SEO Myth Busting #1: “Great content ranks itself”

Hey founders 👋

Ever spent hours crafting an amazing blog post, only to get zero traffic? Frustrating, right?

You've probably heard:

While quality matters, if this is your entire SEO strategy, you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

Here’s why—and exactly what to do instead: 👇

❇︎ The problem with the “Great Content” myth

Writing great content is like building a brilliant product no one knows exists.

Google is a search engine, not a quality detector. It doesn't rank content because it's "good."
It ranks content because it matches intent, satisfies structure, and earns signals—like relevance, clarity, and yes, backlinks.

If you’ve ever:

• Written a blog post you’re proud of

• Waited for traffic that never came

• Wondered “why did this mediocre post from a competitor outrank me?”

…you’ve seen this myth in action.

❇︎ What actually ranks

Here’s what most successful SEO content has in common:

1. It targets a query someone is actually searching.
   No keyword research = no organic traffic.

2. It matches the searcher’s intent.
   Writing a thinkpiece when the query expects a how-to? Google skips you.

3. It’s structured for skimmers and bots.
   Headers, clarity, and a quick answer up top matter more than clever writing.

4. It earns links or internal authority.
   Even good content won’t rank if no one links to it (internally or externally).

❇︎ What to do instead (5 Steps)

Here's exactly how to ensure your content ranks:

1. Pick the Right Keyword

   • Use Ahrefs Free Tool to find a keyword that people actually search.

2. Match Search Intent

   • Google the keyword. Is it a list? A how-to? Match your content format exactly.

3. Structure Clearly

   • Use clear headings, short paragraphs, bullet points, and provide quick answers upfront.

4. Promote Immediately

   • Internally link your post from your homepage or popular pages.

   • Share it via email and social media immediately.

5. Earn Quick Links

   • Pitch your post to 1-2 niche newsletters or blogs. Just a quick DM or email can be enough.

📌 Quick Example:

If your keyword is "best productivity tools," check the top 5 results. See they're all structured as lists?
Create a clearer, more valuable list with visuals or unique insights.

≫ Quick Win (Do This Right Now!)

Open your blog, pick ONE underperforming post:

• Check its keyword on Google. Adjust headings to clearly match intent.

• Immediately tweet or share your updated post.

Congrats, you're now ahead of most founders!

✨ Hands-Off SEO for Founders

No time for SEO? No problem.
We’ll grow your traffic with smart content, quality backlinks, and zero effort on your side.
You build—we handle your SEO.

TL;DR

Great content needs clear keywords, structured content, and promotion to rank.

Otherwise, it’s just a diary entry no one reads.

See you next week – we’re busting another founder SEO myth 👊

If you liked this, forward it to a friend who’s blogging into the void.

And reply to this email with any questions, I reply to every one!

— Xavier