SEO Strategy: The old race is over. Here’s how to win the new one.

In the world of digital marketing, it’s easy to get caught up in the chase. A competitor launches a new campaign, and we sprint to catch up. A new keyword trend emerges, and we sprint to capture it. This constant sprinting is exhausting, and worse, it’s a losing strategy. It treats SEO as a series of short-term reactions rather than what it truly is: a long-term strategic asset.

To succeed today, we must reframe our entire approach to success. I often use a metaphor that gets to the heart of how modern SEO truly functions:

"SEO is a marathon. The search engine is the ever-changing course. We, the businesses and SEOs, are the athletes. And the leading platforms? They are the scorekeepers, running the race right alongside us."

— Momenul Ahmad, Founder, SEOSiri

This isn’t just a clever saying; it’s a strategic framework for survival and dominance in the current landscape. Let’s break down what it means for your business, incorporating the seismic shifts we're seeing, like those in the June 2025 Core Update.

1. The Course: The Terrain Just Got More Demanding

In a marathon, you don’t just run; you adapt. There are hills, sharp turns, and changing weather conditions. In SEO, our course is the search engine, and with recent updates, it has introduced a challenging new terrain defined by one crucial factor: authenticity.

The biggest change to the course is Google’s intensified focus on E-E-A-T, with a heavy emphasis on that first "E": Experience. Google no longer wants content written by someone who simply researched a topic; it demands content from someone who has lived it.

• The Sprinter’s Mistake: The sprinter sees this new terrain and looks for a shortcut. They use AI to generate articles that appear to have experience, incorporating phrases like "As a user..." without providing any real backing. They create content that is a mile wide and an inch deep, and it fails spectacularly because it lacks genuine insight. It’s the definition of unhelpful content.

• The Marathoner’s Strategy: The marathoner respects the new terrain and trains for it. They understand that demonstrating first-hand experience is non-negotiable. This means:

  • Showcasing Real-World Use: Creating content with original images, videos, and case studies of your product or service in action.

  • Authoritative Authorship: Ensuring every article has a clear author bio linking to a real person with credible social profiles and a history in the industry.

  • Deep, Nuanced Answers: Moving beyond surface-level keywords to address the deep, specific questions your audience has—the kind of questions only a true expert could answer.

The Takeaway: The SEO "course" now actively penalizes generic, unhelpful content. Stop trying to fake expertise and start building a content strategy around the genuine experience that already exists within your organization.

2. The Athletes: Your Training Regimen Must Evolve

As the course changes, so must the athletes. Being a top performer in this new race requires a fundamentally different training regimen. Your strength is no longer measured by the volume of content you produce, but by its verifiable authenticity.

• The Sprinter’s Mistake: The sprinter remains focused on old metrics of speed and volume. They churn out dozens of blog posts, optimize for keywords, and build links from anywhere they can. They are running hard, but they are running in the wrong direction, building a digital footprint that lacks depth and trust.

• The Marathoner’s Strategy: The marathoner adjusts their training to build the specific muscles Google is now rewarding.

  • They Prioritize “Helpful Content” Over Keywords: They obsess over user satisfaction. Does the user leave your page with their problem solved? Is your content the most comprehensive, useful resource on the topic? This is the core of the Helpful Content System (HCS), which is now a dominant ranking signal.

  • They Build a Defensible Brand: They understand that a strong brand reputation is a protective moat. Positive reviews, a clean backlink profile from authoritative sites, and consistent brand mentions all signal to Google that you are a legitimate, trusted entity.

  • They Audit and Update Relentlessly: They don't just publish and forget. They consistently review old content, updating it with new insights, fresh data, and more first-hand experience to keep it relevant and valuable.

The Takeaway: Your new training regimen is one of quality over quantity. Every piece of content, every backlink, and every page on your site should be an exercise in building genuine trust with both users and search engines.

3. The Scorekeepers: The Metrics That Matter Have Changed

The platforms we use—our scorekeepers—are essential. They provide the data we need to manage our race: our pace, our position, and the condition of the course. But in this new era, we must be careful about which scores we are watching.

