The Beginner's SEO Guide to Succeeding in 2024: The TRIP Method

Find the best expert to optimize your presence on ChatGPT, Perplexity, Claude, and all conversational engines.

Generative AI
April 14, 2026

Leo POITEVIN

CEO @Astrak

Discover the TRIP method to dominate SEO in 2024: Technical (CMS choice), Writing (keywords and optimization), Influence (backlinks) and User journey. Concrete advice for SEO beginners and experts, from technical structure to user experience. Your Complete guide to reach the top of the SERPs !

T for Technique: The Solid Foundation of Your SEO

Which CMS to choose for a good start?

First step of the TRIP method, the technique. Here, we talk about CMS choice (Content Management System), of’extensions and of themes.

Getting started and wondering which platform to build your website on? Let me guide you. If you're a beginner, WordPress is your best ally. Why? It's simple, it's the most used CMS and it's perfect for content or service websites.

But wait, what if I want to sell products online? Don't panic! For a small e-commerce business, WooCommerce it will do the trick perfectly. It's an ultra-flexible WordPress plugin that will allow you to manage your store hassle-free. However, if you're thinking big with thousands of products, take a look at Shopify. It's more robust for large e-commerce projects.

Themes and plugins: how to avoid messing up?

You know what often sinks a good WordPress site? A shaky theme or an overdose of plugins. The result? A site that lags and Google making a grumpy face. So, what do we do?

For themes, stick to sure bets: GeneratePress, Astra or the theme Elementor. These are extremely popular, well-maintained themes that won't let you down mid-flight.

When it comes to plugins, the golden rule is: Less is more. Always choose the most downloaded extensions on the market. For example, for your contact forms, Contact Form 7 is a must-have. For your tables of contents, Easy Table of Contents does the job perfectly. The idea is to have plugins that are high-performing, secure, and won't slow down your site.

R like Redaction: The Key to SEO

How to find the right keywords?

We're getting to the heart of the matter: the famous keywords. It's THE thing everyone remembers when talking about SEO. And for good reason, it's crucial! But how do you find the right ones?

A tool I recommend for keyword research is Haloscan It's perfect for identifying the most relevant keywords in the French-speaking context. But you can also turn to tools like SEMRush or Ahrefs if you prefer more global solutions.

Search intent: the key to targeting accurately

You have your keywords? Great! Now, ask yourself THE question: what is the intent behind these searches? Let's take an example: if someone types «SEO consultant,» what are they looking for exactly? The profession? A professional to hire?

It's simple: Google detect intent from the user. Google will propose pages explaining this job, its missions, its salary, etc., because it knows that the internet user wants information, not necessarily to hire a consultant.

Google is smart; it picks up on these nuances. That's why you'll see different results for «SEO consultant» (information about the profession) versus «SEO consultant Paris» (a list of professionals to contact). Adapt your content accordingly!

How to optimize your content like a pro?

Okay, we have our keywords, we know the intent. Now, let's write! But how do we ensure our text will please Google? Here are a few tips:

  1. Use tools like TextOptimizer to get an idea of the ideal keyword density.
  2. Think «semantic»: use words and expressions related to your main topic.
  3. Write naturally, as if you were explaining the topic to a friend.
  4. Aim for at least as many words as your competitors on the first page.

Don't forget the tags! Your Title (H1), your Subtitles (H2, H3), and your meta tag must contain your main keywords. But watch out for keyword stuffing, it's no longer 2004!

Surf the current trends with Google Trends

Do you really want to get ahead of your competitors? Let me tell you about a free but super powerful tool: Google Trends.

Imagine you have a digital marketing blog. You're wondering what to write about to attract traffic. That's where Google Trends comes in. Here's how to use it like a pro:

  1. Identify the hot topics Type «digital marketing» into Google Trends and see what's buzzing right now. For example, you might discover that «Google Digital Garage» or «Udemy» are trending topics.
  2. Find original angles Google Trends also shows you «related queries.» It's a goldmine for finding article ideas! You could, for example, come across «CAPI in Digital Marketing» and decide to write an article about it.
  3. Anticipate seasonal trends You can see how interest in certain topics evolves over time. This can help you plan your content in advance.
  4. Adapt your content for different regions. Google Trends also shows you differences in interest by geographical area. Useful if you're targeting specific markets!

A concrete example:

Let's say you see that «digital marketing apprenticeships» are a rising topic. What should you do?

  1. Create targeted content : Write a full article on «How to find a digital marketing work-study in 2024».
  2. Optimize your keywords Use terms like «apprenticeship,» «digital marketing,» and «work-study training» in your content.
  3. Be responsive Publish your content quickly to ride the wave of interest.

Using Google Trends, you don't just follow trends, you anticipate them! It's a powerful tool for keeping your content fresh, relevant, and attractive to Google and your readers.

Don't forget: in SEO, being up-to-date means being one step ahead. So, get on Google Trends, and may the SEO force be with you!

I for Influence: Boost Your Authority

Backlinks: the name of the game

We're getting to something super important: your site's authority. And how is that achieved? Backlinks, those little links that point to your site from other sites. The more you have (of quality), the more Google considers you an authority. It's simple: if your site A and another site B have fairly similar content, the one with more backlinks will be ranked higher.

There are mainly two ways to acquire backlinks, and each has its advantages depending on your resources and SEO strategy.

First, there's the free method. Here, it's about using your Existing relationships and your network to get links to your site. For example, you can offer Link exchanges with other partner sites or ask your clients and suppliers mention you on their pages. Another equally effective approach is to create quality content, so relevant and interesting that other sites will naturally want to share it. This is a way to organically generate backlinks, which are often considered more authentic by Google.

Next, there's the option of’buy links. This method is more direct and faster, especially if you want boost quickly your SEO. You can go through specialized platforms like LinksGarden that allow you to choose good links Themed and come from sites that already have good authority. Of course, this solution has a cost, but it can be very effective if used correctly, especially for obtaining powerful backlinks that will make a difference in your rankings.

Each of these methods plays a role in a balanced SEO strategy, and the ideal approach is often to combine the two for maximum long-term impact.

P for User Journey: Why is Google so interested in it?

Time spent on site and pages viewed

Last pillar of the TRIP method: the User journey. Google is increasingly emphasizing how users interact with your site. Two metrics are particularly important here: the Time spent on the site and the Page views.

To increase time spent on your site, make sure you have content that holds attention of the user. If you're an e-commerce business, the fact that people spend time comparing products and completing their purchases is a good sign for Google.

To increase page views, focus on internal links. Create links to other articles or pages on your site within your main content. Not only does this help your SEO, but it also improves user experience.

The Ultimate Secret: A/B Testing

Imagine you have two slightly different versions of a page. A/B testing is showing each version to half of your visitors and seeing which one performs best. Cool, right?

Do you really want to take things up a notch? Test different versions of your pages with A/B testing. Recommended tool: Conversion Rate Optimization. It's free for up to 50,000 visits per month, so take advantage of it!