You don’t need another watered-down list of SEO tips that sound like they were churned out by ChatGPT circa 2023. You need strategies that actually move the needle — SEO methods built for how search works in 2025, not how it used to.
Because let’s be honest: if you’re still relying on keyword stuffing, buying backlinks, or writing “ultimate guides” that no one finishes reading, you’re not just behind — you’re invisible.
And in a market as competitive as Singapore’s, invisibility costs you leads, revenue, and relevance. This article cuts through the noise.
You’re about to get seven foolproof SEO methods that are battle-tested, algorithm-proof, and tailored for growth-focused businesses like yours. No fluff. No filler.
Just straight-up tactics that work right now — backed by data, real examples, and the kind of insights consultants charge four figures to share. Ready to stop guessing and start ranking? Let’s go.
Key Takeaways
- Reverse-engineer top-performing content and target competitor keywords to unlock proven SEO wins.
- Create genuinely valuable, localised content that attracts authoritative backlinks and leverages digital PR for trusted links.
- Optimise images strategically and slash site load times to boost rankings and deliver superior user experiences.
- Focus outreach and promotion efforts on quality over quantity to maximise link earning and brand authority.
- Stay ahead by integrating advanced tactics like broken backlink hijacking and Core Web Vitals optimisation.
Build a Real SEO Game Plan
If your SEO strategy is just a checklist of “best practices,” you don’t have a strategy — you have wishful thinking. You wouldn’t run a business in Singapore without a business plan.
So why run your digital marketing without a search plan that’s tied to actual revenue? SEO today isn’t about sprinkling in keywords and waiting for rankings.
It’s about clarity, precision, and execution — and that starts with building a strategy that aligns with how Google works in 2025. Here are 7 foolproof SEO methods that you can start using today:
1. Reverse-Engineer What’s Already Winning
If you’re not reverse-engineering top-performing content in your space, you’re not doing SEO — you’re guessing. And in 2025, guessing gets you buried.
Google’s algorithms reward content that already proves it can satisfy search intent. So instead of starting from scratch, start with what’s working. Tear it apart. Then build something better. Here’s exactly how to do that — and why it works.
Identify the Pages Google Already Loves
Start by Googling the keywords you want to rank for. Don’t just look at who’s ranking — analyse why they’re ranking. Use Ahrefs, Surfer SEO, or Clearscope to uncover:
- Content structure (e.g. subheadings, length, media)
- Keyword density and placement
- User engagement signals (via estimated traffic, bounce rate, etc.)
- Top referring domains (to see what backlinks are powering the rankings)
Real-world example: Backlinko used this exact approach to optimise a blog post on “SEO tools.” By identifying the top-ranking content and improving it with richer visuals, clearer formatting, and updated examples, he grew organic traffic by over 652%.
That’s not luck — that’s strategic imitation and execution.
Improve What They Missed — Don’t Copy, Upgrade
It’s tempting to mimic what’s already ranking. But that’s not enough. You need to outperform. Here’s what to look for:
| What They Did | What You Can Improve |
| Thin FAQs | Expand with schema markup + richer answers |
| No videos | Add explainer clips to boost time on page |
| Basic internal links | Create a strategic internal link hub |
| Outdated data | Refresh with 2024–2025 stats + sources |
| Generic CTA | Add intent-based CTAs based on funnel stage |
You’re not writing “another article.” You’re building a better version of the best-performing one — and giving Google every reason to replace it with yours.
Match the Intent, Not Just the Keyword
Ranking isn’t just about targeting the right keyword — it’s about matching the intent behind the search. Ask: What is the searcher trying to achieve?
- Are they researching (informational)?
- Comparing options (commercial)?
- Ready to buy or enquire (transactional)?
If the number one ranking page is a comparison table, and you write a 2,000-word essay — you’ve already lost. You need to mirror what’s working in format, depth, and UX, then deliver more value.
Bottom Line: You Can’t Beat What You Don’t Understand
You’re not starting with a blank page — you’re starting with a playbook that’s already public. The winners are right there on Page 1. Your job is to study them, outclass them, and own the spot they’re sitting in.
