Just as Google loves valuable content, the search engine also loves meaningful content. It is not about keywords anymore. It is about creativity in using keywords in the context and topic. The more you dispense valuable content, Google ranks you higher. The question is, how do you build search engine optimized content that will incorporate all your users?
Blogging is the Key to User-Friendly SEO
Getting an improved search engine ranking entails having many indexed pages regarding your products or services. Having a single page for the services is not enough. As the renowned expert, Hubspot said; more indexed pages guarantee more opportunities for you to appear in search engine. By this, you generate enormous traffic to your site in organic search. The strategy is ensuring that you don’t replicate your content. Therefore, it requires creativity to come up with different topics related to your products and services. Here, it is possible to shed light on readers’ questions relating to your post.
Are you trouble about how to create blog content that is search engine friendly and that which server your readers? Worry no more since all you have to do is:
Get a Grip on the Logistics of Blog Optimization
Mastering the Google algorithms is a daunting experience. However, it is possible. The keyword is an essential aspect of attaining the gateway to Googles world. It is therefore advisable that you bookmark and check in regularly. You can optimize the content of your blog in many ways. Here are some top-notch aspects of getting you up the ladder.
Start with a Topic and a Long-Tail Keyword
After deciding on the niche you want to explore on your blog, attach a longtail keyword to complement it. Do not put many keywords on your blog whatsoever. Google won’t recognize you for that. When adding keywords, you should not let your post lose the natural feel. Using long tail keywords garners you qualified visitors to your site. Unlike when you use small keywords. A long-tail keyword separate onlooker from people who will convert.
The keywords should feature in:
Page titles
Headers and body
URL
Meta descriptions
Optimize Images for Google to Index
For Google to recognize you, you should employ the following guidelines:
Stick Google image formats- google supports images that are in BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG, WebP, and SVG. However, for blogs, it is advisable that you use JPEG images.
Relate your filenames to the image- sometimes the images may fail to load for a user. Therefore, relating the name to the image will save the reader the hassle of having to guess the image. Google uses image filenames as snippets to search the image.
Update image alt text- search engines won’t recognize an image. Therefore, you have to give an in-depth description of your products or services. You should make your content easy to understand. Hence, it is advisable not to flood the content with keywords.
Build with the right links
When creating your blog, you should join it to the correct links. Creating links is essential especially when you want to prove your authenticity with search engines. However, you have to do the linking effectively. Link your blog post to web sources that relate to your post. Therefore, you should reach out and know your category. By this, you will not mislink your post. You get discovered by many when you associate your blog page with specific links that have authority. The links will give your content significant exposure that will generate substantial leads to your site.
However, links from Joe Shmo on Blogger are not authoritative. You should not use them whatsoever.
GIVE IT TIME
Just as in all things connected to Search Engine Optimization, you have to exercise patience. You have to give it time to get stable. Many of the sites took decades to get a grip on search engines. They did not give up. Some are reputable in producing converting traffic every month. There, it is not time to give up when you don’t get enough audience or even positive responses. You should remain dedicated to the course and post consistently. Remembering that many started where you are should give you strength to carry on. Your persistence will undoubtedly yield to something remarkable.
Looking for more information in regards to SEO? Contact Canada West I.M. today!
Canada West Internet Marketing 10050 Jasper Avenue #2020c
Edmonton, AB T5J 3R8
(780) 628-7535
With the invention of topic clustering, Search Engine Optimization patterns have changed. If you are a content creator or a planner, these changes affect your work. Topic clustering is the most recent advancement in search engines. It is capable of fighting mechanical keyword optimization.
Abiding by the rules of search engines will not be enough. You have to give relevance to your content. The big question remains, how do we incorporate topic clustering into content planning strategies? Below are tips that will help you improve your ranking and also help you maintain traffic for your site.
Topic Clustering 101
Topic clustering is about to take the SEO world by storm. It entails the creation of organic content that is logical and gives sense to the audience. Forget about keywords and SERP parameters your content must carry some meaning. Example, when creating a pillar page for marketing, you can include topics that complement the pillar. Any topic that you add gets considered as an independent topic.
However, with topic clustering, you can link your content using interlinked hyperlinks, for higher ranking. Search engines such as Google, Bing, and Yahoo have incorporated topic clustering to give meaningful results to their users.
Benefits of using topic clustering in your content planning
• It provides relevant topics to your audience, unlike algorithms and keywords.
• Enhances a stable bond with search engines due to topic clusters.
• Sustains a long-lasting relationship with the audience.
• Every content on your site is valuable and thus relevant.
Topic clustering is an awakening call to action. With the benefits it comes along with, your site will stand distinguished from your competitors.
Tips to implement to propel your content to topic clustering
Focus on the Point
The pillar of your content is the most crucial aspect of topic clustering. An initial topic has to trend in your niche. Your topic should be versatile. That is; it can get approached from different points. The comprehensiveness of your topic makes it easy for you to branch out and cluster your topics. Unlike many content creators, you should use many topics to grab the audience’ attention.
That is; if they miss out on one topic, the next provides viable information.
Use Keywords in Titles and Subheadings
Even though keywords hold less important as they used to before, they still have their role in SEO. Incorporating Keyword to the pillar topic and subtopics exposes your content to greater SEO capabilities. You should have a word that runs every title and subtitle.
Marketing can be your pillar topic. It should, therefore, feature in the topics to give a valid connection to the subject. By this, you rank highest in SERP ratings. Google AdWords’ will help you figure out the trending keywords to employ. However, the keyword needs only get focused on titles and subtitles.
