Hi Iwan,
While most SEOs are still debating over 200+ ranking factors…
A Google engineer just revealed something in court that cuts through all the noise.
It's called the ABC framework.
This is how Google actually ranks your site:
A = Anchors (Backlinks)
B = Body (Content Relevance)
C = Clicks (User Engagement)
That's it.
Google calls it "topicality," which is really just a fancy way of asking: Does this page give the user exactly what they were searching for?
And here's what this means for your SEO strategy going forward:
1. Get high-quality backlinks that match your topic
Backlinks still matter, but relevance matters more than raw quantity.
It's not about getting 10,000 links from random blogs. It's about getting 10 from the right ones.
- Get links from sites in your niche (e.g. if you run a health blog, a backlink from Healthline is 10x more valuable than one from a random lifestyle blog)
- Use exact or partial-match anchor text that reflects your target keywords
- Prioritize editorial links from real content, not spammy link farms
If the sites linking to you are also trusted authorities in your space, you get a double boost.
2. Write content that aligns perfectly with search intent
This is the "Body" part of the ABC framework. Google checks how well your content matches the question someone is trying to answer.
It's not about keyword stuffing. It's about answering the searcher's real question fast.
- Use tools like Ahrefs, AlsoAsked, or ChatGPT to uncover the actual questions people are asking
- Create complete, well-structured answers in your content (e.g. include pros and cons, examples, comparisons, visuals)
- Add content that matches different intent stages (e.g. informational: "what is CBD oil?" → commercial: "best CBD oil for sleep")
If people feel like your content "just gets it," Google will notice.
3. Keep visitors on your site
The "Clicks" factor tracks how long people stay before bouncing back to the SERP. Google sees this as a key sign of quality.
If users land on your page, get what they want, and stick around, that's a win.
Here's how to boost engagement:
- Break up content into short, readable paragraphs
- Use compelling subheadings that guide the reader (e.g. "What Happens If You Don't Use Schema?")
- Add visuals, examples, and videos to keep people interested
- Embed FAQs or summaries at the end to satisfy skimmers
Think of every second someone stays as a trust signal to Google.
4. Build trust that spreads across your entire site
Here's the kicker from that testimony: Quality scores are static.
That means once Google deems your site trustworthy, that trust applies to all related content. They don't recalculate it for every page or keyword.
So instead of treating each blog post like a one-off, focus on site-wide authority.
- Get branded mentions: Reach out to podcasts, industry publications, and roundup articles to get your name alongside recognized players in your niche
- Build topic hubs: Group related articles under pillar pages and interlink them to create a web of authority (e.g. "SEO Basics" → links to articles on on-page, technical SEO, link building, etc.)
- Showcase real expertise: Add bios that include credentials, link to original research, and display actual case studies with results
Authority compounds. And Google remembers.
Want to put this into action? Start here:
- Audit your current backlink profile: Is it actually relevant to your niche?
- Check time-on-page and bounce rates for your key landing pages
- Review your content against search intent: Are you answering the real search query?
- List out how your site demonstrates trust and expertise across multiple pages
Bottom line: Stop chasing every shiny new SEO tactic you see on X.
Master the ABC framework. Build real authority. Create content people actually want to read.
And if you want expert help figuring out how your site stacks up against this framework…
Click here to get a free custom audit from my team.
To your continued success,
Matt Diggity
