How To Write SEO Friendly Blog Posts With Ease

How to Write SEO Friendly Blog Posts

Starting your very own blog is a dream for many, but it isn’t as easy as it seems. There’s a lot of time and effort that goes into planning your blog, not to mention the concepts you’ll need to understand before starting your blog. For example, you need to know how to write SEO friendly blog posts.  Doing so helps your posts rank higher in Google searches and drive traffic to get the most out of your blog.

Increasing blog views and traffic can seem intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. The most important concept to understand and learn how to use is SEO. Writing SEO friendly blog posts can take your blog from a few hundred views a month with little reader interaction to a successful blog with thousands of views.

Suppose you rely on affiliate marketing through your blog or advertisements per blog view to earn money through blogging. In that case, SEO friendly blog posts are a game-changer. But what is SEO, and how can you create SEO friendly blog content? We’ve got some answers.

Let’s go over everything you need to know about writing SEO friendly blog posts so you can take your blog from zero to one hundred in no time!

Your Blog’s Intro

The most vital part of your blog is the intro. Your introduction paragraph determines whether the reader will keep reading or click on a different site instead.

Having a killer introduction can be a challenge if you’re not sure where to start. Let’s break down what you’ll need to achieve an introduction that will increase site views and direct traffic to your blog.

Hook Your Readers in

Your introduction needs to hook your readers in. Just like a fisherman puts bait on his hook to attract fish, you’ll need to make your introduction appealing enough to attract your readers.

Depending on the audience you’re writing to, your bait may look a little different. Your hook should compel your readers to keep reading and grab their attention. Use simple sentences and incorporate the word “you” into your introduction at least once, so they know you’re talking to them.

Here are a few other tips for writing an excellent attention grabber:

• start with a question
• use descriptive imagery and language to paint a picture for your reader
• start with a staggering statistic related to your blog

Before You Begin

After you’ve created your introduction paragraph and hooked your readers in, you can move on to creating the body of your blog post. However, before you start writing, here are four essential things to do before you begin!

1. Do Your Keyword Research

   When writing an SEO-friendly blog, it’s vital to do your keyword research! If you don’t know what keywords to include, you won’t get the most out of your SEO and rank higher on google searches.

   There are a few ways you can do this. The first and easiest way is to do a google search yourself. For example, if you wanted to write about which houseplants are the best for indoor use, you could google search this phrase and see which blogs come up. The keywords included in their titles and blog post likely rank higher on google.

   You can also use a platform like Answer the Public. This tool is free and shows you exactly which questions are being searched the most about your topic.

2. Review Your competition

   One of the biggest mistakes we see new bloggers make is ignoring their competition. If you’re just beginning to blog, this can be tempting. Your competitors can make you feel discouraged and even distracted.However, watching your competition is an invaluable tool. You can learn from their mistakes, know which keywords and topics are popular, and get a feel for the style and tone you want your blog to be.

   One of the best tools you can take advantage of as a new blogger looking to increase SEO performance is subscribing to your competitors’ blogs and social media.

3. Figure Out Your Topic

   You’ll also need to decide on what topic you want your blog post to be about. Depending on what niche your blog is in, this can vary.

   Be sure to choose a subject you’re educated about and interested in. It’s hard to fabricate passion in a blog post, and readers always prefer authenticity. Pick a topic you love, and make sure it fits into the overall content of your blog.

4. Decide on Your Content Type

   Lastly, you need to decide on what your blog’s content is going to be about.One of the biggest mistakes bloggers make is creating blog content that is too broad. For instance, if you write blogs about houseplants, automobile care, and parenting, it will be challenging to find your audience and keep them coming back for more.

   Instead, choose a general topic you want your blog to be about. You can write about fashion, beauty, health, family life, marriage, finances, or education, but just be sure to pick one!

Are you unsure of how to find your blog niche? Don’t worry! This resource will teach you everything you need to know about finding your place in 5 simple steps.

Writing SEO Friendly Blog Posts

After you’ve decided what your blog should be about, it’s time to start thinking about the body of your blog post. Think of your introduction as the first hamburger bun and the body as the meat. The meat is pretty crucial to a hamburger, so it’s vital to know how to write the body of your post.

You want to pack your post’s body with as much information and content as you can without sounding too dense or redundant.

Come Up with a Great Title

To do this, you’ll need a great title. The title is the first thing your readers will see displayed on google or on your blog site, so it’s essential to choose the correct title.

1. Should Include your Primary Keyword in It

   When it comes to SEO-friendly blogging, one of the easiest ways to incorporate SEO keywords in your blog post is in your title and headings. These are not only the first things your readers look at on the Google search page and your blog site, but keywords in your title will rank high in google searches.

   So, be sure your title contains your primary keyword, even if you have secondary keywords scattered throughout the rest of your blog post too.

2. Use Capitalize My Title

   It’s also important to know how your title needs to be formatted and which words need to be capitalized. Instead of memorizing the rules for title case and capitalization, use this free program called Capitalize My Title!

Create an Outline

One of the best things you can do to make your blog writing more straightforward is to create an outline! Here’s why.

