SEO stands for “search engine optimisation”. Essentially, the idea behind it is that there are steps you need to take to get your blog to rank high in search engines. SEO optimisation does not have to be complicated.
If youâre taking the time to write content, you obviously want to be found. So besides the people who regularly subscribe to you and find you through social media, a great way to get people to read your blog is for them to find you through search engines â which is why âWhat is SEO?â matters so much.
SEO is taking reasonable steps to ensure Google and its ilk favour the content on your website when people search for topics that you mention.
It can get as complicated as you want, but really if you follow some basic guidelines, such as using the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress websites and heeding the tips provided, youâll see results.
Understanding Keywords
What you need to have rank is high-quality content (such as blog posts and pages on your website that discuss topics in-depth) and you should have a decent idea of which keywords to target with that content; in other words, which specific topics you should be exploring in your content.
For example, if youâre a chef who focuses on treating issues with the gut, youâll want to explore subjects under that umbrella â and your keywords should include phrases and terms that your clients use as opposed to jargon.
So when you share recipes, you should include something about the gut in the title and throughout that piece of content, e.g. âMorning smoothie recipe to debloat and calm your gutâ instead of âdelicious morning smoothie recipe with raspberriesâ.
If your clients complain of indigestion or âstomach cramps after lunchâ, go ahead and use that in a blog post like âDo you have stomach cramps after lunch? Hereâs how to treat indigestionâ.
Then follow the common SEO advice to optimise the text before you hit publish. This alone can go a long way and the positive effects can last for years and years. This is basic content marketing, with a big SEO overlap.
Focus on the content that will bring value to your clients and thereby help them trust you.
Start with Keyword Research
Even though individual keywords themselves are no longer enough to form the foundation of your content, everything begins with good keyword research.
Resist researching single keywords, and instead move towards exploring your keyword themes.
Use natural language and variations. During your keyword research process, it’s helpful to identify other common ways searchers refer to your topic and include these in your content when appropriate.
Think in terms of ideas and topics. Write what people actually want to read. The trick is to pick a topic, write a few articles around it, and move on to the next sibling article. If you play your publishing schedule correctly, you can end up with organic and relevant traffic.
Buzzsumo, for example, can provide insight into what content has gathered decent traction: pick out popular pieces that could be updated or improved on.
- Use tools like UberSuggest, Answer the Public and a little bit of brainstorming to come up with some keywords
- You can also check UberSuggest to see the level of traffic and competition
- Pick the main keyword youâll and supporting keywords if needed (synonyms and related words, I recommend picking 2 or 3)
SEO Optimisation Through Engaging Content
The first step in SEO optimization through engaging content is understanding and fulfilling user intent. When internet users type a query into a search engine, they have a specific purpose in mind. Google’s algorithms have evolved to prioritize user intent, not just keywords.
Understanding the context of a search query can help you create content that resonates with your audience and ranks high in search engine results pages (SERPs). To do this, use your content to provide relevant answers and solutions to your audience’s queries.
- n the digital world, content is king. High-quality, original content is one of the critical factors that can improve your SEO ranking. Google’s algorithms favour unique and valuable content over rehashed information.
- Long-form content that provides comprehensive insights into a topic is more likely to rank higher than short, vague articles. Moreover, engaging and shareable content will naturally generate more backlinks and traffic to your website, indirectly boosting your SEO.
- Each page and post on your site should have a main call-to-action and help get each website visitor to that final point so that you can subsequently sell them via your emails or a phone consult.
- Headers, paragraphs, lists, and tables all provide structure to content so that search engines understand your topic targeting. For example, adding your keywords to headings helps your post in the rankings.
It is shown that 30% of Googleâs search results contain a featured snippet according to a recent study undertaken by Stone Temple.
In addition, Stone Templeâs study revealed that featured snippets significantly impact the CTRâs of traditional organic search results below them. Make sure you take time to really optimise the snippets for your SEO.
Mobile and back-links
Originally announced in 2016, Google has been rolling out its mobile-first index. This essentially means that Google will rank mobile versions of content over non-mobile content. This is the time to head to Googleâs mobile-friendly testing tool to make sure your site is ticking all the boxes for mobile users.
Another trick is to make the most lof link-backs through off-page SEO. Off-Page SEO is just a fancy way to say links. (Sometimes we call them backlinks, but itâs really the same thing.)
Google looks at each link on the web as a weighted vote. If you link to something, in Googleâs eyes youâre saying, âThis is worth checking out.â The more legit you are the more weight your vote carries.
Ready to get started with positive impact marketing?
Set up power marketing systems build a marketing strategy that drives results, when you join our certification.
Develop an advanced set of marketing skills that drive more measurable results to any project and harness the power of psychology, purpose, storytelling, and impact to build trust in an increasingly skeptical world.
Take our certification, build your marketing plan and build your ultimate marketing toolkit.
Â