Achieving the top position on Google is often considered the ultimate milestone for any website. With increasing competition in almost every niche, ranking at the number one spot requires a combination of smart strategy, technical expertise, consistent updates, and patience. In this case study, I am sharing exactly how I helped a client move from page three of Google to the number one position in less than four months. This guide details each phase of the optimization process, including keyword research, technical SEO, content optimization, user experience improvements, and backlink building. It also highlights the tools I used, the challenges we faced, and why these steps work so effectively in 2025.
If you are a business owner, blogger, or marketer aiming to rank higher on Google, this real-world SEO journey will help you understand the strategy behind achieving consistent search visibility.
Initial Audit: Understanding Why the Website Was Not Ranking
Before any optimization began, I conducted a complete SEO audit to understand existing issues. The site had decent content but suffered from multiple ranking barriers. The main problems were slow loading speed, missing technical SEO elements, low-quality backlinks, an outdated site structure, poor keyword targeting, and no user experience optimization.
I used tools like Google Search Console, Screaming Frog, and Ahrefs to identify critical issues.
Two internal resources that relate closely to this topic include:
How to Choose the Right WordPress Theme for Your Business
https://amanaggarwal.in/how-to-choose-wordpress-theme
Speed Optimization Tips
https://amanaggarwal.in/speed-optimization-tips
Both played a major role in guiding the technical upgrades done on this project.
Step 1: Keyword Research and Search Intent Analysis
Ranking number one on Google requires understanding what users actually search for and what type of content Google prefers to show. I analyzed primary keywords, long tail keywords, and search intent. Instead of chasing broad competitive keywords, I focused on medium competition phrases that had strong transactional and informational intent.
I also created supporting keyword clusters, which helped the page rank for more than thirty related terms. This cluster-based approach is extremely effective in 2025 because Google prioritizes topical authority rather than single keyword ranking.
Step 2: Complete On-Page SEO Optimization
After identifying the right keyword strategy, I optimized every major on-page element.
Here is what I improved:
Meta titles and descriptions rewritten to match click intent
Header structure cleaned and reorganized.
Keyword placement adjusted to natural positions in the paragraph.s
Image alt text added for all media elements.
Internal linking was inserted to improve crawl flow.
Content restructured into detailed sections.
Improved readability and added real user language.
Optimized URL structure for clarity
I also added supporting internal links, including the blog titled:
SEO for Beginners: How to Rank Your Website on Google
https://amanaggarwal.in/seo-for-beginners
This helped strengthen topical relevance for the entire domain.
Step 3: Technical SEO and Core Web Vitals Improvement
Technical SEO was one of the biggest challenges. The website had slow-loading pages, render-blocking scripts, and large, unoptimized images. To improve technical SEO, I made several changes, including:
Installing an efficient caching layer
Compressing all images and converting many to WebP
Fixing unused CSS and JavaScript
Improving server response time
Eliminating broken links
Submitting sitemaps and correcting robots directives
Core Web Vitals showed dramatic improvement. The client’s FCP, LCP, and CLS scores became fully optimized for a better page experience.
For more details on this topic, you can check my blog:
The Importance of Technical SEO for WordPress Websites
https://amanaggarwal.in/importance-of-technical-seo-for-wordpress
I also referenced Google’s PageSpeed Insights guidelines for accurate performance testing:
https://pagespeed.web.dev
Step 4: Content Expansion and Topical Authority Development
To rank number one on Google, content must not only satisfy user intent but also outperform existing competitors. I expanded the content by adding helpful examples, real solutions, original insights, and updated data. I removed outdated paragraphs that were no longer relevant in 2025.
The new content structure included definitions, practical steps, FAQs, visuals, and internal resources. This increased the page’s dwell time and user engagement significantly. Google now gives strong weight to pages that keep users reading longer.
Step 5: Backlink Building and Digital PR
Backlinks remain an essential ranking factor. The site originally had only six backlinks, most of which were from low authority websites. I implemented a quality-based backlink strategy that included:
Guest articles on niche-relevant platforms
High authority directory submissions
Internal linking enhancements
Strategic blogger outreach
Case study style content promotions
This resulted in fifteen new high-quality backlinks within three months, which increased domain authority and trust.
One of the external resources used for backlink analysis was Ahrefs.
https://ahrefs.com
Step 6: User Experience and Design Improvements
Modern SEO is deeply connected to user experience. After analyzing user behavior in Google Analytics, I found that visitors were leaving the page quickly because of the cluttered layout and oversized banners. I redesigned certain parts of the page layout to create a clean, distraction-free reading experience.
Improvements included:
Readable font sizing
Simplified navigation
Cleaner CTAs
Better mobile optimization
Clear visual hierarchy
These changes helped reduce bounce rate by 33 percent.
The Results: How the Website Reached Rank Number 1
After four months of optimization, the page achieved:
Position number one on Google for the main keyword
More than thirty new ranking keywords
Sixty percent higher organic traffic
Forty percent lower bounce rate
Three times longer average session duration
This combination of on-page SEO, technical SEO, content improvements, and backlink strategy proved to be the exact formula needed to reach the top.
What You Can Learn From This Case Study
Ranking number one on Google is not about luck or guesswork. It requires a well-structured approach that includes keyword clarity, strong technical foundation, user-focused content, and authority building. Any website, regardless of niche, can improve its position by following these principles consistently.
Conclusion
This case study shows that ranking number one on Google is achievable through a focused and well-structured SEO plan. From keyword research to technical improvements, content optimization, and backlink building, every step plays a crucial role. If you want your website to reach higher rankings, start with a detailed audit and follow the strategies outlined here.
If you need professional help optimizing your WordPress website for Google search, I can guide you through the entire process. Visit AmanAggarwal.in and let’s improve your website performance together.
