Rankings Went From #54 To #9 Using Search Intent

Once upon a time, one of my site’s pages was sitting on page 6 of Google. My content was solid, effort was A+, but Google wasn’t throwing any love. I started looking for what I did wrong.

I found I was doing something wrong.

And that’s the search intent.

So, I decided to use it in my content and because of that, I went from #54 to #9 position in the Google search engine for my content. And my position will move further in the coming days.

Before starting, see the position data from GSC:

By the way, let’s get started.

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Search Intent + UX = Rankings

Before we dive in, let’s get one thing straight.

Google has one job, and it’s not making SEO folks happy, unfortunately.

Even, Google doesn’t care about your rankings.

They care about their users.

Why?

Because happy users = more Google searches = more ad revenue for Google. Simple as that. So, Google’s first and most important priority is giving people exactly what they’re looking for.

That’s where search intent comes into play.

What is Search Intent?

Here’s the simple answer:

It is just a fancy way of saying what people are actually trying to find when they type in a keyword. If you can nail that, Google will reward you. If you don’t, well, enjoy your stay on page 6.

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2 Things For SEO Master Plan

To crack the search intent and climb the rankings, you only need 2 steps:

1. Figure out the search intent.
2. Optimize your content for UX signals.

Sounds easy, right?

Well, it is.

Let’s break it down.

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Step 1: Figure Out the Search Intent

If the search intent were a person, they’d be a mind reader. This is where the magic starts. Your job is to figure out what the user really wants when they type in that keyword.

The easiest way to decode search intent?

Spy On Google’s First Page

Google has already done the hard work for you. If a piece of content is ranking high, it is because it is meeting the user’s needs. So, search your keyword and take some notes.

Such as,

• What’s ranking? Articles? Videos? Infographics?
• Are the titles “how-to,” “lists,” or straight-up sales?
• Do the pages target beginners, experts, or that weird middle ground?

Example: If the keyword is “how to start a vegetable garden,” notice the patterns. Maybe every top-ranking result gives detailed step-by-step guides. (pro tip: it’s probably because people want a guide, not a dissertation on soil pH levels.)

Think Like a User

Ask yourself: What else might users be looking for?

For “how to start a vegetable garden,” they’re probably wondering:

• What tools do I need?
• Which vegetables are easiest for beginners?
• How do I prevent pests from destroying my hard work?

If you can answer these, congratulations. You started to understand the user intent that your content will be valuable to. The more you anticipate their questions, the better your content will perform.

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Step 2: Optimize For UX Signals

Okay, your content matches the search intent.

Great.

But, make sure it doesn’t look like a Word document from 2005.

If your page is a wall of text, people are going to hit that back button faster than you can say SEO failure. And when people bounce or leave your website content, Google notices it.

As a result, Google will drop your rankings.

So, to climb the rankings, you need to make your content easy to read, engaging, and downright delightful. Read from the below to learn how to optimize for User Experience (UX) signals.

Embed Videos: Videos keep users on your page longer, which tells Google, “hey, people actually like this.” Bonus points if the video explains something visually, like a gardening tutorial.

Add a Table of Contents: Nobody likes scrolling aimlessly. People love skipping to the part they care about. Give them the option with an easy-to-use table of contents.

Short Paragraphs: Long paragraphs are very annoying for readers. So, make the paragraphs as short as possible. This will help the readers to read comfortably.

Include Tons of Examples: Examples make your content relatable and practical. Don’t just tell people what to do, show them how. Because, without them, your content will taste bland.

Break it Down: Break things up into short paragraphs, bullet points, and lists. Make it easy for people to read. Your readers (and their eyeballs) will thank you.

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Lessons Learned

This journey taught me 2 things:

1. Google is smarter than we think.
2. Users are even pickier than we think.

SEO is not about tricking the algorithm. It is about solving real problems for real people. The better you understand your audience, the better your results will be.

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Last Word

Now it’s your turn.

SEO isn’t about gaming the system.

So, grab your keyword, study that first page as well as analyze the search intent, and create content that is so good that Google will have no choice but to bump you up the rankings.

And when you hit page 1, don’t forget to do a little dance.

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