strong>0<\/strong>\u201d and \u201c<strong>49<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now, you\u2019ll see only terms that are \u201ceasy\u201d or \u201cpossible\u201d to rank for.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 KD filter\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 KD filter\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.84857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/keyword-magic-tool-linkedin-marketing-kd-filter.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>As you review the list, look for terms that have:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Search intent aligned with your content type (how-to, product reviews, etc.)<\/li>\n<li>Realistic competition levels for your site<\/li>\n<li>Enough monthly searches to be worth targeting<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Enter your domain into the AI-powered search bar in the Keyword Magic Tool. You\u2019ll get a personalized difficulty score that shows which keywords are actually within reach for your site.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 AI powered \u2013 Backlinko\" alt=\"Keyword Magic Tool \u2013 LinkedIn marketing \u2013 AI powered \u2013 Backlinko\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.29428571428571\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/keyword-magic-tool-linkedin-marketing-ai-powered-backlinko.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Refresh_Existing_Content\"><\/span>3. Refresh Existing Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Want faster results?<\/p>\n<p>Update existing content instead of only creating new posts.<\/p>\n<p>Since Google already knows these pages exist, you\u2019ll be more likely to see improvements quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Your first step is to identify underperforming content that could benefit from a refresh.<\/p>\n<p>Head to Google Search Console and click \u201c<strong>Performance<\/strong>\u201d &gt; \u201c<strong>Search results<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Filter for pages with a low <a title=\"What Is Click-Through Rate (CTR)?: And How To Improve It\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/what-is-ctr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">click-through rate<\/a> (CTR) (under 3%).<\/p>\n<p>Click the filter menu icon in the right-hand corner and select \u201c<strong>Clicks<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Performance \u2013 Search results \u2013 CTR \u2013 Filter by clicks\" alt=\"Performance \u2013 Search results \u2013 CTR \u2013 Filter by clicks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.57857142857143\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/performance-search-results-ctr-filter-by-clicks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Select \u201c<strong>Smaller than<\/strong>\u201d and enter \u201c<strong>3<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Click \u201c<strong>Done<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Filtered by clicks &amp; smaller then\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Filtered by clicks &amp; smaller then\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.6\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gsc-filtered-by-clicks-smaller-then.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Now, you\u2019ll only see pages on your site with a 3% (or less) CTR.<\/p>\n<p>Take note of the pages that have decent impressions.<\/p>\n<p>Keep in mind that what\u2019s decent for you will depend on your site, but think 500+.<\/p>\n<p>These pages should have the highest potential to gain ground quickly because Google is showing them to users already.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"GSC \u2013 Pages \u2013 Filtered results\" alt=\"GSC \u2013 Pages \u2013 Filtered results\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.65\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/gsc-pages-filtered-results.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Next, create a tracking spreadsheet for this project.<\/p>\n<p>This can be a simple Google or Excel spreadsheet.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google spreadsheet \u2013 Content Refresh Project\" alt=\"Google spreadsheet \u2013 Content Refresh Project\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.51571428571429\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-spreadsheet-content-refresh-project.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Then, search for your target keyword and analyze the top five ranking pages.<\/p>\n<p>Look specifically for:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Search intent:<\/strong> Does their content better match what searchers want?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Visuals:<\/strong> Do they use more helpful images, tables, infographics, or pro tips?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Content depth:<\/strong> What topics, examples, or case studies do they cover that you don\u2019t?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Updated information:<\/strong> Are they citing newer stats or trends?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Metadata:<\/strong> Are their title tags and <a title=\"How to Write SEO-Friendly Meta Descriptions\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/meta-descriptions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">meta descriptions<\/a> more compelling?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Structure:<\/strong> Is their content easier to scan and understand, with descriptive subheads?<\/li>\n<li><strong>Writer expertise:<\/strong> Do they show more authority on the topic?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Make targeted improvements based on your findings.<\/p>\n<p>Some pages might need a complete rewrite, while others may only need updated statistics or better examples.<\/p>\n<p>Track your results in Google Search Console and Google Analytics.<\/p>\n<p>Look for increases in:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Organic traffic<\/li>\n<li>Click-through rate<\/li>\n<li><a title=\"Free Keyword Rank Checker \ud83d\udd0e Monitor Google Rankings\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/rank-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Average ranking<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Time on page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Target_Evergreen_Topics\"><\/span>4. Target Evergreen Topics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Unlike news articles or trend pieces that quickly fade, <a title=\"What Is Evergreen Content?\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/content\/evergreen\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">evergreen topics<\/a> maintain consistent organic search volume because they solve timeless problems.<\/p>\n<p>Think about searches like \u201chow to tie a tie\u201d or \u201chow to cook quinoa\u201d\u2014these questions never go out of style.<\/p>\n<p>Case in point:<\/p>\n<p>The search term \u201chow to cook quinoa\u201d gets 33.1K monthly searches.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Keyword Overview \u2013 How to cook quinoa\" alt=\"Keyword Overview \u2013 How to cook quinoa\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.74\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/keyword-overview-how-to-cook-quinoa.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>If you search Google for this term, you\u2019ll see countless articles.<\/p>\n<p>But one of the top-ranking articles is from a recipe site called Love &amp; Lemons.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to cook quinoa\" alt=\"Google SERP \u2013 How to cook quinoa\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.93285714285714\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-serp-how-to-cook-quinoa.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Love &amp; Lemons gets 149K organic visitors <strong>every month<\/strong> from this single article.<\/p>\n<p>So, how\u2019d they turn one evergreen topic into a massive organic traffic source?<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Organic Research \u2013  Love and Lemons \u2013 Traffic\" alt=\"Organic Research \u2013 Love and Lemons \u2013 Traffic\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.40714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/organic-research-loveandlemons-traffic.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>They chose a topic they knew would interest their target audience: cooking quinoa.<\/p>\n<p>And created a guide that included:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clear explanations of quinoa basics and nutrition facts<\/li>\n<li>Detailed, tested cooking instructions<\/li>\n<li>Expert tips from real kitchen experience<\/li>\n<li>Multiple cooking methods for different preferences<\/li>\n<li>Strategic internal links to related quinoa recipes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This comprehensive approach works because it answers every question a reader might have about cooking quinoa.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"What is quinoa\" alt=\"What is quinoa\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.51333333333333\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/what-is-quinoa.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>How can you do this, too?<\/p>\n<p>The key is choosing topics that solve ongoing problems and answering fundamental questions.<\/p>\n<p>(Decent search volume helps, too.)<\/p>\n<p>Find keywords like this for your site by using tools like <a title=\"Exploding Topics\" href=\"https:\/\/explodingtopics.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Exploding Topics<\/a>, <a title=\"How to Use Google Trends for SEO\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/content\/google-trends\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google Trends<\/a>, and Google autocomplete searches.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Google Suggest \u2013 How to cook\" alt=\"Google Suggest \u2013 How to cook\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.93\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/google-suggest-how-to-cook.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Add_Internal_Links\"><\/span>5. Add Internal Links<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a title=\"Internal Linking for SEO: The Complete Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/internal-links\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Internal linking<\/a> helps Google find, index, and understand your content.<\/p>\n<p>Which is why it\u2019s helpful for increasing organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>But it can also keep visitors around for longer. Meaning you retain more of the traffic you worked so hard to get.<\/p>\n<p>Start by looking for pages on your site with no internal links (also called \u201c<a title=\"What Are Orphan Pages? (How to Find &amp; Fix Them)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/orphan-pages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">orphan pages<\/a>\u201d).<\/p>\n<p>Use a tool that automates the process of finding orphan pages, like Site Audit or RankMath.