Writing a blog post has never been an easy task. It is a long process of selecting a good topic, gathering information, later putting it down in your own words, and finally publishing it for the world to read. But do you think your blog post would be able to reach the masses? Or would you be able to rank your blog post on Google so that everybody can read it? Or do you even include SEO writing in it?
Well, writing a blog post gets even difficult when you wish to rank it on the first page of Google. Because you will be writing about a topic that hundreds of people have already written about. And a few of them are already ranking on Google for including SEO writing in their blog posts properly.
What is SEO Writing?
In simple words, SEO writing is a way of writing blogs that lands you on the first page of Google. In fact, if you don’t land on the first page, you might lose the 25% of traffic that clicks Google’s first search results only. It begins from cracking what people might want to read, the selection of a perfect keyword, and incorporating that in your writings. But, How would you exactly do that? Let dive straight into the 14 amazing tips on SEO writing and get benefit by learning them.
14 Tips on SEO Writing: Time to Rank Your Blog Post Higher on Google
1. Do not underestimate the value of a heading
Headings always help a user know what will be there in the paragraphs below. Similarly, a Google crawler covers a topic better if you include the target keyword in your heading and subheadings. Overstuffing is not the key. Be intelligent and think of the variations or synonyms that if you write in your headings, should hint towards the main topic of your blog.
Google crawlers understand your content better if it is divided into different subheadings. Thus increase the use of H2, H3, and H4 headings into your blogs, and add target keyword or their variations in them. So that your blog has more chances of ranking in Google Search Result.
2. SEO writing is incomplete without a blog title
A title is the most important part of a blog post. A short, compelling, keyword-focused title is what a writer needs to attract the readers towards the post. Once you earn a ranking on the first page of Google, then you will be competing for clicks. Thus you need to make sure that your blog title is innovative enough that makes people click on your link instead of others.
A good way of catching their attention is to add numbers, years, and some attractive words in it. Another important thing in a blog title is the placement of a keyword. A keyword placed at the start is better than a keyword placed in the middle or, at the end.
3. Perform an extensive keyword research
Keyword research is the first and the foremost step of SEO writing. Do you still not have the idea? Well, let’s explain it in detail. Keep one thing in your mind, SEO writing and ranking on the first page of Google is a product of a perfect recipe. Which has keyword research as its main ingredient.
Research the key phrase that people search for related to your niche. You can even take help from the Google Keyword Planner or Google trends in this regard. Both these tools are amazing and will show the users interest in a specific phrase. They will also show how well a keyword can perform and the number of audiences who are searching for it. Thus make sure you are using the right keyword that is performing well in the Google Search Engine. Which gives weightage to your blog post and it is likely to rank higher on the first page of Google.
4. Keep your language simple stupid
SEO writing is never about writing a blog post that only Google crawlers can understand. It should be very simple and precise that even a kid could read and understand your content. Write thoroughly about a topic, answer questions, make subheadings, keep paragraphs short and use video and pictures that make a topic clearer.
All these factors can increase the chances of getting your blog post a good ranking in Search Results. Because people are more likely to read a blog post that answers all their questions and adds more to their present knowledge. It is far better than reading a blog post that is only beating about the bush and wasting your time.
5. Make your SEO writing well organized
A longer blog post has more chances of becoming a mess if it is not written properly. Even the reader likes reading a blog post that looks neat and can be read easily. Thus use short paragraphs and sentences so that it looks neat and concise. An ideal paragraph is 3-4 sentences long, not more than that. Include pointers in it or checklists which make it easier to follow.
Most importantly, make use of the H2-H3-H4 headings to give it an order. The more headings you use the better the reading experience becomes. It is even beneficial to hint at Google crawler to understand the complete order in which you have written a blog.
6. The content length matters a lot in SEO writing
Do you think you can cover a topic thoroughly at the length of 500 or 600 words? You can really finish off writing a topic at this length but it will not be thorough at all. In the eyes of Google, a blog post is worth reading if it is 2000 – 2500 words long. Because the length not only signals the thoroughness of the topic but also increases your chances of signaling your topic to the crawlers in a better way.
The more headings and content the more chances of using your keywords in it. But it does not mean that you start writing irrelevant stuff to increase the content length. Google can easily detect it and de-rank you. Perform thorough research on the topic that and you will have good points to talk about at length.
7. SEO writing is not about stuffing keywords
Every SEO expert forbids the act of keyword stuffing. Why? Because every blogger makes this mistake once in their life. Later they learn the art of using keywords most naturally. Keyword stuffing is harmful to a blog post and a site as well. Overstuffing makes a blog post look fake and obtrusive. Since in the struggle of overusing a keyword you start creating sentences where you can use that keyword. Instead of writing something that will add value for the readers.
When a blog post becomes keyword-centric it loses its track. It is an art that beginners will learn over time. Use keywords in headings, in Alt text, also a few times in the paragraphs, and that will be it.
