Lately I have been really focused on building my readership, getting my site ranked better in search results, and learning the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

SEO is daunting to us regular folk – even though I am web designer, and now an avid content creator (blogger), this is an area I am still constantly learning and adapting to my blogging and design routine. Sure, I can make a site look fantastic, but if noone can find a blog post, why bother? I write blog posts for conversation, and I want people to be able to find them and join in! This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in.

I am in no way an expert, but I thought I would share what I have learned in my hardcore studies of SEO over the last month, and plan on sharing more as I keep learning. While researching Search Engine Optimization (SEO) best practices when blogging, I came up with a checklist that I keep handy in a doc file when writing a blog. These are key ideas I keep in mind while constructing my content – and while I reconstruct my blog to optimize it for search engines.

Writing the Post:

#1.What are your Keywords?

Before you begin blogging, think about what words you want searchers to use to find your post. Is the article about pregnancy? Morning Sickness? Does it answer a question like “How do I Potty Train my 2 year old?” – Think about what someone will type into that search engine. Make a list of these words and phrases. These are your ‘keywords’.

#2. Use the Keywords!

Use the keywords while writing. Make sure it sounds natural – in other words, don’t construct a weird sentence just to include a keyword because you want to rank for that certain word. If it isn’t believable – readers won’t want to read anymore.

#3. Optimize your Post using this checklist!

Now you are done with your post. Let’s optimize those keywords a little further (this is the checklist  I use for blogging):

1. Did you use the keywords once in an H1 header tag? (see custom title below)
2. Did you use the keywords at least 3 times in the post?
3. Did you use the keywords once in bold?
4. Are there any images on the page? Did you include the keywords in the alt tag of the images?

Further Optimization:

#4. Using Your Theme/SEO Plug-in to the fullest

I use The Thesis Theme for WordPress when designing blogs. Not only is it easy for me design in Thesis, but I fell in love with SEO tools that this theme provides. Below every post, you can add a Custom Title Tag, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords. Now, Thesis isn’t the only way you can get these tools – there are great WordPress plugins you can install such as the free All-in-One SEO pack. I highly recommend these tools – as these will further optimize your post for search engines to find using this checklist as well:

1. Did you use the keywords in the permalink making sure to put important keywords first? (in WordPress, this is above the post – click edit to rename your post address making sure to use your keywords! see below) 
2. Did you add the keywords to the front of the custom title tag, making sure the title is only 70 characters long (no more, no less!)?
3. Did you use the keywords in the beginning of the meta description, making sure the description is 150-165 characters long (no more, no less!)?
4. Did you add the keywords to the meta keywords section of the post?

#5 Why did I just do all this?

Now by carefully keeping these simple checklists in mind while constructing and optimizing your blog posts, you have made it easier for google (and other search engines) to find your post when someone searches for that keyword. We have to tell search engines what our blogs are about by using these keywords extensively so that when someone searches for posts about your topic – you will be in the results (hopefully on the first or second page!).

After you publish your post using these seo optimization methods, go to view source in your view menu of your browser. You will see your pretty keywords sitting in all the place that googles robots can find them, and rank your content accordingly. See where it says Meta-keywords? You should see all of your keywords listed there. Your Title should also be customized as well – and when looking at your post in the browser, you should see your permalink with your keywords up in the address bar.

Disclaimer: It doesn’t happen overnight! And I am still learning!

Now, someone once told me that Search Engine Optimization isn’t an overnight phenomenon. You have to give the search engines time to find and crawl your content. Keep up and use these checklists whenever you write a post, and you will be ranking high in Google and beyond soon! Also, if you know more – why not share in a comment below so we can all learn?

 Download a copy of the checklist!

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