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Site Audit \u2013  Backlinko \u2013 Issues \u2013 Orphan pages\" alt=\"Site Audit \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Issues \u2013 Orphan pages\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.62714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/site-audit-backlinko-issues-orphan-pages.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>But don\u2019t add just any links.<\/p>\n<p>Your internal links need to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Match the context of the surrounding content<\/li>\n<li>Use descriptive anchor text that explains the destination<\/li>\n<li>Help users find related information they want<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For example, instead of \u201cclick here,\u201d use specific anchor text like \u201c<a title=\"5 Top AI Writing Generators: Features, Pricing, Pros &amp; Cons\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/best-ai-content-generator-tools\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">AI writing tools<\/a>\u201d for an AI writing tools comparison page.<\/p>\n<p>Or \u201c<a title=\"Choose Keywords: A 6-Step Essential Guide\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/choosing-keywords\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">keyword research guide<\/a>\u201d for a keyword tutorial.<\/p>\n<p>This helps Google and visitors understand what they\u2019ll find on the linked page.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlinko \u2013 ChatGPT Alternatives \u2013 Linked page\" alt=\"Backlinko \u2013 ChatGPT Alternatives \u2013 Linked page\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.37\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backlinko-chatgpt-alternatives-linked-page.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p><strong>Pro tip:<\/strong> Every time you publish a new post, spend five to 10 minutes adding relevant internal links from your existing content. This can help Google discover and rank your new content faster.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-tip.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bonus_Step_Optimize_Your_Link_Flow\"><\/span>Bonus Step: Optimize Your Link Flow<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Prioritize link equity<\/strong> by linking from high-authority pages to newer or lower-performing ones<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use <a title=\"Topic Clusters 101: How to Level Up Your SEO (with Examples)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/topic-clusters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">topic clusters<\/a><\/strong> to organize related content into silos that strengthen overall relevance<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ensure crawl efficiency<\/strong> by avoiding excessive links on a single page<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Build_a_Backlink_Strategy\"><\/span>6. Build a Backlink Strategy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a title=\"What Are Backlinks in SEO? &amp; Why You Need Them\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/hub\/seo\/backlinks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinks<\/a> remain one of Google\u2019s strongest ranking signals.<\/p>\n<p>The more relevant sites that link to you, the more organic traffic you can attract.<\/p>\n<p>But how do you earn these valuable links?<\/p>\n<p>Start by creating content that naturally attracts them.<\/p>\n<p>The most linkable content types we\u2019ve found include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Original research and industry studies<\/li>\n<li>Comprehensive how-to guides that fill knowledge gaps<\/li>\n<li>Free tools and templates<\/li>\n<li>Expert roundups with unique insights<\/li>\n<li>Attractive visuals (like infographics)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>For example, we created a detailed analysis of <a title=\"Google\u2019s 200 Ranking Factors: The Complete List\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/google-ranking-factors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Google\u2019s ranking factors<\/a> that has attracted 33.7K backlinks to date.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Ranking Factors \u2013 Backlinks\" alt=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Backlinko \u2013 Ranking Factors \u2013 Backlinks\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.48\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backlink-analytics-backlinko-ranking-factors-backlinks.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Why did it work so well?<\/p>\n<p>Because it\u2019s a comprehensive resource with over 200 ranking factors.<\/p>\n<p>And we constantly update it to ensure it features the freshest information and studies.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlinko \u2013 Google Ranking Factors\" alt=\"Backlinko \u2013 Google Ranking Factors\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.89142857142857\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backlinko-google-ranking-factors.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>But creating linkable assets isn\u2019t your only option for <a title=\"How to Get High Quality Backlinks (7 Top Strategies)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/high-quality-backlinks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">boosting backlinks<\/a> and organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>Build genuine industry relationships by joining relevant Slack, Facebook, and Reddit communities and participating in discussions.