Hello everyone, I'm currently working on a new football content website called MABARBOLA. Website: https://fansmabar.shop The website focuses on football news, match previews, schedules, statistics, and analysis for Indonesian football fans. I'm trying to build long-term organic traffic through SEO rather than relying only on social media. So far, I've: - Published content regularly - Submitted my sitemap to Google Search Console - Optimized titles and meta descriptions - Improved page speed - Built internal links - Shared content on several social media platforms Since the website is still relatively new, I'm looking for advice from experienced website owners. My questions are: 1. What should I focus on first to improve my Google rankings? 2. Is it better to spend more time creating content or building backlinks at this stage? 3. How long did it take your new website to start receiving consistent organic traffic? 4. Are there any SEO mistakes that new website owners commonly overlook? I'd really appreciate your advice and experiences. Thank you!
1)Create more content and update old posts at least twice per week. 2)The first one although both are beneficial. Try to get guest posts whenever necessary as they cut your costs and you get featured on other people's websites for free. 3) 6 months. SEO is a waiting game. 4) Not using internal linking on your pages as viable as possible, because Google's crawl bots get a better idea on the content of your website and it helps them group your pages under 1 niche better. Good luck!
Publish 30 solid posts before you even think about link building. Otherwise you're building links to a thin site that won't rank anyway. Sports sites are competitive. Expect 4-6 months before you see consistent organic traffic. And for sports, update old posts. Update match statistics when they change. Freshness is huge.
I’d probably focus on building topical authority first. For a football site, I’d try to cover specific teams, leagues, players, and match-related topics consistently instead of chasing random keywords. Google needs time to understand what your site is about. I wouldn’t rush into backlinks if the content base is still small. A few strong articles that actually answer what fans are searching for will help more in the beginning. Also, don’t underestimate Google Discover and news-style content for sports sites, because fresh updates can bring traffic faster than traditional rankings. Keep improving and give it time, SEO for new sites is rarely quick.
Focus on Quality Backlinks That Align with Your Topic The best backlinks come from trusted sources in your industry. One link from a relevant, high-authority site will outperform dozens from unrelated directories or spammy blogs. Google prefers mentions that show topical alignment and editorial discretion.
For a new website, focus first on technical SEO, high-quality content, and keyword research. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and can be crawled and indexed by Google. Target relevant long-tail keywords, publish helpful content that answers users’ questions, and build a clear internal linking structure. Earn relevant, quality backlinks naturally and monitor progress through Google Search Console. SEO takes time, so prioritize consistency and user value over quick-ranking tricks.