Koray SEO: The Holistic Methodology That Replaced Backlinks With Topical Authority
Koray SEO refers to the semantic search optimization methodology developed by Koray Tuğberk Gübür — a Turkish SEO expert and CEO of Holistic SEO & Digital — that replaces backlink-based ranking strategies with topical authority built through entity-optimized, semantically interconnected content networks. The approach, codified in 41 authorship rules known as the Koray Framework, demonstrated for the first time that new websites with zero domain authority could outrank established competitors by achieving semantic completeness on a topic cluster.
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Creator | Koray Tuğberk Gübür |
| Also called | Holistic SEO, Koray Framework, Koray’s methodology |
| Core mechanism | Topical authority via semantic content networks |
| Key rules | 41 authorship rules (Koray Framework) |
| Content structure | Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV), Semantic Triples (SPO) |
| Primary alternative to | Backlink-based SEO, keyword-stuffing, domain authority |
| Proven results | 0 to hundreds of thousands of rankings without link building |
What Is Koray SEO and How Does It Differ From Traditional SEO?
Traditional SEO treats ranking as a function of backlinks and keyword density. Koray SEO treats ranking as a function of semantic completeness — the degree to which a domain comprehensively addresses every entity, attribute, and user intent within a topic cluster.
| Dimension | Traditional SEO | Koray SEO (Holistic SEO) |
|---|---|---|
| Ranking driver | Backlinks + domain authority | Topical authority + semantic completeness |
| Content unit | Individual keyword-targeted page | Interconnected entity-topic network |
| Content structure | Keyword density, H1/H2 optimization | EAV patterns, SPO triples, extractive answers |
| Internal linking | Juice passing, anchor text matching | Semantic relationship signaling between entities |
| Time to results | 12–24 months (link building) | 3–6 months (topical map completion) |
| New site viability | Low — authority gap too large | High — topical completeness levels the field |
| Schema markup role | Optional enhancement | Core signal for Knowledge Graph inclusion |
What Are the Core Principles of Koray’s Holistic SEO?
1. Topical Authority Over Link Authority
Google’s Knowledge Graph evaluates domain expertise based on how completely a site covers a topic. Koray SEO builds topical authority by creating 50–200 interlinked articles that address every subtopic, entity relationship, and user question within a semantic field.
2. Entity-Attribute-Value (EAV) Content Structure
Every piece of content is structured as entity descriptions with explicit attributes and verifiable values. Instead of writing “SEO is important for businesses,” Koray SEO writes: [Semantic SEO] → [increases] → [organic traffic] → [by aligning content with Knowledge Graph entity relationships].
3. Semantic Triples (Subject–Predicate–Object)
Content is constructed so that every key statement can be extracted by Google as a machine-readable SPO triple. This directly feeds the Knowledge Graph and improves entity salience.
4. Information Responsiveness
Each page provides an extractive answer in the first 40–60 words — a precise, standalone response to the target query — before expanding with supporting detail. This enables featured snippet capture and AI Overview inclusion.
5. Semantic Internal Linking Architecture
Internal links in Koray SEO signal semantic relationships between entities. A hub-spoke architecture connects a pillar topic to all subtopic pages, with cross-links between spokes reinforcing the entity network.
What Is the Koray Framework and How Many Rules Does It Have?
The Koray Framework consists of 41 authorship rules that govern every aspect of content creation for topical authority:
| Rule Category | Rules | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Content structure | 1–12 | EAV patterns, extractive answers, question H2s |
| Entity optimization | 13–21 | Knowledge Graph signals, entity salience, schema |
| Internal linking | 22–28 | Hub-spoke architecture, semantic anchor text |
| Topical completeness | 29–35 | Topical map coverage, gap detection, subtopic depth |
| Information Responsiveness | 36–41 | Featured snippet optimization, query-answer alignment |
What Results Has Koray SEO Produced?
| Case Type | Starting Condition | Result | Timeframe |
|---|---|---|---|
| New website, zero backlinks | 0 rankings, DA 0 | Hundreds of thousands of rankings | 6–12 months |
| E-commerce vs Amazon | Outranked by dominant authority sites | Category leadership without link building | 8 months |
| Local business | No organic visibility | Top 3 for all service queries in city | 4 months |
| B2B SaaS | Low conversion, high bounce | +156% conversion rate improvement | 5 months |
POS1 results applying the Koray framework:
- +340% organic traffic — E-commerce case study
- +280% organic traffic — EdTech case study
- +156% conversion rate — B2B SaaS case study
- Local business ranking without backlinks
Why Is Koray SEO Called “Holistic”?
The term “holistic” reflects a systems-thinking approach: no SEO dimension functions independently. Technical health, semantic content structure, entity optimization, schema markup, and user experience signals are treated as a unified system. This contrasts with siloed agency practice of running separate audits for technical, content, and links.
How to Implement Koray SEO on Your Website
- Topical map construction — Topical Maps: Complete Framework
- Entity audit — Entity Recognition in SEO
- Content creation per 41 rules — Complete Koray Framework Guide
- Schema markup implementation — Schema Markup SEO Guide
- Semantic internal linking — 7 Semantic SEO Fundamentals
Frequently Asked Questions About Koray SEO
What does “Koray SEO” mean?
Koray SEO refers to the semantic SEO methodology created by Koray Tuğberk Gübür — also called Holistic SEO. It builds topical authority through entity-optimized content networks structured with 41 authorship rules, replacing traditional backlink-based ranking strategies.
Is Koray SEO the same as Holistic SEO?
Yes. Holistic SEO is the official brand name for Koray Tuğberk Gübür’s agency and methodology. Both terms describe the same framework built on topical authority, semantic triples, and entity-attribute-value content structure.
Does Koray SEO work without backlinks?
Yes. Koray’s documented case studies show websites achieving hundreds of thousands of rankings with zero backlink campaigns by achieving topical completeness and entity authority.
How long does Koray SEO take to produce results?
Typically 3–6 months from the completion of a topical map — significantly faster than traditional link-building timelines of 12–24 months.
Who uses the Koray Framework?
POS1 applies the Koray Framework for all client engagements. Thousands of SEO professionals have also studied it through Koray’s Topical Authority and Semantic SEO Course at topicalauthority.digital.
What is the difference between Koray SEO and semantic SEO?
Semantic SEO is the broader category. Koray SEO is a specific, codified implementation with 41 explicit rules, a defined topical map methodology, and a documented track record. All Koray SEO is semantic SEO, but not all semantic SEO follows Koray’s framework.