If you have decided to start blogging for your business then it’s important that you set yourself up for success. Part of this is making sure you fully understand what you can do to make sure you rank on Google.
There is no point writing blog posts if no-one is ever going to find them on Google.
Why Is SEO Important When Blogging?
Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is important for a number of reasons:
- Good SEO helps you get found on Google (on the 1st page of search results)
- Most people are more likely to click on one of the top 5 suggestions in the results pages
- Good SEO improves the user experience when they are on your website.
- Users trust search engines so if you are near the top then people automatically trust you.
- People who find your web site by searching Google are more likely to promote it on Facebook, Twitter etc.
- SEO can put you ahead of the competition. If you appear before your competitor in search people are more likely to click on your website.
What To Focus On With SEO?
#1. Keyword Research
It’s important that when you start to think about writing a blog post you do some keyword research. In other words you research what people are searching for on Google and the exact phrases they are typing in to do that.
If you do this it’s more likely that those people will find your article when they are doing their research.
Words like Dog Walker, Pet Sitter, Groomer etc. are much harder to rank for when you are a smaller company. However if you selected ‘long tail keywords’ in other words longer phrases you have a better chance of being able to rank for them.
For example. Cost of a Dog Walker, Pet Sitter in New York, Best Groomer in LA.
#2. Titles
Your title is what is going to initially attract people to click on your article when they are searching on Google. It’s important therefore that it entices people to click, but that you also include the keyword/phrase you are trying to rank for.
#3. Subheaders
Breaking up your content with subheaders not only makes it easier for the reader to scan through your content, but it also gives further signals to Google to tell them what your content is about.
When you are doing your keyword research you should research some additional phrases that you can use as subheaders throughout your blog.
This will give you a chance to rank for more than one keyword phrase.
#4. Main body of your blog
Your blog should answer the questions that people have about the subject you are covering in a clear and concise way.
Don’t be afraid to leave plenty of white space, use bullet points and numbered lists to make your blog post easy to read
Don’t stuff the main content of the blog post with keywords! Remember while Google is important so are your readers and so you should be writing for their enjoyment.
#5. Links to other blogs
Linking to other resources, whether they are yours or someone else’s, makes the content more valuable for the reader.
Linking to other pieces of your own content is a great way to get a reader to read more of your articles.
#6. Alt Tag (Images)
When you upload images to your blog posts its important to make sure that you name them as one of your keywords. Don’t just upload them with the name of the picture you purchased or took. Instead choose something that Google can understand.
#7. Meta Descriptions (e.g Yoast)
It’s important if you are using WordPress to install an SEO plugin, such as Yoast. Once you have it installed make sure you complete it for each page and post on your website.
Yoast gives you loads of guidance when completing the plugin, making sure you get the green light on your title, descriptions etc.
Need More Help With Blogging?
If you are looking to really take your blogging to the next level then why not join Blogging Bootcamp? Click to find out more.
