WHAT GOOGLE WANTS TO SEE IN YOUR BLOG POST TODAY
Blogging is a strategy that has delivered success globally for digital marketing companies and clients of all industries as they work to boost their ranking on search engine results. In order to find success, an experienced Fort Collins SEO company knows that blogs must stay relevant with the times and up-to-date with the search engines through which they operate, but they must also be equipped to rise above the countless blog posts competing for the same outcome.
As you look to the future, you must ask yourself, “What does Google want to see in my blog post in order rank higher in SERPs? What is needed to deliver results that will align with algorithms, but stand out from a saturated market?”
How Has Blogging Changed in 2020?
In all reality, Google’s basic analytic expectations for rankable blogs have not undergone drastic changes. Algorithms have been updated and improved throughout the years, but the most drastic difference comes from the inundation of information found on the web today.
With approximately one billion blogs on the Internet, the hurdles for success are not put in place by search engines, but rather have been naturally raised up from the sheer number of competitors and the realistic possibility for results. Although the number of players increases on a daily basis, it is still possible to come out on top. You can still rank in your market by sticking to the fundamentals of the game and adapting the strategies used to play it.
What Can You Do to Help Your Blog Rank in 2020?
Despite the competition, there are many proven tactics and effective strategies that can be implemented to increase the potential for a high-ranking blog post in this day and age and into the years to come. By working closely with SEO professionals, you can be reassured that your blogging efforts follow the rules of the game without missing the important plays needed to stay ahead.
Regardless of your industry, here are 10 ideas that will help your blog post get noticed by search engines in order to rank, increase traffic to your site, and put you on the leaderboard.
1. Be Patient and Have Realistic Expectations
Regardless of the level of competition, success from any SEO effort, including blogging, takes time to deliver results. Unless you already dominate your market, blogging will not produce instant or immediate results. Don’t be discouraged. Blogging will provide a positive outcome, but it takes time and consistent effort to build, grow, and succeed. If you haven’t ranked in the first month, it isn’t an indication that blogging isn’t worth the effort. It’s simply a reality of how the game works. Keep working diligently to produce high-quality content and in time you will see your ranking climb towards that first page.
2. Commit to Consistency
For SEO to work in any year, you must remain consistent. Successful and established SEO companies understand that blogging is not a sprint to success, but rather a marathon. They will ensure that your efforts remain steadfast in delivering quality content on a routine basis. Trust that they are chasing after long-term success and let their expertise reassure you as you continue to take steps forward. The more consistent you are in publishing regular blog posts to your site, the more opportunities are created for search engines, and potential clients, to find your company.
3. Write for Your Target Audience
Your business won’t see results from your blogging efforts if your blogs are not written to grab the attention of your intended audience. Your content must provide direct value for the people searching for your services, products, or expertise. The only way that top search engine results can be converted into traffic and produce revenue is to focus your efforts on providing content for the right people.
4. Offer Content That Is Fresh and Valuable
Do your best to choose topics that will offer something new, something different, and something worthwhile. People aren’t searching for information that they already know; they’re looking to find a different perspective or a more in-depth explanation. One of the greatest benefits of working with an SEO company is being able to tap into the creativity and ingenuity that they have in choosing relevant and engaging topics that will produce content that can provide an original idea, a useful tip, or unique clarification to the question that is being answered in pages of results. Google’s latest algorithm update made it very clear that the search engine is looking for content that offers value to its users. Mass-produced, generic content will not fulfill that requirement and can even hurt your SEO efforts.
5. Make Sure That Keywords Are Strategically Chosen
If you are not an existing and established leader in your field, you will find it difficult to rank for top keywords. To provide your post with a greater opportunity for ranking, try optimizing your blogs for relevant, yet less competitive keywords. Creating content around head term keywords can make it extremely difficult for your blog to produce results, as there are millions of posts chasing after the same thing. By adapting your target keywords to ones with a lower difficulty score, you are more likely to publish posts that will stand out. Many times, a digital marketing company will even suggest focusing on a long-tail keyword strategy. Longer keyword phrases are typically searched for less than their shorter counterparts. However, they provide a more concentrated effort in attracting searchers that are looking to convert. Long-tail keywords usually carry a greater buying intent, therefore providing more opportunities to capitalize.
6. Remember the Importance of On-Page SEO
The success of any SEO strategy lies in finding the right combination of multiple effective techniques. Ranking isn’t achieved through blogging and content alone, there are fundamental elements that must be incorporated in order to produce results. Using keywords within your title and headings, providing authoritative backlinks, optimizing your web page, and other important ranking factors are all needed to find success in the SEO game. If you do not have a clear understanding of digital marketing and all that goes into producing results, it is crucial that you work with an SEO company that will make your business a competitor in any field. There are some components of SEO that Google wants to see and expects to see in a blog post in addition to quality content before rewarding it with a higher ranking.
7. Don’t Underestimate the Insight Available From Analytics
Tools such as Google Analytics provide invaluable insight into the effectiveness of your efforts by delivering measurable data on conversions, successful pages, and areas that do not contribute to the monetization of your content. Take the time to research customer journey on your website and let it guide you as you create blog posts that will reach the greatest number of searchers.
8. Extend the Reach of Your Blog Through Multiple Channels
Your blog can only produce results if it is seen. As you’re working towards achieving first page results, make sure that you aren’t solely focused on Google. You can take advantage of multiple different avenues to extend the reach of your content and generate traffic to your site. Using social media platforms to share your posts is incredibly effective. Social media is a powerful tool that can exponentially increase the number of people reading your blogs and engaging with your brand.
9. Be Sure That You’re Optimized for Mobile and Voice Search
In 2020 and the years to come, having a responsive website should be a requirement. With nearly 60% of Internet access being done from a mobile device, failing to meet that demand can have a negative impact on how Google chooses to rank your blog post. Search engines are increasingly focused on providing value to searchers, which includes the ability to access information regardless of the device they choose to use.
Like mobile, voice search is another factor that has become a necessity. Approximately half of all searches are now done through voice inquiries. Whether a searcher uses Siri, Google, or devices such as Alexa, your content must be optimized so it can be found regardless of whether a person types their keywords in or verbally asks the question.
10. Create Interest From the Beginning and Maintain It Until the End
The content body of your blog post is undoubtedly important, but it cannot be effective if no one clicks on the title to read it. You must provide a title that engages your audience and draws them into the content of your blog. It’s believed that 8 of 10 people read a headline but fail to click on it and read the content. Start with a catchy headline that will reassure the reader of the value behind it. From there, make sure that you maintain content structure and information that holds their interest through to the end. Writing SEO friendly blog posts and committing to quality will provide both Google and readers with what they want to see from your content.
Red Rocket Web Specialists has the SEO experience to help your website rise in search engine rankings. Contact us today to learn more.