I helped a B2B SaaS startup in the project management niche acquire over 200 paying customers from SEO in six months.

Here's exactly how I do it for software companies and startups.

Before I proceed, the results speak for themselves:

➡️ Copysmith (AI copywriting tool): Drove 3,000+ user signups in just 7 months, and improved their search presence.

➡️ SweetProcess (SOP software): Currently redefining their SEO strategy, driving thousands of monthly signups from Google and ranking high for MoFu and BoFu keywords that actually convert.

➡️ OneCal (calendar sync software): Took them from zero to 40,000+ monthly visitors in six months. Dominated the first-page rankings for calendar-sync keywords.

Today, I run Your Content Mart, where my team and I help SaaS startups compete with goliaths in their niche. I've also shared my insights in publications like Moz, CoSchedule, G2, and Entrepreneur.

My Approach

After 7+ years in SaaS SEO, here's what I've learned: traffic without conversions is just expensive vanity metrics.

So, I focus on building SEO strategies that align with your business goals. That way, we not only drive traffic but also generate user signups, leads, and demo requests.

Here's how I make organic search drive signups, not just traffic, for SaaS startups:

✅ Deep user research - I become obsessed with understanding your ideal users, their pain points, and how they search for solutions like yours.

✅ Funnel-focused keyword strategy - Target keywords that map to every stage of your customer journey, from awareness to decision.

✅ Product-led content creation - Build content that naturally showcases your product while solving real user problems.

✅ Technical SEO foundation - Ensure your site architecture supports both user experience and search engine crawling.

✅ Conversion optimization - Every piece of content is designed to move visitors closer to becoming customers.

When I'm not obsessing over search rankings, I spend my time:

- Testing new AI tools that could change the game for myself and clients.
- Studying successful SaaS companies to understand their growth strategies.
- Exploring Africa's growing tech ecosystem and connecting with other entrepreneurs.

I'm currently taking on select SaaS startups that are serious about turning SEO into a sustainable growth channel.

Ready to transform your organic search strategy?

DM me or email shehu@yourcontentmart.co

AbdulGaniy Shehu

We updated this blog post on our website over the weekend.

48 hours after, it's cited as a top recommendation in Google's AI Overview for its main keyword.

This is what I think is happening, but before then, here's a quick background.

I wrote this post back in 2021-2022. 

Since then, I've not really had time to monitor its rankings or make any changes to the content.

As part of the refresh process, we removed some sections, added new and relevant ones, and included relevant examples.

For example, when I wrote the post, Answer Engine Optimization wasn't a thing.

Now that it's a core part of content marketing, we added a section on it.

Another thing we included is a one-sentence TL;DR of the entire blog post immediately after the table of contents.

It's still the early days of the refresh, and we're still monitoring the SERPs and AI tools to understand exactly what is happening behind the scenes.

Will share more in the coming weeks and months.

Kudos to the entire team, especially our Content Manager Jelilat and Content Writer Jesutofunmi, for an impressive job.

Quick gut check: Does your content answer the main question in the first 100 words?

A) Yes, answer upfront
B) No, context first

Drop your answers below.

And if you want a team that's actively experimenting with AI search (not just talking about it), let's chat.

#saas #seo

Shehu AbdulGaniy

SEO & AEO Strategist for B2B SaaS Companies | Founder @ Your Content Mart

"Nobody would even open my email."

That was what I thought when I hit send on the newsletter I sent to my subscribers late yesterday.

Surprisingly, as of the time of writing this, about 40 people have opened and read it.

Which is a big deal, considering it's been more than a year since I last emailed.

Moving forward...

Every Thursday, I'll share one unique insight with my subscribers about everything I'm learning and implementing in SEO, AI Search, Content Marketing, and many more.

Want to join?

Click the link in the comment section below, and I'll see you on the other side.

#saas #seo

Here is an underrated SEO strategy you can implement for your B2B SaaS brand.

Especially if you’re struggling to drive user signups.

