Guide To Finding The Top 15 Underrated SEO Strategies That Actually Work in 2025

Digital marketing has become increasingly competitive. Everyone knows about the basics: keyword research, backlink building, mobile optimization, and fast-loading websites. But here’s the truth—those are no longer “secrets.” If you only stick to common best SEO practices, you’ll likely find your website rank below the thousands of others doing the exact same thing.

The game changers are usually the techniques everyone ignores, underrates, or misapplies. If you want relevant organic growth that sticks, you need to exploit opportunities where others aren’t looking. These techniques aren’t just theory—they’ve been tested on real businesses and actually produced measurable traffic.

In this guide, we covered battle-tested SEO and digital marketing hacks that don’t get the attention enough but have proven to be true game changers.

1. Posting Photos on Free Stock Platforms (and Turning Them Into Backlinks)

Why It Works:

Platforms like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay dominate Google Images. Instead of trying to outcompete them, use them to your advantage. When you submit your own niche photos, they often become widely used in blog posts, LinkedIn articles, media outlets, and even corporate websites.

The Twist:

Instead of letting users credit Unsplash, encourage attribution directly to your website. Then, actively track image usage and reach out to webmasters who didn’t credit you correctly.

Execution Steps:

1. Create professional, niche photos (e.g., real estate interiors, dental offices, fitness studios).
2. Upload them to free stock sites with a profile pointing back to your website.
3. Search via Google Reverse Image Search or TinEye where your photo has been re-used.
4. Reach out with a clear but friendly message:
   “Thanks for using our photo! We’d appreciate it if you credited us at [link] instead of Unsplash.”

Example:

A travel blogger uploaded scenic photos of Spain. Within a year, her images were used on 500+ websites—including city guides and lifestyle blogs. A backlink surge followed, boosting her DR and pulling in referral traffic she didn’t pay for.

Pro Tip:

Even if only 30% comply with your request, you’ll still bag authoritative backlinks with zero outreach cost.

2. Writing “How to Find the Best [Type of Business]” Guides

Why It Works

When people search “best dentist in Houston” or “best CRM software,” they’re not just looking for a list—they’re looking for a structured guide that helps them evaluate options.

Google favors comprehensive answer-based content that helps decision-making.

Execution Steps:

1. Create evergreen guides:
   • “How to Choose the Best [Business] in [Location].”
   • “Guide to Evaluating [Product Category].”
2. Cover objective factors: pricing, reviews, certifications, features, red-flags.
3. Provide a balanced comparison but subtly highlight why your business excels.
4. Use schema markup so Google rewards you with rich results.

Example:

A law firm wrote: “How to Find the Best Divorce Lawyer in California (2025 Guide).” Instead of self-promoting, they explained costs, credentials, and local nuances. Google ranked it in the top 3 results for “best divorce lawyer California.” The firm’s leads tripled in 3 months.

Pro Tip:

Position the piece as educational first, promotional second. The trust you gain will indirectly convert into leads.

3. Long Title Tags

Why It Works

Most SEO guides insist titles should be under 60 characters so they don’t truncate. This is half true: truncation only affects visual appearance, not keyword indexing. Google still reads and ranks longer titles.

By writing long, descriptive, keyword-rich titles, you:

• Capture secondary and related keywords in one shot.
• Increase chances of matching different long-tail search queries.
• Improve click-through with persuasive hooks.

Execution Steps:

1. Draft a concise beginning part for CTR.
2. Extend with descriptive keywords: “guide, reviews, 2025, best for beginners, etc.”
3. Example format:
   • Best Digital Cameras for Beginners (2025 Guide): Affordable, User-Friendly, Top-Rated Options for New Photographers Under $500.

Example:

An e-reader review site used this tactic. Their competitors had short SEO titles like:
“Best E-Readers for 2025.”
They wrote:
“Best E-Readers for 2025: Affordable Kindle Alternatives, Reviews of Kobo, Nook & Other Top Tablets for Reading PDFs & eBooks.”

They ranked top 3 not just for “best e-readers” but also “Kindle alternatives” and “best e-reader for PDFs.”

Pro Tip:

Always front-load the main keyword (so truncation doesn’t hide it).

4. Meta Descriptions: Forget the 160-Character Myth

Why It Works

Google often rewrites meta descriptions, but when it doesn’t, long, descriptive ones convert better. Limiting yourself to 150–160 characters is leaving value on the table.

Execution Steps:

1. Write engaging descriptions—use action verbs, emotional hooks, and a mini-CTA.
2. Expand naturally up to 300+ characters.
3. Always edit them manually; never let CMS auto-generate.

Example:

Instead of: “Learn SEO tools for 2025 that can grow your business.”
Write: “Discover the top SEO tools in 2025 to help businesses rank higher, attract more organic traffic, and analyze keywords effectively. Explore detailed reviews, pricing, and expert recommendations before choosing the right SEO tool for your goals.”

CTR improved nearly 35% in 3 weeks.

