Blogs are one of the most significant parts of content marketing and off-page SEO.
According to statistics:
These stats affirm the effectiveness of blog posts. However, SEO plays a crucial role in the success of your blog posts. And so, here we list down some surveyed and actionable tips for your blog SEO.
Read on to learn:
An essential part of your decision-making goes into choosing the suitable blog topics for your business. Unfortunately, many businesses still choose blog topics based on their random guesses. However, there are abounding ways to find the right blog topic for your business. Some of the effective methods include:
You might create a blog post relevant to your topic, but does it attract users? Or are the users searching for this topic?
You should know the interest of your target audience. And your SEO data offers you copious insights into what your visitors would like to read.
You can leverage Google Search Console to find the pages that are performing the best on your site. Moreover, look at the queries for which your pages are getting the highest no. of impressions and clicks.
It shows the users are searching for topics in proximity to these keywords.
These search queries also reflect users' interests and what they are searching for in your niche industry. So, gather blog topic ideas and keywords from this SEO data and start creating blogs.
When you start afresh with your blog and have fewer SEO data to back up your choices, you can use competitor analysis. Use tools like SEMRush and Ahrefs to analyze the blog pages that are performing for your competitors.
Moreover, these tools allow you to find the trending queries and topics related to a keyword. Tools like BuzzSumo also show you individual social shares for trending blog posts. It is abounding data for creating viral blog topics.
No one expects you to know every nitty-gritty about your industry. And so, you must not shy away from taking inspiration from other blogs. Find the niche blog sites in your industry and follow them for trending topic ideas.
There are many community platforms where users share their new blog posts. These communities allow you to subscribe or follow niches you like and notify when topics are discussed.
Blog sharing sites like Medium and Growth Hackers also help you check trending topics.
It is a no-brainer, but I still witness many people ignoring keyword optimization for their blogs. Finding keywords for your blog post is far simpler than creating the post.
You can start with using your SEO data to check the keywords that bring you the highest traffic.
Use Google Search Console to find these keywords by following navigation tabs :–
You can then sort the queries that offer you the highest no. of impressions and clicks. Use these keywords in your relevant blog posts.
Perform keyword research on Ahrefs to get trending keyword ideas to update your existing blog pages or new ones.
You can use features like competitor analysis and keyword position tracking on SEMRush. It will offer you abounding valuable keywords for your blog posts.
It is advisable to use keywords in your introduction, subheadings, and body text. However, the use of keywords should look natural without hindering the readability.
An efficient way is to align your keyword research with your blog topic research.
Your post title mostly forms your title tag, and it forms your preview snippet in the SERPs. It must be catchy, click-worthy, and must give a clear idea about the post's content.
If you’re confused or find it complex to draft a catchy headline, you can use any free headline-generating tools to get catchy title ideas.
You need to make sure that your post title is also SEO-friendly.
You may also use different post titles and meta titles for your blog post. In this case, you can easily cover long-tail keywords in any one of these titles.
Furthermore, you should work on enhancing the click-worthiness of your post title. It must reflect the proper intent of the post and include intent-based keywords. It can have a number or a title modifier like – Best, How to, Easy, Tips, Guide, Steps, etc.
So, when you finalize the keywords for your blog post, you must define your focus keyword. SEOs recommend choosing a focus keyword that has high volume and low competition.
You can also set the focus keyword in your WordPress blog if you use Yoast plugin. It will hint at the areas and the density of usage of the focus keyword.
Now, you must not overuse your focus keyword in your blog post. Instead, support it with the use of relevant LSI keywords and long-tail keywords.
You can use a tool like LSIGraph or KeywordTool.io to find these LSI keywords. You have to enter the focus keyword, and the tool will generate LSI and long-tail terms.
One can also find LSI keywords by using Google Suggested Searches. The suggestions displayed when you type the focus keyword in the search represent the LSI keywords.
Related : What are LSI Keywords: Do they Impact SEO Rankings?
The "Related Searches" section in the SERP also includes LSI keywords.
The use of these keywords elevates the relevancy of your blog posts. Your blog posts appear for more relevant searches and attract high-quality traffic. Moreover, your blog posts will have higher search visibility and higher conversions.
Now, some experts may say that meta description no longer affects your SEO. But, many still believe it is relevant, and you must always include a meta description.
A meta description tag defines what your article is about to the users and search engines. Moreover, it forms a part of your preview snippet in the SERPs.
The users give equal importance to it as they give headline-generating titles.
So, it is a chance to grow the CTR for your post result in the SERPs. Make it informational, relevant, and appealing enough to convince the viewer to click.
The meta description is also visible for an article when you share it on social media.
It is advisable to include your focus keyword (at least once) in your meta title. And you must use it early in the description.
An important consideration is to keep your meta description length under 155 characters. Any words above it are not visible in the preview snippet.
Internal linking between blog posts helps enhance the value and context between them. You must link to your relevant old blog posts to add value to your current blog. Moreover, linking to your old blogs help you pass the link juice to these blogs.
