Are you publishing content on your blog that is SEO-friendly?
It may be surprising, but many people don’t know how to write a properly optimized blog post. They often overlook many key SEO factors that hinder their ranking performance.
Optimizing your blog post for SEO isn’t as simple as it sounds – it involves many different things. From finding the right keywords to using the right headlines to ensuring your content is up to date and relevant, many small things go into SEO that blog writers overlook.
Publishing content is a lot more than just writing a topic – it involves research, a strategic approach, and an understanding of SEO.
If your blog isn’t ranking and you’re wondering what SEO adjustments to make when publishing content, we’re here to help. Read on to learn more.
7 Overlooked SEO Factors When Publishing Content
1. Updating Old Content
Google loves timely, relevant content, which is why updating old content is a great way to improve your rankings.
By updating old blog posts, you don’t have to worry about publishing new articles all the time. Once you update your older posts, Google will crawl the website and rank the new, updated content.
One of the great benefits of updating old content is that it saves you a lot of time it would usually take to create brand new content. It takes much less time to update old content than it does to publish fresh content, so it’s a great way to save time and improve your chances of ranking.
2. Long-Tail Keywords
Long-tail keywords are a critical ranking factor when it comes to SEO. These types of keywords are typically three or more words long. They focus on a specific topic or niche that can provide targeted results. They can also increase your visibility.
When you use long-tail keywords, you improve your chances of ranking. These keywords have low competition because people searching long-tail keywords know what they are looking for. The more specific your keyword, the better – target your audience’s needs the best you can.
Be sure to place your keywords strategically throughout your content and in a way that is natural and valuable to the reader.
Remember: spamming keywords is a big no-no when it comes to Google. It can result in penalizations, which are disastrous for your SEO.
3. Focus On Writing Relevant, Valuable Content
When it comes to SEO, Google looks for content that provides the most value to readers, so it is critical to write content that is up to date.
Does the content on your blog provide a solution to a problem? Does it provide valuable information that helps readers?
If your blog is full of out-of-date content that is not timely and relevant, the content will simply not rank. Content that is current and relevant is much more beneficial, helpful, and informative to readers, which is a significant factor Google considers when ranking pages.
4. Headlines
A headline is your first opportunity to grab your audience’s attention.
Be sure that your headlines have keywords in them that are related to your topic. Your headline should be informative and valuable. It should clearly explain to Google and users what the webpage is about.
Your headline tells both Google and users what your content is about. Make sure that your headlines are as close to and relevant to the topic at hand as possible.
5. Mobile Optimization
It’s 2022 – almost everyone using the internet uses it on their mobile device, which is why Google considers mobile optimization one of its top ranking factors.
If you do not optimize your website for mobile devices, your rankings will take a direct hit. Most searches come from mobile devices, so you must optimize your content to reach your audience.
Remember: Google considers the user experience one of its top ranking factors. If you do not optimize your website for mobile, your visitors will have a poor user experience, which is detrimental to your ranking efforts. A mobile-optimized website loads quickly and allows users to be more engaged.
A slow-loading website will leave visitors frustrated, potentially drawing them to a competitor who can provide a better user experience.
Don’t hinder your chances of losing potential leads and customers – ensure that you optimize your website for mobile.
6. Meta Descriptions
Just as headlines are critical in SEO rankings, so are meta descriptions. Meta descriptions tell both
Google and website visitors what your website is about. It helps readers understand what type of information is on the page and how it is relevant to their search.
Strategically place your keywords inside your meta description in a readable, natural, and helpful way. Ensure that the description is informative and enticing enough for a reader to click on it. Keep your meta description short and sweet – up to 155 characters max.
7. Use SEO Tools
There are many different SEO tools that you can use to help optimize your content and improve your rankings. Some excellent SEO tools include:
- Keyword research tools
- Google analytics
- Website audit tools
- Competitor analysis tools
- Backlink tools
- Keyword Research
Some examples of great SEO tools include Ahrefs, SEMrush, Google Search Console, Moz, and Ubersuggest.
If you are publishing content that is not ranking, it’s possible that you’re overlooking some key SEO factors. Make the above adjustments to your content and see your rankings improve!