Google algorithms like fresh content and tend to prioritize the newest and most relevant content to searchers. Your website’s pages regarding your products and services might not change very often, and neither will your about pages. If your website never changes, Google may think it’s not active, and therefore rank it very low on search engine results pages. So how do you continually put out new content to show Google you’re alive and kicking? Blogging! Creating a regular blog schedule is an excellent way to consistently push out fresh, relevant content that your customers care about, while also boosting your SEO rankings.
You can implement blog posts into any business, from title agencies to online boutiques to plumbers; someone somewhere is Googling for your content. However, blogging is more complicated than it sounds, and not all blog posts are created equal. You can throw some random sentences in with your keywords mentioned twenty times, but it won’t do very much for your website’s SEO. Instead, hire an expert in SEO blogging, or follow these five tips to write an excellent blog designed to help your SEO rankings.
- Write about relevant topics
- Use long-tail keywords
- Backlink
- Structure the content
- Blog Consistently
Write About Topics That Matter to Your Customers
Relevant information is essential when you’re creating blogs. You know your customers better than anyone, and you know what they care about. Come up with relevant topics that relate to your products and services. For example, if you own a luxury pet apparel and supply business, appeal to your customer’s love of pets. Write about vacationing with your dog. Write a post on how to leash train your dog, and how to tell if your dog loves you.
Mention outfits that are perfect for dogs on the go in your blog about vacation. Talk about choosing a harness or a collar in your blog about leash training, and toys for your furry BFF in your blog about pet love. In doing so, you have the opportunity to link to your relevant products. By linking to your products, you drive traffic to your website and convert random google searches to sales.
Implement Long-Tail Keywords in Strategic Places
Long-tail keywords are phrases with three or more words to target a more specific audience. For example, “jewelry” is a very generic keyword, but “diamond jewelry gifts” is much more specific. Nowadays, on Google, it’s nearly impossible to rank for a head keyword like jewelry, but by using a more specific phrase that includes the head keyword, you’re increasing your chances to rank. A blog about “The Best Diamond Jewelry Gifts for Your Partner,” could include the long-tail keyword phrase and tie back to the business’ products.
You don’t have to concern yourself with low search volume for your specific long-tail keyword “diamond jewelry gifts,” because you’ve included a popular head keyword, “jewelry.” The inclusion of the head keyword broadens your search volume.
Use the long-tail keyword phrases in headings and titles and throughout the body of the blog to help Google understand your content and rank your website higher. Be careful not to be too heavy-handed with your keywords, though, as Google penalizes websites for “keyword stuffing.” You should only include your keywords in ways that feel natural, not forced.
Backlink to Other Relevant Websites
Adding a backlink to someone else’s website with relevant content does several things for you. Backlinks build relationships with relevant companies and increase the chance that they will backlink to your website. When another site backlinks to you, it generates more traffic and increases your chances of ranking. Backlinking also gives your post more credibility, while boosting the other company’s rankings as well. Don’t choose just any website, though. Backlinking to websites that are entirely irrelevant to your content looks suspicious to Google and hurts your rankings.
Create a Neat, Structured Blog With Quality Content and SEO in Mind
Readers typically skim blog posts, so be sure to break up large paragraphs into chunks. You’re not writing a research paper, so try not to get hung up on proper APA style.
All of your blog posts should have:
- A title
- An introduction to what you’re talking about in the blog
- A body that is broken up by subheaders
- A conclusion with a subtle call to action
Headings and subheaders help Google understand the topics and rank your page higher on results pages. You can increase your chances to rank by considering phrases that people may type into Google when you create your subheaders.
Bullet point lists or numbered lists under your headers help the readers skim your post and help with readability while keeping your blog interesting.
Make sure your blog is longer than 300 words. The longer, the better, but there is a fine line because blogs that are too long are intimidating to readers, and even if a reader is not intimidated, a 5,000-word blog won’t keep their attention the whole way through.
Link to your previous blogs that relate to your current topic. Linking to your content does several things, including building authority on your topic, increasing your Google rankings, and driving customers to more relevant content curated by you.
Create a Consistent Blog Schedule
Whether your posting schedule is every day, every week, or every month, Google ranks the newest, most relevant content. On top of that, more blogs create more pages on your website, which increases your chances of ranking for search terms that relate to your business. This is another reason that quality keywords and long-tail keywords in your blog content are essential. All your blog posts are opportunities to rank higher on Google.
SEO is critical in the online space. You could have the best service and the most beautiful products, but it doesn’t matter if no one can find you. Factors affecting SEO are ever-changing and have gotten more and more complex. The most important factor for ranking on Google is putting out consistent, relevant, and good quality content. By following our five blogging tips, you’ll be able to create an exciting blog that helps you rank higher on Google, and drives customers to your website.
If you want to increase your SEO rankings, but you can’t find the time to write your own blogs, Moose May can handle the blog content, the posting, and everything else for you. We can help you rank higher on Google without lifting a finger.