An important practice is to make the internal linking two-way. So, you should also link back to the new blogs from relevant old blogs. It helps the newer blogs index faster. And if the old blogs are ranking, it brings initial traffic to the new blogs.
Use free internal link checking tools to know if you have given a reasonable number of internal links in your blog posts.
WordPress post editor makes internal linking seamless between blogs. You can click on the link tab and start searching for the old article in the popup search bar. After finding the article title, directly click on it to add the internal link.
Make sure you don't overdo internal linking and do not include more than 2-4 internal links.
A practice that many beginners ignore is including important outbound links to the posts. Relevant outbound links increase the value of your blog posts both for the users and Google. And you should include highly relevant outbound links only to reputable sites.
However, frequent outbound links can increase the exit rate on your posts. Therefore, make sure you add outbound links only at places where they add value.
An effective way to grow your blog's SEO presence is by gaining inbound links. Most of you might already be aware of how backlinks are crucial for your site's authority. However, you must remember to focus on the quality of the inbound links over quantity.
Marketers use multiple ways to gain quality inbound links. Some of these ways include:
Google allows you to rank as the featured snippet which appears on the top of result pages. It appears as a highlighted result or precise answer to a user query.
It’s the most liked feature by the users as they get answers instantly.
The featured snippet is one of the best positions to rank on Google as it earns the highest CTR. So, if you can rank for position zero, you get great visibility for your blog post. And you can attract increased traffic to it.
To rank for the featured snippet, you must follow a well-defined blog post structure. Use clear subheadings that allow the readers to navigate through the content easily.
Moreover, include precise information as answers to related queries. Google must believe you offer a clear and accurate answer to a particular query. Thus, showing your post content in the featured snippet section.
Make sure your blog page has good authority and you have backlinks from reputable sites.
54.18% of the global online traffic comes through mobile devices. With that said, it is crucial to optimize your blog for smartphone users.
Now, some of you may limit your mobile optimization to a responsive website. However, you need to go further and see how your blog appears on the mobile screen.
For example, Neil Patel’sheadline-generating blog is responsive, has informative content, but is trying to market their product and services rather than letting the users read by covering half of the content with CTA.
Mobile users would not like to read long paragraphs and would bounce back. So, compress your paragraphs to 3-4 sentences with bullet points.
Most users would prefer to navigate through your content just by reading the subheading. So, make sure you add subheadings that offer enough value to the readers. Make these subheadings clear and relevant, such that they offer the crux of the content.
Use white spaces and media to allow the readers to breathe through the content. Relevant media also improves the value of your blog posts and makes them more engaging.
Many marketers press against the point that long-form blog posts work better. Posts over 2000+ words generally rank higher in the SERPs than the ones below this count. Some marketers may advise producing posts over 3000 words.
Furthermore, Buzzsumo researched that long-form content gets shared a lot more than shorter content on social media.
However, it is not just about the word count but also about the depth of the article. Your blog post must go deeper into the topic it features. It should cover the various aspects of the topic comprehensively.
The value you add through your blog remains a crucial factor in deciding its ranking.
A smart way to make your blog post more comprehensive is to cover the LSI keywords. The LSI keywords that are most relevant to your blog topic can help you analyze the important aspects to cover. Moreover, the use of LSI keywords makes the blog more relevant for specific searches.
These tools generate adequate SEO data to help you optimize your blog's SEO performance. Both Google Analytics and Google Search Console form a complete SEO suite for your blog. Moreover, Google allows you to access these tools without any charge.
Above are some actions that bloggers regularly perform to optimize their blogs.
SEMRush helps you plan an across-the-board SEO strategy for your blog site. The deeper you dive into the tool, the more data you have to back your blog SEO plan. From planning your blog topics to promoting them in the search, the tool is all you would need.
Some SEMRush features that you would wish to use as a blogger include:
You can get your hands on the tool in the 7-day free trial. Its paid plan starts at $99.95/month.
Yoast SEO is a useful plugin for your WordPress blog. The popular plugin integrates with your WordPress post editor. And it offers real-time SEO recommendations for your blog posts. Whether you are a beginner or an expert blogger, the Yoast plugin ensures your posts are optimized.
Some key features of the free version of the Yoast plugin include:
The free version of Yoast SEO provides adequate SEO support. However, the premium version offers advanced SEO recommendations for your blog. It starts at $89 per site.
Related : Top Yoast SEO Plugin Features & FAQs
Akin to SEMRush, Moz is an all-inclusive SEO tool. It allows bloggers to cover abounding aspects of keyword analysis and content marketing. Moreover, the Moz community offers excellent support to SEO beginners.
Moz tool features you would like to employ as a blogger:
It features a 30-day free trial. The paid plan starts at $99/month.
Ahrefs is a far-reaching SEO tool that informs SEO strategies for a huge number of organizations. It offers an umbrella of SEO features right from keyword research to link-building opportunities.
The in-depth data the tool features also amazes experienced search marketers. However, its learning curve is a little steep, but there are enough tutorials for your help.
Key features you would love to use:
The plan starts at $99/month for one user.
