The 1-Hour SEO Tune-Up: Get More from the Content You Already Have
If you want to rank higher on Google, the usual advice is “create more content.”
And yes, writing helpful, well-optimised blog posts regularly does help.
But if you already have content sitting on your site, you might not need to write something new at all. You just need to make what you’ve got work harder.
That’s where the 1-Hour SEO Tune-Up comes in.
This is a focused, practical process to help you improve your Google rankings without burning time or energy writing brand new blog posts.
Just one hour a week can make a big difference.
Step 1: Check Google Search Console (0–10 mins)
Start by opening Google Search Console. That is Google’s free tool that shows how your site performs in search.
Click on Performance → Search Results, then filter for your blog URLs under “Pages.”
You’re looking for two things here:
Blog posts with high impressions but low click-through rates. These are being shown in search results, but people aren’t clicking. The title or meta description might need improving.
Blog posts ranking in positions 4-10. These are just outside the top 3 and could climb higher with a small push.
Click into a post to see the actual search queries it’s appearing for.
These queries can help you spot what your audience is really looking for, or give you ideas for content improvements later.
Step 2: Improve and Expand One Post (10–30 mins)
Pick a blog post that shows potential in Search Console and read through it.
Ask yourself:
Does this fully answer the question it’s targeting?
Is anything missing that a reader might be wondering?
Can I make this more useful with an example or a local reference?
Are there new search queries I can add an answer for?
You might add a new paragraph to explain something more clearly. Or a short real-world example to give the advice context. You might spot a subheading that needs a bit more depth, or an outdated tip that needs updating.
If you noticed any relevant queries earlier, add a short FAQ section at the end of the post to answer them. Even one or two simple Q&As can make your post feel fresher and more complete.
You’re not aiming for word count. You’re aiming for clarity, depth, and usefulness.
Step 3: Strengthen Your Internal Links (30–45 mins)
Next, make sure the post you just improved is properly linked to other useful pages on your site.
Internal linking helps Google understand your site’s structure, and it spreads ranking strength across related content.
From your updated post, add links to at least three other relevant blog posts. Use descriptive anchor text - something that clearly tells people (and Google) what to expect.
Then find two or three older blog posts that could naturally link back to the post you just updated.
This creates a stronger internal structure, which helps Google and users navigate your site more effectively. It also increases the chance that someone who lands on one blog post sticks around to read another.
Step 4: Tune Up the On-Page SEO (45–60 mins)
Now that the content is stronger and better connected, finish with a quick on-page SEO tidy-up.
Check that your meta title includes the main keyword and clearly matches the intent of the page.
Rewrite the meta description if needed and make it benefit-led and encourage clicks.
Make sure your main headers (H2s and H3s) reflect real user search language.
Add alt text to any images on the post that are missing it. Make it descriptive and keyword-relevant where it makes sense.
Keep your URL clean. If it’s too long or stuffed with unnecessary words, consider updating it (but only if the page is new or you can redirect properly).
A quick polish can often lift a post just enough to improve both its rankings and its click-through rate.
Repeat Weekly
You don’t need to do this for every post in one go. Just choose one blog post each week and run it through this 1-hour process.
Over time, you’ll build a library of better-optimised, better-connected, more useful content. Google likes that. And so do your readers.
Good SEO isn’t just about publishing more. It’s about getting more from what you already have.
And if you can make real improvements in just one hour a week? That’s time well spent.
Need Help Writing a Blog Post?
If you don’t have time to write (or just don’t want to), I offer a one-off blog writing service through SO SEO.
You’ll get a fully written, SEO-optimised blog post, researched, structured, and ready to publish. No fluff, no jargon, and written specifically to help local businesses in the SO postcode area show up on Google.
No long contracts. Just one great blog post, done for you.
Get in touch here if you'd like to try it.
What is an SEO tune-up?
An SEO tune-up is a focused process to improve the search engine performance of existing content without creating new posts. It involves updating and optimising blog posts to boost rankings and increase traffic.
How long does the 1-hour SEO tune-up take?
As the name suggests, this process is designed to be completed in about one hour per week for each blog post you optimise.
Do I need technical SEO knowledge to do this?
Not necessarily. This tune-up focuses on practical, easy-to-follow steps like improving titles, meta descriptions, internal links, and content clarity that anyone can learn.
Can this tune-up help local businesses?
Adding local examples and optimising for local search terms during the tune-up can improve local visibility on Google.
What if I don’t have time to write or update blog posts?
If you’re short on time, consider using a blog writing service that specialises in SEO optimised content tailored to your business needs.
