Blogging “Best Practices” for Enhanced SEO
If you contribute one or more new articles to your website blog each month, and do so partly to generate more website traffic, pay heed. Because we’re about to share the simple magic of what we do for ourselves and our clients…magical, because it works. And it works not because I say so, but because you can search our blogs on Google and almost always find them at or near the top of page one on Google, and usually within 48 hours of being posted.
It all starts with your blog headline. The first rule is, don’t think of it as a print ad headline or anything that requires creative genius. Nope, blog headlines should be simple, straight to the point, and written just as a consumer might enter a search phrase on Google.
Here are a few examples of wonderfully effective blog headlines, even if they are stultifyingly boring:
- “Why is My Water Heater Leaking?”
- How to Reduce Your Home Energy Costs
- 5 Tips for Effective Estate Succession Planning (Even though a person is unlikely to enter a number in the search box, your blog is still highly likely to appear on page one, the number included.)
- The Benefits of a Water Filtration System
These sample headlines illustrate the whole point of blogging, which is to provide information for people who are seeking it, make it easy to find, and then make it easy to read and totally worth the effort.
More Blogging Tips
Your headline doesn’t need to be an exact match of what someone types into the search box, it just needs to be close. Google algorithms will match the two up.
Here are some additional tips on how to create blogs that rank highly on all search engines:
- Write for Your Audience: Avoid keyword stuffing; focus on creating valuable, high-quality content.
- Use Headlines, Also Known as H Tags, in Your Copy: Google reads them all, and by changing up your secondary headlines from the main one, you’re giving Google other ways to find you.
- Use Meta Tags and Meta Descriptions: There are no character limitations on Meta Tags, but you are limited to 160 characters for Meta Descriptions.
- Add Images with Alt Text: Alt tags help visually impaired people understand what an image shows.
- Include a Call-to-Action (CTA): Guide readers to take the next step, such as contacting you or exploring your services.
Why You Should Hire a Blogging Professional
Blogging is one of the most effective ways to improve your website’s SEO performance. It helps you rank for more keywords, engage users, and establish your business as an authority in your field.
If you’d like, we can help you brainstorm blog topics, outline an SEO strategy, or create an editorial calendar for your business. Just let us know!