In the moving sand of 2025, where good ways to https://www.wpbeginner.com/start-a-blog/https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/how-to-write-a-blog-post show up high on the search list are like water in the desert, your words either show or go away. Only a few people go past the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_results_pagehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_results_page, so being seen is like a fight for life in the online world.
Also read: how to write seo friendly blog posts
SEO‘s Shifting Sands: Why Optimize in 2025?
What worked before might not work now.
Search engine work is not a game you set and forget, it needs watchfulness and change.
In 2025, things are more important than ever.
Being on the first page of Google is not extra, it is needed.
Old content is like it is buried, you will fight to be seen.
Making your blog posts better is not just about words, it is about knowing what people want and how https://www.searchenginejournal.com/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/https://www.searchenginejournal.com/ work.
The need to make things better is not one fix, it is a constant look.
New content needs to be made with care for search, and old posts need checkups to stay strong.
What was new can fast become old.
So, you must be ready.
This means knowing when content needs work, seeing when things are not good, and using the right tools to get back or stay strong online.
In 2025, making things better is not a choice, it is how you stay alive online.
The Hard First Page: Why It Counts
The first page of Google is where you win or lose online.
Think about it: only a few people, about 4%, go past the first page.
This number is not just a number, it shows how important being at the top is for your website.
Being on page two is like being gone, a hard truth for writers.
It means your hard work is wasted if your content is not made so search engines show it.
For businesses, the first page means people find you, not others.
For bloggers, it is how you get people to see your work and be an expert.
The change between being on page one and lower is not just about being seen, it is about trust, traffic, and how much money you make.
If your content is not at the top, you are losing a lot of people.
The fight for page one is not extra, it is needed.
The numbers show that if your content is not made for page one, you are likely missing a lot of people who might read or buy.
- Seen: Studies show that the top three get most of the clicks, leaving little for others.
- Trust: People often think page one results are more right and trusted.
- Traffic: Being on the first page makes more people come to your website, leading to more sales or talk.
- Name Known: Being on the first page often makes people know your name and build your online place.
- Win: Staying at the top means you are winning over others online.
| Place | Click Rate |
|---|---|
| 1st | 31.7% |
| 2nd | 24.7% |
| 3rd | 18.6% |
| 4th | 13.6% |
| 5th | 10.5% |
| 6th-10th | 5.3% |
Old Content: Knowing When a Post Needs Work
Content, like everything, lives for a time.
What was good six months ago might be old and not good now.
Knowing when content is old is key for keeping your blog good for search and good overall.
Old content can hurt your search rankings and make you less of an expert.
Ignoring https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_managementhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Content_management is like letting your website break down.
Some things show that a blog post needs work.
Old content, like talking about past years, is easy to see.
But some signs are small, like less people coming, lower keyword rankings, and less talk.
If your content is not with what is new now, it is time to change it.
You must look at each of your posts to see these problems.
The goal is to stay new and an expert, which you can only do by always checking and changing things.
- Less Traffic: When less people come to a post, it means there is a problem.
- Lower Keyword Rankings: When your content goes down in search for keywords, it is time to make it better.
- Old Info: If the facts, numbers, or links in your post are old, it will lose trust.
- Less Talk: When people do not talk or share, it means your post is not good anymore.
- Not New: If your post is not what people want now, it might need to be changed.
- Old Words: Content that uses words like “last year” or old product names fast becomes old.
| Sign of Old Content | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Less Traffic | Change keywords and content |
| Lower Keyword Ranking | Make on-page search better, improve content |
| Old Info | Change facts, numbers, and links |
| Less Talk | Add pictures, make content better |
| Not New | Make content new for today |
Bad Scores: A Blog in Trouble
A bad search score is bad for any blog.
It means your content is not made for search engines, leading to being less seen, lost chances, and wasted time.
Think of a search score as a health check for your blog.
A low score means something is wrong, and you must fix it.
Ignoring a bad score is like ignoring a sick feeling, it will only get worse.
A bad score can come from many things.
These include bad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keyword_research, no good images, weak links inside, and thin content.
It could also mean your website search setup is bad.
