7 Underrated SEO Strategies That Actually Drive Traffic (With Examples)

underrated SEO strategies

When it comes to SEO, the advice often sounds the same: write great content, build backlinks, optimize title tags, speed up your site. While those are foundational, some of the most powerful wins come from lesser-discussed tactics that deliver real results – sometimes with very little effort.

Here are 7 underrated SEO strategies that are actually working for real site owners and marketers right now:

1. Seed Backlinks Through Free Stock Photo Platforms

If you take high-quality, niche-relevant photos, uploading them to free image platforms like Unsplash or Pexels can generate hundreds of organic backlinks over time.

💡 If you host your portfolio or image gallery on your own site (e.g., using UltimateWB’s built-in photo galleries), you can attract links directly – without relying solely on third-party platforms.

Some creators go beyond uploading and actively track down where their photos are used, then politely request attribution with a backlink, turning passive visibility into active SEO gains.

📈 Real-World Impact: One marketer reported getting 100–200 backlinks from a single series of photos, which helped push their site onto the first page for targeted keywords.

2. Ignore the 60-Character Limit on Title Tags

Google often rewrites or truncates title tags – but that doesn’t mean longer ones don’t work. Writing keyword-rich, multi-intent title tags (150–250 characters) can help Google better understand your content and match it to a wider variety of searches.

🔍 Pro Tip: Separate keyword phrases using hyphens to get it all in there. Google may display only part of it, but it still uses the full title behind the scenes for relevance.

🔧 Platforms like UltimateWB let you easily customize your full meta title and description without plugins – perfect for testing longer, multi-intent SEO titles.

3. Write “How to Find the Best [Industry]” Guides

Creating geo-targeted, trust-building content like “How to Find the Best [Type of Business] in [City]” helps position your site as a top resource and can even trigger AI overviews or featured snippets.

🧭 Example: One company used this strategy and saw both their homepage and blog post rank on the first page for major local business keywords.

4. Add Exact Google Search Console Queries to the Bottom of Your Pages

If users are finding your site through certain queries, reinforce those terms directly on the relevant page. Include a mini “Q&A” or FAQ – frequently asked questions – section at the bottom where you answer those queries naturally.

📊 Why it Works: It aligns your page content more closely with actual search intent – often leading to better rankings and click-throughs.

5. Update Old Content with Current Years & Keywords

Sometimes a simple refresh can lead to a big bump. Updating older posts with current-year dates (e.g., “Best Tools for SEO in 2025”) and refining keyword targeting can signal freshness to Google and improve rankings with minimal effort.

♻️ Quick Win: Combine this with internal linking and new media (like updated images or charts) for even more traction.

🛠️ On UltimateWB, updating and republishing content is quick and doesn’t break your URLs – making refreshes easier and SEO safer.

6. Leverage Internal Links Inside Paragraphs (Not Just Navigation)

Embedding internal links within the body of your content (especially in the first 300 words) gives Google clearer signals about how your pages relate and which ones are most important.

🧩 Bonus: Use descriptive anchor text to help both users and search engines understand what the linked page is about.

7. Don’t Rely on 5–10 Pages to Rank – Go for 100+

One of the most overlooked strategies is simply publishing more. If each page or blog post targets a unique long-tail keyword, you’re opening more doors for organic traffic.

📈 Case Study: A nonprofit increased their monthly organic traffic from 5K to over 200K just by publishing 4 articles a month, consistently.

🚀 UltimateWB gives you unlimited page creation and complete control over URL structure – so scaling your content strategy isn’t a tech headache.

Related: How Much Content Does Google Need to Trust Your Site?

🧠Final Thoughts

SEO isn’t just a checklist – it’s an evolving system. These lesser-known tactics work because they align with real user behavior and how Google evaluates relevance and authority today. Whether you’re just starting or optimizing an existing site, testing some of these strategies could uncover big wins.

Whether you’re publishing five blog posts or five hundred, having a flexible platform like UltimateWB makes it easier to implement these strategies without relying on a dozen different tools.

Related: What Makes Your Website Content “High-Quality Content”? We Spill the Tea!

How to Leverage Broken Link Building to Get High-Quality Backlinks for Your Website

Why Evergreen Content Is Crucial for Your Website’s Growth (And How to Create It)

Ready to design & build your own website? Learn more about UltimateWB! We also offer web design packages if you would like your website designed and built for you.

Got a techy/website question? Whether it’s about UltimateWB or another website builder, web hosting, or other aspects of websites, just send in your question in the “Ask David!” form. We will email you when the answer is posted on the UltimateWB “Ask David!” section.

This entry was posted in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *