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You can write a great blog post, but if you don’t pay attention to search engine optimization (SEO), you might never reach your target audience. SEO is Google’s way of ranking your content and making it easier to find. If you take the time to optimize your posts, blogging can help your business grow substantially.
Here are three simple ways to strengthen SEO within your blog post:
1. Use a Variety of Header Tags
On WordPress, or other blogging sites, you have the option to include heading tags. These tags do not determine the font size, but the importance of the words within your blog post. Heading 1 (H1) ranks as the most important, whereas Heading 6 (H6) ranks the lowest. This helps Google understand the hierarchy of your content. Use a mixture of tags (not just H1) for better SEO rankings.
2. Include Inbound and Outbound links
An inbound link leads to another page on your website. For example, I might casually tell you to check out Deksia’s process page with an inbound link guiding you there. This keeps you on our site and thinking about our company for a longer period of time.
On the other hand, an outbound link sends a reader to a different website. This could be another blog that discusses an aspect of your topic in greater depth, allowing the reader to learn more. Outbound links build credibility with your readers by showing you did your research. They strengthen your relationship with other authority sites and prompt others to link to your content.
Note: Give your readers the confidence to follow your link. Avoid using the phrase “click here” as the hyperlink text. Instead, use the specific topic or site title.
3. Choose Your Keywords
Keywords help connect your target audience with your content. When you repeat certain words and phrases, people searching those terms are more likely to find your post. For instance, while writing this blog post I focused on the keywords “blog post” (mentioned 7 times) and “SEO” (mentioned 8 times). They are conveniently placed within my post without feeling forced. Mentioning these words in your title and first paragraph tells Google what you’re going to discuss. Additionally, if you pay for keywords through Google AdWords, include these within your post and your title (but only when relevant).
And that does it for our post, but it doesn’t end your SEO learning curve.
Keep researching how to strengthen SEO within your blog posts and on your website as a whole. When done strategically, you’ll have a better chance of reaching your target audience and, ultimately, achieving your business goals.