Research methodology
GrowthLayer combines programmatic SEO pages, editorial articles, and search performance data. This page explains the operating rules behind that system.
1. Query ownership matters
We aim for one clear owner per important query. Search Console cannibalization checks are used to detect overlap so pages can be differentiated, merged, or redirected before they compete against each other.
2. Programmatic pages must add page-level value
Category, guide, and benchmark pages should not be shallow variable swaps. Each page should include unique headings, summaries, FAQs, and supporting sections that match the specific query intent it targets.
3. Editorial articles must be answerable and scannable
Blog posts should include a summary, key takeaways, clean heading structure, and FAQs where appropriate. This helps search engines, answer engines, and AI systems extract the core meaning of the page without guessing.
4. Automation is used for detection first
Weekly systems submit sitemaps, inspect index status, audit site speed, and identify weak pages. Those systems can draft suggested changes, but approval stays in the loop before content is updated.
5. Canonicals and domain structure stay simple
GrowthLayer prefers subfolders over subdomains for content. Blog content should resolve on the main domain under /blog, and sitemaps should only list the canonical URLs we want indexed.
6. Quality checks are ongoing
PageSpeed data, Search Console impressions and CTR, crawl coverage, and review-queue health are treated as feedback loops. The goal is to keep improving the site over time instead of shipping pages once and forgetting them.
Read the editorial policy