These 11 questions can tell you if your blog post is optimized for search.
Search engine optimization (SEO) is complicated, and certainly a bit intimidating for newcomers. It’s hard to tell if you’re doing everything correctly, since there are so many independent factors and no clearly definitive list published by Google. Today, we’re zooming in on one aspect of SEO: your onsite blog posts. So what does it take for a single blog post to be optimized for search?
Answer these 11 questions to find out:
- Is it targeting a keyword or keyword phrase? You should have at least one target keyword included in your title and throughout the body of your content.
- Have you updated its page title and meta description? Your title and meta description are what will appear in Google search results. They should be updated with your target keyword and phrased in a way to draw in traffic.
- Is it at least 350 words? If your on-page content is fewer than 350 words, it probably won’t rank high. Ideally, you’ll be at 1,000 or more.
- Does it include at least one image? Blogs with images are far more popular. Plus, you’ll get the benefits of image optimization (as long as it’s optimized).
- Is it tagged, with appropriate categories? If possible, organize your blog post with a category, and with appropriate tags.
- Is it optimized for mobile devices? Mobile optimization should apply throughout your site.
- Is its URL short, concise, and reflective of its content? You can change the URL slug in your CMS.
- Can it easily be shared on social media? Include social share buttons, which will indirectly help you get more shares, and eventually links.
- Is it well-written, and organized with headers and header tags? Use H1, H2, H3, etc. tags to mark headers.
- Does it present original research or opinions? You need to have an original angle, or it isn’t going to attract anyone.
- Does it include links to other authorities? Your piece will seem more authoritative if it links to outside authorities.
Remember, blog posts are just one part of your overarching SEO campaign. You’ll also need to consider your site architecture, offsite content, and link building strategies. If you’re in over your head and you need a little assistance, don’t worry; contact Quez Media today!