Building free tools.

Some examples that I like:

- HubSpot -> Website Grader
- CoSchedule -> Headline Analyzer
- Signaturely -> Online Signature Maker
- Ahrefs -> Backlink Checker
- Taplio -> LinkedIn Video Downloader

Which SaaS company excels at using free tools as an SEO strategy?

Kindly include them below.

#saas #seo

The real opportunity with AI search is to show up everywhere your prospects search, whether that's Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, or Claude.

If you rank well on Google for the "right keywords", chances are that AI tools will cite you.

But ranking isn't enough on its own. The content structure matters.

AI tools typically cite content that's specific, addresses real problems, uses relevant examples, and provides clear answers.

There's also what happens off your site. According to AirOps, nearly 90% of brand mentions in AI tools come from third-party content, such as comparison posts, listicles, and industry roundups.

If you're a B2B SaaS founder ready to get serious about SEO and AI search, happy to chat.

#saas #seo

Last week, Profound raised $96M at a $1B valuation.

For context, the company helps brands track and optimize for AI search engines like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

When I first saw the news, I honestly felt the valuation was outrageous.

Considering that Semrush, an 18-year-old SEO platform, was recently sold for around $1.9B.

But I guess the market dictates how companies are valued.

And whether or not the valuation makes sense, this is massive market validation.

When a company focused purely on Answer Engine Optimization gets funded at a unicorn valuation, it's not a trend anymore. It's the market telling you where things are going.

This buttresses my point that AI search is changing how people discover products, evaluate solutions, and make buying decisions.

Now the money is flowing in that direction.

But here's what's interesting.

Glen Allsopp recently analyzed how public companies talked about organic and AI search on their earnings calls. The responses are split.

Some companies like Articore Group and Ziff Davis are seeing traffic declines and calling it a headwind.

Others, like CarGurus, Etsy, and ZipRecruiter, are seeing AI traffic convert at higher rates than traditional search and are calling it an opportunity.

Same shift. Different results.

Glen put it well: "I think companies are growing more optimistic about AI search... Certain businesses will have much more opportunity here than others. But increasing conversion rates certainly help with some of the traffic loss."

For me, I believe the difference comes down to strategy.

Companies that are still optimizing for traditional SEO and hoping AI search goes away will most likely struggle.

That said, brands that are building for AI-native distribution will likely win in the long run.

And for startups especially, this is a massive opportunity.

While bigger companies are still figuring out their AI search strategy, there's a window for companies that move fast and position early.

#saas #seo #aeo

"It worked until it didn't."

That was how a user of an automated AI content tool summed up his experience on an X thread I came across recently.

According to him, traffic had been growing, and rankings were climbing.

Then the recent Google core update hit, and everything tanked.

Here's another validation that caught my attention...

SE Ranking actually tested this at scale. They published 2,000 AI-generated articles across 20 brand-new websites.

The early results looked great. 

8 sites ranking for 1,000+ keywords each. Over 122,000 impressions in the first month.

Then, on February 3, 2025, every single site lost all traction.

In tomorrow's issue of The SaaS SEO Insights newsletter, I break down:

→ What SE Ranking's experiment reveals about the real cost of autopilot content 
→ Why the early data is misleading (and why that's dangerous) 
→ 4 ways to use AI for content that actually ranks long term

This one is important if you're a B2B SaaS company competing against bigger players with more domain authority.

Link to sign up in the comments 👇

"Many new users said they found our software through AI tools."

This was what a Founder told me some weeks ago.

So, what exactly are we doing to help them drive traffic from ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and many more?

Here is the short answer… 

We focus on three fundamentals of SEO.

Let’s go after each one.

1. Target the right keywords

For this client, we primarily identify keyword opportunities to sell their software as a solution to the searcher’s problems.

So, if a keyword isn’t relevant to the business, we do not prioritize it.

2. Create helpful content

We create high-converting content briefs that show writers how to position the content to solve the searcher’s problems.