If you see bad scores often, you must find the problem and fix it.
This means using search tools that will show problems and help you make your score better.
The health of a blog is how it works and how many see it.
A bad search score means the blog is not healthy.
- Bad Keyword Use: Not using the right keywords or using them badly.
- No Good Images: Images missing names or not good hurt search work.
- Weak Links Inside: Not linking posts inside your site, making a bad site.
- Thin Content: Not enough words or content not good leads to bad scores.
- Search Problems: Problems with site speed, phone use, or being found can also hurt your score.
- Meta words: Missing or bad https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meta_element can make people not click from search.
| Problem | What Happens | How to Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Keyword Use | Too many, Bad words | Check and use keywords in a normal way |
| Image | No names, too big | Add names, make images small |
| Links Inside | No links, broken links | Make links, fix broken links |
| Content Depth | Short articles, no facts | Make content bigger, add more facts |
| Site Problems | Slow load, not good for phones | Make site faster, make it work for phones |
| Meta Words | Missing or not good meta words | Write good meta words |
Also read: how to scale content production without sacrificing quality
How to Start Fresh: Building SEO from the Ground Up
Start a blog. Make a post. Success is a good SEO start.
It is not just writing. It is writing with purpose. Search engines matter.
SEO is not after. It is part of making the words.
From the start, know search engines help. You get seen more. You can win.
This is the base for any good blog. Do it right.
Building SEO from zero takes a plan.
It takes good keyword use. Know who your rivals are. Make the page right.
Make good words. Your readers like them. Search engines like them too.
Get links back to your site. This is important for power on the web.
Think of it like a house. If the bottom is weak, the house falls.
SEO from the start is a must, not a choice. It is for winning for a long time.
Keyword Deep Dive: Research That Matters
Keywords are the base for SEO.
They are words people use when they look online.
Know what words your readers use. Write about those words. This is how your blog gets found.
Keyword work is hard work. It is about knowing how your readers speak and why they search.
This takes careful thinking.
Good keyword work needs a plan.
Start with simple words. Then add long words.
Look at how much people search for each word. Look at how hard it is to win with each word.
Use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and SEMrush for this.
Find the right words. People look for them a lot. You can win with them.
Good keyword work is about the right words. The right words bring the right readers.
- Find Simple Words: Start with basic words for your topic. This is the start of your keyword work.
- Add to the List: Use tools to find words that go with the simple words. Find long words.
- Look at Search Numbers: See how many times people look for a word each month. More means more readers.
- See How Hard It Is: Find out how hard it is to win with a word. Use words that are not too hard.
- Know Why They Search: Why do people search for a word? Information? A place? To buy?
- Group Words: Put words together. The words are for different kinds of pages.
| Step | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Word | Start with a basic word for your topic | “Blog Work” |
| Add To List | Use tools to find words that go with it | “SEO tips for blogs,” “Good blog SEO work,” |
| See Numbers | Check how many people search per month | “Blog work” = 5,000, “SEO tips for blogs” = 2,000 |
| See How Hard | Look at who wins with each word | “Blog work” = hard, “Good blog SEO work” = medium |
| Why Search | Know why people search | Information: “how to work on blogs,” To buy: “SEO tool for blogs” |
| Group Words | Group by why they search | Information words for blogs, To buy words for pages to sell |
Scope the Competition: Know Your Rivals
See what the top blogs do. Don’t copy. Know their plans.
This helps you make your words different. Do your SEO right. You can beat them.
Rival work is not a choice. It is needed to make a strong SEO plan.
This work will show you how to beat your rivals. You will win with your SEO.
Rival work is many steps.
Look at their page SEO. Look at titles. Meta words. Keyword use. Page style.
Look at links to their site. Look how fast the site is. Look at the site style.
See what works for your rivals. Use this to make your words better.
The point is to know their good points. Know their bad points. Know how to beat them. Make your words better than theirs.
Know your rivals. You can win on the search page.
- Know the Top Blogs: Find the 5–10 blogs that win with your target words.
- Look at Their Page SEO: Look at their https://ahrefs.com/blog/title-tag-seo/, meta words, header use, and where they put keywords.
