7 Steps to a Killer SEO Friendly Blog

There’s so much talk about search engine optimization these days and making blogs SEO friendly. Yet, after all your reading and research, are you still left with the feeling that you don’t REALLY know what Google wants? You’re not alone. The truth is, no one knows exactly what Google favors, but over time, we’ve gotten a pretty good idea. If you want your blog to be widely read and well-received, it’s important that it be in Google’s good graces. Here are our seven steps to make your blog more SEO friendly.

1.   Brainstorm

Just like your best childhood science projects, your finest SEO-friendly blogs will start with some good old brainstorming. What kind of ideas are you cooking up? They should be the most beneficial topics for your business. What is it that you want to write about? Each blog should contain one clear message.

2.   Optimize

Optimize your blog with effective keywords and strategic use. Based on your topic, which core keywords are best related? Use a keyword planner to help you. Come up with a focused keyword, and then tailor it to your piece. For example, you may have “little league” as a search term, but as you can imagine there are millions of results out there, which would be too much for you to compete with. Create what we call a long tail keyword — a more specific search term consisting of three or more words. Your long-tail keyword might be “little league baseball in Reston, Virginia.” See how that focuses your topic and lessens the competition?

And to make your blog SEO friendly, you’ll want to sprinkle your keyword throughout the piece. But use caution. Google still loves keywords, but to be identified as great content, you shouldn’t overdo it. Aim for a 1- to 2-percent saturation, meaning if your blog is 500 words long, you should use your term 5-10 times.

3.   Build

Once you’ve got your keyword, it’s time to build the structure of your blog. Create an outline that includes your intro, key points, and conclusion. This is your organization stage. Don’t skip it! Group your key points and link those that will go into paragraphs together. Create potential headers for each section. Headers organize your content and make it easier to scan and digest. And the Google Gods like them, too.

4.   Write

Yep. It’s time to do it. We know it can be overwhelming, but with steps one through three under your belt, this step will be a breeze. Remember to pepper in those keywords in the first sentence, in a couple of headers, and throughout your piece — where they fit naturally, of course. Never force a keyword where it doesn’t fit. The Google Gods will strike you down for it! Well, really they will just rank your page lower, but we know we don’t want that.

5.   Count

When you think you’ve finished your piece, check your word count. Google prefers longer content, but not too long. Between 350 and 700 words seems ideal. Add or cut to get your SEO-friendly blog within that range.

6.   Link

The Google Gods also love links. Link back to your blogs on similar topics to signal to Google that you’re an expert on this topic. Use credible external links throughout your blogs, too. One or two per piece will do.

7.   Test

Once you’ve polished and edited your blog ‘til it shines, it’s time to put it to the test. Use a plugin like Yoast to check your blog’s SEO friendliness. Tools like these are extremely valuable for testing SEO optimization.

That’s it! You’re ready to publish your SEO-friendly, well-loved-by-Google blog.

The secret to SEO is high=quality, content-rich in solid keywords. If this still doesn’t seem so simple or drafting content is a little outside your wheelhouse, Rampant Social. Our experienced, professional writers can craft pieces you, your customers, and the Google Gods will adore.

Partnering With Rampant Social

When outsourcing your content marketing to Rampant Social, we’ll meet with you to discuss your business goals and learn about your organization, your audience, and your preferences. From there, we can build an editorial calendar tailored to your business. You’ll receive content that’s well-researched, well-written, published, and promoted for you.

Rampant Social is a PR and Marketing firm that creates results for its clients through digital marketing, social media, and content creation. For more information, email info@rampantsocial.com