As a blogger, creating interesting and original content is only a small part of the puzzle. You also need to make sure you optimise your posts correctly if you are to gain the viewership you are aiming for. However, this is a lot easier said than done, especially with so many blogs to compete with today. With that in mind, read on to discover some useful pieces of SEO advice for all bloggers.
Get your on-page basics right
There is only one place to begin, and this is with your on-page SEO basics. If you don’t get this right, there is no point in moving onto the more complex elements of search engine optimization. You need to make sure that all of the following are optimized: URL, H1 tags, Meta title, sub-headings, outbound links, internal links, and images.
Choose keywords with care
Selecting the right keywords is imperative in ensuring that your Internet marketing campaign is a success.
After all, if the keywords you utilise in your SEO campaign are not reflective of what people are searching in relation to the industry you operate in, then your search marketing is not going to be effective.
You need to find a solid method of determining the best keywords for every piece of content, writing, Meta Descriptions, or tags that you are going to post online.
If you use the following tips, then you should be able to find the perfect keywords suited to your particular search marketing goals.
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Manually assess your competition
Look at the bloggers who are your competition and are doing well. Assess their utilisation of keywords because this will be a major factor as to why their Internet presence is so dominating.
The best way to do this is simply to look at their Meta tags and descriptions. You will be able to deduce from these what their keywords are. You can then jot these down in order to come up with a solid list of keywords that are effective and relative to your business.
Of course, you need to remember that the keywords your competition has chosen will not be the only element that dictates their success.
Use Google AdWords
Tools like Google AdWords are great when it comes to evaluating your current marketing campaign and gathering the information in order to progress it effectively.
Google AdWords allows you to enter a keyword you are considering utilising. You will then be met with a whole host of relevant keywords and/or phrases. Next to these key phrases, you will be given information regarding global monthly searches as well as local monthly searches. You will also be given information regarding the level of competition for the word and this will be labelled as ‘low’, ‘medium’, or ‘high’.
This information is highly beneficial because it helps you to deduce how many people are searching for certain keywords and, therefore, what keywords you should use. But, it also tells you the level of competition faced too.
Be more specific with long-tail keywords
This is a very important tip, however, it is a method that a lot of people fail to implement.
A lot of individuals opt for more general search terms because these generate a greater level of searches. For example, people will use ‘jewellery’ rather than ‘women’s gold jewellery in London’ for a style blog.
There is no denying the fact that more people are likely to search ‘jewellery’. Yet, it is more beneficial to use the latter key phrase – ‘women’s gold jewellery in London’.
The reason for this is because this key phrase will result in a much bigger chance of attracting a relevant viewership – those who want to buy your products. ‘Jewellery’ may be a phrase that gives you more traffic, however ‘women’s gold jewellery in London’ is much more likely to result in a greater level of sales for your business. This is because the people conducting these searches are definitely looking for what your business has to provide.
Use a professional service
If all else fails, using the services of a digital marketing agency can help to ensure you develop an expert SEO campaign. Take your time to read reviews and find the best company for you.
Utilising the correct keywords is crucial. This lies at the core of ensuring your search marketing campaign is a successful one. If you use the guidance given above, then you should have the basis to find the keywords that are relevant and beneficial in regards to your business specifically.
Get familiar with Google Webmaster Tools
These tools are designed to let you know if there is something wrong with your blog. You will receive diagnostics, tools and data that enable you to benefit from real-time updates about the status of your blog. This gives you the power to make important tweaks before your search engine ranking suffers. For example, you will discover if Google bots are finding it difficult to crawl your site, as well as how your site shows up for Google Bots. Other information includes how many pages are being indexed in the search engine and whether your site has been hacked.
Make sure your blog posts have a clear structure
Another tip that we have for you when it comes to SEO for your blog is to make sure that every blog post has a clear structure.
This means that your post needs to have the following three components:
- Some sort of introduction – Tell the reader about the topic and what they can expect to find within the post
- The body – This is where you are going to write your main message
- Finish with a conclusion – You should either use this as an opportunity to draw a conclusion on the information you have provided or to summarise your main ideas
Before you start writing your blog post, it is a good idea to put together a few sentences for each of the three sections so that you can outline what you want to say in each part. This will help you to have a very clear structure, which is critical in creating a blog post that is SEO-friendly and easy to read.
Create linkable blog assets
What is a linkable asset? This is a piece of content that is original and highly useful. Basically, it is content that people will not be able to resist linking to because it is so valuable. You will need to conduct research to find out what sort of content will appeal to your viewers specifically, but essentially, this will be anything from free apps and ultimate guideposts to infographics and quizzes.
Link to existing blog content
Aside from the tips that we have mentioned above, it is a good idea to link to existing content within your blog. Of course, you need to make sure that the links are relevant. However, by linking to content that you have already created, it helps to show Google and other major search engines that you are the authority in the industry. This can make a big difference when it comes to your ability to rank highly on Google.
Use headings in your blog posts
Headings are important for a number of different reasons when it comes to creating posts for your blog. Proper headings will help your readers to comprehend what certain parts of your text are about. A lot of people will simply scan a blog post, rather than read it in full. Headings help the viewer to scan through the blog post and find the part that is relevant to them.
Of course, you may be wondering what this has to do with SEO! The answer is; a lot! Headings present you with the opportunity for you to incorporate your main keywords into prominent positions within your blog post. This will help you to improve your organic search engine ranking, as it will make it easier for search engine bots to scan your website.
Make the most of the help that is available to you
There are many different types of SEO services that are accessible to bloggers today. Of course, you may want to consider hiring an SEO professional to take your blog to the next level. This is especially important for those who rely on their blog as their main source of income. Hiring a professional is not for everyone, but at the very least you should definitely be making the most of the tools and plug-ins that are available.
As you can see, there is a lot to consider when it comes to search engine optimization for bloggers.
However, if you follow the tips that have been presented you can ensure that your blog has a competitive advantage in terms of search engine ranking and visibility.
