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Blog Post SEO Checklist: How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Posts that Guarantee Traffic

You’ve Written a Great Blog Post, but It’s Not Driving Traffic

The solution? Optimize your post for SEO.

This blog post SEO checklist will show you precisely what elements of your post you need to optimize.

But first, let’s start with understanding what blog post SEO is and why it is so important.

What is Blog Post SEO?

Blog post SEO is the process of optimizing your blog content to rank higher on search engine results pages (SERP).

Essential tasks involved in optimizing a blog post include keyword research, internal linking, on-page optimization, and SEO blog writing.

Why is Blog Post SEO Crucial?

Blog post SEO is crucial for two significant reasons:

Revenue


Organic search has the highest average share of revenue generated (44.6%) across B2B, retail, media, technology, and travel industries.

Lead Generation


A recent survey of 1,067 bloggers showed that SEO is their second most important method of generating traffic. SEO contributes 53% of all web traffic, compared to 27%, 15%, and 5% from other, paid, and organic social channels.

Considering that 61% of online marketers struggle with lead generation, it’s essential to pay attention to your SEO content strategy. The more optimized your blog post is, the higher its chances of garnering traffic and potential customers from search engines like Google and Bing.

How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Posts

A truly SEO-friendly blog post is one that readers find valuable and search engines understand. Think of blog post SEO as building a house: you need a solid foundation. Here’s how to lay that foundation:

  1. Install Yoast
    Yoast is one of the best SEO plugins for WordPress websites. If you haven't installed it yet, now’s the time.
  2. Conduct Thorough Keyword Research
    • Define your primary target keyword.
    • Use SEO tools like Ubersuggest, Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, Moz, or SEMrush to analyze keywords.
    • Understand search intent by checking what currently ranks for your keyword and using tools like Answer The Public.
  1. Create an Outline
    Your outline should highlight the main topic and subtopics you want to cover.
  2. Write the Most Complete Post
    Research existing content to identify common themes and gaps, and provide original insights or a fresh angle.
  3. Write Your Title Tag
    Follow Google’s best practices: use your core keyword, make it descriptive, and use tools like SERPsim and CoSchedule’s Headline Analyzer.
  4. Optimize Your Meta Description
    Make it short (less than 200 words), include the target keyword, and make it enticing.
  5. Optimize Your URL Slug
    Ensure it contains your target keyword and is short and descriptive.
  6. Optimize Your Header Tags
    Use H1 for your main title (include your keyword) and H2s and H3s for subheadings (include secondary keywords).
  7. Include Keywords in the Introduction and Throughout the Content
    Use your main keyword in the first 100 words and throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing.
  8. Include Secondary Keywords in Subheads and Body Copy
    Use secondary keywords naturally throughout your post.
  9. Include Keywords in Image File Names and Alt Text
    Rename image file names to include your target keyword and write descriptive alt texts.
  10. Include a Clickable Table of Contents
    Use plugins like Easy Table of Contents to insert a clickable table of contents based on your header tags.
  11. Include Internal Links to Relevant Content
    Link to other pages on your site to help web crawlers discover more content and increase dwell time.
  12. Include External Links to Authoritative Sources
    Link to expert research, industry statistics, and other authoritative resources.
  13. Include Blog Posts Under One Single Category
    Group related posts under a single category or hub.
  14. Ensure Content is Easy to Read
    • Use headers and subheaders.
    • Write in an active voice.
    • Keep sentences and paragraphs short.
    • Avoid jargon.
    • Use lists, bullet points, italics, and bold text.
  15. Consider Including Relevant Media
    Include videos, slides, and graphs to make your content more engaging and easier to understand.

The Checklist

There you have it—a complete blog SEO checklist to use whenever you want to create a well-optimized blog post. Here’s a summary:

  • Start with keyword research
  • Use the main keyword in your title tag, meta description, and URL slug
  • Structure your blog post with header tags
  • Include the main keyword in your image’s file and alt text
  • Insert a table of contents and anchor texts within your post
  • Add internal links within your post
  • Link to external authoritative sources
  • Create a content hub or group your blog posts into categories
  • Make your content easy to read
  • Include rich media elements like videos, slides, and graphs

Now, start optimizing your content!

Blog post SEO optimization is a multifaceted and ongoing process. It’s best to have a proven SEO blog post checklist to guide you and cover all bases. Whether you are offering SEO services or crafting SEO plans for your clients, having a comprehensive checklist ensures every aspect of your blog post is optimized for maximum impact.

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