1. Organizes Your Thoughts

   If you’re anything like most bloggers, your thoughts are probably racing all the time. This can be a blessing sometimes, but when it comes time to sit down and crank out a blog post, it can be challenging to get your thoughts in order.

   This is where an outline comes in handy. An outline will help you organize your thoughts and guide you through each part of your blog that needs writing. Instead of chasing your thoughts around while trying to write the body of your blog post, you’ll be able to write it in an organized, structured manner.

2. Helps Provide Structure and Flow

   Creating an outline for your blog post helps you break down each point into headings, subheadings and gives you an idea of how your words need to flow.

   Without an outline, it can be like looking at a blank canvas. You have no idea where to start, and you might begin to feel overwhelmed with all the empty space. Having an outline is like having pencil marks and a plan for where you need to paint next. It’s still an unfinished work of art, but at least you know where you need to paint.

   An outline will help your blog post feel more structured, help you write more efficiently, and give your post a better flow!

Structure Your Page

After you make your outline, it’s time to structure your page. I always like to start with my most prominent headings first, my subheadings, and then any bullets or more minor headings I need to include in my blog.

However, if you prefer a different method or order, choose whatever works best for you!

1. Use Headings and Subheadings

   Headings and subheadings are an essential aspect to include in your blog.

   Nobody on the internet wants to sit down and read a large chunk of text with no breaks. In fact, if readers encounter this on your blog, they will probably leave your site. Headings are great because they break up content, make your post easier to read for your audience, and less intimidating.

   Many of your readers will probably spend most of their time skimming material rather than reading every word. Headings come in handy here, too, as they are easier to scan and make your posts more accessible!

2. Smaller Paragraphs

   Another principle to keep in mind is to use smaller paragraphs.

   Writing a blog might feel like writing an essay at times. You do your research, you compile information, and you format it to attract your readers. However, formatting your blog post like an essay with large paragraphs can deter readers rather than draw them in.

   When blogging, aim to keep your paragraphs anywhere 3 to 5 sentences long. Any more than this can make your blog post seem too dense. You can also incorporate shorter sections here and there to make your post feel more casual.

3. Use a numbered and bulleted list

   Using bulleted or numbered lists in your blog post can also make your post easier to digest, skim, and read for your audience.

   When should you use bulleted lists?

   • When providing your reader with a longer list of information.
   • When your list is more than three points long.
   • When you want to summarize the points made in your blog post.
   • When you want to add a break in the structure of your blog.
   • Using bullet points and numbered lists can work wonders for your blog post and make it feel accessible and readable!

Write Your Content

Now that you’ve done the research, put in the time to make an outline, and decided on your topic and keywords, it’s time for the fun part.
In fact, having an outline and plan set in place makes writing your content so much easier. This is the most crucial part of your blog, the breakdown of what your title, headings, and subheadings mean, so it’s vital to get it right.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind and incorporate while writing the content of your blog post.

1. Include Keywords throughout your article where it fits appropriately

   That’s right, you have to include keywords in more than just your titles. SEO can be tricky. You have to make sure to avoid keyword stuffing, as this can actually harm your views on Google rankings.

   A helpful principle to keep in mind is to have no more than 3% of your article that uses the keyword. In other words, only 3% should incorporate the keyword. This will help you avoid stuffing and hurting your Google rankings.

   It can also be helpful to use synonyms for your keyword throughout your article or use similar phrases. For instance, if your SEO keyword is “houseplants,” you can also use the words “plants” and “indoor plants.” You can also use phrases such as “healthy houseplants” and more.

   The biggest key to keep in mind is to write naturally. If you feel you’re using your keyword too much, it’s probably time to dial it back. If it helps, read your blog post out loud when you’re finished writing it. This will give you an idea of how it will sound to others and help you see if you’re overusing your chosen words.

2. Use Transition Words

   Transition words are one of the best tools to have in your blogging arsenal. They can take a hard-to-digest passage and break it into much more manageable, readable paragraphs.

   They also help maintain the natural flow of the article. Instead of sounding like a robot who writes in a monotonous, difficult-to-understand style, you’ll sound like another person having a conversation!

   What transition words and phrases should you use? Here are a few of the easiest to incorporate.

   • However
   • Despite
   • Even though
   • At the same time
   • On the other hand
   • Thus
   • Equally
   • In addition
   • Similarly
   • Likewise
   • Regardless
   • But
   • Otherwise
   • Sometimes
   • Meanwhile
   • In other words
   • To rephrase
   • To summarize

   These phrases not only make your blog post more conversational, but they make it easier to skim. Readers are more likely to stay on a site that is easy to scan than dense, so these words are a must-have!

3. Use the Active Voice
   Just like transition phrases can be the best tool for bloggers, passive voice can be what drags your blog down. This is why it’s so vital to write in the active voice.

   The active voice is basically any sentence where the subject performs the action. With passive voice, the subject will be receiving the action from something else.

   Here’s an example of active and passive voice.

   • Passive voice: The school bus was driven by the teacher today.
   • Active voice: The teacher drove the school bus today.

