Marcus Rowe
Head of Strategy, Serply
A repeatable framework for taking first-page control of any branded search term in three months or less. Real steps, real timelines.
Ninety days is enough to meaningfully change what the first page of a branded search looks like — if you execute systematically. Not perfectly. Systematically. Here's the framework.
Days 1–15: Full SERP audit
Before you create anything new, map what exists. Pull every result on pages 1–3 of your branded search. Categorize each: owned, near-owned (third-party you can influence), neutral, or negative. Identify the gap between what's ranking and what should be ranking.
Days 15–45: Build the content infrastructure
- Publish 3–5 authority articles on topics you want to own
- Strengthen your LinkedIn and executive profiles with keyword-rich, structured content
- Update your About, Team, and Foundation pages for entity completeness
- Set up news-distribution-quality press releases for existing achievements
Days 45–75: Amplification and link building
“Content without amplification is a library with no address. Distribution is what turns a good article into a ranking asset.”
Identify 10–20 high-authority publications relevant to your industry. Pitch bylines, data stories, and expert commentary. Each placement adds a link from an authoritative domain to your owned assets — accelerating their ranking trajectory.
Days 75–90: Monitor, adjust, press
By day 75, you'll see the first movements. Some assets will have climbed. Others will need more support. Double down on what's working — more internal links, more external amplification — and retire anything that's not gaining traction. Then start the next 90-day cycle.
See what's actually ranking for your name
Free SERP audit — we map your search results and tell you exactly what needs to change.
