what is SEO? SEO, or Search Engine Optimization is the process of making your website / web pages better for search engines, so that it can rank higher. SEO rankings refer to how well your website or content performs in search engine results .The higher your blog post ranks in search result page, the more likely people are to click on it and visit your website. In simple words let’s say you have a website or online store that sells handmade jewelry , when someone searches for “handmade jewelry” on Google, the search engines will look for web pages that contains the words “handmade jewelry” and “best”. if your website has those words or similar information , Google will consider it a good match and rank it higher in search results
Why you need to write blog post?
- Helps your website rank higher in search engine result page (SERP).
- This make it easier for people to find your site and increase your online visibility.
- It allows you to connect with your audience.
- It can help drive traffic to your site.
- This can lead to increase sales and revenue.
Easy-to-follow Steps to cover while writing a blog post:
Make a topic selection: keep your topic clear and straightforward. Always write for your readers first, and optimize your content for search engines second. Stay up-to-date with current trends and news in your industry. This will help you attract readers and increase your blog’s visibility .Think outside the box to present a topic in a creative way.
Search for keywords and phrases: keywords and phrases are the words that people use to search for information on search engines like Google .There are several types of keywords (Short-tail keywords, Long-tail keywords, LSI keywords, Buyer intent keywords, navigational keywords, transactional vs commercial keywords , informational keywords, etc). Use keywords that are specific, relevant, and have high search volume and low competition .Make use of keyword research tools such as ‘Google Keyword Planner’ to generate lists of relevant keywords and phrases.
Headlines and subheadings:Headlines and subheadings are important parts of blog content because they highlight the main elements of the topic, It also grab the reader’s attention and give them an idea of what the content is about. Heading can also be used to create a hierarchy of information and make the content easier to scan , which can improve the user experience and keep reader engaged.
when selecting a heading its important to consider the following:
- Primary keywords: Include you primary keywords in the heading.
- Relevance: make sure the headline is relevant to the content of the blog post.
- Length: keep the headline short and to the point.
- Clarity: Make sure the heading is clear and easy to understand.
- Originality: come up with unique and original headline that will stand out from the crowd.
Internal and external links : internal links are links that point from one page of website to another page on the same website. it provide a link to related or relevant pages on the site, which encouraging users to explore more and potentially spend more time on the website.
Here’s an example: Suppose you have a website of “clothing store” To optimize your website with internal linking, you should create hyperlinks from the home page to the category pages such as “Women’s clothing,” “Men’s clothing,” and “Kids’ clothing.”
External links are links that point from a page on one website to another website. When you put external links on your website, it helps search engines understand what your website is about and how it relates to other websites .when linking to external website its important to choose high-quality, relevant website that provide value to your readers. you should also use” descriptive anchor text” which is visible and clickable text that appears in a hyperlink. It’s the text that you click on when you want to visit another website. Here’s an example : If you run a lifestyle blog and you find a really great article on healthy habits on a different website, you can link to that article so your readers can learn from it.
Include Images with alt tags: Images with alt tags are essential for optimizing a blog post for SEO. Alt tags, also known as “alternative text,” are descriptions of an image that appear when the image cannot be displayed. Search engine crawlers cannot “see” images like humans can, so they rely on alt tags to understand what an image is about.
Write a magnetic meta description: A magnetic meta description captures a reader’s attention and entices them to click through to your site. uses language that creates a sense of excitement,Instead of simply describing the company’s products.
Here is an example of a magnetic ‘meta description’:(Looking for a coffee experience like no other? Discover our range of unique flavors and find your perfect match today.)
Promoting your post: Promoting your post means showcasing your content to a wider audience through various marketing channels. Social media, email marketing, guest blogging and other channels are some of the most effective ways to promote your posts.
Track the results of your blog post: Tracking your results in SEO means monitoring the performance of your website and its content to see how well it is ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs), and make necessary changes to boost your website.
how to monitor your post performance?
- Use an analytics tool: Tools like Google Analytics can help you track the performance of your blog post.
- Monitor search engine rankings: Keep an eye on where your blog post is ranking in search engine results pages (SERPs)
- Monitor social media engagement: Check your social media accounts to see how your post is performing in terms of likes, comments, shares, and clicks.
- Track backlinks: Monitor the number and quality of backlinks to your post.
By following this step , you can get a better understanding of how your blog post is performing in search engines.
Errors to avoid when creating an SEO-friendly blog post:
- Not targeting the right keywords: Failing to do so can make it difficult for your post to rank in search engines.
- Not writing for the reader :While it’s important to optimize your blog post for search engines, it’s equally important to write for the reader and provide value to them.
- Ignoring meta elements: Meta titles, descriptions, and tags are important for SEO,Failing to optimize them can hurt your chances of ranking.
- Not promoting the post: Simply publishing a blog post isn’t enough. You need to promote it on social media and other channels to get people to read it and share it.
- Not using internal and external links: not including internal and external links will negatively impact your search engine rankings, also it will make your content seem less credible.
- Over-optimizing: Keyword stuffing, using too many tags, and other over-optimization techniques can hurt your SEO efforts and make your post appear irrelevant and low quality.
- Poor quality content: if you publish low-quality content on a regular basis, it can damage your website’s reputation and authority by causing users to leave quickly without engaging and promoting negative reviews.
Now that you know how to write a good blog post for SEO, it’s time to start implementing these strategies. However, keep in mind that SEO is a long-term strategy, and it may take time to see results.
conclusion
In conclusion, writing a good blog post for SEO involves conducting thorough keyword research, creating high-quality and valuable content, optimizing on-page elements, ensuring readability and formatting, using internal and external links, adopting a mobile-friendly design, regularly updating content, encouraging social sharing, and monitoring analytics. By following these practices, you can boost your blog’s visibility and reach, attracting more organic traffic and enhancing your overall SEO performance.
Article credit : Farheen selia | student of digital marketing course.