SEO Writing: The Key to Passive Google Traffic
If you write blog posts without optimizing them for search engines, you are wasting your time. Google search traffic is the highest quality traffic you can get. Unlike social media views that fade in hours, a post ranking on Google page 1 can bring thousands of target visitors to your site for years on autopilot.
In this guide, we show you step-by-step how to write a blog post that Google and your readers will love.
Step 1: Perform Keyword Research
Before writing a single word, find what people are searching for. Look for keywords with high search volume and low competition. You can use Google Autocomplete or tools like Google Keyword Planner to find terms. (Check out our Best Free Tools Guide for tool recommendations).
Step 2: Place Keywords Strategically
To help search engine bots index your page, place your target keyword in these key areas:
- H1 Title: Place the primary keyword near the beginning of the title.
- H2 Subheadings: Include keywords in at least one subheading.
- First 100 words: Mention the keyword early in the introduction.
- URL Slug: Keep your URL short and include the keyword (e.g., `/blog/how-to-write-seo-optimized-blog-post`).
- Alt Text: Add keywords to image alt attributes.
Step 3: Write Deep, High-Quality Content
Google favors deep, comprehensive content that completely answers the searcher's query. Aim for 1,200 to 2,000 words per post. Break up text with bullet points, ordered lists, bold key points, and tables to make it readable.
Step 4: Use Internal and External Links
- Internal Links: Link to other articles on your blog to keep readers on your site (e.g., link to our Niche Selection Guide).
- External Links: Link to high-authority websites to back up your claims and build trust with Google.
Conclusion
SEO writing is a skill that pays off. Write comprehensive posts, optimize your metadata, use clean heading structures, and promote your content. Check your character counts using our Character Counter to make sure your meta title and descriptions fit search result boxes.