Predictive SEO

[digitalops]

Hello all,

I am trying to perform a predictive competitive SEO analysis to estimate what I will need to do to surpass my competitors. I am unsure of how to do this and would like some advice or link to an article. What I am trying to do is predict where I can rank in three months, six months and one year as well as what I need to do compared to my competitors.  Specifically also to estimate how many links I would need to acquire to both my page as well as domain. I have already pulled my competitors domain links, page links, and age.

• Adam

[RobertFisher]

Adam151

I am unaware of any methodology around predicting results in SEO. The reasons behind this are myriad, not the least of which is the fact that while you are improving your page/domain, any good competitor will be doing the same to some greater or lesser degree. So here is my suggestion for you:

First, go through your site and insure that your on page SEO is as perfect as is possible.

Look at what your competitors link profiles and see what links you can pick up.

You can look at the 2011 Search Engine Ranking Factors on SEOmoz. Knowing that most in SEO believe this to be about what most impacts your rankings, you could devote your time to each on the basis of their effect. Such that, Page level link metrics and Domain level Link authority features take up nearly half of your resources.

I suggest running a campaign and throwing in your top three competitors so that you have a good idea as you move as to what is taking place. By tracking what causes the moves, you will no better going forward.

Look at what is being considered more and more important by the SE's. Things like freshness (QDF) and being sure your local is full on perfect. Remember there is more than Google and insure you are also in Bing Business Portal and in Yahoo Local.

With all of that, then tracking the changes for impact, you might later have a better predictive model.

Best