SEO writing is the process of writing content to rank on the first page of search engines like Google. This involves researching keywords, writing high-quality content that matches user intent, and optimizing your headers for easy page crawling. So here’s our 10 tips to make this work:
1. Use blog headings to your benefit
Headers help Google’s web crawlers understand your blog post and the sections within it.
Think of the crawlers as readers who are skimming your blog. They want an overview of what your article will cover, that’s your H1 – i.e., the title of your post. Then your H2s, H3s, H4s break down the subtopics within the piece i.e., your sub-headings.
So, your sub-headers should reflect the content in the body and include high-intent keywords. When you use the right keywords, meaning the ones your target audience is using, you have a much higher chance of ranking on the SERP.
2. Optimize your content for featured snippets
Featured snippets on Google are the most direct answers to search queries. For instance, if I were to search, "How do you write a blog post?" Google might use a featured snippet to show the best answer.
To earn a featured snippet on Google, you'll need to answer the question thoroughly and succinctly.
For example, if the search term is "How to screenshot on a mac," you can put "How to Take a Screenshot on a MacBook Computer" as your H1 or H2, followed by the steps in a numbered or bulleted list.
Once you’ve done that, be sure to include part of the question in your answer. Using the example above, you would start the paragraph with the following: "To take a screenshot on your MacBook, here are the steps…"
Additionally, start each sentence with an actionable verb, like "click" and "select."
If the keyword for which you want to capture the featured snippet requires a definition, write an answer that’s no more than 58 words.
3. Include keywords in your meta description
Are you adding meta descriptions to your post? If your answer is "no," then you're probably not giving your post the most exposure possible. Let's get into why they're important.
By now, we've talked about a couple of the ways a blog post can communicate with Google: sub-headers, keywords, and snippets. However, that's not an exhaustive list.
Meta descriptions are another area Google crawls to determine search rankings. Meta descriptions are the one- to three-sentence descriptions, you'll find underneath the title of a result.
Use meta descriptions to sum up what your post is about, and remember to:
• Keep it short.
• Use one to two keywords.
• Make it compelling. After all, there are going to be other posts like your own, so you’ll want your description to stand out above the rest.
Most content management systems (CMS) have meta description boxes built-in, so you likely won't have to look far to use the function.
4. Add alt text to images
With any image you add to your post – featured or body images – you'll want to add alt text.
Alt text describes what's happening in the photo and it helps Google (as well as those who are visually impaired) understand why the photo is in your post.
5. Start with keyword research
It’s estimated that Google processes over 70,000 search queries a second.
If you want to cut through SERP clutter and outrank your competitors, you need to target the specific keywords and phrases your potential customers are searching for. Otherwise, how else will they find your content and website?
Start with a keyword research tool. Sites like Ahrefs and Google Keyword Planner give you details on what users are searching for and how popular those queries are.
Google Trends can also give you a feel for what keywords are popular at any given time. If you see searches are steadily declining over time for a specific keyword, you know that’s probably not the right keyword to target for your marketing. The opposite is true for rising trends.
If you’re ever running low on keyword ideas, get inspiration from your competition. Use competitive intelligence tools to see what keywords their domains currently rank for. If these keywords are relevant to your business, consider using them too.
However, keep in mind that the most obvious keywords don’t always align with your strategy. Additionally, your focus keywords will evolve over time as trends shift, terminology changes or your product/service line grows.
Be sure to conduct keyword research periodically to ensure you’re still focusing on the right keywords for your target audience and not missing out on vital ranking opportunities.
6. Resist the urge to keyword stuff
The goal is to make your page fully optimized, not overbearing. Find natural fits for keyword additions, but don't force them to the point where your content is illegible.
For example, if your keywords are "account-based marketing," "start-ups," and "sales," avoid a meta description like this: "Sales for account-based marketing start-ups."
Instead, try focusing on one or two keywords to make the description more natural: "Are you looking for killer strategies to boost your account-based marketing game? Discover our research-backed techniques in this post."
With this approach, you're still using keywords, but you're not oversaturating the post. Remember, your goal is to solve for your audience. If your users have a poor reading experience, that will signal to Google that your post may not be meeting their needs.
7. Link to high-authority websites
As you build out your blog post, don’t be afraid to link externally.
Linking to reputable websites not only offers blog readers additional reading material to expand their knowledge, but it also shows search engines that you’ve done your research.
Nothing strengthens a blog post like research-backed statistics from influential websites. Compelling stats help you build a more convincing and concrete argument that will help you gain trust from your readers.
8. Aim for scannable, longer posts
In an age of short attention spans, you would think shorter blog posts are the way to go. But in fact, search engines like Google prefer longer, in-depth blog posts.
Think about it: the more content on the page, the more clues search engines must figure out what your blog is about. At HubSpot, we’ve found that the ideal length is between 2,100 and 2,400 words.
The downside to longer blogs is that they may overwhelm your readers. One way to combat that is by breaking down your content into bite-size, scannable chunks.
Turn a long-winded sentence into two and keep your paragraphs to three sentences or less.
Don’t forget about bullet points – they’re great attention grabbers and easily digestible, especially on mobile devices.
9. Link to other posts on your site
Linking to other pages or blog posts on your website helps search engines create an accurate sitemap. It also helps your audience discover more of your content and get to know you as a trustworthy, credible source of information.
On the user side, Internal links to other valuable content keep readers on your site longer, reducing bounce rate and increasing your potential for a conversion. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
When linking to any pages on your website, or even outside sources, use natural language for your anchor text. Avoid using spammy or generic calls to action, such as "top-rated cheap laptops" or "click here."
Instead, use descriptive keywords that give readers a sense of what they will find when they click on the hyperlink, like "Download your SEO guide."
Never force-feed links to your top webpages, featured products, or discounted items. Include links that enhance the points made in your posts and naturally tie in with the subject matter.
10. Design a link-building strategy
Link building is crucial to your search ranking.
Why? Think of search results like a competition where the winners get the most votes. Each webpage that links back to you is considered a vote for your website, which makes your content more trustworthy in the eyes of Google. In turn, this will make you rise further up in ranking.
So, it's good to write posts that other websites or publications will want to hyperlink within their own posts. To make your website's blog post more linkable, include high-value assets in your posts, such as original data and thought leadership.
Conducting interviews with experts is another effective way of leading traffic back to your website.
You know how to write content audiences will love. It’s about writing for humans, not search engines! With all these SEO guidelines, it can be easy to forget that when a user searches on Google, they are looking for an answer. The best way for you to improve your chances of ranking is by writing high-quality blog posts.
What does that look like? Thorough answers, scannable sections, organized sub-headers, and visual aids. Keep your buyer personas, their motivations, challenges, and interests in mind. It’s also important to choose topics that will resonate with your potential customers and address their pain points.
Now, it's time to include elements that Google will love too. It can sound tricky at first, with these SEO tips, you’ll be on the first page of Google in no time.