If you’re serious about ranking in 2025, don’t reinvent the wheel. Reverse-engineer it. Then build the Ferrari version.
2. Go After Keywords That Are Already Making Your Competitors Money
Image Credit: NeilPatel
You don’t need to guess which keywords will drive revenue — your competitors have already done the legwork and the spending. Your job? Identify what’s working for them, then target those exact keywords with better execution.
This isn’t about keyword research. It’s about revenue research. Because ranking for informational terms is nice — but ranking for buyer-ready keywords your competitors are profiting from? That’s strategy.
Step 1: Find Their High-Intent, High-Value Keywords
Start with tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SpyFu. Enter your competitor’s domain and analyse:
- Top organic keywords ranked by estimated traffic and value
- Paid keywords they’re bidding on consistently
- Landing pages tied to commercial intent (e.g. “services,” “pricing,” “get a quote”)
Look specifically for:
- Transactional terms: e.g. “hire digital marketing agency Singapore”
- Comparison keywords: e.g. “HubSpot vs Mailchimp for SMEs”
- Local intent: e.g. “best SEO agency near Tanjong Pagar”
Step 2: Filter Out the Vanity Metrics
High-volume keywords look impressive, but many don’t convert. You’re not after traffic for traffic’s sake — you want buying intent.
Ask yourself:
- Does this keyword map to a service or product I offer?
- Would a searcher realistically take action from this page?
- Is this a keyword my competitor is spending real money on?
If they’re putting ad budget behind it month after month, chances are it’s driving revenue. That’s your green light.
Step 3: Build a Better Experience for That Keyword
Once you’ve picked the high-value keywords, don’t just write another blog. Build the best landing experience for that term. That means:
- Intent-driven content
- Razor-sharp headlines and value props
- Localisation for Singapore (use Singlish where appropriate, don’t sound like a US site clone)
- Speed-optimised and mobile-first UX
- Strong, relevant CTAs
If your competitor is converting at 5% with a basic landing page, you can beat that with a page built to sell, not just rank.
Bottom Line: Don’t Fish Blind — Use Their Bait
The keywords your competitors are ranking for — and paying for — are already proven to convert. Stop shooting in the dark. Find out what’s working, go after it with precision, and make their profits your baseline.
Because in SEO, second-movers win — if they move smarter.
3. Hijack Broken Backlinks from Your Competitors
There’s a goldmine of SEO authority just sitting there — unused, unclaimed, and already trusted by Google. It’s called broken backlink hijacking, and it’s one of the fastest white-hat ways to earn high-quality links without cold-pitching or praying someone replies to your outreach.
If your competitors have been around longer than you, chances are they’ve racked up backlinks from blogs, directories, and media sites. But over time, some of those links break — pointing to 404 pages, outdated URLs, or deleted resources.
And when they break, you get your opportunity.
Why This Works
Google still sees backlinks as a major ranking signal — especially from domains with authority and relevance. When you replace a broken link with a fresh, valuable resource, you’re helping the site owner and giving Google a reason to reassign that authority to your domain.
This isn’t theory. It’s a proven link-building tactic with a high return and low risk. Here’s how to do it:
Step 1: Find Broken Links Pointing to Your Competitors
Use tools like:
- Ahrefs: Site Explorer > enter competitor’s domain > “Best by links” > add filter: HTTP code = 404
- SEMrush: Backlink Audit tool > “Target URL Error”
- Screaming Frog + Ahrefs API: For large-scale scans
These will show you the exact URLs on competitor sites that used to earn links — and who’s linking to them now (with broken references).
Step 2: Check What the Original Page Was About
Use Wayback Machine to see what content used to live at that broken URL. Was it a guide? A case study? A tool?
Then create something even better:
- Update it with 2024/2025 data
- Optimise for mobile, speed, and UX
- Make it more comprehensive (add visuals, stats, expert quotes)
Step 3: Reach Out With Value, Not Desperation
Email the site owner with a short, helpful message:
“Hi [Name],
I noticed you’re linking to [broken link] in your [post title]. It looks like the original page is no longer available.