- Look at How They Write: How do they use headers, lists, photos, and other things?
- Look at Their Links: Where do their links come from? Are the links good?
- Check How Fast Their Site Is: Is their site fast or slow? Does it work on phones?
- Find What They Miss: Find what they don’t write about. You can be better.
| Aspect | Questions to Ask | Analysis Goal |
|---|---|---|
| Top Rivals | Who are the blogs that win the most with my target words? | Know who the big players are |
| On-Page SEO | How do they use keywords in titles, headers, and words? | Know their keyword plan |
| How They Write | How do they write for readers? | Make your words better |
| Links Back | Where do their links come from? | Know where to get links |
| Site Speed | How fast are their pages? | Make sure your site is not slow |
| What They Miss | What do they miss? How can you be better at it? | Find places to make your words different |
On-Page Optimization: The Base of Winning
Make the page right. This is the main part of SEO.
Make sure the page is easy for search engines and readers to see.
Make sure your page titles, headers, keywords, photos, and words are good.
If you don’t make the page right, your words will get lost. No one will see them.
This is the first step to make your words easy to find.
Good on-page work takes a few steps.
Use your target words in your title, headers, and words.
Write good meta words. Use alt text on photos. Use headers and sub headers.
Make your site easy to move around. Use links to your other pages. Use good words. Make it easy to read.
When you make the page right, search engines know more about your words. You will win.
This work is the key to every good blog.
- Use Keywords Well: Use target words in your title, headers, and words.
- Make Good Page Titles: Use your target word in the title.
- Write Meta Words: Write short meta words. Make people want to click.
- Use Headers and Sub Headers: Use H1, H2, and H3 tags. Makes the page easy to read.
- Make Photos Good: Make photos small. Use good file names. Use alt text with your target words.
- Link Inside Your Site: Use links to other pages on your site.
- Make it Easy to Read: Use dots, lists, and short paragraphs.
| Element | Best Practice | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Page Title | Use target word, make it short | “How to Work on Blogs for SEO in 2025” |
| Meta Words | Write a short summary with keywords, no more than 160 letters | “Learn how to work on your blog for SEO in 2025. Win more.” |
| Headers | Use keywords in headers, use H1, H2, H3 tags | H1: “SEO Work in 2025,” H2: “Keyword Work,” H3: “Finding Simple Words” |
| Photos | Make photos small. Use good file names. Use alt text with keywords | File: blog-seo-2025.jpg; Alt Text: “Blog SEO Work in 2025” |
| Internal Links | Link to other words on your site | “Read our guide to learn more about Keyword Work…” |
| Easy To Read | Use short paragraphs, dots, and lists | “SEO is good for more readers, more known brand, and more leads” |
Content That Counts: What Readers Crave
Words are the heart of your blog.
Your words must be good for search engines. They must also bring in readers.
Google likes words that are good. They like words that matter for people who search.
Words that count are not just right keywords. They are good, fun to read words.
Good words mean knowing your readers. What do they need? What do they want?
It means making good, true words.
It means using your own ideas. Facts. Numbers. And good sources.
It also means writing easy to read words. Use easy words. Make it look good.
Words that count bring search engines. They also bring readers back for more.
- Make Good Words: Make your words true and good for readers.
- Use Your Ideas: Add your own ideas. Make your words different.
- Use Facts and Numbers: Use facts from good sources.
- Make it Easy to Read: Use headers, dots, photos, and quotes.
- Use Easy Words: Use easy words. No big words.
- Teach Your Readers: Teach them something new in every post. Make your words good for them.
- Give Good Advice: Give them good tips that they can use.
| Content Element | Best Practice | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Good Words | Make your words true and good for readers | Makes you trusted, readers come back |
| Your Ideas | Add your own stories and ideas | Makes you different, readers like it |
| Numbers and Facts | Use numbers and facts from trusted sources | Makes your words true |
| Easy to Read | Use headers, lists, photos, quotes | Makes it easy to read, keeps readers interested |
| Easy Words | Use easy words. Speak like people speak | Makes the words easy to read, keeps readers coming back |
| Teach Your Readers | Teach readers something new | Makes your words good for readers, makes them come back |
| Good Advice | Give tips that people can use | Makes your words good for readers, makes them come back |
Building Backlinks: The Path to Authority
Backlinks are links from other websites to your blog.
