The fan-out query method is something I’ve been using for years even though I would have just called it related searches. “Fanning out” is a search term is a proven strategy a good few of us SEO’s decide to use in content optimisation. Think of it as a top-level search with all variations of that search afterwards. It means taking one very hard keyword and turning it into dozens of easier topics to help your website grow. Here is a simple guide on how to do this.
Step 1 – Choose your main keyword
Start with the big topic you want to rank for on Google.
- Example keyword – Dog Training
- The problem – If you only write one big article about dog training, you will not beat the large, famous websites.
Step 2 – Find different search goals
Take your big keyword and break it down into the actual questions people type into Google. You can use keyword research tools to find these ideas. You want to cover all the different reasons someone might search for your topic.
- Learning searches – How to stop a puppy from biting or why does my dog bark.
- Comparing searches – Best dog training tools for large breeds or clicker training versus treat training.
- Buying searches – Buy dog clicker online or dog obedience classes near my house.
Step 3 – Link your pages together
Now you need to turn those questions into a smart structure for your website.
- The main page – Create one big guide on your main keyword.
- The smaller pages – Write a specific, helpful article for each of the smaller questions you found in the second step.
- The linking plan – Every small page must link to your main page. Your main page should also link to all of the smaller pages.
Step 4 – Use more than just text
Google shows more than just normal web links today. You need to show up in different areas of the search results to get the most traffic.
- Question boxes – Add a frequently asked questions section at the bottom of your articles. Answer the questions in a short paragraph.
- Images – Take good pictures or make custom graphics. Save them with clear file names that describe the picture.
- Videos – Put a related video at the top of your blog posts. This keeps people on your page for a longer time.
Why this strategy works
- Faster results – It is much easier to get visitors from small, specific questions than from your main big keyword.
- Building trust – Search engines reward websites that look like true experts. Writing about every small detail proves you know the subject very well.
- More sales – People asking very specific questions are usually closer to buying something or signing up for your service.