How To Outrank Outdated Websites in Local Search Rankings?

I want to compete against some of the local websites that are waaay outdated, with really bad on/off site SEO. These websites mostly lack SEO completely (no h1/h2..., bad keywords, shit content, etc.) and were created around 10 years ago with no updates whatsoever. This could be because the owner woke up one day and decided he wanted a cheap website, resulting in a cheap outcome.

The thing is, these websites rank pretty well and are quite difficult to surpass in rankings. Do you know what the best strategy might be? I can create a much better website, optimize everything for perfect on-site SEO, and even purchase some backlinks, but it's still challenging to rank above these websites that dominate the top search results. Could it be because of the domain age, and I just have to wait to get there, or is there anything in particular you would recommend trying?

Any methods be it blackhat / whitehat are welcome

We would be chasing wild goose in predicting the predicament of yours vis-a-vis other websites ranking at the top position, despite being outdated unless of course we know the domain, and can do a cross-comparison using one of the tools.

Unless we know what we are looking for, we would be giving you solutions which might not serve you right.

So let's start with your website details vis-a-vis your competition, and then I can help you with some pointers to improve on.

It may not be domain age, but the overall authority and trust these sites may have generated over the years which is helping them to stay ranked but it would be too early to comment on that without knowing the specifics.

To outrank outdated websites in local search rankings, leveraging a Google News old edition website is a highly effective strategy. These websites have access to various Google products, such as Google News, the app, web, Google Alerts, Top Stories, and Discover, providing your content with high visibility and authority.

Start by publishing 3-5 locally relevant articles daily. Due to the high authority of Google News old edition websites, your content can quickly get featured in Top Stories, attracting significant local traffic. Make sure these articles include backlinks to your main business site to drive targeted traffic and enhance your website’s relevance and authority.

Regularly updating your content ensures that your information is fresh and relevant, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge over outdated websites. By consistently posting quality content, you can rapidly improve your ranking and maintain a prominent position in local search results. The high-authority status of the Google News old edition website allows you to achieve these results without the high costs associated with traditional marketing methods.

Using this strategy, you can effectively outrank outdated websites in local search rankings, ensuring your business remains visible and competitive in the local market.