<\/p>\n<p>Focus on adding value first\u2014answer questions, share insights, and build real connections.<\/p>\n<p>Only include links to your site when relevant and helpful (and if allowed by the community).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Reddit \u2013 r\/NativePlantGardening\" alt=\"Reddit \u2013 r\/NativePlantGardening\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.49714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/reddit-r-nativeplantgardening.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>Want to accelerate your link building?<\/p>\n<p>Study what\u2019s already working in your industry.<\/p>\n<p>Use Semrush\u2019s <a title=\"Backlink Analytics: Backlink Checker for Any Website | Semrush\" href=\"https:\/\/www.semrush.com\/analytics\/backlinks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlink Analytics<\/a> to monitor your competitors\u2019 backlinks.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"backlinko-image__screenshot backlinko-image backlinko-has-border\">\n<div class=\"backlinko-img-placeholder\"><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Aznps \u2013 Overview\" alt=\"Backlink Analytics \u2013 Aznps \u2013 Overview\" data-aspect-ratio=\"0.96714285714286\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2025\/02\/backlink-analytics-aznps-overview.png\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/p><\/figure>\n<p>When <a title=\"Try Our Free Backlink Checker (and Find the BEST Paid Tool)\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/tools\/backlink-checker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">studying competitor backlinks<\/a>, look for patterns.<\/p>\n<p>Do certain topics or content formats consistently earn more links?<\/p>\n<p>Use these insights to create similar (but better) resources.<\/p>\n<p>And reach out to those same sites to start building your backlink profile.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Future-Proof_Your_Traffic_Strategy\"><\/span>Future-Proof Your Traffic Strategy<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>You now have a proven system for growing organic traffic.<\/p>\n<p>But this is just one part of a successful traffic strategy.<\/p>\n<p>Relying <strong>solely<\/strong> on organic traffic is risky, even for the most experienced SEO or marketer.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Algorithm updates can instantly impact your rankings<\/li>\n<li>Core updates happen multiple times per year<\/li>\n<li>Industry shifts can change how people search<\/li>\n<li>New competitors can push you down in search results<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The smarter approach?<\/p>\n<p>Building a diversified traffic strategy that includes everything from organic and social to email marketing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-quote alert blue-box font-georgia type-normal transparent-img-bg\">\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-sm-down\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">        <\/figure>\n<div class=\"media-body\">\n<blockquote class=\"sc-quote\">\n<p>Get started by reading <a title=\"28 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website\" href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/increase-website-traffic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">28 Ways to Increase Traffic to Your Website<\/a>, featuring proven multi-channel strategies.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"media\">\n<figure class=\"sc-picture media-left hidden-md-up\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/app\/uploads\/2024\/06\/icon-further-reading.png\" alt=\"| Craig Hordlow\" loading=\"lazy\" title=\"| Craig Hordlow\">                <\/figure>\n<p>                                <cite class=\"sc-name media-body media-middle\"><br \/>\n                                    <\/cite>\n            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The post <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/organic-traffic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Organic Traffic: What It Is &amp; How to Increase It (6 Ways)<\/a> appeared first on <a href=\"https:\/\/backlinko.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Backlinko<\/a>.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Growing your website starts with reaching the right people. Not random traffic. People actively searching for the solutions you provide. That\u2019s where organic traffic shines. Unlike paid advertising or social media, organic traffic attracts visitors with clear intent. At Backlinko, organic traffic brings us over 571K monthly visitors\u2014each one specifically interested in SEO and digital marketing. In this guide, you\u2019ll learn all about organic traffic, including how to measure and increase it. Let\u2019s start with what organic traffic is and how it differs from other traffic [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12477,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"h5ap_radio_sources":[],"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-backlinko"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ga-backlinko-users-feb-2025-tZEHbW-600x400.png","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/ga-backlinko-users-feb-2025-tZEHbW-600x600.png","author_info":{"display_name":false,"author_link":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/author\/craig\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12476"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12476\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/craighordlow.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}