Does blogging help SEO? You may find yourself asking this question as you look for more ways to increase your online visibility. The answer is yes! Companies that blog see 55% more website visitors than those that don’t, which is why blogging was the #2 form of media used within content strategies in 2020. By following a few simple SEO blog best practices, you can give your posts the best chance of success in search engines. Keep reading to learn more about how blogging helps SEO and best practices for writing SEO-optimized blog posts.
How Does Blogging Help SEO?
If you’re serious about promoting your business online, you need to optimize your online presence for SEO (search engine optimization). One way to do that is to start blogging. Whenever you create a new blog post, you give search engines new content to index. The more content you have, the better your chances of ranking high in search results for multiple keywords. But it’s not just about quantity–quality is most important. Your blog posts need to be well-written and relevant to your target audience. This will help ensure people read and engage with your content, which is another key factor in SEO.
5 Benefits of Blogging for SEO
If you’re looking for ways to improve your SEO, start by incorporating blogging into your online marketing strategy. It’s an effective way to boost your business's search engine rankings and experience these five benefits.
1. Blogging Increases Organic Search Engine Rankings
Blogging is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy. Not only does it give you a chance to share your unique perspective with your audience, but it helps improve your organic search engine rankings. When you publish high-quality blog posts regularly, you send a signal to search engines that your site is active and relevant. As a result, your site is more likely to appear in search results when people look for information on your topics. In addition, blogging allows you to build backlinks to your site. When other websites link to your content, it tells search engines your site is a trustworthy source of information. The more backlinks you have from credible websites, the higher your site will likely rank in the search results.
2. Blogging Drives Website Traffic
Blogging is one of the most effective ways to drive traffic to your website because each post gives your audience new content to read. This not only keeps them coming back for more, but it also helps attract new visitors through search engines. When your blog posts are well-written and keyword-rich, they are more likely to be found by people searching for information on the internet.
3. Blogging Moves Readers through the Buyer’s Journey
A blog can be a powerful marketing tool that increases conversions. On average, companies that utilize blogging generate 67% more monthly leads than those that don't. A well-crafted blog gently moves buyers from awareness to consideration and, ultimately, a decision. This process is known as the buyer's journey. By understanding the buyer’s journey, you can ensure your blogs provide the right content at the right time to audiences ready to buy.
4. Blogging Establishes You/Your Company as an Industry Leader
In addition to giving you more content to work with, blogging can also help build up your brand authority. By sharing helpful and informative posts regularly, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field. This, in turn, will make people more likely to trust your brand and do business with you. According to a survey done by Salsify, 46% of consumers say they would pay more to purchase from brands they trust. Building trust helps build better businesses, and your SEO-optimized blog posts will do just that.
5. Blogging Produces Long-Lasting Results
Strategic marketing campaigns come and go, but your well-crafted blogs will last forever. You publish a blog once, and it will live on your site forever, continually attracting new readers. It makes no difference whether you posted it last week or last year, provided that you optimized it with the proper keywords and links. Ultimately, a well-executed blog can be a powerful tool for driving long-term results.
SEO Blog Best Practices
Ready to start blogging for SEO? Follow these three SEO blog best practices to make the most of your content.
1. Publish Blog Posts Frequently and Consistently
Finding a balance between frequency and consistency is key in terms of how often to publish blog posts. I recommend starting with two blog posts per month. And don’t post and ghost! Search engines prioritize websites that consistently update their content with fresh information. Challenge yourself to publish two blog posts per month for the entire year and watch your SEO soar.
2. Hit the Optimal Blog Post Length
800 words is a good starting point regarding blog post length. However, there are two other important factors to consider. First, your blog post should be complete and valuable. If it takes 1,500 words to answer your audience’s questions and provide rich content, your post should be 1,500 words.
Another thing to consider is the competition. How many words are the blog posts that rank on the first page of search results for your target keyword? Are the top five blogs 2,500+ words? Then your blog should be, too, so that you can compete with the top-ranked posts and hopefully claim one of those spots.
3. Optimize Key Areas of Your Blog Posts
Last but not least, for blogging to help with SEO, your blog posts need to be optimized. Every blog post needs to target at least one SEO keyword phrase, if not three to five. You should use your keyword(s) in critical places, including:
Blog Title
Headers
Body Copy
Metadata
URL Slug
Image Alt Text
Another essential aspect of optimization is link building. By including links to relevant websites in your post, you show search engines that your site is a valuable resource for information on the topic at hand. Just be sure to use quality links from reputable sources, and include some internal links to other pages and posts on your site as well.
Lastly, format your blog posts for readability and scanability. Break up long sections of text with headers and use images, infographics, and videos to provide additional ways for your audience to engage.
Ready to Experience the Benefits of Blogging for SEO?
Now that I’ve answered the question, “Does blogging help SEO?” and covered a few essential SEO blog best practices, it’s time to get to work. As an SEO freelancer, I can help you write and publish SEO-optimized content every month. Contact me today to learn more about my services!