What Is 10x Content (And Why Should You Care)?
Let’s get straight to the point: 10x content isn’t just « better » content. It’s content that’s 10 times more valuable, more useful, and more comprehensive than anything else ranking for the same keyword. If you want to rank on page one for a competitive term—and stay there—you need to think bigger and bolder.
But here’s the kicker: you don’t need a huge budget or a team of 12 marketers to pull this off. You need a process, a clear understanding of user intent, and the discipline to go deeper than everyone else.
I’ve used the 10x content framework to outrank sites with 10x my domain authority. In this post, I’ll share how to reverse-engineer high-performing SERPs, build real value for your users, and create content that earns links and ranks naturally—without gimmicks.
What Makes Content Truly « 10x »?
Not all long-form or « ultimate guides » are 10x. In fact, some of them are just 1.5x… bloated, redundant, and full of fluff. Real 10x content hits harder. Here’s what sets it apart:
- It solves the core problem better than anything currently ranking.
- It’s visually engaging and intuitive to navigate.
- It delivers unique angles, insights, or data that competitors don’t have.
- It’s comprehensive without being overwhelming.
- It encourages dwell time, clicks, shares, and links.
Ask yourself: “Would I bookmark this? Would I come back to it next time I need an answer?” If not, it’s not 10x.
How to Create 10x Content: A Step-by-Step Framework
Let’s break down the process that I’ve refined after auditing, optimizing, and scaling content across more than 50 clients. This works in any niche—B2B, SaaS, eCommerce, even local SEO.
Start With Intent, Not Keywords
Most SEOs make a basic mistake: they start with high-volume keywords instead of user intent. Traffic is meaningless if it doesn’t convert or engage.
Take the query « best CRM for small business. » You might be tempted to create a 2,000-word blog post listing 15 tools. But if the intent behind this query is comparison and decision-making, users want:
- Clear pros/cons
- Actual pricing data
- Recommendations by use case
- Fast, scannable decision help
So instead of a generic listicle, you build a 10x post that includes interactive comparison tables, mini-reviews from actual users, and a decision-tree graphic. That’s 10x.
Do a SERP Deep Dive
Before writing a single word, you need to dissect the top 10 results.
Open an incognito window, Google your target keyword, and ask:
- What types of content rank? (Guides, videos, tools, landing pages…)
- What topics and questions do they all cover?
- Where are they weak? What’s missing?
Look for gaps. Maybe none of them have recent data. Maybe they’re all text-heavy and hard to skim. Maybe they’re not addressing beginner-level users. Boom—opportunity.
I like to use tools like Ahrefs’ Content Gap and Surfer SEO to quantify missing elements. But even a manual scan can show you where to go deeper, smarter, or better.
Structure Like a UX Designer (Not a Writer)
10x content isn’t just well-written—it’s well-designed.
Hold attention like it’s your job. Because it is. Here are my go-to content architecture principles:
- Use an executive summary before diving into the details.
- Break up paragraphs. No one wants a wall of text in 2024.
- Insert visuals, tables, screenshots every 300-400 words.
- Use sticky menus or jump-links for long posts.
- Design for mobile first. Content must look good on a phone.
When readers stay longer and scroll further, Google pays attention. Engagement metrics are a cheat code most SEOs ignore.
Add Real Value—Not Surface-Level Tips
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: regurgitating Google’s top 10 won’t get you anywhere. Everyone’s using the same « research » techniques. That’s why most content is indistinguishable.
If you want to stand out, you need signal through the noise. Examples include:
- Original research: Run surveys, analyze your own user data, share first-party insights.
- Detailed case studies: Show the process and results behind a tactic or strategy.
- Unique frameworks: Build a repeatable model your audience can apply.
- Tool integrations: Use Loom videos or GIFs to show how tools are used in real workflows.
A real example: On a project for a B2B SaaS provider, we added a downloadable “ROI calculator” built in Google Sheets to an article about marketing automation ROI. Bounce rate dropped by 39%, and the page earned 42 backlinks in four months—no outreach needed.
Leverage Content Hubs, Not Just One-Offs
One 10x piece is powerful, but a connected system of high-value content is unbeatable. Think hub-and-spoke models.
Create a 10x pillar page on a broad topic (e.g., “SaaS SEO Strategy”), then link out to detailed subtopics (“Technical SEO for SaaS,” “SaaS Link Building,” etc.).
This structure:
- Guides users through a learning journey
- Improves internal linking and topical authority
- Reduces bounce rates by offering the next logical step
Use SEO tools to cluster keywords semantically and map out the entire funnel before creating anything. It’s content architecture meets demand capture.
Promote It Like You Mean It
Even the best content flops if no one sees it. Distribution is half the battle—do not rely on SEO traffic alone, especially at launch.
Here’s my go-to process after publishing a 10x piece:
- Send a launch email to your existing list and any segmented contacts.
- Reach out to featured experts or sources quoted—they’ll amplify it.
- Run small budget LinkedIn ads targeting relevant industry roles.
- Repurpose key sections into Twitter threads, YouTube shorts, carousels on LinkedIn.
- Use HARO answers and Quora to link back and build passive backlinks.
And don’t sleep on internal linking. Link to the 10x post from high-authority pages on your site to drive equity fast.
Track Performance and Iterate Relentlessly
10x content isn’t static—it evolves based on feedback and SERP shifts.
Set up Google Search Console tracking, heatmaps (like Hotjar), and a simple dashboard in Looker Studio. Watch:
- Click-through rate from SERPs
- Average time on page
- Scroll depth and exit rate
- Link acquisition over time
Come back every 60-90 days to optimize. Update outdated screenshots. Improve subheadings. Add a new section where necessary. Google loves freshness—use it to maintain top rankings.
The Competitive Edge You Can’t Ignore
If you’re just chasing keywords and hoping your content « sticks, » you’re playing the short game. Creating 10x content is your way out of the race to the bottom.
Remember: ranking is the output. Real value is the input.
So before you open that blank doc, pause and ask: “What would actually make this content the most useful thing someone could find?”
If you can answer that honestly—and deliver on it—you’ll win. Every time.