Easy Steps for Optimizing A Blog Post - The Visibility Method
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Easy Steps for Optimizing A Blog Post

After you have done your research and decided on your keyword/phrase (referred to as keyword from here on out) that you want to optimize your post for, here are the easy steps for optimizing an old or new post:

  • Make sure your keyword is in the title of the blog post.
  • Make sure your keyword is in the URL of the blog post. (Note: If this is an existing post, do not change the URL without setting up a redirect.)
  • Make sure your keyword is in the first paragraph, last paragraph, and somewhere in the text within an H1 or H2 tag.
  • One image should have the keyword in its tfile name (don’t use filenames such as DSC0099.jpg use Strength Training for Beginners.jpg instead) and within the title and alt text of the photo. Other images should have variations of the keyword as their name and alt text (example: Beginner Strength Training, Strength Training for Beginning Women).
  • Create a meta description that includes your keyword and entices people to click.
  • Add internal links (to other pages on your site) and external links (to sources, other blogs, etc.).
  • Make sure your post is at least 400 words.
  • Once you finish the post, publish and promote across social media.

Your assignment for the next 3 days – optimize one or two old or current posts you are working on.

Read my guest post on Show Your Blog Love for other tips on making old content evergreen and why meta descriptions are important.

Note: Depending on what works best for you, you might want to batch your work. For example, one day create meta descriptions for all 25 of your most popular posts. Another day research and create the titles for these posts. Another day work on all the graphics for the posts. Just make sure to keep track of what you have optimized in your Google spreadsheet.

Common questions I hear:

What about plugins for WordPress? I currently use Yoast, but would recommend it or All In One SEO.

How quickly will I rank? Honestly, there is no telling. And if anyone ever promises you that you will rank #1 for something, run away. No one knows. There are so many factors that go into ranking a post and Google changes it algorithms all the time.

SEO CHECKLIST FOR BLOGGERS

Click here to download a printable checklist.