How to rank your blog posts in Google
Blogging is a serious business. Whether you are blogging as an overall business or you are using blogs to gain traction or you are blogging as an influencer. You want your blogs to rank as high as possible in Google and page one is the ultimate goal.
Every week, I am approached by people who would like to guest blog for the “My Sassy Business blog” or for me to link to their blogs etc. If you are a regular reader you will have noticed that I have only done this a handful of times. Those times have only ever been with brands that I know or brands that I respect. So I say NO to a lot of people, and that includes the ones who are offering me a payment for the exposure.
Growing your blog
Delivering weekly blogs is difficult when it is not all you do. So I have worked very hard to deliver quality to my audience and I am not going to sell them out to any old person looking for exposure.
For anyone looking to, or those who are already blogging, you must be consistent. My followers know that every Monday, rain, hail or shine the “My Sassy Business Blog” is out. It is shared with subscribers, posted on Social Media and on the website to read.
It is this consistency that helps my SEO, and ultimately my business. Currently, there are nearly 200 blogs all available on www.mysassybusiness.com to read and to learn from.
Backlinks
Building backlinks has been a ranking priority for many, but it is one that I have rarely used. Instead, I have relied on quality material and knowledge to grow my followers.
Never have I asked to guest blog – I have been asked, and I have occasionally accepted.
It has been far more successful to use best practice. Just as I do with the SEO work I do, the best practice wins every time.
Best Practice Blogging Basics
- Heading – Your heading (H1) should be what your ideal clients are searching for.
- Key Terms – Natural use of the relevant key terms throughout your blog
- Meta Description – This is the snippet that is seen in Google and should include your key term. It should also always be different from every other page on your website.
- Semantically Linked Keywords – Are words closely related to your key term
- Featured Image – Choose an image that is relevant to your blog and to your business
- Sub Headings – This makes it far easier to read, particularly for the skim readers
- Bullet Points – Again for ease of reading and gaining an insight into what you are trying to say.
- Links – Hyperlink to other pages of your website, shop, products, services, blogs or other websites you have referenced.
- Format – Keep your paragraphs short, and use the sub-headings to break up your content.
- Quotes – Can look nice in your blog and create interest for the reader. Mentioning and linking to experts can help with your SEO and potential shares of your blog.
- Examples – Case studies or quick examples of what you are talking about making it easy for the reader to hopefully see himself or herself. Plus it goes a long way to ensuring that you know what you are talking about.
- Calls to action – This is what you want people to do once they read your blog. Purchase; sign up, etc. to be further engaged with your business.
- Video or Audio – This is a great way to get people to stay on your site longer, plus to come back.
- Subscription offers – This can be one way of list building. Offering a free e-book or similar is a great way to grow your list.
- Author profile – Your profile, bio, social media and more can be included here.
Conclusion
Blogging is a great tool for growing your business and following and proving yourself as an authority in your field. Aim to use as many of the best practice ideas as you can and you will see the results.
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