I can’t stress enough how important SEO is. That’s why in this blog post, I’m excited to share some SEO basics that every blogger should apply before they hit publish.
SEO may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be that way. Everything written on this page can be in 10 minutes. And I assure you, these SEO basics will pay off with extra traffic to your site. Don’t feel down if your visitors are low, because you can always do something about it. Or better yet make new posts by following SEO basics I will mention below.
I’ve even created a free printable checklist for you to download, print out so that its easy to have something to refer to when you write your posts.
How cool is that?
Blog SEO Basics in 10 Minutes or Less
The step by step guide to getting more organic traffic to your blog posts
Step 1: Write Your Post
An obvious first step, but you need this to proceed. Once you’ve written your post, figured your headline it’s time to get to work on your SEO.
Step 2: Select Your Keyword
If you are getting started, you want to select a long-tail keyword, meaning not a single keyword.
Why?
Because long-tail keywords are less competitive and now statistics are showing that more people are searching using phrases to find information than a single keyword.
So think like a searcher, what words would you use from your title to search for your content.
Let’s use this post as an example:
I took my title and went over to the google keyword planner to research keywords. Plugged it in and came up with my keywords SEO basics.
Take a close look at the screenshot of my research above. The keywords SEO Basics fits my criteria for searches and competition.
Low to medium competition with a fair amount of monthly searches is what you are looking for when selecting a keyword.
You’ll also want to put those keywords into google and search to see what content comes up to make sure your content is in alignment with the other content that shows up.
If your content isn’t similar topic wise then you’ll want to go back to the drawing board. Rethink your keywords and find keywords that are a better fit for your content.
You want readers to come to your blog read your content, stay, read more, and join your email list. If your content doesn’t give them what they are looking for, then they will leave and not return.
Your mission is to give the answers your readers are looking for, and you must get the right keyword match.
Step 3: Add Your Focus Keyword
Now you are ready to add your keyword and start optimizing your post and content for SEO. To do this correctly, you need SEO by Yoast Plugin set up on your blog.
This handy tool helps you to track your progress and make sure you get your keyword in all the right places.
Step 4: Write Your Meta Description
Write your meta description and make sure you add your keywords into the copy.
When writing your meta description you want to inspire people to click and read your content. Be clear in your copy of what they will learn by reading your article.
Step 5: Add Your Keywords to Your Permalink
A simple task since it just takes a minute to add. Click on your permalink and add your keyword.
I suggest that you keep your permalinks short whenever possible.
Longer permalinks look messy and run the risk of something getting dropped off when copying and pasting.
Keep them short and to the point whenever possible.
Step 6: Add Keywords to Your Image
Select your post image and add a copy to it in Canva.
I do this to draw more attention to my post on social media when I share it. The first thing people see on social media is your image, so you want to get your message across visually.
Upload your file image on your computer and change the description to include your keywords.
Once you do that, you are ready to upload to your media and add keywords to your alt title. Search engines can pick up your keywords and know what your blog post is about because of this SEO Strategy.
Step 7: Check Your Progress & Tweak Your Copy
Yay… you’re just about done!
It’s time to take a look at your progress and make sure you got everything optimized. Is your SEO green? If yes, then good job. If not, then you need to go in and make a few changes to the copy in your post.
Most often I find that I need to include the keyword in the first sentence of my content and then sprinkle it in naturally throughout the rest of my copy.
Take a look through the suggestions that Yoast SEO plugin makes and use that as your guide and keep checking your progress.
I bet that a few minor changes will turn that green light on quickly! Now you know the SEO basics that will effectively optimize your blog posts for more organic traffic.
To help you out and boost your blogging productivity, I’ve included the SEO and Blog Post Productivity Pack here for you to download, print out, and have handy when blogging.
Make sure you download the FREE SEO checklist and blog post productivity pack – both of these will help you write and get more blog posts!
