5 Examples of Terrible Content That Ranks Remarkably Well

5 Examples of Terrible Content That Ranks Remarkably Well

Search engines like Google have made huge strides in improving the quality of search results. Yet, oddly enough, some low-quality, poorly written, or outdated content still manages to rank at the top of the SERPs. How is this possible?

Let’s explore five surprising examples of terrible content that somehow ranks well—and what you can learn from them.

1. Keyword-Stuffed Articles That Still Dominate Niche Queries

You’ve probably seen them: articles awkwardly repeating the same keyword 20+ times. Despite being hard to read and offering minimal value, some of these keyword-stuffed pages still rank well for specific, low-competition niches.

Why they rank:

• Exact match keyword usage

• Strong domain authority

• Lack of better-optimized competition

Lesson: In low-competition spaces, technical SEO sometimes outweighs content quality. But for long-term success, user value must come first.

2. Outdated Blog Posts With High Backlink Counts

Some blog posts published years ago—filled with outdated stats or obsolete tactics—still sit at the top of search results. They often benefit from a massive number of backlinks earned early on.

Why they rank:

• Aged domain trust

• Inbound links from credible sources

• Content freshness not heavily weighed for that topic

Lesson: Link equity is powerful, but you should keep content up to date to retain user trust and prevent high bounce rates.

3. Poorly Written Product Descriptions on Ecommerce Sites

You’ll find product pages full of typos, vague descriptions, or even duplicated content that still rank well, especially on large eCommerce platforms.

Why they rank:

• Strong domain authority

• Good technical SEO (structured data, fast load times)

• High user engagement or conversion rates

Lesson: UX and brand strength can sometimes compensate for weak content—but don’t rely on that as your strategy.

4. Thin Content on High-Traffic Q&A Forums

Sometimes, a one-line answer from a user on a forum like Quora or Reddit appears in the top results, even when better guides exist elsewhere.

Why they rank:

• Domain trust and user engagement

• Google favors user-generated answers for specific questions

• Lack of competing content that directly answers the query

Lesson: Google values relevance—even in bite-sized content. Structured, direct answers can outperform long-winded pages.

5. Clickbait Headlines With Low Substance

Titles like “You Won’t Believe What This Expert Did!” might lead to shallow articles with little value, but they still rank and get clicks.

Why they rank:

• High click-through rates (CTR)

• Emotional triggers in headlines

• Backlinks due to controversy or virality