• The Sprinter’s Mistake: The sprinter is still obsessed with one number: keyword rank. They see a drop from #3 to #5 for a trophy keyword and immediately panic, making rash changes without understanding the "why" behind the shift.

• The Marathoner’s Strategy: The marathoner looks at a more sophisticated dashboard. They know that raw rankings are a symptom, not the cause. The metrics they prioritize now include:

  • User Engagement Signals: Are users spending time on the page? Are they clicking through to other resources? Is the bounce rate low? These are direct indicators of content helpfulness.

  • Brand vs. Non-Brand Traffic: Is your brand authority growing? An increase in users searching for you by name is a powerful signal of trust.

  • Conversion Rates: Ultimately, the goal is not traffic, but business results. Are your pages turning visitors into leads and customers? This is the true measure of a successful strategy.

The Takeaway: Use the platforms to get deeper insights into user behavior and brand authority, not just as a vanity scoreboard. The ultimate finish line isn't a #1 ranking; it's a measurable impact on your business's bottom line.

Building an Unbeatable Brand

When you adopt the marathon mindset, you stop asking, "How can we get a quick traffic boost?" and start asking, "How can we become the most trusted, authoritative, and helpful resource in our industry for the next decade?"

You move from a reactive state of panic to a proactive state of building a powerful, defensible brand. You invest in the durable assets—authentic content, proven expertise, and unwavering user trust—that generate compounding returns long after the sprinters have dropped out.

The race for digital relevance is long. The course is more challenging than ever. But for those willing to train correctly, the rewards have never been greater.

The Marathon Framework: A Quick Recap

Before we cross the finish line, let’s quickly and clearly define the key players in this SEO marathon. Understanding who is who—and their specific role—is the key to crafting a winning strategy.

• The Course is Google.
  It is the ever-changing terrain—the rules, the algorithm (like the recent E-E-A-T and Helpful Content updates), and the landscape—upon which the entire race is run. Google defines the challenges and sets the standards for success. Your job is not to fight the course, but to master it.

• The Athletes are You (Businesses & SEOs).
  You are the competitor. Your role is to build fundamental strength (brand authority), maintain a consistent pace (content creation), and strategically navigate the course Google provides. Your tactics, your content quality, and your brand's reputation are all part of your training and race-day performance.

• The Scorekeepers are the Platforms.
  Tools like Ahrefs, Moz, SEMrush, and others provide the critical data—the lap times, competitor positions, and performance analytics. They are indispensable for measuring progress and informing your strategy.

However, they are not the judges at the finish line; your actual business goals are. Use their data for insight, not as the end goal itself.

• And Your Coach is Your Strategic Partner (That's Us).
  In this complex race, a coach is the one who has studied the course, understands the athlete’s unique strengths, and builds the training plan for victory. At SEOSiri (Clutch), our role is to provide that expert strategy, ensuring you not only compete but build the endurance to win.

Ready to stop sprinting and start building a marathon strategy that wins? Contact SEOSiri to learn how we help B2B brands build sustainable, long-term growth in the new age of SEO.

Best,

Momenul Ahmad

Founder of SEOSiri, Momenul is a digital strategist specializing in audience-first SEO, semantic copywriting, and cross-channel marketing psychology. He helps brands win relevance over reach.

Understanding the Impact of Network Diversity on SEO Performance

In the ever-evolving world of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), backlinks remain a critical factor in determining a website's authority and ranking. While many SEO practitioners focus on acquiring links from various domains, an often overlooked aspect is the diversity of referring subnets. This Unlocking SEO Success-focused blog post delves into the differences between referring domains and referring subnets, their significance in SEO, and strategies to leverage both for optimal search engine performance.

What Are Referring Domains and Referring Subnets?

Referring Domains

Definition: Referring domains are unique websites that link back to your site. Each domain is counted once, no matter how many backlinks it provides.

• Example: If multiple pages on example.com link to your website, it counts as one referring domain.

Importance in SEO: A high number of quality referring domains signals to search engines that your content is valuable and trusted across the internet.

Referring Subnets

Definition: Referring to subnets refers to the subdivisions of IP addresses from which backlinks originate. An IP subnet groups IP addresses sharing the same prefix.

