SEO Simplified
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05/29/2026
Domain Authority is a made-up metric from a third-party tool. Topical Authority is what Google actually uses. Stop confusing them.
DA (Moz), DR (Ahrefs), AS (Semrush) — these are useful proxies for comparing site strength. But Google doesn't use any of them. They're proprietary algorithms built to approximate Google's concept of authority.
What Google actually evaluates more closely:
→ How comprehensively does this site cover its core topic area?
→ Do other authoritative sites in this niche link to it?
→ Does it have consistent, high-quality content on a focused set of topics?
→ Are the authors/brand recognized entities in the industry?
This is why a DA 30 niche site can outrank a DA 80 general publication on a specific topic. The niche site has deeper topical authority in that subject area.
Practical implication: a site with DA 25 that completely dominates one niche will often outrank a DA 60 generalist site that covers everything shallowly.
Build deep before you build wide. Own a topic before expanding to adjacent ones.
This reframe has changed how I approach every new SEO project. What domain of topical authority is your site truly building?
Position zero is still worth targeting. Here's the exact framework I use to win featured snippets.
First, identify your opportunities: In GSC, filter queries where you rank positions 1–10 and the SERP shows a featured snippet (check manually or use a tool like Semrush's SERP features filter).
Then, match the snippet format:
For paragraph snippets (definitions, explanations):
→ Add a concise 40–60 word answer directly after the H2 that matches the query
→ Start with the question rephrased as a statement ("X is…" or "To do X, you need to…")
For list snippets (steps, tips, rankings):
→ Use numbered or bulleted lists with clear, parallel structure
→ Each list item should be 1–2 lines — not paragraphs
For table snippets (comparisons, pricing, specs):
→ Use actual HTML tables — Google extracts these directly
→ Keep headers simple and descriptive
For "how to" snippets:
→ Use HowTo schema alongside the on-page content
One more thing: you don't have to rank #1 to win the snippet. I've taken featured snippets from position 7. The format matters more than the ranking position.
Which featured snippet have you successfully targeted?
I deleted 38% of a client's blog. Three months later, organic traffic went up 47%.
Content pruning is the most counterintuitive strategy in SEO — and one of the most effective.
Here's the logic: Google evaluates your site holistically. A large amount of thin, low-quality, or outdated content drags down the perceived quality of your entire domain — not just those individual pages.
Our pruning process for that client:
Step 1: Export all posts with organic traffic data from GSC (12-month view)
Step 2: Flag any post with fewer than 10 organic clicks in 12 months
Step 3: For each flagged post, decide: delete, noindex, redirect, or refresh?
→ No traffic + no backlinks + thin content = delete
→ No traffic + has backlinks = redirect to most relevant existing page
→ Low traffic but solid topic = refresh and republish
→ Outdated but still relevant = update stats and republish
We went from 340 published posts to 210. The ones that remained were stronger, better-linked, and clearly topically focused.
Google rewarded the cleanup within 90 days.
More content is not always better. Better content, always.
Have you ever done a content pruning audit? What was the result?
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