Despite many myths surrounding search engine optimisation aka seo, the actual system is far simpler and more mechanical than most people think. By paying attention to how Google behaves, especially in areas like topical authority (where a website is recognised as a true expert because it consistently publishes helpful, detailed, and trustworthy information about a specific subject and all its related topics), as well as Page Rank and other ranking signals, we can better understand what truly influences search results.
1. Keywords Create Topic Spaces
Every keyword you target puts your content into a specific “topic space.” For example, if you create a page about “root canal treatment in Vijayawada,” you are signaling to Google that your site covers the root canal topic.
When users find your page helpful, stay to read it, and don’t immediately return to the search results, Google interprets this as a positive experience. Backlinks from other websites further strengthen your authority. Over time, these signals establish your website as an expert in that topic. Every click, every visit, and every link expands your topical authority.
2. Google Cares About Pages, Not Domains
PageRank and authority operate at the page level, not the domain level. Each page accumulates its own authority, relevancy, and signals. That’s why:
- • Canonical tags exist—to tell Google which page is primary.
- • Keyword cannibalization happens—multiple pages targeting the same keyword can block each other.
Metrics like Domain Authority (DA), Domain Rating (DR), or total backlink counts are just rough estimates of a site’s strength. They don’t directly influence rankings. You might see your backlinks drop while traffic grows, or your authority score rise even with fewer links. Real authority comes from user behavior and engagement, not just link counts.
3. Topics Overlap And Topic Bridges Exist
Topics aren’t isolated; they naturally overlap. If people engage with your content in one topic, you can expand into related topics by linking to them and writing content in that direction. Think of topics as overlapping circles.
For example, people searching for “root canal treatment” may also search for “tooth pain remedies” or “dental hygiene tips.” Even if you didn’t plan it, Google sees these bridges based on user behavior, clicks, and search patterns. Creating content across these interconnected topics helps expand your authority footprint.
4. Metrics Are Non-Linear
Backlinks, DA, and DR are often over-romanticized. These metrics behave in non-linear ways. You could lose backlinks but still gain traffic and even see your DA go up if you continue publishing content consistently within a focused topic.
These metrics are only approximations – they reflect what tools like seospyglass, smallseo tools, ubersuggest think your authority might be. Real signals come from user engagement, clicks, and interactions, which are harder to fake and more reliable indicators of usefulness.
5. Google Rewards Helpfulness, Not Fancy Writing
Google doesn’t evaluate content like a human editor. It doesn’t award you points for beautiful writing or complex phrasing. What matters is usefulness:
- • Does the content answer the user’s question?
- • Do users stay on the page, click other links, or return again?
- • Do people share it or link to it?
The same principle applies to YouTube SEO. Videos rank not because the platform admires things like pacing and editing, but because viewers actually watch, engage, and return for more videos. Google measures real-world usefulness, not how good your prose is. So write in an accessible way to your audience and make them engaged.
6. Links and Clicks Are Real-World Proof
Backlinks are like endorsements because they show that someone trusted your page enough to recommend it. Clicks are votes because they show google that someone actively chose your content over others which will help improve seo.
When many users link to or click on your page, Google interprets this as a signal of authority. Together, links and clicks are one of the key aspects for authority .
7. The Fundamentals of SEO
When you strip away the myths, SEO can be boiled down to:
- Relevancy: Focus on a specific topic and cover it thoroughly and make sure the topic doesn’t deviate.
- Publish over and over: Keep adding content within your topic space to expand authority and therefore clicks.
- Earn links and engagement: Create content that others naturally find useful and want to share or reference. Go and engage with people who do what you do for content collaboration.
Conclusion
Google doesn’t reward content for being beautifully written. It rewards content that is useful, and the way it measures that usefulness is through clicks, engagement, and links. These are signals to google left by actual human behavior.
The system is simpler and more mechanical than most people assume. It doesn’t require mystical strategies but mere observation. You simply have to focus on providing real value within your topical area and do it well.