• Significance: Analyzing referring subnets helps assess the network diversity of your backlinks, indicating how many different networks your links are coming from.

Importance in SEO: Diverse subnets suggest that backlinks come from a wide range of independent sources, enhancing your site's credibility in search engines.

Understanding the Difference

Network Diversity vs. Domain Diversity

• Network Diversity: Referring to subnets focuses on the variety of networks (based on IP addresses) linking to your site.
• Domain Diversity: Referring domains emphasize the variety of websites (domain names) linking to your site.

Why It Matters: Multiple domains can be hosted on the same server or network, sharing the same IP or subnet. If most of your backlinks come from domains within the same subnet, search engines might view this as less authoritative due to potential link scheme manipulation.

Backlinks Case Study: Seosiri.com's Referring Domains and Subnets

Let's examine an example from Seosiri.com, a website dedicated to SEO insights and strategies, to illustrate the practical impact of referring domains and subnets.

Seosiri.com's Backlink Profile

Referring Domains

Seosiri.com has accumulated backlinks from a variety of domains, including:

• digitalmarketinghub.com
• contentcreators.net
• webmastertips.org

Each of these domains contributes unique backlinks, enriching the site’s backlink profile.

Referring Subnets

Analyzing the IP addresses reveals that these domains are hosted on different subnets:

• digitalmarketinghub.com
• IP: 192.168.10.45
• Subnet: 192.168.10.0/24
• contentcreators.net
• IP: 203.0.113.67
• Subnet: 203.0.113.0/24
• webmastertips.org
• IP: 198.51.100.89
• Subnet: 198.51.100.0/24

Impact on SEO

• Enhanced Diversity: By having backlinks from domains on different subnets, Seosiri.com demonstrates a diverse backlink profile both in terms of domain names and network locations.
• Authority Boost: This diversity signals to search engines that the site is receiving recognition from multiple independent sources, boosting its authority and credibility.
• Organic Growth: The natural diversity in referring domains and subnets suggests organic link-building efforts rather than manipulative practices.

Resulting Benefits for Seosiri.com

• Improved Rankings: Seosiri.com experiences better search engine rankings due to the authoritative and diverse backlinks.
• Increased Traffic: The site gains referral traffic from various sources, expanding its audience reach.
• Trust Signals: Search engines recognize the site as trustworthy, reducing the risk of penalties associated with unnatural linking patterns.

SEO Benefits of Referring Domains

1. Improved Search Engine Rankings

• Authority Signal: A high number of unique referring domains indicates credibility.
• Relevance Boost: Links from relevant domains enhance content relevance.

2. Increased Organic Traffic

• Referral Traffic: Each domain can bring new visitors.
• Audience Expansion: Diverse domains expose your site to broader audiences.

3. Enhanced Domain Authority

• Trust Building: Backlinks from reputable sites boost authority.
• Competitive Edge: A strong backlink profile helps outrank competitors.

4. Brand Visibility and Awareness

• Brand Mentions: Backlinks often include mentions, increasing recognition.
• Industry Recognition: Links from industry leaders enhance reputation.

SEO Benefits of Referring Subnets

1. Network Diversity

• Link Diversity: Backlinks from different subnets reduce the risk of link schemes.
• Natural Linking Pattern: Appears more organic to search engines.

2. Reduced Penalty Risk

• Avoiding Overlap: Links from varied subnets mitigate suspicions of manipulative tactics.
• Algorithm Compliance: Aligns with search engines favoring diverse link sources.

3. Enhanced Trust Signals

• Global Reach: Indicates international or widespread recognition.
• Improved Credibility: Multiple independent sources find your content valuable.

Recommended read: SEO Case Study on Ahrefs DR and Moz PR

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of Referring Domains

1. Diverse Traffic Sources
• Advantage: Attracts visitors from various websites.
• Benefit: Leads to higher engagement and conversions.
2. Risk Mitigation
• Advantage: If one domain loses authority, others still support your site.
• Benefit: Protects against SEO ranking fluctuations.
3. Content Validation
• Advantage: Endorsements from multiple domains validate quality.
• Benefit: Encourages organic linking from more sites.