Specifically, we recommend that writers focus on these non-negotiables:

-> Nail the search intent
-> Use the correct heading structure (H1, H2, H3, etc.)
-> Format the content using screenshots, tables, and custom images.
-> Show how the tool solves a specific pain point
-> Use specific and relevant examples
-> Showcase relevant case studies from other customers.

3. Build relevant backlinks consistently

Backlinks might not always be necessary to rank high on Google or get cited by AI tools.

That said, you’re better off building backlinks than not doing so.

For this client, we have a system in place that helps them build backlinks on an ongoing basis.

To wrap things up:

As a B2B SaaS company, having a solid SEO strategy will help you rank high on Google and also get cited by AI tools.

#saas #seo

“I built an AI agent to automate my entire content writing process.”

You might have come across statements like this on LinkedIn.

Of course, I agree that AI tools keep getting better. I use Claude every day and I’m always surprised by its capabilities each time.

I’ve built several SEO workflows and internal tools with it, which have made my work and life easier.

That said, I think it’s a huge mistake to believe that AI can produce great content on its own.

You need a human in the loop if you’re using AI to generate content, even if you invest time and resources to generate the best prompts and skills.

Without it, you might be hugely disappointed by the content it produces.

It's that human touch that ensures the content is accurate, relevant, and engaging.

Of course, AI can significantly speed up your content creation process and help you execute faster.

That said, to get the best results from using it, treat it as a co-pilot, and don’t rely on it entirely to execute on its own.

#saas #seo

I pulled Semrush data for 5 popular software keywords and looked at who's actually ranking in the top 10.

What I found surprised me.

For "project management software," only 3 of the top 10 results are actual PM tools.

The other 7? 

An informational site. An agile certification body. A software recommendation platform. And Zapier ranking with a blog post.

For "email marketing software," the top 2 results are comparison sites that don't sell email marketing software.

And here's the part nobody is talking about: G2 and Capterra aren't even in the top 10 for any of these keywords. 

You know who is?

Reddit.

Reddit is outranking both the major review platforms and many of the actual products.

I broke down all five keywords in this week's issue of The SaaS SEO Insights newsletter, including what this means for B2B SaaS companies building their SEO strategy right now.

New issue drops today at 12 PM EST.

Subscribe below so you don't miss it.

#saas #seo

In my early days as a Freelance Writer, I followed the skyscraper technique religiously.

The playbook was simple:

-> Target a high-volume keyword.
-> Analyze the top 20 pages ranking for it.
-> Write something way better than everything else.
-> Make it longer, add more images and videos.
-> Outrank the competition on Google.

I also followed another "best practice". Never mention your product in blog posts, even when it's relevant.

The thinking was that if you add enough value, readers will decide on their own to try your software.

Sounds logical, right?

Everything changed when I came across Tim Soulo's "Blogging for Business" course.

Tim emphasized that SEO isn't just about driving traffic from Google. It's about generating signups and paying customers.

He highlighted Ahrefs' approach to keyword selection: focusing on "Business Potential" rather than just "Traffic Potential."

He also shared how Ahrefs won't publish a blog post unless there's a clear product tie-in.

That was when I realized I'd been treating SEO as a traffic acquisition channel when it's actually a customer acquisition channel.

Today, instead of chasing high-volume keywords that might be irrelevant to the business, my agency (Your Content Mart) targets specific high-intent keywords for clients that attract the right customers even if the search volume is low.

And every blog post we publish is a mini demo of their tool, showing exactly how it works and what problems it solves.

#saas #seo

I've been noticing something interesting on Google lately.

When I search for middle-of-funnel and bottom-of-funnel keywords like "alternatives," "versus," "best for [use case]," pricing pages, and reviews keywords, AI Overviews are showing up everywhere now.

This wasn't the case a few months ago.

Back then, you could search for comparison keywords and see traditional search results. Now? Most of these searches trigger an AI Overview.

Here's why this matters.

