OPTIMIZE YOUR BLOG IN 2019
Blogging has been a key component of digital marketing strategies for more than a decade now, and it shows no signs of stopping. However, over the years, the rules have changed. Make sure you’re up-to-date on all the best blogging strategies and get ready to optimize your blog in 2019. Read on to learn tips and tricks from a Northern Colorado SEO company to stay on top of the blogging game.
Add Value to Your Blog
When shopping for products or services, today’s consumers are looking to have their questions answers and their needs met. Add value to your blog by creating a deep well of informative content that gives potential customers exactly what they’re looking for. Think about exactly what your customers need or want, and aim to solve their problems. Because SEO is less keyword-centric than it used to be, it’s more important to focus on delivering excellent, useful content to your readers. That’s not to say you should throw keywords to the wind. It’s still important to be naturally incorporating relevant keywords and phrases that will help Google understand what your content is about (and will help them to see your article as a relevant search result option for users).
Spice it Up With Interactive Content
A blog doesn’t have to just be text. You know that videos and images can optimize your blog, but there are a few other things you can add to really make your blog stand out. Hit your readers with a poll – it’s interactive, and can give you some serious insight on who is visiting your blog. Offer downloadable content or other materials (even better if you ask for an email address in exchange – you can add them to your list). Interactive content shows that you put real effort into your blog and that you are intent on giving your readers unique content that they can really use.
Link Up With Social Media
If you haven’t already done this, now’s the time to start. Link back to blog articles on your Facebook or Twitter accounts to reach an even wider audience. It can be difficult for people to find your blog by search engine alone, so using all the possible channels means that more people will find your site. Search engines rank official social media pages highly, which means you’re getting more visibility on Google. You can also use paid social advertising to promote certain posts and target the exact demographic you want to reach.
Pay Attention to Analytics
Using tools like Google Analytics, you’ll be able to see exactly which of your posts have gotten the most views. Look out for trends in pageviews to see if certain topics are trending. Watch exactly how people use your blog, how they flow from one post to another, and what they click on most. This will give you a clearer picture of who your audience is and how they behave and may give you some data on which posts you should work on promoting.
User Experience is Key
A blog that is beautiful to look at, easy to navigate, and loads lightning-fast is more likely to keep readers on board. Alternatively, a slower, difficult to use page will have people bouncing before you even get a chance to catch their attention, especially on mobile devices. Using redirects, plugins, or super-large images can slow your page down majorly, so be sure to keep that in check. Think logically about how you want people to flow through your blog (Google Analytics can be helpful here too), and then build up around that. For a definitive guide to SEO in 2019 by Backlinko, including user experience signals that will be significant, see this article.
When to Call in the Pros
For some who have the experience and know-how, doing SEO on their own may be what they choose to do. But if you aren’t seeing the results you need, there’s no shame in calling in professionals. They can do a deep dive into where your blog is lacking, and what you can do to rank higher. If you’re looking to make 2019 a big year for improving your digital marketing strategy, contact Red Rocket Web Specialists to discuss what will work best for your business.