“10x content” is a term used in content marketing to describe content that needs to be ten times better than the current top-ranking material for a specific keyword or topic.
The phrase was introduced by Rand Fishkin from Moz in 2015 during one of his “Whiteboard Friday” episodes. 10x content isn’t limited to written articles; it also encompasses video content and landing page copy.
Fishkin developed this concept after recognising the fierce competition in the content landscape. Given how saturated the internet is with quality content, to achieve high rankings, you need to produce something so outstanding that both Google and your audience can’t ignore it.
Google’s algorithms and user expectations have significantly evolved since the early days of the internet. It’s no longer enough to simply include a few keywords and backlinks in your content and expect to rank. Reaching the top spot on Google requires substantial time, effort, and a strategy that goes far beyond the basics.
Why is 10x content important?
The 10x content concept is vital because it shifts the focus from purely SEO tactics to prioritising quality and user experience. Google’s algorithms have advanced to evaluate the overall value of a page, rather than just relying on keyword density and backlink strategies.
By adopting the 10x content approach, the aim is not only to rank higher but to produce content that genuinely surpasses what’s already available online. This approach ensures you’re delivering superior value to your audience, which helps build a positive perception of your business and encourages repeat visits to your site.
Best Practices For Creating 10x Content
Ensure Your Content Is Visually Appealing
First impressions matter greatly online. A 2015 study by Microsoft revealed that the human attention span averages just eight seconds, and many fear this may have worsened since. With only a few moments to capture a reader’s interest, your webpage must be visually striking and well-written.
Analyse your competitors’ websites and identify areas for improvement in your own design and functionality. Even small tweaks, such as improved formatting, can significantly enhance user experience.
Today’s users are drawn to sleek, modern web design. An outdated look appears unattractive and may also give the impression that your site is neglected or abandoned.
Your site should look good and be easy to navigate. Use short paragraphs, clear headings, and bullet points to make the content easy to skim. Images or graphics can break up the text, provided they don’t overwhelm the page. It’s also crucial that users can effortlessly scroll and explore other sections of your site without confusion.
Offer A Unique Perspective
The internet is flooded with content, and it often feels like everything has already been said about the topic you’re targeting. While it might be tempting to recycle existing content, it’s essential to develop your unique angle.
For example, suppose your company offers IT security services and aims to rank for firewall-related keywords. In that case, most of the current content may focus on installing on-site firewalls without addressing the challenges of remote work. To create 10x content, you could include information about remote security in a post-COVID world. This distinctive angle helps your content stand out from competitors and provides value that meets user search intent.
Showcase Authority
Establishing authority and credibility is another crucial element of 10x content. Consumers want assurance that the information they’re receiving is from a qualified and trustworthy source.
One simple way to demonstrate authority is by including a writer’s bio. You can also enhance credibility by sharing your personal experience with the topic within your content.
If you’re not an expert, consider interviewing someone who is or hiring an expert to create content for you. Including statistics and data from reliable studies is another effective way to build authority.
If you can’t find relevant research, you could conduct your own studies. Help a Reporter Out (HARO) is a useful tool for gathering expert opinions on specific topics.
Go Beyond Content Creation
While high-quality content is key, it’s only one part of the equation. Even the best content may not rank without a solid SEO strategy, particularly when it comes to backlinks.
Use tools like Ahrefs’ free backlink checker to analyse the backlink profiles of your top-ranking competitors. They likely already have strong backlinks in place, so you’ll need to focus on building your own to compete effectively.
Once your 10x content starts ranking, you’ll likely earn backlinks naturally, but you’ll still need to be proactive in your link-building efforts. With 10x content, securing backlinks becomes easier, as high-quality content is more attractive to other websites.
Ultimately, remember that your visitors are real people with their own goals. If they invest time in reading your content, it’s crucial to provide them with genuine value that they can’t find elsewhere. Although creating 10x content requires time and effort, the rewards—both in SEO performance and audience satisfaction—are well worth it.
10x content refers to content that is ten times better than the current top-ranking material for a specific keyword or topic. This concept focuses on creating content that surpasses the quality, depth, and user experience of existing content, making it hard for users and search engines to ignore.
In today’s competitive content landscape, simply matching what’s already out there isn’t enough to rank highly on search engines. 10x content ensures that your material stands out by offering more value, a unique perspective, and an enhanced user experience, which can lead to better rankings and more organic traffic.
To create 10x content, start by analysing top-ranking pages for your target keyword and look for ways to improve upon them. Focus on depth, unique insights, visual appeal, readability, and authority. Use high-quality research, media, and user-friendly design to make your content stand out.
No, 10x content applies to more than just written articles. It can include videos, infographics, podcasts, and landing page copy. Any form of content can be made 10x by focusing on quality, user engagement, and offering something unique compared to the competition.
10x content is better than existing content because it offers superior depth, originality, and value. It is more engaging, well-researched, user-friendly, and visually appealing. It also addresses the user’s search intent in a more comprehensive way, often covering aspects that other content fails to touch on.
You can differentiate your 10x content by providing a unique angle, in-depth research, and practical insights that competitors may not cover. Consider adding expert opinions, real-world examples, case studies, or addressing current trends that your competitors haven’t explored.
Creating 10x content can take significantly more time than producing standard content. It requires thorough research, careful planning, and a focus on quality. Depending on the complexity of the topic, the process could take days or even weeks, but the long-term benefits in SEO rankings and user engagement are worth the investment.
While 10x content significantly improves your chances of ranking higher, it doesn’t automatically guarantee top spots on search engines. Other factors like backlinking, site authority, page load speed, and SEO optimisation also play a role. However, 10x content provides a strong foundation for achieving better rankings.
To promote 10x content, consider sharing it on social media, through email marketing, and by reaching out to influencers or bloggers in your industry. You can also focus on link-building by connecting with websites that may find your content valuable enough to link to.
Yes, 10x content is a long-term strategy. While it may take more effort upfront, the superior quality and value of the content help it maintain relevance and authority over time, resulting in lasting benefits such as increased traffic, user engagement, and backlinks.
To help you cite our definitions in your bibliography, here is the proper citation layout for the three major formatting styles, with all of the relevant information filled in.
- Page URL:https://seoconsultant.agency/define/10x-content/
- Modern Language Association (MLA):10x Content. seoconsultant.agency. TSCA. November 21 2024 https://seoconsultant.agency/define/10x-content/.
- Chicago Manual of Style (CMS):10x Content. seoconsultant.agency. TSCA. https://seoconsultant.agency/define/10x-content/ (accessed: November 21 2024).
- American Psychological Association (APA):10x Content. seoconsultant.agency. Retrieved November 21 2024, from seoconsultant.agency website: https://seoconsultant.agency/define/10x-content/
This glossary post was last updated: 16th November 2024.
I am an exceptionally technical SEO and digital marketing consultant; considered by some to be amongst the top SEOs in the UK. I'm well versed in web development, conversion rate optimisation, outreach, and many other aspects of digital marketing.
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