7 BLOG POST ELEMENTS TO OPTIMIZE SEARCH (SEO)
SEO = Search Engine Optimization or optimizing our content so the people that need us can find us and how Google and other search engines see us.
TITLE
This seems obvious, but you’d be surprised. Don’t get cutesy. Google doesn’t have time to figure out the nuance of your personality. Personality is essential for building your brand voice, but it’s better saved for the body copy.
DRAFT: 10 MOVES TO FIND YOUR SIX-PACK. (followed by images or a video).
Google will read that the video or images are about buying beer. Blue Moon might thank you, but that’s not the goal.
BETTER: 10 BEST At-HOME EXERCISES FOR STRONG ABS
So not as clever, but I guarantee you’ll get more eyes on your post and more peeps enjoying your content. Google gets good content to give to people, and everyone is happy! 🥳 (but that’s just the beginning)
META DESCRIPTION
Meta Description may be your brand's first introduction potential dream clients will make. Don’t be lazy; make sure you’re optimizing all the places search engines are “crawling” to identify the quality of your content.
Here you want to make sure that you’re using your keywords. This is what appears on the description under the link on Google search. Evernote is a perfect example of utilizing the Meta description.
It’s clean, specific, and doesn’t get cutesy with language. It’s even got a call to action. Perfection! I want to put a fine point on it. PERSONALITY is essential for your brand. But you must save it for your blogs, social media, and other content. Don’t waste your titles and meta descriptions; let people find you first and then dazzle them with everything you got!
IMAGE DESCRIPTION
This one is easy to forget, but it’s super important. Google can’t “see” your image or video, so you gotta give it a hand. Name your files using keywords and crystal-clear descriptions.
Because let’s face it. When was the last time you Googled ‘screenshot’? Change the description to something like “Image example of good meta descriptions,” Google might understand the image and who to show it to.
URL
This one is easy. Keep it short and simple and include another one of those happy little keywords. Forget all the “stuff.” No dates or anything clever.
www.mygreatblog.com/the-best-SEO-for-your-blog
The rule of thumb is that you must ensure that Google understands that you’re adding value to the internet. They won't be disappointed when they send their valued customers to your website and immediately bounce. That way, they can place ads while you find what you’re looking for.
We are NOT trying to hack the algorithm. We are first creating high-quality content, and THEN we are helping the people find it.
Body Copy
Here’s where we meet our good friend, the Long Tail Keyword. I’m a little infatuated with the LTK. First, let’s give you a brief understanding of the term.
Of the TRILLIONS of web searches a year, 15% are new, never been searched before. THOSE are the searches you want to be ready for. So if you think about the most popular searches, that’s like the head of the big Google Monster, and then the next bunch creates the middle part. And then there’s the long tail. These are all the searches that are searched once or 3 times. It’s here where the magic happens.
Why would we want those little crumbs when we can have those heavy hitters? A couple of reasons.
Think of it like searching for a couch. You might search for something like a “couch” or “living room couch for sale” (the head). A LOT of people are also searching for the same thing. It comes back with a ton of options and ads. WAY too many options. You update the search to green couches. Close, but still too many options and not reeaaallly what you want. One more time you search, green velvet cinema sofa with button tufts.
BINGO! Perfection. Exactly what you want. See, green velvet cinema sofa button tufts are the long tail keywords someone is typing once they decide to buy. And you want your content to me the search requirement.
When you start a search, you’ll start with something generic. But if you’re looking for something as specific as a green velvet cinema sofa with a button tuft, you’ll likely be ready to buy. These are the folks you want to capture the attention of. These ideal clients want to work with you, and are ready to be wooed. This is where you want to rank on Google. It’s not so important to rank for couch. Target or Ikea can do that. It works the same for services too. Think; of life coach vs. health coach vs. hormone balance after pregnancy coach.
Which would you rather rank for? The important part of this formula is that you’re creating high-quality content specific to your audience (Ideal Customer Avatar). You will lose if you try to hack or outsmart the algorithm (does anyone else start typing Al Gore when typing algorithm?). It’s not sustainable or fun, or lucrative.
Social Links
Make your work easy to share. Include social link icons on all posts. This signals to our friends at Google that the content is worth sharing and that people find it good enough to share. Remember, the algorithm doesn’t make an emotional recommendation when ranking you. It can only pick out words and see that humans enjoy your work. So help the pretty humans share and like your work.
Keep it Fresh
Query Deserves Freshness (QDF). So if you write about WWII, you won’t have to worry about this, but for everyone else, we want to be aware of this “tag.” Say you’re a restaurant and want to ensure that your content is updated regularly because if someone searches “restaurants near me,” Google knows that it needs to give the most relevant and active sites. So if you haven’t updated in a year, the algorithm can’t tell if you’re still open. Another example; is someone searches “latest NLP techniques”; you don’t want to have a post about Neuro Linguistic programming from 2011. 😉 Bottom line, update your content.
SEO is about optimizing your content for search. So people who are searching can find you. That’s it. That’s all it is.
So take action;
Write your next beautifully optimized post that helps your audience achieve their goals, solve a problem or make them look cute with a physical product.