I’ve created a new, updated version that covers the same topic — with current data and visuals.
Thought you might want to replace the link to keep your content fresh. Let me know what you think.”
Keep it helpful, not salesy. You’re not asking for a favour — you’re fixing their broken UX.
Pro Tip: Prioritise Backlinks with Authority
Not all broken backlinks are worth chasing. Prioritise:
- Sites with Domain Rating 40+
- Pages with existing traffic
- Content that’s still live and updated
You’ll spend less time per outreach and get links that actually move the needle.
Bottom Line: Your Competitors’ Lost Links = Your SEO Wins
Broken backlink hijacking is like digital judo — using your competitors’ past momentum to drive your future results. It’s low-effort, high-reward, and completely white-hat.
While others are cold emailing bloggers with “great resources,” you’re offering solutions to real problems — and picking up SEO authority they didn’t even realise they dropped.
4. Turn Your Existing Pages into a Ranking Machine
Image Credit: Search Engine Land
Here’s the truth: You don’t need more content — you need smarter content. Most websites in Singapore have dozens of underperforming pages that are sitting on the edge of Page 2 or 3 on Google. They’re not broken. They’re just ignored.
And if you know how to optimise what’s already there, you can turn those quiet pages into conversion-ready traffic magnets — without spending a cent on new content.
Step 1: Find Your “Almost There” Pages
Use Google Search Console or Ahrefs to pull a list of URLs that are:
- Ranking between positions 6 to 20
- Getting some impressions, but low click-through rates
- Targeting relevant keywords with business intent
These are your low-hanging wins. They’ve already passed Google’s trust filter. Now you just need to give them a push.
Step 2: Inject SEO Power — Without Rewriting Everything
Here’s what to do without creating new content:
| Optimisation Tactic | Why It Works |
| Add internal links | Boosts crawlability and redistributes PageRank |
| Refresh outdated content | Keeps you relevant and trusted |
| Improve meta titles/desc | Increases CTR from SERPs |
| Add “People Also Ask” Q&As | Matches real user intent + gets featured spots |
| Fix header structure (H1–H3) | Improves scannability and keyword clarity |
Use Surfer SEO or Clearscope to benchmark your content against top-ranking competitors. You’ll see word count gaps, keyword opportunities, and missing on-page elements in minutes.
Step 3: Cluster Your Content — Don’t Let It Compete
Many businesses unknowingly cannibalise their rankings by having multiple pages target the same keyword. That confuses Google — and splits your authority. Fix it by:
- Merging overlapping pages
- Creating pillar pages that link to focused subtopics
- Redirecting outdated or duplicate URLs to the strongest version
The algorithm loves structure. So does your audience.
Bottom Line: You’re Sitting on Untapped SEO ROI
If your team keeps publishing new content without auditing what’s already live, you’re wasting resources. Updating, interlinking, and repositioning just 10 of your existing pages can often outperform your last 30 blog posts.
So before you brief another writer or launch another landing page, ask yourself this: Have I turned my current pages into a ranking machine yet? Because if not, that’s your easiest SEO win in 2025.
5. Create Content That Deserves Backlinks
Image Credit: Moz
Let’s be honest — no one’s lining up to link to your 800-word “Top 5 Marketing Tips” blog post. If you want backlinks that actually move the SEO needle, you need to create content that earns them.
Not by begging. Not by trading. But by being the best damn resource on the topic. And that means building link-worthy content — assets so valuable, credible, and unique that other websites want to reference them.
What Makes Content Link-Worthy?
It’s not length. It’s not buzzwords. It’s value. Link-worthy content typically falls into these proven formats:
| Content Type | Why It Attracts Links |
| Original research/data | Journalists, bloggers and industry pros need fresh data |
| In-depth guides | Long-form, evergreen content that becomes the go-to reference |
| Infographics & visuals | Easy to embed and share, especially in educational or stat-heavy niches |
| Interactive tools | Calculators, templates, or audit tools get bookmarked and shared |
| Contrarian POVs | Fresh takes on tired topics spark conversation and backlinks |
Want Links in Singapore? Think Local First
If you’re trying to earn links in the Singapore market, stop copying US-centric content. Instead:
- Create localised guides (e.g. “2025 Social Media Trends for Singapore SMEs”)
- Use Singapore-specific data (from IMDA, Gov.sg, SingStat)
- Collaborate with local influencers or agencies for expert quotes
- Publish original insights from your own client base (aggregated + anonymised)
The more relevant your content is to your audience’s geography, the higher the chances of it being linked to by local blogs, directories, and news sites.