Pro Tip:

Treat the meta description as ad copy—not just an SEO element.

5. The Internal Linking Powerhouse

Why It Work

Internal links distribute “link equity” across your site, helping Google understand hierarchical relationships and topical clusters. Yet, most businesses bury them in sidebars or at the bottom.

Execution Steps:

1. Add contextual links inside paragraphs, especially higher up.
2. Map out topic clusters—every new article links to core service pages (pillar content).
3. Use descriptive anchors (avoid vagueness like “read more.”).
4. Regularly audit internal links to cut dead ends.

Example:

Backlinko famously tripled pageviews by re-mapping old blog posts with strategic internal linking. Rankings improved for 90+ medium-difficulty keywords within months.

Pro Tip:

Use tools like Screaming Frog or Ahrefs Site Audit to find orphan pages—then link them internally to strengthen authority.

6. Mining Queries From Google Search Console (Free SEO Gold)

Why It Works

Your site is already partially ranking for dozens of search queries you don’t even know about. These are low-hanging fruits.

Execution Steps:

1. Go to Search Console > Performance Report > Queries.
2. Export queries with:
   • Impressions but low CTRs.
   • Keywords ranking in positions 8–20.
3. Add these queries into:
   • FAQ sections.
   • Extra H2s/H3s.
   • Quick Q&A blocks near the end.

Example:

A SaaS company ranked #15 for “affordable project management tools.” After adding a short section called “What are the Most Affordable Project Management Tools in 2025?” with a crisp answer, the page jumped to position #2.

Pro Tip:

Always embed queries naturally—don’t keyword stuff.

7. Updating Old Content & Adding the Current Year

Why It Works

Google rewards freshness, especially in fast-moving niches. Even without rewriting the entire article, small updates make a massive difference.

Execution Steps:

1. Audit old posts every 6–12 months.
2. Update: statistics, screenshots, comparison tables, pricing, examples.
3. Change headline from: “Best CRM Tools for Startups (2023)” → “Best CRM Tools for Startups (2025 Edition).”
4. Add new FAQs, internal links, and republish with a fresh date.

Example:

A career blog had a post titled “Top Resume Formats in 2022.” Simply updating it to 2025 with minor tweaks shot it from #6 → #1 within two weeks.

Pro Tip:

Don’t just change the year—add genuine value updates. Google tracks substantive changes, not just rewrites.

8. Advanced Image Optimization

Why It Works

Images appear in Google Images, product carousels, and featured snippets. Optimized images are easier to discover, improving both traffic and conversions.

Execution Steps:

1. Rename files meaningfully: seo-guide-2025-techniques.jpg.
2. Use WebP format for lighter size + fast load.
3. Add alt text describing both function + keywords.
4. Add captions under images (Google reads surrounding text).

Example:

An e-commerce store renamed all images (e.g., blue-running-shoes-for-men-nike.jpg). They saw +18% impressions in Google Images in 45 days.

Pro Tip:

Use unique original photos instead of vendor-supplied stock—Google prioritizes originality.

9. Publishing Consistently (Compounding Effect of Long-Tail Content)

Why It Works

Consistency compounds authority. Every new blog post = another chance to rank for long-tail keywords.

Execution Steps:

1. Commit to 4+ posts/month on specific long-tail questions.
2. Use tools like AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked, and People Also Ask for topic ideas.
3. Interlink blog posts and connect them to pillar pages.

Example:

A nonprofit scaled from 5K → 200K organic traffic/month in 18 months just by publishing 4 long-tail guides monthly. No paid ads, no backlinks—just consistent writing.

10. Writing to Actually Answer Questions (SEO Back to Basics)

Why It Works

Google’s priority hasn’t changed: show pages that directly satisfy search intent.

Too many writers obsess over SEO tricks instead of just answering the query better than anyone else.

Execution Steps:

• Define the searcher’s real intent.
• Structure content with clear H2/H3 headers.
• Add comparisons, stats, examples, and sources.

Example:

HubSpot consistently outranks competitors by producing high-quality educational blog posts—not keyword-stuffed fluff.

Pro Tip:

Before publishing, ask: “If I was a user searching this, would my page give me the full answer?”

11. FAQ Sections: Your Secret SEO Weapon

Why It Works

FAQs allow you to target dozens of micro-queries within one page. They also help capture voice search queries.

Execution Steps:

1. Source FAQs from: search console queries, “People Also Ask,” Reddit threads.
2. Create snappy yet detailed 3–4 sentence answers.
3. Implement FAQ schema JSON-LD for rich results.
4. Position the FAQ lower in the page so it doesn’t break readability.

Example:

A SaaS tool added a detailed FAQ with 12 questions at the bottom of their pricing page. Within 2 months, they captured featured snippets for 8 new queries.

12. User-Generated Content (UGC)

Why It Works

Search engines trust fresh, authentic, real voices. UGC keeps content updated without requiring constant investment.