There was an argument floating around that you should prioritize these middle and bottom-of-funnel keywords because they don't trigger AI Overviews. That way, you still get organic traffic. 

That argument doesn't hold water anymore.

AI Overviews are now showing up for buyer-intent keywords. And when they do, they're recommending specific tools directly to searchers.

So what does this mean for B2B SaaS companies?

If you're targeting comparison, pricing, or alternative keywords, your goal isn't just to rank anymore. Your goal is to get cited in the AI Overview.

Because that's where most searchers will make their decision.

This also means you need to think differently about search intent before you create content. 

-> Why would someone search for this specific keyword? 
-> What answer are they looking for? 
-> How can you structure your content so AI tools can extract and cite it?

While top-of-funnel keywords still don't make sense in most cases. Middle and bottom-of-funnel keywords do, and you should still target them. 

You just need to optimize for getting featured in the AI Overview, not just ranking on the page.

Anyone else noticed this shift? Are AI Overviews showing up for your buyer-intent keywords now?

#saas #seo

Most SaaS companies are optimising for the wrong queries in AI search.

They're tracking whether they show up for informational, top-of-funnel questions, but completely ignoring the high-intent ones.

The queries where a buyer has already decided they have a problem and is now asking ChatGPT or Perplexity to help them choose a solution.

Things like:

→ "What's the best CRM for a startup that can't afford HubSpot?" 
→ "How do I choose between Asana, Monday, and ClickUp?" 
→ "What are the best alternatives to [competitor] for [use case]?"

These are called money prompts.

Same purchase intent as money keywords, but completely different format.

And if your brand isn't showing up in those answers, you're invisible at the exact moment a buyer is making a decision.

Today's issue of the SaaS SEO Insights newsletter breaks down what money prompts are, how to find yours, and the 4-step process for tracking and winning them.

Goes live at 12 PM EST.

Not subscribed yet? 

Check out the first link in the comments 👇

#saas #seo

GEO, AEO, and AI search are dominating the feed these days.

B2B SaaS companies are asking: "Should we adapt our strategy for these?"

The short answer is Yes.

But here's the thing: don't overcomplicate it.

Truth is, the fundamentals of solving the searcher's problem haven’t changed.

Whether someone finds you through Google, ChatGPT, or Perplexity, they're looking for an answer to a specific pain point.

Your content should address that problem and show how your product solves it. 

If you're a CRM, don't just explain "what is lead scoring", show how your tool's lead scoring system prevents sales teams from wasting time on cold prospects.

While new channels always emerge, the fundamentals stay the same.

Instead of chasing every acronym, build content that solves real problems. 

That would always be important irrespective of what happens.

#saas #seo

Quick question for content teams:

You're refreshing a blog post that's 8 months old. 

It's ranking well, but citations have dropped off.

What will be your top priority to improve rankings on Google and citations in AI tools?

Drop your reasons below.

What will you update first in a blog post?

If you're a B2B SaaS brand that wants to get cited by AI tools, this is for you.

Applying these would help you approach AEO differently.

1) There is still a huge overlap between SEO and AEO. 

Most of the things you do to rank high on Google are the exact things you’ll do to get cited on ChatGPT. 

In most cases, ranking high on Google gives you an edge to get recommended by AI tools.

2) AI doesn't rely on what you write on your website only. 

What others say about your product significantly influences ChatGPT and other AI tools. 

To do well in AI search, prioritize citations from credible sources in your niche and UGC channels like YouTube and Reddit.

3) YouTube is one of the most untapped opportunities in B2B. 

There are numerous B2B topics that haven’t been covered on YouTube. Any startup that invests in this channel will get rewarded by search engines and AI tools.

s/o to Ethan Smith, who also shared some of these on Lenny's podcast last year.

#saas #seo #b2b

I've seen it all. From struggling to get food and rent to driving 7-figure revenues for brands. I'm now an SEO and content specialist at Contact, an SEO agency that makes $20M/yr for clients. 