8. Write a catchy meta description
You might have heard of the term meta description many times in SEO. But, do you add this tag in your post? Or is the meta description good enough to attract people to click on the link? If not, then it’s high time you start improving it or adding it to your blog posts.
What is a meta description?
Meta description tag or attribute is an important part of SEO writing. It is the description that appears in the Search Result. You will find it written right below the SEO title, summing up the whole content for the audience. A well-written and catchy meta description always wins the race. Keep it precise and always add your target keyword in it.
Google is likely to rank a blog post that has a unique title and meta description. Do not copy a paragraph and put it in the meta description, it will be of no use. Always write a new meta description that discusses your content at its best. Also, a bland meta description might lose the interest of the users and they might skip to the next result. Thus it is a trick that can pull in more visitors for your blogs and site.
9. Add an Alt text to all the images present in your blog posts
Adding Alt text to the images is one more way of getting the most traffic. Observe how Google shows you several images against a particular phrase that you search for in the Google search bar. It is the result of optimizing your image through SEO writing so that it appears in the image box.
What is an Alt text?
It is also known as the Alt tag or title tag. It is a great way to optimize your image by writing down a description of what an image is about. That makes it easier for the Google crawler to understand the purpose of the image in your content. Also, do not forget to add your keyword in the Alt text.
Again, I am not hinting at keyword stuffing, but the explanation merely. Give a brief explanation of what the image is about and include your target keyword or focused key phrase in it. Doing it will not only make it search engine friendly but also user-friendly and they will enjoy your blog post more.
10. Earn a ranking in featured snippets
Earning a rank in a featured snippet is not the toughest part. In fact, it is like another short-cut to getting a ranking on Google. Featured snippets are the first things that users see in the Search Result. It can be shown in the form of paragraphs, lists, or tables, depending on how you have put it in your blogs. The inclusion of SEO writing in your blog posts ensures that you are answering every question related to your topic.
It is about putting yourself in the users’ shoes and understanding what they might want to know. Then try to cover all the questions in the form of short paragraphs, lists, or tables that can be easily shown in a featured snippet. Add in your keyword in it so that Google crawlers would know what it is about. Add pictures and videos in your blog posts too, because it can also help you rank in the snippets.
11. Create external links in your blog post
Linking to the sites that you read to take motivation from is an important step. Which signals strong trust to Google that you did your homework before writing about a topic. It is a good way to give credit to those sites as well. Google appreciates if your post is not only worth reading but also provides more options and blogs for the readers to read later on.
It is simply like backing up your research with proofs and stats. This shows that you’re not faking up any percentages, figures, or statements in your blogs and that they really exist. Thus create external links as much as you can. It also counts as one of the ranking factors in the Google Algorithm.
12. Make internal linking stronger
A big chunk of a website’s success or blog post success depends on the internal linking. Which is again a part of Google Ranking Factors. Internally linking your blog posts with other posts gives a chance to readers to explore more content on your website. Which in return increases a site’s conversion rate and decreases the bounce rate.
Also, it is a great way to create a map for the Google crawler to crawl. But make sure you create internal links to the relevant pages and at the right keywords. Creating internal links on an irrelevant keyword and pages might confuse the crawlers about the topic of your content. Moreover, it even disappoints the readers if the link leads them to an irrelevant post. Thus be wise while creating internal links.
13. Page load speed helps you earn more visitors
When you use images in your blog posts it increases the page load speed of your site. It is not directly linked to SEO writing but it counts as a big factor in page ranking. A page that loads slower than other sites’ pages, always has a higher bounce rate. Who has time to wait for a page to load fully? Users can easily ignore your blog post for this reason. Thus a higher bounce rate and a lower conversion rate will cause harm to the entire site.
A solution to this problem is that you can use compressed images on your site to ensure it does not affect your loading speed. Always keep an eye on it. You can even use free image optimization tools as well to compress your image sizes.
14: Always go for the guest posting sites
Receiving a link back from some other high authority site signals trust to Google. Hence your blog post will have a better chance of ranking higher in the search results. Create a list of free guest posting sites that allow you at least one backlink. Then write down a summary of your blog posts or write something similar. So that you can create a relevant backlink in that. And post it on different guest posting platforms.
Who knows if your blog posts get a good ranking there because many people will be reading it and they might click on the link also. Which will lead them to your site, and who knows if they like your content a lot and turn into regular visitors.
LET’S SUM IT UP
The 14 tips discussed in this blog are all important and can not be ignored if you want to rank your blog post higher in Google. And even if you rank on the first page, even then the competition does not end there. It is an on-going race and these SEO writing tips will help you stay ahead of all competitors. Summing up them once again for you.
- Blog title and subheadings
- Featured snippets and images Alt text
- Use of simple language and content length
- Meta description
- Keyword research
- External linking and internal linking
- Organization
- Page speed and guest posting sites
Do let me know in the comment below if you think this blog is missing any tips that are beneficial for blog ranking and that work best for you.
