VEED's SEO Playbook: How They Climbed to #1 for a "Difficulty 70" Keyword "AI Video Generator"

Ranking on the first page of Google is tough. Ranking number one for a high-value, competitive keyword is a monumental task.

But over the last year, that's exactly what VEED did. This isn't about short-term hacks; this is the strategic playbook they used to secure the top spot for some of the most competitive terms in their industry.

Choosing the right keyword battlefield

Before starting, VEED identified its primary targets. This wasn't a broad campaign; it was a focused assault on high-value territory.

• Primary Keyword: Their main goal was to conquer "AI video generator."

• The Metrics: They knew the challenge was steep. This keyword has a difficulty score of about 70 and significant commercial value, indicated by a high CPC.

• The Outcome: This focus paid off. VEED now ranks number one for its primary keyword, as well as a portfolio of related terms including "AI video," "text to video," and a long tail of related searches.

Building SEO on a foundation of focus

One of the overlooked parts of VEED's journey is that their SEO success only happened because of relentless focus.

Sabba has emphasized that spreading attention across multiple products is one of the worst mistakes founders make.

VEED worked because it was the first time he focused entirely on one product for 7 years straight. That commitment created the base for their SEO push: no side bets, no distractions.

The 3 pillars behind VEED's SEO success

Their strategy wasn't built on loopholes. It was a year-long commitment to 3 foundational pillars that any startup can adopt.

Pillar I: The product as the foundation of SEO

Before spending a dollar on SEO, VEED made sure the product delivered.

Google tracks user behavior closely: if visitors bounce because the tool doesn't work or doesn't meet their expectations, rankings will fall.

Sabba compared it to searching for "video compressor" and landing on a page that doesn't actually compress videos—you won't rank, no matter how many backlinks you buy.

Pillar II: Decoding user intent through search analysis

User intent is often misunderstood. A phrase like "video generator" could mean text-to-video, a click-to-generate video tool, or a full editor.

VEED removed the guesswork by Googling the target keyword, clicking the first link, and studying what the current leader was offering.

That page was Google's proof of what met intent. VEED then ensured their own landing pages and product lined up with that proven expectation.

Pillar III: Building topical authority in AI

Initially, VEED wasn't seen as an AI company. They had to earn that positioning in Google's eyes.

Instead of chasing backlinks for their own sake, they sought ways to become genuinely associated with AI.

Talks at AI demo days, social media content, and YouTube appearances all signaled authority. The biggest win came when Sabba spoke at OpenAI's Dev Day—an endorsement from the definitive authority in AI.

That single event gave Google the clearest signal that VEED belonged in the AI conversation.

The compounding effect of authority

Once VEED climbed to number one, their ranking began reinforcing itself. Writers at sites like Zapier who publish "best AI video generator" lists don't conduct deep research; they Google the keyword and feature the top 3 results.

VEED's position now guarantees constant mentions, backlinks, and citations, which further cement their authority. Sabba called it a self-fulfilling prophecy that locks in the winners.

The shifting landscape of search

The team also sees the battlefield shifting. About 15% of VEED's traffic now comes not from Google but from large language models like ChatGPT and Grok.

These models already recommend VEED as the top tool in their category.

While Google remains dominant, AI-driven recommendation engines are becoming a real traffic source, and VEED's strong positioning in AI keywords means they're well-placed to benefit from that shift.

Turning rankings into a long-term moat

The year-long effort didn't just put VEED on top; it created a defensive moat.

• VEED is now competing directly with Adobe and Canva for top AI-related keywords.

• Sabba believes the top 3 results for "AI video generator" will likely be locked in for the next five years.

• Their #1 position feeds into an authority flywheel: being first makes them the default citation in articles and reviews, which drives backlinks and further strengthens their hold.

The overlooked lesson in VEED's playbook is that SEO is not about hacks—it's about compounding credibility.

It starts with focus on one product, builds on a real understanding of user intent, and grows by establishing topical authority in your space.

Once you break through to the top, the position sustains itself by feeding more authority back into your brand.

Hat Tip to Sabba, co-founder of Veed, for the insight (h/t Napkin Math.)

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