Search Engine Land is an eminent and reputed name in the SEO industry. The platform is one of the most authentic sources of the latest updates in the search industry. Its deep-rooted reputation is a reflection of the fact that Danny Sullivan founded it.
Danny Sullivan is a colossal name in the search industry, and he presently works for Google. Since its launch in 2007, SEL covers the daily breaking news for the search industry. The platform brings exclusive insights about algorithm updates and the newest trends.
Along with a niche news platform, SEL is an excellent SEO knowledge hub. It features many industry experts who share insightful tactics and tips about SEO regularly.
The Search Engine Journal team has a colossal experience with the ins and outs of the SEO industry. It started early in 2003 and has witnessed SEO evolve into the shape we see today.
SEJ features the latest news and updates regarding search and digital marketing. And the experts at SEJ offer prudent tactics, guides, and tutorials for digital marketers.
The blog has an active news team that updates the site with the latest trends daily. And it covers exclusive discussions and analysis from search experts.
Search Engine Journal also hosts webinars and eSummit Virtual Conferences for SEO enthusiasts.
Another popular blog that many digital marketers follow is The Moz Blog. Moz, the well-known SEO tool provider, manages and regularly updates it.
The Moz Blog features in-depth blogs and guides about SEO and content marketing tactics. It also covers social media and some other digital marketing topics in detail. The blog is valuable for SEO enthusiasts who wish to gather deep, actionable tips.
The key highlight of The Moz Blog is its weekly Whiteboard Fridays video series. It is an engaging video series featuring exclusive SEO tactics and strategies.
Ahrefs Blog is managed by the widely-known SEO software provider, Ahrefs. The blog features in-depth articles about keyword research, link building, and content marketing tactics.
Ahrefs Blog is highly resourceful and has abounding tutorials regarding off-page SEO. The experts here regularly update the blog with various SEO best practices and insights.
Anyone who is searching for practical SEO implementation tips must follow the Ahrefs Blog. The blog is most useful for people who are using the Ahrefs tool for their business. The tips can help them get the most out of this advanced SEO tool.
Barry Schwartz is another influential name in the search optimization industry. He founded Search Engine Roundtable as his SEO diary in 2004.
Barry updates this diary all day and every day with expert-curated content. He writes about daily SEO updates, the latest SEO news, and popular SEO discussions, etc. Moreover, the platform covers curated information from SEO forums and social media.
SEW experts started writing about SEO when Google search was yet to come into the mainstream. Experts here have seen the search engines grow and the birth of search algorithms.
The blog covers in-depth SEO guides, articles, and tips. Moreover, it is an excellent source to understand content marketing and social media.
The Search Engine Watch team keeps the blog site well-managed so a user can navigate easily. You can get exclusive tips on almost all aspects of SEO and content marketing here. The use of categories and subjects allows you to find your topic of interest easily on the blog.
Whether it is your blog or business website, you cannot ignore SEO's online success role. If you wish to attract organic traffic to your blog, you need to make it SEO-friendly. SEO is responsible for making your blog appear in the search results. And search results are the most significant traffic source for almost every blog site.
You can follow these SEO tactics:
Yes. However, the right way to learn and implement SEO as you blog. Several SEO blogs can help you learn the initial on-page and technical SEO implementations. You can also use SEO tools for the on-page SEO part and start creating basic SEO for your blogs. It would include adding meta tags, alt text, header tags, and keywords, etc. These parameters will make your blog site visible to the search crawlers, and they will index it.
You can further follow SEO blogs to learn off-page SEO, keyword analysis, and link building. Free tools like Google Analytics, Search Console, Yoast SEO, and Keyword Planner will help.
Top SEO tools that will help you with your blog SEO are:
Google Analytics and Search Console: You can check blog performance, keywords, user metrics, and crawlability issues
Some blogs that can help you with SEO tutorials, guides, tactics, and industry news include:
The blogging industry is becoming tremendously competitive every day. Today, gaining good visibility for your blog posts is harder than ever. So, start following the SEO tips discussed above if you are not ready to fade out. Get in touch with us for more details.
He has spent more than 12 Years in strategising and executing SEO campaigns. He is interested to writing Digital-marketing, PPC and Social Media Marketing related topics.
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He has spent more than 12 Years in strategising and executing SEO campaigns. He is interested to writing Digital-marketing, PPC and Social Media Marketing related topics.
Things To Include In SEO Reporting
How Thin Content Can Attract Penalty
Tips To Increase Sales Using SEO
Content Creation Tools For SEO
Best Keyword Rank Tracking Tools
Why Your Website Needs SEO Immediately
Best Competitive Analysis Tools
SEO For Parallax Design Websites
Bad Services To Avoid When Hiring
Tips To Improve Wordpress Website Rankings
Impact Of Social Listening On SEO
SEO Tips From Google Quality Rater
Influencer Marketing Impact On SEO
Tips To Optimize Google Discover Feed
Guest Posting Tips & Importance
SEO Tips For Orthodontic Website
Backlinks Importance Types & Tools To
Importance Of Bounce Rate And Tips
Importance Of Hiring A Marketing Agency