We all want our blog posts to show up on the first page of Google. Really, think to yourself. If you are casually searching the web, how many times do you go past the first page of results? This is where SEO comes into play.
I’m going to break this down for those who are just getting started.
SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization.” With the right SEO practices in place, you will see higher organic traffic from search engines such as Google, Yahoo, etc.
Now, what are the right SEO practices to put into place? I’ll be going over my top 4, but there are so so many resources out there on SEO and how to become an expert (and I, by no means, am an expert 🙂 Always learning!).
1. Install a SEO Plugin
If your website is hosted on WordPress, I 100% recommend installing the Yoast SEO plugin. This free plugin works to improve your SEO from all aspects. They also make it extremely easy and user friendly – especially for those who are just learning about SEO.
At the bottom of every post, Yoast SEO will automatically analyze your text, and give recommendations on how to improve it.
2. Determine a Keyword
As you saw in the Yoast SEO image above, it will ask for your keyword. The keyword is part of what makes it possible for search engines to find your post. In other words, think of how someone would search for your product or topic. Or even better, how would you search for it in Google?
When you nail down the perfect keyword, try and use it in as many places as possible, such as:
- Your Blog title
- I know that sometimes trying to make your keyword fit into the title sounds super unnatural. A cool feature Yoast SEO offers is the “SEO Title” section. This way, your readers will see your ‘fun’ title, while Google is searching for your keyword title.
- URL
- Throughout the body text
- Try and use your keyword at the beginning of the post, and then again at the end.
- Image alt-copy
- Meta description
- The meta description is a short overview of your post. I try and keep mine around 140-150 characters. You can also count on the Yoast plugin to tell you if your description is too long or too short.
3. Image Alt-Text and Titles
Always always always name your images. If you are on WordPress, the media library uploader makes this super simple. Do not upload your image with the title from your computer such as “IMG_5586.” Search engines will not know what this means. So we gotta tell them. During your upload, make sure to give the image a title and alt text using your keywords.
4. Use Headings
Not only do headings help divide up your content and make it easier to read, it also helps Google scan your text and grasp the main topic easier. Most CMS make it very easy to implement headings.
I know this was a lot of information to take in. But take a deep breath, and take it one step at a time.
To make it even easier for you, I put together a free SEO Checklist! Use this checklist every time you post until you have nailed down the best SEO practices.
33 Comments
Thanks for those tips! I can’t wait to implement in my next posts.
March 9, 2017 at 8:11 amYou’re welcome Kim! Be sure to let me know how it goes!
March 10, 2017 at 2:52 pmThis is definitely my biggest struggle with blogging! & I host through Wix, so my parameters are very small in what I can do (for the most part). But I will try and apply these tips as best I can through my platform. Thanks for sharing!!
March 9, 2017 at 8:21 amYou’re welcome Brit! WordPress definitely has some great features, but some you can definitely do without a plug-in. Good luck!
March 10, 2017 at 2:53 pmSuch a helpful blog post! I also use Yoast and love it
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March 9, 2017 at 9:19 amThanks Tania!
March 10, 2017 at 2:53 pmCan you download Yoast on blogger?
March 9, 2017 at 10:53 amHey Savanna,
I don’t believe there is a Yoast SEO plugin for Blogger. Although, you can definitely take some of my points above and do them natively on your post! Let me know if you have any questions!
March 10, 2017 at 2:56 pmLove these tips! SEO is something that I need to work on. 🙂
March 9, 2017 at 11:14 amThanks Crystal! It’s something I am always wanting to learn more about 🙂
March 10, 2017 at 2:56 pmThese are great tips! I’ve been doing most of them, but I haven’t been using headings… I think I should give that a shot! 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!
March 9, 2017 at 11:18 amThanks for reading Malissa!
March 10, 2017 at 2:56 pmthanks for the tips, I certainly am lost when it comes to this topic.
March 9, 2017 at 11:40 amYou’re welcome Janel! It’s a little overwhelming at first – so take it step-by-step! Let me know if you have any questions 🙂
March 10, 2017 at 2:57 pmGreat tips! We have used Yoast for several months and I do think it makes a difference in how many people find our site.
March 9, 2017 at 11:43 amTotally agree! Thanks for reading Annissa!
March 10, 2017 at 2:57 pmThese are great tips! I didn’t know that headlines helped with your SEO, I am definitely going to use this from now on so that I can help my SEO a little.
March 9, 2017 at 1:29 pmIt’s crazy how one small edit can make a difference! Thanks for reading Krysten!
March 10, 2017 at 2:58 pmOhh yay! I am glad I already do most of these. I need to remember to edit my photo titles!
March 9, 2017 at 1:42 pmI always forget too! Good thing it’s so easy to go back and edit 🙂
March 10, 2017 at 2:58 pmThese are great tips. I am still trying to use Yoast to my advantage.
March 9, 2017 at 3:05 pmThanks Anne! Yoast is definitely a powerful tool – there is so much to learn about it!
March 10, 2017 at 2:59 pmThank you for this! SEO is such a mystery to me. I love Yoast for making it way simpler – but I still feel like I don’t understand it. Haha!
March 9, 2017 at 4:31 pmgreat and easy to follow tips are so appreciated for the tech challenged like me…thanks for sharing!
March 9, 2017 at 9:45 pmThese are great tips! I also use Yoast and it is very helpful! I love that it gives me the green light and I know my post is ready for publishing!
March 10, 2017 at 1:08 amI am still trying to figure SEO out. I just tweaked a bunch of posts that didn’t have all the Yoast fields filled in because they were old posts and I had forgotten about them. Since doing that I have gotten more search referrals, so I think it helped!
March 10, 2017 at 8:00 amThanks for these tips! I really need to work on using headings more in my posts – so important!
March 10, 2017 at 8:58 amGreat tips! I love using Yoast – it makes it much easier!
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March 10, 2017 at 9:40 amThis is a fantastic post!! I Pinned so I could come back and read this again. I need serious help with my SEO!
March 10, 2017 at 11:15 amThese tips are great! I just installed the Yoast SEO plugin for WordPress and it definitely makes SEO much easier!
March 10, 2017 at 12:20 pmI have a long way to go with SEO!
March 10, 2017 at 12:53 pmThanks for these tips, Claire! They’ve been really helpful!
March 11, 2017 at 6:30 pmWish Blogger would help like the Yoast plugin does!
March 12, 2017 at 9:38 am