SEO
Organic Growth
Content Marketing

How to Rank #1 on Google in 90 Days (Without Spending ₹1 on Ads)

Amplyfly Team
December 5, 2024
15 min read

How to Rank #1 on Google in 90 Days (Without Spending ₹1 on Ads)


SEO isn't dead—it's just evolved. While everyone's chasing the latest growth hack, smart startups are building sustainable organic traffic that compounds over time. Here's the exact strategy that took a B2B SaaS from 0 to 10K monthly organic visitors in 90 days.


Why SEO Still Matters for Startups


The numbers don't lie:

  • Organic search drives 53% of all website traffic
  • SEO leads have a 14.6% close rate vs 1.7% for outbound
  • 75% of users never scroll past the first page
  • Top 3 results get 75% of all clicks

  • But here's the kicker: **most startups do SEO wrong.**


    They target competitive keywords, create generic content, and wonder why they're stuck on page 47. The strategy I'm about to share flips this approach completely.


    The 90-Day SEO Framework


    Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)

    Build the technical foundation that Google loves.


    Phase 2: Content Blitz (Days 31-60)

    Create content that actually ranks and converts.


    Phase 3: Authority Building (Days 61-90)

    Build topical authority and earn quality backlinks.


    Phase 1: Foundation (Days 1-30)


    Week 1: Technical SEO Audit


    Site Speed Optimization

    Google uses page speed as a ranking factor. Your target: under 3 seconds load time.


    Quick wins:

  • Compress images (use WebP format)
  • Enable browser caching
  • Minify CSS and JavaScript
  • Use a CDN (Cloudflare is free)

  • Tools to use:

  • Google PageSpeed Insights
  • GTmetrix
  • Pingdom

  • Mobile Optimization

    60% of searches happen on mobile. Your site must be mobile-first.


    Checklist:

  • Responsive design
  • Touch-friendly buttons
  • Readable font sizes
  • No horizontal scrolling

  • Core Web Vitals

    Google's user experience metrics:

  • **LCP** (Largest Contentful Paint): Under 2.5 seconds
  • **FID** (First Input Delay): Under 100 milliseconds
  • **CLS** (Cumulative Layout Shift): Under 0.1

  • Week 2: Keyword Research (The Smart Way)


    Forget high-volume keywords. Focus on **low-competition, high-intent** keywords.


    The Long-Tail Strategy

    Instead of targeting "project management software" (impossible to rank), target:

  • "project management software for remote teams under 10 people"
  • "best project management tool for agencies"
  • "project management software with time tracking for freelancers"

  • Keyword Research Process


    Step 1: Seed Keywords

    Start with 5-10 broad terms related to your business.


    Step 2: Competitor Analysis

    Use Ahrefs or SEMrush to see what keywords your competitors rank for.


    Step 3: Question-Based Keywords

    Use AnswerThePublic to find questions people ask about your topic.


    Step 4: Filter and Prioritize

    Look for keywords with:

  • Search volume: 100-1,000/month
  • Keyword difficulty: Under 30
  • Commercial intent: High

  • Keyword Mapping

    Create a spreadsheet with:

  • Target keyword
  • Search volume
  • Difficulty score
  • Search intent
  • Target page/post

  • Week 3: Content Strategy


    The Pillar-Cluster Model

    Create comprehensive pillar pages for broad topics, supported by cluster content for specific subtopics.


    Example for "Project Management":

  • **Pillar:** "Complete Guide to Project Management for Startups"
  • **Clusters:**
  • - "Project Management Methodologies"

    - "Project Management Tools Comparison"

    - "Project Management Templates"

    - "Project Management Best Practices"


    Content Calendar

    Plan 12 pieces of content (3 per week for 4 weeks):

  • 4 pillar pages (comprehensive guides)
  • 8 cluster posts (specific topics)

  • Week 4: On-Page SEO Setup


    Title Tag Optimization

  • Include target keyword near the beginning
  • Keep under 60 characters
  • Make it compelling (include numbers, benefits)

  • Example:

    Instead of: "Project Management Software"

    Use: "7 Best Project Management Tools for Startups (2024 Guide)"


    Meta Descriptions

  • Include target keyword
  • Keep under 160 characters
  • Include a clear call-to-action

  • Header Structure

  • H1: Main keyword (only one per page)
  • H2: Section headers with related keywords
  • H3: Subsections

  • Internal Linking

    Link related content together using descriptive anchor text.


    Phase 2: Content Blitz (Days 31-60)


    The Content Framework That Ranks


    1. Problem-First Approach

    Start every piece of content by identifying a specific problem your audience faces.


    2. Comprehensive Coverage

    Google favors comprehensive content. Aim for 2,000+ words for pillar content.