Disadvantages of Referring Domains

1. Quality Variability
• Disadvantage: Links from low-quality sites can harm SEO.
• Risk: Potential negative impact on search rankings.
2. Resource Intensive
• Disadvantage: Building relationships with many domains takes time.
• Challenge: Requires consistent outreach and content creation.
3. Link Management Complexity
• Disadvantage: Monitoring numerous backlinks is challenging.
• Solution: Utilize SEO tools for effective tracking.

Advantages of Referring Subnets

1. Enhanced Link Profile Diversity
• Advantage: Indicates a natural backlink profile.
• Benefit: Builds trust with search engines.
2. International SEO Benefits
• Advantage: Reflects links from different countries.
• Benefit: Aids in global SEO and audience reach.
3. Lower Risk of Penalties
• Advantage: Reduces suspicion of private network link schemes.
• Benefit: Maintains compliance with search engine guidelines.

Disadvantages of Referring Subnets

1. Acquisition Difficulty
• Disadvantage: Securing links from varied subnets is challenging.
• Challenge: Requires broader and more strategic outreach.
2. Limited Control
• Disadvantage: Less influence over where domains are hosted.
• Obstacle: Can't always ensure subnet diversity.
3. Resource Demands
• Disadvantage: Identifying diverse subnets needs more resources.
• Solution: Use advanced SEO tools to find opportunities.

Strategies to Maximize Benefits

For Referring Domains

1. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
• Target reputable, high-authority domains relevant to your niche.
2. Create Valuable Content
• Produce content that naturally attracts backlinks.
3. Engage in Outreach
• Build relationships with industry influencers and authoritative sites.

For Referring Subnets

1. Diversify Outreach Efforts
• Reach out to websites hosted on different servers and networks.
2. International Link Building
• Expand your efforts to include sites from various countries.
3. Monitor Backlink Profile
• Use SEO tools to assess subnet diversity and address clustering.

The Role of Tranco Rank

Tranco Rank: A ranked list combining data from multiple sources to represent domain popularity accurately.

• Influence of Referring Subnets and IPs: Diverse and high-quality referring subnets and IPs can positively impact a domain's Tranco rank, reflecting a site's extensive reach and influence.

·       Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

·       Q1: How can I check the number of referring domains and subnets to my website?

·       A1: You can use SEO tools such as Ahrefs, Semrush, or Moz to analyze your backlink profile. These tools provide detailed reports on referring domains, IP addresses, and subnets linking to your site.

·       Q2: Is it more important to focus on the quantity or quality of referring domains?

·       A2: While both are important, quality trumps quantity. High-quality backlinks from authoritative domains have a more significant positive impact on your SEO than numerous low-quality links.

·       Q3: Can links from the same subnet harm my SEO?

·       A3: If a large number of your backlinks come from the same subnet, it may raise suspicions of link schemes or manipulative practices. It’s essential to ensure diversity in your backlink profile to appear natural to search engines.

·       Q4: How can I diversify my referring subnets?

·       A4: Engage in outreach to websites hosted on different networks, including international sites. Participating in guest posting, collaborations, and creating shareable content can help attract backlinks from a broader range of subnets.

·       Q5: Do nofollow links from diverse domains and subnets benefit my SEO?

·       A5: While nofollow links don't pass link equity, they can still contribute to referral traffic and brand visibility. A natural backlink profile includes a mix of follow and nofollow links, which can indirectly benefit your SEO.

Understanding and leveraging both referring domains and referring subnets is essential for a comprehensive SEO strategy.

Key Takeaways

• Aim for Diversity: Strive for backlinks from a wide array of domains and subnets.
• Prioritize Quality: Seek links from reputable, high-authority sources.
• Monitor and Adapt: Regularly audit your backlink profile to maintain diversity and address issues.

By strategically focusing on both domain and network diversity, you can enhance your site's credibility, improve search rankings, and build a sustainable online presence.

Investing time and effort into a diverse backlink strategy not only boosts your SEO performance but also fortifies your site's standing in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Thank you

Momenul Ahmad                               

Helping businesses, brands, and professionals with ethical SEO and digital Marketing. Digital Marketing Writer, Digital Marketing Blog (Founding) Owner at SEOSiri.

Updated at 08.05.2025