Examples:

• Reviews on product pages.
• Community discussions.
• Photo uploads from users.
• Case stories/testimonials with keyword-rich details.

Execution Steps:

• Prompt reviews with incentives (discounts, loyalty points).
• Implement comment discussions in blogs (moderated).
• Showcase real customers in featured stories.

Pro Tip:

Encourage detailed reviews with long-tail keywords. Example: “This running shoe was perfect for flat feet marathon training.” Such review keywords often rank independently.

13. Embedding Videos Strategically

Why It Works

Video boosts dwell time, engagement, and multimedia diversity. Plus, you get extra chances to appear in Google Videos + YouTube search.

Execution Steps:

• Create 2–5 minute explainer videos.
• Embed near top of blog posts.
• Add keyword-optimized transcript under video.

Pro Tip:

Host key videos on YouTube (for discovery) but embed on your site (for retention + rankings synergy).

14. Writing Comparison Articles (“X vs Y” Content)

Why It Works

Comparison searches are bottom-funnel keywords—users are literally in purchase-decision mode.

Execution Steps:

1. Write dedicated articles:
   • “Shopify vs WooCommerce (2025): Which One’s Better for Beginners?”
   • “Top 10 Productivity Apps – Trello, Asana, ClickUp Compared.”
2. Provide truthful pros/cons.
3. End with a recommendation tailored to user needs.

Example:

Affiliate bloggers monetize hugely from X vs Y posts—they often convert 3–5x higher than normal listicles.

Final Thoughts

Big brands spend millions chasing broad keywords and mainstream strategies. You don’t have to. By leaning into creative, overlooked SEO tactics like long title tags, FAQ-rich pages, leveraging UGC, embedding videos, and publishing comparison guides—you cut through the noise.

These strategies aren’t glamorous, but they are practical, repeatable, and proven. If applied consistently, they will deliver higher organic rankings, more relevant traffic, stronger engagement, and better conversions in 2025 and beyond.

Want us to implement these strategies for you? Hire our Marketing team

FAQs

FAQ 1. Do title tags really have to be under 60 characters for SEO?

Answer: No. The “60-character rule” is about display, not ranking. Google typically truncates titles after ~60 characters in desktop SERPs, but it still reads and indexes the full title tag (up to ~500 characters). A longer title (150–250 characters) helps include multiple related keywords and variations, which improves ranking potential. The key is to front-load primary keywords so even if truncated, the most relevant part is visible.

FAQ 2. How does updating old content improve my Google rankings?

Answer: Updating old content signals freshness to Google, especially in niches with fast-changing data (SEO, finance, health, tech). By revising outdated stats, refreshing examples, adding new FAQs, and updating the year in the SEO title (e.g., 2023 → 2025), you show that the article is current and relevant. This often boosts rankings without building new backlinks. Many sites see results within 2–6 weeks of consistent updates.

FAQ 3. What’s the benefit of uploading photos to free stock platforms like Unsplash or Pexels?

Answer: Uploading niche photos to platforms like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay can earn you backlinks. Here’s how: many blogs and brands download free stock images and credit the source. If you provide them professionally branded photos with attribution pointing to your website, you can earn organic backlinks without traditional outreach. This improves both domain authority and referral traffic. You can also track usage with Google Reverse Image Search and request proper attribution if your photo is used without credit.

FAQ 4. How important are internal links for SEO?

Answer: Internal links are one of the most underrated SEO factors. They:

• Help Google understand your site structure and topical clusters.
• Pass “link equity” from authoritative pages (like your homepage or top blogs) to new/content pages.
• Improve user navigation and dwell time.
  Adding contextual internal links within the body (not just in footers or sidebars) tells Google which pages are most important. Done right, internal linking can drive meaningful ranking improvements without any external backlinks.

FAQ 5. Should I create long-tail content or focus only on high-volume keywords?

Answer: Long-tail content is a growth accelerator. While high-volume keywords are competitive and hard to rank for, long-tail queries (5–8 words, e.g., “best CRM for small nonprofits 2025”) bring highly targeted, purchase-ready visitors. Publishing long-tail blogs consistently compounds traffic over time and builds topical authority. The best strategy is a hybrid approach: anchor content (high-volume keywords) + clusters of long-tail posts around it.

FAQ 6. Do FAQs on pages help with SEO?

Answer: Yes. Adding an FAQ section:

• Targets question-based queries users already search.
• Increases chance of winning Google’s “People Also Ask” and voice search results.
• Reduces bounce rate by answering objections directly on the page.
  When paired with FAQ schema markup, your page can display FAQs directly in search results, which significantly improves CTR.

FAQ 7. Are videos useful for SEO if my site is already ranking?

Answer: Absolutely. Videos improve user engagement, dwell time, and enhance content diversity. Embedding a short explainer or tutorial video in blog posts often increases rankings because Google sees that users spend more time engaging. Also, transcripts (text version of spoken content) help capture additional keywords. Plus, YouTube itself is the second-largest search engine, so you get another discovery channel feeding traffic back to your site.