The 80/20 Rule of Link Earning
Here’s what most marketers get wrong: They spend 90% of their time on creating content and 10% on promotion — when it should be the other way around.
Use this formula:
- 20% on research, writing, and design
- 80% on targeted outreach (journalists, bloggers, podcast hosts, newsletter writers)
- Use tools like BuzzSumo, HARO, or Featured to get featured
Pitch your content as a source — not just “Hey, link to my blog”
You’ll get fewer rejections — and better backlinks — by making their job easier.
Bottom Line: If Your Content Isn’t Link-Worthy, Don’t Expect Links
You don’t get backlinks by accident anymore. You get them by creating something so valuable, so relevant, and so well-positioned that linking to you is the smart thing to do.
No gimmicks. No shady tactics. Just standout content built for the long game.
6. Use Digital PR to Earn Links Google Actually Trusts
Image Credit: SEO Buddy
Let’s cut through the noise: not all backlinks are created equal. A random link from a blog in the UK with zero traffic won’t move your rankings — no matter how many you have.
But a single backlink from a high-authority site like Straits Times, CNA, or Tech in Asia? That’s SEO gold in 2025.
And that’s where Digital PR comes in — not as a buzzword, but as your best method for earning links that Google actually values.
What Is Digital PR (and Why Should You Care)?
Digital PR is not traditional press releases or mass media blasting. It’s the strategic use of newsworthy content, data-driven stories, and expert positioning to get featured (and linked) on high-authority sites that matter in your industry or region.
Think:
- Interviews on local business outlets
- Data studies picked up by journalists
- Commentary on trending issues with your expert POV
- Collaborations with industry influencers
The 3-Part Digital PR Playbook for Singapore Businesses
Create Newsworthy, Data-Led Content
Journalists don’t link to blog posts — they link to stories backed by data. Here’s what works:
- Original studies (e.g. “What Singapore SMEs Are Spending on AI in 2025”)
- Consumer behaviour reports (e.g. “How Gen Z Buys Online in Singapore”)
- Industry forecasts with expert commentary
Use tools like Google Trends, Statista, and Gov.sg datasets to uncover insights. Better yet, analyse your own first-party data.
Pitch the Right Angles to the Right People
Don’t just spam editors with “We wrote a blog!” emails. Instead:
- Craft tailored angles for different outlets
- E.g. For CNA: “Singapore SMEs Investing More in Martech Than Hiring”
- For e27: “How Martech Spend Is Driving Start-Up Growth in SEA”
- Build a press list of relevant journalists using Muck Rack or Prowly
- Reach out via email or LinkedIn with value-first pitches
Want a shortcut? Use platforms like HARO (Help a Reporter Out) or Featured to respond to real-time journalist requests.
Leverage PR Wins for SEO and Sales
When you land a feature:
- Link to it from your website for authority signalling
- Add badges (“As Featured In: Vulcan Post, Yahoo Finance”) to build trust
- Use it in email nurturing and pitch decks to impress leads
Google notices. So do your prospects.
Bonus Tip: Anchor Text Matters
Don’t just settle for branded anchor text (“ABC Agency”). Whenever possible, aim for contextual anchors that mention your service or expertise — like:
- “Singapore SEO agency”
- “Digital marketing platform for SMEs”
- “AI content tools for ecommerce”
These signal topical relevance and help reinforce your content themes.
Bottom Line: Digital PR Is the Link Strategy Google Respects
Forget link farms and PBNs — those will burn you in 2025. If you want to play in the top 3 positions, you need backlinks from sources that Google already trusts.
Digital PR isn’t just about exposure — it’s how you earn your place in the SERPs, build brand authority, and drive qualified traffic at scale.
