Some people say blogging is an art, while others claim it's a science
that requires well-defined logic. I believe it is a mix of both. Your
blog needs to be creative, but still needs to adhere to search engine
optimization (SEO) and social media marketing guidelines.
Blogging is one of the oldest forms of social media, and it
continues to play a pivotal role in social media strategies. Here are
some tips to help you write blog posts search engines will love:
1. Choose a compatible blogging platform.
To start, choose a blogging platform that is search-engine
friendly. Blogs on WordPress and Blogger rank high on the SEO scale.
Take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of both.
2. Carefully choose your keywords.
Most search engines work off keywords. Make sure you:
- Choose the right keywords.
- Include the right amount of keywords.
Posts lose their essence if you stuff them with too many
keywords, but search engines might not index posts if they don't have
enough. It is crucial to maintain the optimal amount of keywords.
3. Write headlines for both readers and search engines.
Make sure to optimize your posts' headlines for SEO. Most
search engines will index a post with an optimized headline, but not one
with a run-of-the-mill headline. A catchy and informative headline will
go down well with both readers and search engine robots.
4. Post original content.
Most search engines are smart enough to detect plagiarism
and will not index your post if they find duplicate content. If you want
search engines to like your posts, write high-quality, unique content.
Most search engines know how to determine the original source of
content, so don't copy.
5. Include links.
If you want to drive traffic to your blog, you need inbound
and outbound links. Multiple high-quality inbound and outbound links
will boost your blog's readership as well as its overall SEO rating.
Most search engines value external links even if you link to a
competitor's website.
6. Tag and label images.
Images help search engines notice your posts. While search
engines can't actually see your images, they can parse the tags
associated with them. Make sure to use image names that are SEO-friendly
rather than names like "DSC0001.jpg" that are straight off your camera.
Also, always add an ALT tag to your images. An ALT tag is a
text alternative to an image and typically describes what the image
looks like.
Do you have any other tips on how to write blog posts that search engines like?
Douglas Idugboe is a digital and new media marketing strategist, and founder and chief editor of Smedio. A version of this article originally appeared on Smedio.com.