They are very important for SEO.
Search engines see backlinks as votes. Other websites think your words are good.
Lots of good backlinks mean you are strong, good, and important.
Backlinks are not just about how many. They are about the quality of the links.
Getting good backlinks takes time. You need a plan.
Make good words that other websites want to link to. Talk to good websites. Talk to other bloggers in your field.
Use social media and other places to show your words.
Get links from strong, important websites. These are the best links.
Backlinks are very important for SEO. They help you stay on top and move higher.
- Make Good Words: Make good words. Other websites will want to link to them.
- Talk to Other Websites: Talk to good websites in your field. Ask for links.
- Write Guest Posts: Write for other blogs. Link back to your blog.
- Share on Social Media: Share your words on social media. People can link to them.
- Watch Your Links: See how your links grow. Fix any bad links.
- Fix Broken Links: Check for bad links on your site. Fix them.
- Get the Right Links: Get links from important websites. Get links from websites in your field.
| Backlink Strategy | Action | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Good Words | Make good, unique words. Others will want to link to them | Bring in links. Makes you powerful |
| Talk to Others | Talk to important websites in your field | Get links from strong, important sites |
| Write Guest Posts | Write for other blogs | Show your words to new readers. Get links from trusted sources |
| Share On Social Media | Share your words on social media | More people see your words, more links |
| Watch Your Links | Watch your links with tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush | See link growth. Find bad links. Fix broken links |
| The Right Links | Get links from important websites in your field | Better SEO. More trust. More important |
Also read: unlock the power of engaging content with our blog writing services
Reclaiming Old Ground: Fixing Old Posts
Fixing old blog posts is as important as making new ones.
The web changes fast. Content must change too.
It is not enough to make new things. You must look at old things.
Not fixing old things is like letting a garden go bad. It will fill with weeds.
Fixing old posts is key to good SEO.
Reclaiming old ground means you plan.
You look at how old posts do. Find weak spots. Fix them.
Start with https://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/abouthttps://search.google.com/search-console/about. See how posts do. Find good keywords.
Look at keywords again. Change the content. See what others do.
This way, your old posts still bring people and keep them reading.
Check How It Does: Google Search Console Shows You
Google Search Console is key to see how your blog posts do.
It shows how posts do in search. What keywords bring people. How people use the posts.
Not using this is like walking without a map. Hard to know where you go or what to fix.
Knowing this info is key to fix things well.
Using Google Search Console means watching key things. Like clicks, views, and keyword places.
Look at how each page does. Find what to fix.
Look at keywords at places 4 to 10. They can go higher.
Use this to find weak spots. Track what you do. See if the old posts do well.
This is where info meets plan.
- Go to the Report: Go to “Performance” in Google Search Console. See how your site does in search.
- Filter by Page: Use the “Page” filter. See how each post does. Put in the URL.
- Track Clicks and Views: See clicks and views each post gets over time.
- Find Search Words: See keywords that bring people to each post.
- Look at Average Place: See the average place of keywords for each post.
- See How It Changes: See how content does at different times. Find trends.
| What You Look At | Why It Matters | How to Use Google Search Console |
|---|---|---|
| Clicks | Shows how many people click to your site from search results | Filter by page. See click changes over time. |
| Views | Shows how many times your page shows in search results | Watch views. See how often your posts show. |
| Search Words | Shows words that bring people to your posts from search | Find good keywords. Use them in your content. |
| Average Place | Shows where your site is for a word | See place changes. Fix posts that do not do well. |
| How It Does Over Time | See changes over time | See current results to the past. |
Keyword Sort: Find What Works
Keywords are key to SEO. Not all words are the same.
Sort keywords by average place in Google Search Console. Find places to fix.
Look at keywords at places 4 to 10. They do well but need a push to the top.
This helps your blog do better.
Sort keywords by average place. This is a plan.
Pick the “Average Place” thing. Click on “Place” under “Queries”. This sorts keywords from high to low.
