If you can't edit content, what changes would you make to improve SEO?

Seeking Advice
1

Hi everyone,

Let’s say you can’t change any content on your site—not even a single word or image. What changes would you focus on to improve SEO? Would your approach differ between landing pages and blog posts? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

2

Internal linking can make a big difference. It’s a lot of work, but I’ve seen great results in Google Search Console and Analytics.

3

Zachariah said:
Internal linking can make a big difference. It’s a lot of work, but I’ve seen great results in Google Search Console and Analytics.

What’s your approach to internal linking?

4

Zachariah said:
Internal linking can make a big difference. It’s a lot of work, but I’ve seen great results in Google Search Console and Analytics.

But how would you do it if you can’t change content?

5

Here’s what I’d focus on:

  1. Technical SEO (if it hasn’t been optimized already).
  2. Adding schema markup.
  3. Improving internal linking.
  4. Building quality backlinks.
6

I’d do a full technical audit and fix any issues. In my experience, even simple improvements to navigation and technical usability can get you to the first page, especially in smaller markets.

7

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8

Hadley said:
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There are still plenty of ways to improve things—schema markup, load speed, title tags/meta descriptions, fixing duplicate content, internal linking, etc. Curious which of these makes the biggest impact for others.

9

Citations, internal linking, and backlinks would be my focus.

10

SEOEKSPAT said:
Citations, internal linking, and backlinks would be my focus.

Can you share more specifics about what you’d do?

11

I’d focus on technical SEO, link building, and off-page strategies like partnerships and collaborations.

12

Marc said:
I’d focus on technical SEO, link building, and off-page strategies like partnerships and collaborations.

Could you give some specific examples of what’s worked for you?

13

Structure and internal linking are key. I think backlinking is overrated—it only works if your site has real authority. Google’s algorithm is getting better at mimicking human understanding. Focus on making your site intuitive and engaging for visitors.

14

I’d optimize landing pages for keywords from GSC, improve internal linking, and build backlinks. But without content changes, I wouldn’t expect massive growth.

15

Using schema markup to connect keywords to entities can have a big impact.

16

If a client restricted me from touching content, I’d focus on internal linking, metadata optimization, and backlinks. Once that’s done, I’d look at alternative ways to drive traffic. Content is such a big part of SEO that this kind of restriction makes it tough to see significant gains.

17

I’d work on:

  1. Site hierarchy.
  2. Color contrast for better UX.
  3. Resource loading optimization.
18

Building authority is key. Without it, even great content struggles.

19

Anchor text for links is a big deal for SEO. Internal linking is undervalued, and backlinks can still be effective if done smartly.

20

If content is off-limits, I’d focus on improving:

  1. Site speed for better rankings and user satisfaction.
  2. Mobile usability to ensure responsiveness.
  3. Internal linking for better crawlability.
  4. Metadata (if allowed).
  5. Core Web Vitals for performance metrics like LCP and CLS.

For landing pages, prioritize interactivity and structure. For blog posts, use schema markup and internal links to boost visibility.