   Suppose you’re writing a sophisticated journal, writing a scientific analysis, or writing a formal educational article. In that case, the passive voice is sometimes acceptable. However, concerning blog writing and most online content, using the passive voice can sound really scientific. It makes sentences clunky, hard to read, and the opposite of conversational.

   If you’re not sure whether you’re writing in an active or passive voice, read your blog post out loud. Active voice will feel much more natural to read than passive voice, which can help you get a good idea of what voice you’re using.

4. Avoid Long Sentences

   When it comes to blogging, avoid anything long and drawn out. Keep your paragraphs short and concise. It’s even important to keep your sentences as brief as possible.

   Write a long sentence that includes many words and transitions. It won’t be easy to read and definitely not easy to skim. Instead, keep most sentences concise. Avoid long phrases and sentences that have too many commas.

5. Engage with the reader

   The truth about blogging is that if you don’t engage with your readers, they won’t engage with you! They won’t interact on your website, drive traffic, and listen to what you have to say.

   So, how do you get readers to get involved? Have a conversation with them! Engage them and keep them entertained.

   Speak to the reader directly, using words like “you” to address them. Ask them questions that drive them to keep reading. For example, if you’re writing a blog about houseplants, you can use this paragraph that contains both principles.

   “As a plant owner, you love your plants. But taking care of them can be harder than it looks. Have you ever wondered if you’re overwatering or underwatering your Succulent? Keep reading to learn what signs to look for!”

   Another way you can make your blog casual is to share relatable anecdotes, stories, or information. Relate to your reader! Let them know that you’ve been where they are, and it does get better. There are answers to what they’re looking for, and you’ve got them!

6. Your Blog Post Should be at least 600 Words

   If you’re a beginner blogger, you’re probably wondering how long your blog post should be. A good blog post can be anywhere from 600 to a few thousand words long, but there are many aspects to factor into your post length.

   First, you want to aim for the average length of the top-ranking google results for your keyword. While you’re checking out your competitors, you can see how long their posts are. How long are the articles that rank in the top ten in google?

   Next, you also want to make sure you produce quality over quantity. Your readers would prefer reading a blog that’s 1000 words long but packed with quality content than a 4000-word blog post that rambles on and on, relaying the same information over and over.

   Your posts can be long, but make sure each point you make is a new one and is valuable to your reader!

Review Your Content

After you’ve written your content, it’s time to review it. Don’t panic just yet! Editing your blogs isn’t as hard as it seems.
Here are a few helpful tips to make the process smoother.

1. Review with Your SEO Plugin

   Part of editing for SEO blogging means reviewing your keywords. You can use any SEO plugin to help do this, but here are two of our favorites.

   • Yoast is an excellent resource that helps with SEO and blogging.
   • Rank Math automatically adds SEO tools to your website to make SEO blogging so much easier.
2. Your blog should be easy to read

   Review your blog and make sure it’s easy to read. Check for passive voice, chunky sentences, and awkward wording!

3. Proofread for grammatical errors

   Nobody wants to read a blog post with grammatical errors. This looks unprofessional and takes away your credibility as an author. Be sure to check for grammatical mistakes carefully!

   You can also use Grammarly as an easy way to proofread your blog post. Grammarly will point out any grammatical issues such as comma splices, misspellings, and incomplete sentences. Additionally, it will also show you ways to make your blog post easier to read.

Fill in Your Post Information

Now, it’s time to fill in your blog post information!

1. Add Images

   Choose one of the images to be featured and displayed on your website.

   The general consensus for images is to have one for every 150 words of your blog, but this can end up looking more like a Buzzfeed post than you might want it to. Instead, make sure every image relates directly to your content and adds something to your blog.

   Avoid adding random images just to meet a certain count, as this can make your blog post overwhelming to read as well.

   Did you know you can use your images to add SEO too? Well, you can! Make sure to change the title and alt text of your image manually. Add any keywords there to help boost your blog posts SEO. Just make sure you continue to avoid keyword stuffing.

2. Fill in your meta-data

   Lastly, you want to write your metadata. This is the information that pops up on google when someone searches for it. The meta-title is the title they will see, and the meta description is a short sentence or two they’ll see on the search results.

   Meta descriptions should be under 164 characters to avoid getting cut off by Google and should be informative, short and grab your reader’s attention. Be sure to place keywords here and in the title when possible!

   You can also choose an excerpt from your blog that you want to be displayed on google search results! This can be a few bullets that answer a question or a leading paragraph to draw readers to click on your site.

Conclusion

After you’ve written your blog post, edited your content, and added your keywords and images, it’s time to wrap it up. Your conclusion paragraph should always be around 3 to 5 sentences that repeat the important points you made.

You can also include a call to action as the last sentence to lead your reader to click through your website and drive more traffic to your blog. The conclusion should be simple, short, and easy to understand.

So now you know how to write SEO friendly blog posts.  As a blogger, writing your posts with SEO friendly content isn’t always easy. But with these tips and tricks and the right keywords, you’ll have everything you need to make a killer blog post that ranks higher on Google.