Look at words that do well but not in the top 3. Fix your content. Push these keywords up.
- Pick “Average Place”: In Google Search Console, pick “Average Place” from the list.
- Sort Keywords by Place: Click “Place” under “Queries”. Sort keywords by place.
- Find Mid-Place Keywords: Look for keywords at places 4 to 10.
- See How Keywords Do: Look at how each mid-place word does over time.
- Fix the Right Things: Fix content for mid-place words. Push them higher.
- Watch Results: See if fixing changes the keyword place.
| Step | What to Do | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Pick “Average Place” | Pick the average place in Google Search Console | See where your keywords rank |
| Sort by Place | Put keywords in order of rank | Find good and bad keywords |
| Find Mid-Place Keywords | Highlight keywords at places 4 to 10 | Pick keywords with easy wins |
| See How They Do | See how mid-place keywords have done over time | See how fixing things will help |
| Fix the Right Things | Focus on pushing mid-place keywords higher | Get more people from search. |
| Watch Results | Track place changes after fixes | See if your fixes worked |
Use Words Right: Don’t Stuff, Let It Flow
Find good keywords. Then put them in your blog posts.
Do not stuff keywords. That is bad. Do not force keywords in.
Too many keywords hurt your SEO. People stop reading.
Put keywords back in. Make it natural. Make your blog good for people searching.
Put keywords in your content.
Put them in text, titles, and other places. Make it flow.
Use keywords. Make it sound real, not forced.
Write for people first. Not for search engines.
Keywords are key. But balance is key.
- Use Real Talk: Write for people. Put keywords in natural talk.
- Use Words in Titles: Put keywords in your titles and subtitles, if it fits.
- Sprinkle Words in the Post: Put keywords in the post, but not too much.
- Make It Fit: Make sure your keywords fit the post.
- Easy to Read: Make sure keywords do not make it hard to read.
- Do Not Force It: Do not use too many keywords. Do not force them in.
| Where to Use Words | How To Do It | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Text | Put keywords in your words | “Fixing blog posts for SEO is important…” |
| Titles | Put keywords in your main titles | H2: “SEO Tips”, H3: “How to do Keyword Work” |
| Subtitles | Put keywords in subtitles | “Links are key for blog SEO” |
| Easy to Read | Make sure keywords do not make it hard to read | Write keywords in. Do not use them too much. |
Posts That Do Not Do Well: Look at Others
If a post does not rank for some words, look at others.
See what your rivals do. See how their content is doing better.
Find their posts that rank high for the words you need. See what they do.
This helps you fix your content. Fill gaps. Do better in search.
See what your rivals do for bad keywords. Use SEO tools.
Use tools like Keywords Everywhere to see search volume. See how hard it is.
Search the keyword in Google. See the sites that rank high.
See what they did right. Use that in your posts.
Make content that is better, bigger, and more fun than others.
Look at rivals to see how to win back lost places.
- Find Bad Keywords: Find keywords where your posts do not rank well.
- Use Keyword Tools: Use tools like Keywords Everywhere to see search data.
- Find Top Rivals: Find the pages that rank high for your keywords.
- See What They Do: See what they do different. Compare their posts to yours.
- Find Empty Spaces: See if they have more content. If they format better or are more fun.
- Fix Your Posts: Use this to write better posts.
| Plan Phase | What You Do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Find Bad Keywords | Use Google Search Console. Find bad keywords | Know where to focus fixes |
| Use Tools | Use tools like Keywords Everywhere | Get info on search volume. See how hard it is. |
| Top Ranking Rivals | Search and find sites that rank high for your keywords | Find who you must beat. See how big the threat is. |
| Look at Content | Look at rivals. Is it detailed? | Know why they do better than you. |
| Find Content Gaps | Find what is missing or what you can do better | See how to add more value and fix issues |
| Fix Your Posts | Fix your posts from your research | Make content better than rivals |
Also read: how to scale content production without sacrificing quality
Tools for the Trade: The Best in the Field
To make a blog good for search, you need more than good words.
You need tools to look at, fix, and make your site work better.
These tools show you things, give you facts, and tell you what to do.
