Trying Blogging and SEO Together

Much has been made about the connection between content marketing and search engine optimization.

Are you writing blog posts with SEO best practices in mind? It can be difficult because SEO is constantly evolving. What worked for keyword optimization a few years ago may not be effective now.

It may be time to update your blog writing skills to ensure you're supporting SEO results at the same time.

SEO and High-Quality Blog Posts Don't Need to be Conflicting Goals

Some marketers may feel like they have to choose between an optimized page or good content, but this isn't the case. However, it is important to consider new trends in SEO and how they affect content marketing.

Content can positively influence search engine results, but the days of loading your website with content just for the sake of it are over, according to The Drum.

You need to provide relevant content or all those blog posts could actually harm your ranking.

As Google's ranking signals continue to change, there has been a growing emphasis on quality content.

In the past, brands would stuff content with keywords in hopes of appearing close to the top of the results page, but this approach doesn't work anymore. Keywords are still important, but only when they fit intuitively into relevant content.

If keywords make sentences awkward, it will likely be harder for readers to find value in the information. Google's more recent changes prioritize user experience. If website visitors are able to gain new insights from your blog, it will send a positive signal to Google.

How to Write Blogs With SEO in Mind

Understanding how new developments in SEO impact content is just the first part of the equation. You need to put these concepts into practice.

Here are some tips for writing blog posts that will help you rank higher in search engine queries:

1. Consider Your Target Audience

This should always be the first step because it ensures you create relevant content on the first try. Thinking about your audience helps you put their pain points into context and answer any questions they may have, thus providing value. You can't focus on just conversion rate optimization. Blog posts need to speak to the issues your ideal customers face on a daily basis.
2. Plan Before Writing

Blogging can be fun, but it's easy to create an unfocused piece. Jotting out a quick outline can help you determine the structure of the blog. In addition, you need to decide what the message of the post should be before you get started. This approach can also help you incorporate relevant keywords based on the topic.
3. Write Longform Content

What's more likely to provide better analysis: a page of well-constructed text or two paragraphs? Blog posts should be at least 300 words for better search visibility, Search Engine Journal suggested. In addition, keyword density in relation to the length of the post. Keywords should take up 1 to 2 percent of the overall piece. For a 300 word article, this would mean using search terms 3 to 6 times. This may be a shift away from incorporating search phrases every paragraph for some bloggers.
4. Update Regularly

This sends another positive signal to Google, especially if visitors return and continue to find value in your content.

What works in SEO has changed a lot over time, but content marketing has a strong influence on it, especially blogging. SEO tricks aren't as likely to accelerate your results, but strong blog posts can. Understanding how these two tactics complement each other is important.