You’re Doing SEO Wrong: Why Most SaaS Companies Are Missing The Mark

The Red Ocean of Traditional SEO

Most SaaS companies approach SEO by targeting high-volume keywords, churning out blog content, and building backlinks. This strategy has become commoditized — anyone can hire freelancers, use AI content generators, and outsource link-building. The result? A sea of nearly identical content that does little to distinguish your brand or product.

The problem is that this traditional approach is missing the mark. Google’s algorithm is no longer about just matching keywords; it’s about understanding user intent. You can see this in the way Google auto-suggests search queries, or how features like “People Also Ask” and “Related Searches” appear. These tools are trying to help users clarify their search, signaling that the true intent behind a query is often more complex than a simple keyword.

So, if you’re doing SEO wrong… how do you do it right?

Enter Product-Led SEO

Product-Led SEO is a game-changer. Instead of focusing solely on high-volume keywords and hoping for backlinks, Product-Led SEO puts the user’s needs and intent first. It’s about showing, not telling. You create content that is deeply tied to your product and solves specific problems for users, directly within your product ecosystem.

Rather than writing generic blog posts about industry topics, you create specific, actionable content that helps users accomplish their goals — and you anchor that content around your product. This is a more time-consuming strategy, but it’s also far harder to replicate, creating a moat around your business.

Why Google’s Algorithm Prioritizes User Intent

Over the years, Google has evolved its search algorithm to prioritize user intent over basic keyword matching. You can see this in features like Google’s auto-suggestions, which appear as soon as you start typing a query.

Google tries to predict what you’re really looking for based on millions of similar searches. Then there are tools like “People Also Ask” and “Suggested Searches” — these features guide users to refine their search based on what others have found helpful.

All of this shows that Google’s primary goal is not just to display results that match a keyword but to deliver results that solve the user’s problem or answer their specific question.

For SaaS companies, this means that chasing high-volume keywords alone won’t cut it anymore. Google is constantly refining its algorithm to understand the actual reason behind a search query, not just the words typed in.

So, if your SEO strategy is focused solely on keyword volume without considering the deeper intent behind those searches, you’re playing a short-term game.

Future-Proofing Your SEO with User Intent

Aligning your SEO strategy with Google’s focus on user intent is the smartest — and most future-proof — way to ensure that your efforts aren’t wasted.

By shifting your mindset from keyword volume to solving specific user problems through content, you’re not just optimizing for today’s algorithm, but for every update Google makes in the future. This way, your content stays relevant and continues to drive meaningful traffic even as search behaviors evolve.

For instance, a user searching for “email marketing best practices” is likely not just looking for a list of tips — they might be trying to solve a specific challenge, like improving deliverability or increasing open rates. Google’s algorithm is designed to recognize this intent and prioritize content that provides detailed solutions to these challenges.

When your content speaks to these deeper intents, you’re aligning with how Google thinks — and that’s a recipe for long-term SEO success. Instead of getting caught up in an endless race for backlinks and keyword volume, you’re building content that genuinely helps users, which will always be rewarded by search engines.

By adopting a Product-Led SEO strategy, you’re not only matching Google’s goals but creating a durable competitive advantage. Google rewards content that truly serves users, and no matter how the algorithm changes, content that solves user problems will always be favored.

A Real Example of Product-Led SEO Done Right

Most people point to Grammarly, Canva, or Zillow when discussing Product-Led SEO, but let’s explore a lesser-known example.

Ahrefs, a smaller yet powerful SEO tool, built its entire SEO strategy around showing users how to improve their SEO using the Ahrefs product itself.

They created tutorials, case studies, and data-driven content that directly demonstrated how to solve problems, driving significant organic traffic to their platform.

This strategy helped them rank for competitive keywords like “backlink checker,” “SEO audit,” and “keyword difficulty,” not just because of volume, but because their content matched the intent of users seeking solutions.

By focusing on user intent and building content that educates and solves, Ahrefs has managed to dominate the SEO tool space without having to rely on traditional SEO tactics alone.

You can see from using their own tool they have over a 200% increase in top rankings due to this strategy

Why This Matters for SaaS

When done right, Product-Led SEO doesn’t just drive traffic; it drives qualified traffic — people who are actively looking for a solution that your product provides. It’s a longer-term strategy, but it pays off by creating content that is harder to replicate and ties directly to the success of your product.

If you’re tired of the same old SEO tactics that every SaaS company is using, it’s time to switch gears. Yes, Product-Led SEO takes more effort, but it can create a sustainable competitive advantage that generic keyword strategies simply cannot match.

Ready to Learn More?

If you’re interested in learning how Product-Led SEO can help your SaaS business stand out in a crowded market, contact us today. We’d love to show you how to build an SEO strategy that truly connects with your users — and delivers long-term growth.