Without them, you walk in the dark.
With the right tools, it is easier to see how your words work, to find problems and make them better for search.
Some tools can help you make your blog better for search.
They are plugins, programs, and big tools for search.
They help with all parts of search, from finding words to seeing what others do.
From making your words better to fixing problems and making links, these tools help make a blog that works well.
Using good tools saves time and gives better results.
SEOSpace: A Plugin for the Job
SEOSpace is a search plugin for Squarespace sites.
It helps make blogs better for search by telling you how to fix them.
The plugin looks at your words and tells you what to do. It is good for anyone using Squarespace.
It gives you a score and tells you how to make the score better.
This plugin makes sure your blog is good for search.
This tool helps find problems with your site, both on the page and off the page.
It tells you how to fix things if you use Squarespace.
It watches how your page ranks and tells you how to make it better.
This plugin is important for Squarespace users who want to make their search better.
- On-Page Help: Tells you where to put words, how to fix images, and more.
- Site Fix: Finds problems with page speed, phones, and site build.
- Off-Page Help: Shows you how to make links and work on search outside of your site.
- Real-Time Talk: Gives you help as you work on your words.
- Watch How You Do: Sees how your page ranks over time and tells you how to fix things.
- Squarespace Only: Made for Squarespace sites, so it works best there.
| Thing | Good Point | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| On-Page Help | Gives tips to make each page better for search | Put words in the right place, use headers, make meta words |
| Site Fix | Finds problems that hurt how search engines see your site | Make phones work, make site fast, make code good |
| Off-Page Help | Tells you how to make good links | Make links, share on social |
| Real-Time Talk | Gives help right away | Make words better, change how much you write |
| Watch How You Do | Sees how you change over time | Checks if you are doing better and helps you fix things. |
| Squarespace Only | Made to work best with Squarespace | Made for this site only. |
Surfer SEO: Analysis at Your Fingertips
Surfer SEO is a strong search tool that works with any site.
It looks at a word you want to rank for and the page you want to make better.
Surfer looks at your words and tells you what to do to rank for that word.
This tool shows you and tells you how to make your words better.
This will let you beat your friends.
With Surfer SEO, you can find why your words do not rank high for some words.
It gives clear steps to fix these problems.
It lets you see how your page looks next to top pages, so you can make yours better.
With this tool, you can beat others.
- Word Look: Shows how good a word is for ranking.
- Words Better: Looks at words and tells you how to make search better.
- Watch Others: Lets you see how your page is next to top pages for words.
- Steps to Take: Gives clear, steps to rank for words.
- Word Build: Shows if your build, headers and words are good.
- Word Use: Looks at how much you use words and gives tips.
| Thing | Good Point | How to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Word Look | Shows how good your words are | Number, hard, different words |
| Words Better | Tells you how to make your words better | Use words, write more, use word ideas |
| Watch Others | Lets you see your page next to others |
Also read: how to write seo friendly blog posts
What about it?
To be good in 2025 is not new, it is needed.
First page on Google is not a maybe, it is where you fight to get seen.
You must know a top spot is not given, you get it by always working at it.
Not caring about SEO is like no roof in a storm, you get hurt.
Being good at it is your shield, you need it.
Old content is slow poison, it makes you weaker on the web.
A blog post that was good six months back can be bad now, and bad SEO is a sign.
It is a warning you must not miss.
The numbers show – first page is important, 31.7% click on the top, 5.3% click on numbers 6-10. This shows the truth, a few spots can make you or break you.
To build good SEO from zero you must find the right words and know your rivals.
You must also fix your own page, it is the base.
Content is your gun, it must be sharp.
It must make both search engines and people happy, it must be worth reading.
The links you get are your name, you must care about them.
These things matter, they are how you stay on top on search engines.
Getting back old spots needs the same work as making something new.
Google Search Console shows how your old content is doing, it shows what to fix.
You must pick words, find those near the top and get them there.
With the right tools, like SEOSpace for Squarespace and Surfer SEO for more work, you can do good SEO.
The fight to be seen is always on, but with know how and will to change, you can win.
Also read: content marketing tools for bloggers
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