7. Win Rankings with Smarter Image SEO
Image SEO isn’t just about alt tags anymore. If you’re ignoring visual optimisation in 2025, you’re leaving traffic, rankings, and conversions on the table — especially in visually-driven sectors like ecommerce, travel, F&B, and design.
Here’s the shift: Google is increasingly treating images as search assets, not just decoration. With visual search, Google Lens, and image-rich SERPs, smart businesses are now winning rankings — and clicks — by treating images like content.
Why Image SEO Matters (Especially in Singapore)
Visual search is no longer niche:
- Over 20 billion Google Lens searches happen every month
- 62% of Gen Z and Millennials prefer visual search over any other tech
- Singapore’s ecommerce penetration reached 73.4% in 2024, where product images directly influence buying decisions
So whether you’re selling products or promoting services, Google is indexing — and ranking — image content that’s properly optimised. Most of your competitors aren’t even trying.
The Non-Negotiables of Image SEO
If you want your images to rank, they need more than just a pretty face. Here’s what to do:
| Optimisation Step | Why It Matters |
| Descriptive file names | Helps Google understand image content before crawling alt text |
| Relevant alt text | Crucial for accessibility and SEO indexing |
| Image compression | Speeds up page load (a Core Web Vitals signal) |
| Responsive sizes (srcset) | Ensures optimal rendering across mobile/desktop |
| Contextual placement | Images near relevant keywords rank better |
| Structured data (Schema.org) | Boosts eligibility for rich snippets |
Use tools like Squoosh, ShortPixel, or TinyPNG to compress images without compromising quality. For WordPress users, Smush Pro is a top local favourite for automated optimisation.
Don’t Ignore Visual Search and Google Lens
Google Lens isn’t just a gimmick — it’s becoming part of consumer search journeys:
- Tourists scan food photos to find where to eat
- Shoppers snap screenshots to find similar products
- Interior design clients reverse-search styles they love
If your images aren’t optimised, you’re invisible in this growing discovery channel.
Make sure:
- Your images are crawlable (not blocked in robots.txt)
- You’re submitting image sitemaps via Google Search Console
- Your product images follow Google Merchant Center specs for Shopping and Lens
Bottom Line: Image SEO Is Traffic You Didn’t Know You Could Get
Most marketers treat image optimisation as an afterthought. That’s your edge.
If your competitors are writing the same blogs and bidding on the same keywords, image SEO becomes a blue ocean — a high-impact, low-competition move that improves rankings, visibility, and UX all in one.
Start Using Our Proven SEO Methods to Rank Your Site
You’ve seen the difference between guesswork and a battle-tested SEO playbook that delivers real results.
Now it’s time to stop wasting effort on vague tactics and start applying proven SEO methods designed for businesses that want to dominate Singapore’s digital landscape.
If you’re serious about climbing Google’s rankings, driving qualified traffic, and growing your revenue, you don’t have to go it alone.
MediaOne is a proven SEO agency that brings the expertise, data-driven strategies, and local market insight you need to turn these methods into measurable success. Don’t wait for your competitors to pull ahead.
Partner with MediaOne and start ranking your site the right way — with SEO methods that actually work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I optimise my content for voice search?
To optimise for voice search, focus on natural language and question-based queries. Incorporate long-tail keywords and conversational phrases that users might speak, such as “best Italian restaurant near me.”
What role does mobile optimisation play in SEO?
Mobile optimisation is crucial, as Google uses mobile-first indexing. Ensure your site is responsive, loads quickly, and provides a seamless user experience on mobile devices to improve rankings.
How do I conduct a competitive SEO analysis?
Begin by identifying your top competitors and analysing their keyword strategies, backlink profiles, and content performance. Tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs can provide valuable insights into their SEO tactics.
Why is user experience important for SEO?
User experience (UX) affects bounce rates and dwell time, which are signals to search engines about content quality. A positive UX can lead to higher rankings and better user engagement.
What is the significance of HTTPS for SEO?
HTTPS encrypts data between the user and your website, ensuring security. Google considers it a ranking factor, and users are more likely to trust and engage with secure sites.
