Still Just Aiming for the “Top Search Results”? 7 Tips That Work in 2026｜よし｜Webライター
“I worked so hard on it, but the ranking won’t go up.”
“Traffic isn’t growing, and writing articles is becoming exhausting.”
If you feel that way right now, the cause might not be your writing ability. In 2026, the “rules of SEO articles” have quietly changed. In this article, based on those changes, I will narrow down and share 7 “writing tips that still work today.”
The premise itself has changed
The biggest factor is the spread of “AI Overviews,” where AI summarizes and displays answers at the top of search results. AI Overviews are now displayed for about half of Google search queries, and writing styles that just stuff keywords are no longer valued. According to Ahrefs research, clicks are estimated to drop by about 34.5% when AI Overviews are displayed.
Furthermore, since the core update in December 2025, the gap in top-ranking rates has widened between “articles that just organize information read somewhere else” and “articles with originality based on actual experience, research, and operational data.”
In other words, SEO from now on is a battle not just of “getting to the top of search engines,” but of “whether you are cited by AI” and “whether you have content that AI cannot write.” With that in mind, let’s look at the 7 tips.
Tip 1: Always include one piece of primary information
This is the most effective one. Things you have actually tried, measured, or failed at. This cannot be imitated by AI or competitors.
While 10 sites might summarize “how to do X,” if only you can write, “I actually tried it and stumbled here,” that becomes your differentiation. Just by including one piece of data you saw in the field yourself or an experience where things didn’t go well, the quality of the article changes.
Tip 2: State the conclusion and definition clearly at the beginning
The declarative form of “X is…” is a structure that is easily cited by AI. Cut out the roundabout preamble and give the answer at the beginning.
The same goes for readers. If you don’t convey that “this article seems to answer my worries” in the first few lines, they will quietly leave. The lead text should be 200–300 characters, in the order of: 1. Empathize with the reader’s worries -> 2. What can be understood from this article.
Tip 3: Design headings as “questions”
If you make headings in the form of the reader’s own questions, such as “What is X?” or “How do I do X?”, it will match the search intent and be more easily picked up by AI.
Read only the headings from top to bottom and see if the flow and conclusion of the entire article are conveyed. Checking this will help you notice weaknesses in your structure.
Tip 4: Dig into the “unverbalized parts” of search intent
What is the true desire behind the words the reader typed into the search bar? For example, what someone searching for “how to write SEO” really wants might not be “writing procedures” but “peace of mind that traffic will grow.”
Don’t just answer the superficial questions that 10 competing articles are answering; answer a deeper question that no one has answered yet. This is the essence of “originality.”
Tip 5: Keep information fresh (don’t just write and be done with it)
For articles dealing with practical information, leaving old content as-is lowers your credibility. Regularly updating them after publication to reflect the latest information is what earns you a good reputation.
Instead of “writing once and being done with it,” revise (rewrite) articles that are struggling in the rankings a few months later. If you base your operations on this approach, your content library will gradually start to pay off.
Tip 6: Show E-E-A-T Through the “Writer’s Face”
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. It sounds difficult, but it essentially means not hiding “who is writing.” Your profile, your track record, and why you are qualified to speak on this topic—note is a platform where this “writer’s face” is a major strength.
Tip 7: Even So, “Writing for the Reader” Is the Shortest Route
I have written various things up to this point, but the essence remains the same. Techniques are merely training wheels to ensure good articles reach the right people. “Will the one reader in front of me feel they gained something from reading this?” If you use this as your final criterion, you will stay on track even in the AI era.
Conclusion
You don’t have to try to do all seven at once. The next time you write an article, just try “including one piece of primary information” first. That alone will surely help your note reach further than it does now.