    3. Unique Insights

    Don't just rehash existing content. Add:

  • Original research
  • Case studies
  • Personal experiences
  • Industry insights

  • Week 5-6: Pillar Content Creation


    Pillar Page Template


    Introduction (200 words)

  • Hook with a surprising statistic
  • Identify the problem
  • Promise a solution
  • Include table of contents

  • Main Content (1,500+ words)

  • 5-7 main sections
  • Use H2 tags for sections
  • Include examples and case studies
  • Add images and screenshots

  • Conclusion (200 words)

  • Summarize key points
  • Include call-to-action
  • Link to related content

  • Content Optimization Checklist

  • [ ] Target keyword in title
  • [ ] Target keyword in first 100 words
  • [ ] Related keywords throughout content
  • [ ] Images with alt text
  • [ ] Internal links to related content
  • [ ] External links to authoritative sources

  • Week 7-8: Cluster Content Creation


    Cluster Post Template


    Introduction (100 words)

  • Address specific question/problem
  • Link to pillar content

  • Main Content (800-1,200 words)

  • Detailed answer to the question
  • Step-by-step instructions
  • Examples and screenshots

  • Conclusion (100 words)

  • Summarize key takeaways
  • Link back to pillar content
  • Include related cluster posts

  • Phase 3: Authority Building (Days 61-90)


    Week 9-10: Link Building Strategy


    1. Resource Page Link Building

    Find resource pages in your industry and pitch your content.


    Process:

    1. Search for "industry + resources" or "industry + links"

    2. Find relevant resource pages

    3. Pitch your content as a valuable addition


    2. Broken Link Building

    Find broken links on relevant websites and suggest your content as a replacement.


    Tools:

  • Ahrefs Site Explorer
  • Check My Links (Chrome extension)

  • 3. Guest Posting

    Write for industry publications and blogs.


    Strategy:

  • Target sites with DR 30+
  • Pitch unique, valuable content
  • Include 1-2 contextual links

  • Week 11-12: Technical Optimization


    Schema Markup

    Add structured data to help Google understand your content:

  • Article schema for blog posts
  • FAQ schema for question-based content
  • Review schema for product pages

  • Site Architecture

  • Create topic-based silos
  • Implement breadcrumb navigation
  • Optimize URL structure

  • Content Updates

  • Update old content with new information
  • Add internal links to new content
  • Refresh meta descriptions

  • Case Study: 0 to 10K Visitors in 90 Days


    **Company:** B2B SaaS (project management tool)

    **Starting point:** New domain, 0 organic traffic

    **Result:** 10,247 monthly organic visitors


    Month 1: Foundation

  • Fixed technical SEO issues
  • Researched 50 target keywords
  • Created content calendar
  • **Result:** 127 organic visitors

  • Month 2: Content Creation

  • Published 4 pillar pages
  • Created 8 cluster posts
  • Optimized all on-page elements
  • **Result:** 1,834 organic visitors

  • Month 3: Authority Building

  • Earned 23 quality backlinks
  • Updated and expanded existing content
  • Added schema markup
  • **Result:** 10,247 organic visitors

  • Key Success Factors


    1. **Laser-focused keyword targeting** (avoided competitive terms)

    2. **Comprehensive, helpful content** (average 2,500 words per post)

    3. **Strong internal linking** (connected all related content)

    4. **Consistent publishing** (3 posts per week)


    Tools and Resources


    Free Tools

  • **Google Search Console** (performance tracking)
  • **Google Analytics** (traffic analysis)
  • **Google Keyword Planner** (keyword research)
  • **AnswerThePublic** (content ideas)
  • **Ubersuggest** (basic SEO analysis)

  • Paid Tools (Worth the Investment)

  • **Ahrefs** (comprehensive SEO toolkit)
  • **SEMrush** (competitor analysis)
  • **Screaming Frog** (technical SEO audit)

  • Content Creation Tools

  • **Grammarly** (writing assistance)
  • **Canva** (image creation)
  • **Loom** (screenshot and video creation)

  • Common SEO Mistakes to Avoid


    1. Targeting Competitive Keywords

    Start with low-competition keywords and build authority gradually.


    2. Thin Content

    Google favors comprehensive, helpful content over short posts.


    3. Keyword Stuffing

    Use keywords naturally. Focus on user experience first.


    4. Ignoring User Intent

    Match your content to what users are actually looking for.


    5. Neglecting Technical SEO

    Great content won't rank if your site has technical issues.


    Scaling Your SEO Success


    Month 4-6: Content Expansion

  • Double your content output
  • Target more competitive keywords
  • Create video content
  • Build email list from organic traffic

  • Month 7-12: Authority Building

  • Increase link building efforts
  • Create industry reports
  • Speak at conferences
  • Build partnerships

  • Year 2+: Competitive Domination

  • Target head terms
  • Create comprehensive resource hubs
  • Build brand mentions
  • Expand to new markets

  • Measuring Success


    Key Metrics to Track

  • **Organic traffic growth** (month-over-month)
  • **Keyword rankings** (track top 20 keywords)
  • **Click-through rates** (from search results)
  • **Conversion rate** (organic traffic to leads)
  • **Backlink growth** (quality over quantity)

  • Reporting Dashboard

    Create a monthly report tracking:

  • Total organic sessions
  • Top performing pages
  • Keyword ranking improvements
  • New backlinks earned
  • Conversion metrics

  • Conclusion


    Ranking #1 on Google in 90 days isn't about gaming the system—it's about creating genuinely helpful content that serves your audience's needs. The strategy outlined here works because it focuses on what Google actually wants: comprehensive, authoritative content that answers users' questions.


    The key is consistency. SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. But with the right strategy, you can see significant results in just 90 days.


    Start with technical foundations, create comprehensive content, and build authority through quality backlinks. Most importantly, always prioritize user experience over search engine tricks.


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    Want help implementing this SEO strategy for your startup? [Get a free audit](/pricing) and we'll identify your biggest SEO opportunities.


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