In the volatile world of SEO, "strange" tactics that bring surprising results are always a topic of concern. Recently, SEO expert Edward Sturm compiled and shared unique SEO tips from the r/SEO community on Reddit, where SEOers around the world exchange real-life experiences. These ideas, which may seem unusual at first, but touch on the essence of how Google evaluates content and websites. This article will delve into each tactic, explain its operating principles and provide specific examples so that you, whether you are a new or experienced SEOer, can understand and apply successfully.
1. Optimizing FAQ Schema with Long Tail Keywords
Principle of operation: Google always seeks to answer users' questions directly. When you use FAQ Schema (structured data for frequently asked questions), you are providing Google with a clear data structure, making it easier for bots to extract information to display in special types of results like Featured Snippet or the “People also ask” section.
The unique thing about this tactic is that it doesn't just use general questions, but focuses on extremely specific questions, going deep into a niche. narrow. For example, instead of asking "Is wisdom tooth extraction painful?", go deeper with "Is recovery after wisdom tooth extraction longer if you are over 40 years old?". This question not only shows a deep understanding of the issue that users are interested in, but also helps your article become a reliable source of information for a specific audience group.
Applicable in Vietnam:
Health field: Dental clinics can create FAQs for articles about braces with questions like: "Are clear braces effective for crooked teeth?" Are you heavy?" or "What is the cost of crystal braces for high school students?".
Beauty field: A spa can optimize the FAQ for acne treatment services with the question: "Is the ACN-01 acne treatment treatment suitable for sensitive skin?" or "After treating acne with light technology, do I need to abstain from anything?".
Service field: An interior design company can add FAQ to its service page: "Does the interior design of a 70m2 apartment require a license?" or "Does interior construction incur costs outside the contract?".
This way, you not only target potential long-tail keywords but also increase your chances of occupying prominent positions on SERP, thereby increasing traffic and conversion rates.
2. Changing the Interface (Theme) or Rewriting Old Code
Principle of operation: When you change a large part of the website such as the interface (UI) or code, Googlebot will consider this a major change and re-crawl the entire page. During this re-crawl process, Google will re-evaluate your website based on current criteria such as page load speed, mobile user experience, and content structure.
If your website previously had a less-optimized code structure, slow speed or outdated UI/UX, switching to a new, more modern interface will help Google re-evaluate positively. SEO expert Sturm shared a case where an old article suddenly increased in rankings after being moved to a new, higher quality theme, even though the content had not changed. This shows that Google pays great attention to user experience and technical factors. This is also the reason why Tan Phat Digital always updates the latest news. latest website design trends 2025 to ensure partner websites always achieve performance high.
Note: This is a risky strategy. If the process of changing a theme breaks internal links, disrupts URL structure, or slows down your website, you could seriously lose rankings. Make sure the change process is done carefully, fully back up data and do technical testing after completion.
How to do it right:
Choose a lightweight, code-optimized theme.
Check all internal links after changing themes.
Monitor Search Console to ensure there are no crawl errors or new index errors.
3. Targeting “0 Search Volume” Keywords
Principle of operation: SEO tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush usually only display search volume for popular keywords. However, in reality, there are millions of niche keywords, local keywords, or very new keywords (not enough data yet) that show no search volume but have extremely high purchase intent.
This strategy focuses on creating content that precisely addresses the needs of a very small group of users but has a high conversion rate. For example, the keyword "massage chair for the elderly under 10 million in Go Vap district" may not have a search volume on Ahrefs, but if a user types this exact phrase, they are in the final stages of the purchasing journey and ready to make a decision.
Opportunities for small websites in Vietnam:
Small and medium businesses, without enough resources to compete for large keywords, can take advantage of the tactic
Niche product/service: Write an article about "lighting for saltwater fish tanks" or "air conditioning repair service for student dormitory in Thu Duc".
Local keywords: Create content for phrases like "traditional wedding ao dai shop in Binh Thanh" or "hourly house cleaning service in the district 5".
By delving into these niches, you will build credibility and become "authority" for a specific topic, paving the way for long-term development.
4. Use Emoji in Meta Description
Principle of operation: This is a technically simple tip but related to user psychology. The main purpose of adding emojis to your meta description is to make your search results stand out from your competitors, especially on mobile devices. An eye-catching emoji can attract attention and encourage users to click, thereby improving click-through rate (CTR).
However, the effectiveness of this tip is controversial. Some SEOs believe it works well, while others claim that Google may change the display and sometimes the emojis don't display properly. Therefore, this is an auxiliary tactic.
Advice: Experiment! You can add emojis to the meta descriptions of some articles and track CTR in Google Search Console. If you see an increase in CTR, continue applying. It's important not to overdo it and make sure the emoji fits the context of the article.
5. Using Scholarship Tactics to Get Backlinks from .edu
Principle of operation: .edu domain names (usually for universities) have extremely high reputation in the eyes of Google. A backlink from a .edu website can bring much greater SEO power than backlinks from regular websites.
This tactic takes advantage of the reputation of universities. You create a scholarship program (real or fake) and contact the school's department or website so they can post that scholarship information. In return, you will receive a high-quality backlink.
Apply and note in Vietnam:
In Vietnam, you can cooperate with universities or educational centers to create real scholarship programs, bringing value to students.
How to do it right: Create a real, transparent scholarship program, with clear conditions and true commitment conclusion.
Note: Limit the use of "black hat" tricks such as creating fake scholarships. If Google detects it, your website may be heavily penalized. It is best to turn this tactic into a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) activity to both create quality backlinks and build brand reputation.
6. Create a Gateway Page for Each Locality
Principle of operation: Google increasingly focuses on local search results. When users search for a product/service with a local name, they often have very high purchase intent. A "gateway page" is a page created specifically to target these specific keywords.
For example, if you sell massage chairs in Ho Chi Minh City, instead of just having a single product page, you can create separate pages for each district such as "massage chairs in district 1", "massage chairs in Go Vap district", "massage chairs in district 7"...
The right way to avoid being considered spam:
Unique content: Each gateway page must have unique content, Don't simply copy-paste and change place names.
Detailed information: Add specific information for each area such as: nearest store address, delivery time, actual installation images, or customer testimonials in that district.
On-page SEO optimization: Make sure title tags (H1, H2), meta description and URL all contain local keywords.
This is a powerful tactic for small and medium-sized businesses, helping them compete with large competitors on local keywords. If you need a professional partner to optimize your website, you can contact website design services in Ho Chi Minh City to receive detailed advice from Tan Phat Digital.
7. Picking Up Next Year's Keywords
Principle of operation: This is a long-term but extremely smart SEO strategy. You create content for keywords that are expected to have a high search volume in the near future, before your competitors notice.
For example, you can write a blog post in mid-2025 with the title "Digital Marketing Trends 2026" or "Top best-selling massage chair models 2026". When users start searching for these terms in late 2025 or early 2026, your article will have a time advantage and will likely take a high position on the rankings.
Benefits:
Increase Authority: Google will see your website as a trustworthy source of information, ahead of trends.
Attract Backlinks Natural: Other websites can refer to and cite your articles, providing quality natural backlinks.
Competitive advantage: You will have a large amount of traffic before other competitors have time to optimize.
These “strange” SEO tactics are not tricks to trick Google, but a deep understanding of how search algorithms work and user psychology. They all revolve around providing value, optimizing experience and building reputation in a sustainable way.
For SEOs in Vietnam, especially small businesses, flexibly applying these tactics can bring great competitive advantage in the market. Instead of relying solely on rigid tools or processes, start experimenting, get creative, and always aim to provide the best quality content to users. This is the path to sustainable success in SEO.
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