Having your blog rise on the search engine ladder requires more than just hitting the publish button. To show up among the top results, you need to understand SEO (search engine optimization). This means making your website easily readable and accessible by search engine bots so that your pages show up in relevant searches. And your content needs to be unique and useful.
Why is SEO so important?
When someone is searching for information online, search engines find, audit, and present relevant blog posts. If your blog content is the most fitting, informative, and in-depth, it’s likely your blog will be shown on the top results page
By optimizing your blogs for SEO, you can:
· Gain site authority
· Increase visibility
· Boost site traffic
· Generate more leads
Whether you're creating a blog or adding a blog section to your website, here are some useful blog SEO tips.
Find the right topics
Research your industry. Established bloggers are probably already covering topics you’d like to write about. Come at them from a different angle. Find something new in your industry and be the first to write about it.
When starting your blog, focus on your audience’s needs, pain points, and questions. Create posts that address these. Drill down to a few topics and become the authority on these topics while providing value to your readers.
Choose SEO friendly blog formats
Search will often prioritize comprehensive, research-based content with original data.
When creating blog content, consider these blog formats that communicate helpful information:
· Tutorials
· In-depth “how to” guides
· Infographics
· Case studies
· Beginner “what is” posts
Write evergreen content. This is content that people will search for all year long, for years to come. This type of content brings steady traffic to your website and doesn’t need to be updated as frequently.
Incorporate rich media
Since Google’s algorithm determines rankings due to user behavior, bloggers should try to keep their readers engaged for as long as possible. Consider adding a video or podcast episode to your post. This may help readers stay on your page for longer, thus lowering your bounce rates.
Post frequently
Blogging is hard work. Don’t feel overwhelmed but stick to it. The results are worth it! Start by publishing weekly or bi-weekly. This way you’re only writing 2 or 4 blogs a month.
The more frequently you blog, the greater impact you will have on your SEO. The bots search the web for new content. They will keep coming back to your site for more. Plus, this gives search engines more opportunities to rank your pages.
Consider inviting others to write for your page. A guest blogger will bring more readers to your page, allowing them to discover your business. Plus, it’s one less blog you must write.
Engage on social media
By sharing your valuable, original, and well-written blog posts social media, you increase the chances that someone will amplify your content.
Search engines see the extra amount of traffic from social media as a signal that others respect your blog, which can up your blog's SEO.