We've helped companies like Shopify, Kajabi, and beehiiv to turn search traffic into dependable, predictable revenue.

I went from being a broke and confused freelance writer in 2011 to being a top-rated copywriter who's written for valuable brands like beehiiv and Kajabi. 

I'm grateful for so many things...

Grateful to have been featured on TV, the papers, multiple blogs, ProWritingAid, HuffPost, HostAdvice, etc.

Grateful to have been one of the co-founders of a US-based digital marketing agency.

Grateful to have helped multiple clients.

Grateful to have built a site from zero to 3M+ in traffic and a mailing list from zero to 20,000+ engaged email subscribers.

I've been working at Contact, the most innovative SEO agency, since March 2023. One of my most satisfying things has been seeing valuable companies multiplying their revenue through SEO.

If you want to increase your revenue from SEO and content marketing, email me at walter@contactstudios.com.

Walter Akolo

SEO is dying. Again.

I've heard this claim at least 50 times in my career.

Every new technology is supposedly the final nail in the coffin.

Web 3.0 was going to kill it.
Google Ads was going to kill it.
Social media was going to kill it.
Voice search was going to kill it.
AI Overviews are going to kill it.
ChatGPT is going to kill it.

See, people love predicting the death of SEO.

It makes for great headlines and hot takes.

Here's what I've learned working in an agency that drives $20M/year in revenue for clients:

SEO doesn't die. It evolves.

- People still search 14 billion times daily on Google.
- Businesses still need to be found online.
- The fundamentals still work.

Instead of worrying about the next "SEO killer."

Focus on adapting to what actually matters.

- Understanding search intent.
- Creating content that serves users.
- Building authority in your clients' industries.

The noise will always be there.

The doomsday predictions will keep coming.

But I'm staying in the game while others panic and quit.

If you're in SEO or content marketing, take my advice:

- Block out the noise.
- Keep learning the fundamentals.

The industry is alive.

Your approach needs to evolve with it.

PS: What's the wildest "SEO is dead" claim you've heard?

SEO leader turning content into $20M+/year revenue engines | SEO Expert and Content Specialist @ Contact | Managing SEO across 10M+ monthly impression sites | Taken 100+ BOFU pages to page 1 of Google

I started as a LinkedIn ghostwriter for a CEO.

Three months later, I was running their entire digital marketing operation.

Here's what happened:

The CEO hired me to write LinkedIn posts. Simple job.

I delivered PURE GOLD. They performed well. Engagement went up. Everyone was happy.

But I noticed something.

Their blog hadn't been updated for a while. Their email list was sitting there collecting dust. Their website copy was barely converting.

I could have kept quiet. Just collected my cut and stayed in my lane.

Instead, I sent a message:

"Hey, I noticed a few things that might be holding back your growth. Can we jump on a quick call?"

That video call changed everything.

I walked them through what I saw. The gaps. The missed opportunities. The revenue they were leaving on the table.

They asked: "Can you fix this?"

Within a month, I went from LinkedIn ghostwriter to leading their content strategy, email campaigns, blog optimization, and conversion rate improvements.

The retainer multiplied several times over.

Here's the strategy I've used over and over since then:

Your first project is a lead magnet, not the end goal.

Some people think: Get hired. Do the work. Wait for the next project.

I think: Get hired. Do the work. Find the next problem. Solve it.

Always be looking for what else is broken.

When you're inside a client's business, you see things they don't. Blind spots. Inefficiencies. Untapped potential.

Point them out. Some clients have no idea these problems exist.

Video calls close deals.

I can't count how many times I've gotten on a call to "discuss ideas" and walked away with expanded scope and more ka-ching.

Why? Because when you show genuine interest in their success and can articulate solutions clearly, they want to work with you more.

Don't just stay in your lane.

If you're good at one thing, you can probably learn adjacent skills fast. For this client, I started with LinkedIn. Added blog writing. Then email marketing. Then SEO. Then full digital strategy.

