E869: I break down a viral post from the SEO subreddit that perfectly explains how Google actually ranks pages.

Forget the overcomplicated strategies, mystical topical maps, or black magic SEO tactics. Topical authority comes down to mechanical systems, user behavior, and relevance - nothing more.

We cover: - Why every keyword puts you into a topical space - How every click you earn expands your topical authority footprint - Why pages, not domains, compete for rankings - How topical bridges help you grow into adjacent subjects - Why Google values utility over craftsmanship - The real role of backlinks, branded searches, and engagement - Why SEO is simple when you focus on mechanics over mythology

Key Takeaways: - SEO isn't mysterious. It's based on observable mechanical signals - Topical authority = clicks + relevance across related queries - Google ranks page utility, not writing quality - Links, branded searches, and engagement send trust signals - Publishing within a tight topic beats chasing backlink counts - Adjacent topics grow by linking and writing in the right direction

If you're tired of overthinking SEO and want real results, this episode will finally make it click.

⭐️ A Few Things That Finally Clicked About Authority, Topics, and How Google Actually Ranks Pages - https://www.reddit.com/r/SEO/comments/1p06nk4/a_few_things_that_finally_clicked_about_authority/

💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/

00:00 Introduction and Overview 00:28 Understanding Topical Authority 01:42 Page-Level Authority and Topical Bridges 03:18 Metrics and Practical Insights 04:41 Google's Content Evaluation 07:40 Simplifying SEO 08:30 Conclusion and Personal Insights

The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/

#searchengineoptimization #pagerank #topicalauthority #digitalmarketing