I’ve been seeing a lot of mixed info lately about what still works in SEO and what Google is cracking down on. What SEO strategies are actually working for you right now that seem to be getting rewarded by Google? Are you still seeing results from long-form content? Topical clusters? Backlink outreach? Or is it all about user signals and engagement now?
Right now, Google rewards helpful, well-structured content built around topical authority, strong internal linking, and satisfying user intent. Long-form content still works if it’s high quality, but topical clusters, natural backlinks, and positive user signals (engagement, CTR, low bounce rate) are becoming even more important.
The user experience is more important than anything these days. Make your site fast, easy to navigate and user friendly with good content above all things.
Long-form content isn't dead—it's evolving. Google rewards comprehensive, interconnected content that covers topics deeply rather than shallow 500-word posts. Topical clusters (a pillar page linking to 5–10 supporting cluster pages) are thriving because they build topical authority and improve internal linking, which boosts crawlability and user navigation.