Each skill opened the door to the next upsell.

Deliver value first, then expand.

I never pitch upsells before proving I can deliver on what they hired me for. Once they trust you with the small thing, they'll trust you with the big thing.

Today, most of my highest-paying clients started with a single small project.

The ones who only wanted that one thing? They stayed small clients.

The ones who let me keep solving problems? They became my biggest revenue sources.

Your initial project is JUST your entry point. Go for bigger things. Never forget that.

You quit your 9-to-5 for "freedom"?

Then why are you working 16-hour days for peanuts in the name of a "business"?

I lost EVERYTHING in 2015. 

- Moved from a nice 3-bedroomed house to a low-cost house
- One of my thriving businesses went down
- Had surgery
- Even missed meeting a Facebook VP (was planning a funeral...and yes, that year was that dark)

But here's what saved me...

The people I helped on the way up refused to let me drown.

Before the crash, I'd scaled my income to unimaginable heights. Working just 4-6 hours daily.

With my FREE TIME, I mentored thousands, served on a mental health board, won a "Parent of the Year" award. I even had some leadership roles in church.

When disaster struck? Those same people took great care of me.

As you grow your business, don't forget to be there for people. Always strive to see OTHER PEOPLE succeed.

I give God all the glory.

In case you're struggling after a disaster, here's what can help you start growing back up:

1. Replace cheap clients fast: If you're charging too low, it's time to look for higher paying clients. Let each new client pay DOUBLE the last till you plateau. And whenever you plateau, learn something new and increase your rates further.

2. Write down shower ideas (or random ideas that come at unexpected times): One may be your million-dollar ticket.

3. Build assets, not just income: Passive income = real freedom. Start where you are.

4. Help others while you can: They'll save you when you can't.

5. Always deliver pure gold: Let people know you as the one who always delivers.

You can rebuild from rock bottom. I've done so. Lara Acosta has done so. And many others that you can learn from out there.

But NOT by grinding harder. By scaling SMARTER and being there for people.

Leave everyone feeling "wow" and happy they met you!

My prayer is that one of you reading this will soon 10x your income and live a happy, successful life.

Will it be YOU?

Or will you still be trading hours for dollars, delivering below-average work, and wondering where your "freedom" went?

the responses to ai are funny... we now have people who primarily write in lowercase so that their content looks natural. 

many who loooved the em dash have stopped using it so their content doesn't look ai. 

others are intentionally adding spelling mstiakes to their posts. 

what weird things have you done lately for your content to look natural?

I searched my name on Google and Perplexity today.

My LinkedIn profile showed up #3 on Google, right after my website and FB. And #2 on Perplexity.

That's when it hit me.

AI search engines are treating LinkedIn profiles like authoritative sources. Perplexity ranks them above company sites. Google's AI overviews pull from them constantly. ChatGPT and Claude cite them as primary references.

The reason? LinkedIn's structured data format makes it easy for AI to parse and trust.

If you're not optimizing your profile for AI search, you're invisible to the next generation of discovery.

Here's what you can change on your profile today:

1. Add alt text to every image with clear descriptions and natural keywords
2. Rewrite your headline using service, audience, and expertise keywords
3. Use target keywords naturally throughout your posts
4. Remove hashtags (LinkedIn ranks on semantics now, not tags)
5. Max out your skills section with 40+ relevant skills
6. Publish LinkedIn articles that Google indexes
7. Customize your profile URL to include your name
8. Rewrite your About section with industry keywords (no stuffing)
9. Comment daily using niche language to build topical authority

Soon, people will be focusing on AI-first to discover you. And your LinkedIn profile is becoming your primary search identity on both traditional and AI search.

Make the most of it today so that you can reap the benefits in the future.

taplio

The Battle

AbdulGaniy Shehu

Walter Akolo

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taplio

The Battle

AbdulGaniy Shehu

Walter Akolo

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}AbdulGaniy Shehu's LinkedIn Performance

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