Mind Map Your Topics
Mind mapping is the art of developing different words and phrases that relate to your pillar topic. It is an impressive way to enable you to come up with a cluster of topics. For example, you choose the word marketing to feature in your titles and subtitles. Other phrases that may connect to marketing include profit, digital marketing, and social media marketing.
The different words are essential in getting a cluster. However, you have to ensure you remain on the topic. Mind mapping way may easily take you out of topic. Your interest should remain on the phrases that can get associated with the initial word. A repetitive process acquaints you with more content to build a cluster of topics. Thus, you will obtain an epic content strategy and planning.
Think Long-Term
Remember that clustering your topics is a long-term content plan. Ensure that your topic runs long enough to garners you sustained traffic for your site. Using short-term content plans may require changes in future. Thus, it will ruin your ranking and reduce your visibility on topic clustering search engines.
Therefore, when creating pillar topics, ensure that it can support a variety of subtopics which connect to the initial topic. By this, your audience will easily adapt to your style, and, the search engine will post you content many times. Stick to your initial topic clusters. Changing the topic clustering plan mid-cycle may confuse your readers and the SEO.
Don’t Settle for Good
Topic clustering affects not only your planning but also your tracking of the existing content. But, it does not change your content creation from the roots. Therefore, once your content works with content clustering on your site, try to understand why it worked. And still, determine how it should work better.
When creating new pillars, introduce it at intervals. Ensure that the content is exciting before handing it to your content creators. Your content should surpass goodness. Good content should not make you comfortable. That is a comfort zone that you should walk away from; Endow your content with insightful information. By doing so, your site will stand differentiated from the rest.
Make sure you keep on evolving your topics to obtain an exceptional content. Who knows? Some of the subtopics may even rise to become pillars in your next content cycle. The more time you take pampering your content creation foundation determines your success.
Relevance Over Keywords
Again, the emphasis is on relevance. It is evident that within no time, topic clustering will consider relevance to keyword using. By this, you can communicate to your audience to know their preference. Identifying with your audience needs in the future is the aim of topic clustering. The satisfaction of the readers comes fast.
Readers are endowed with useful tips pertaining the content you post. Through topic clustering communication system, the readers can give you tips that are beneficial in creating content. Acknowledge their opinions, and you may never know, a pillar topic may come from them.
You should not overlook implementing topic clustering despite it being in the developmental stage. Websites that are the co-founders of the technology are benefiting from it. Therefore, it is upon you not to take chances. You should trend with the most recent Search Engine Optimization changes.
Contact Canada West I.M. today!
Canada West Internet Marketing 10050 Jasper Avenue #2020c
Edmonton, AB T5J 3R8
(780) 628-7535
So what if you are an amazingly adept writer? Even the best of us face the writer’s block.
Generating unique and interesting content for your blog is, undoubtedly, a challenging task, especially when it is difficult to quantify the amount of business it is generating. However, it’s important for your site to publish quality content regularly.
A good blog doesn’t only generate a new stream of customers and leads but can also greatly help you in connecting with readers so that they become interested in working with you and are also enticed by your products.
Coming up with a good blog post may seem daunting. In fact, it may even seem impossible, but don’t lose hope because it is very much feasible to get your audience to fall in love with your website.
Deciding on the topics of content might be tough, but before we guide you regarding what you should write on, let us first discuss the topics you, being the owner, should steer clear of. They are as follows:
The Don’ts
Don’t publish sales messages
Why would anyone want to read a sales pitch? The purpose of generating a new blog post might be to increase sales, but the catch is that you are not writing for the company, you are writing for your readers.
You catch more flies with honey, so you better make sure that your blog is catchy and has unique and interesting content. Don’t ever make the mistake of blatantly appreciating your products in your blog neither praise your company needlessly.
Don’t be too corporate
Your blog provides you the opportunity to step out of your corporate shoes and connect with your audience on a personal level. Your readers need to bond with you, however, if you decide just to keep writing about your company, then nobody will be bothered. Your audience wants to talk to you and likes to hear your voice; nobody wants to chat with a robot.
Therefore, ditch the corporate tone and make your writing conversational. Sprinkle your blog posts with questions so that your readers feel that you are having a one on one conversation with them. After all, a blog is a conversation, not a monologue, so make sure it has that carefree tone to it.
To get rid of the corporate tone, use the words “you” and “your” often. This way your audience will feel close to you. Forego the technical language and jargons and use simple words in an active voice (for example, we will answer your email shortly) rather than the passive voice (your email will be answered shortly) instead. Also, make sure your sentences and paragraphs are short. Blogs are conversationalist pieces, not entries in medical journals.
How to shortlist topics
Once you are well-versed with the things you should avoid writing about and ways of generating a good piece, it becomes easier to shortlist your topics. Readers want to know how your blog can be of any use to them. Is it informative? Does it offer sound advice? Is it humorous? Does it tug at their heart strings and make them experience positive vibes?
To answer these questions, you need to think like a reader yourself, or better yet your readers’ mentor or a friend and not a salesperson. In sales, people tend to concentrate on closing the next deal; a mentor or a friend, however, cares about your welfare. He/she wants his/her friends to succeed in life and be happy and content with it. Hence, to think like your audience’s well-wisher and decide on a worthwhile topic, begin by asking yourself these questions:
1) Who is my audience? Who am I writing for?
Be as specific as possible and try to visualize your buyer’s persona or an ideal reader. Your writing will become more engaging, vivid and personal if you are targeting a specific niche of people rather than addressing a crowd. A profile includes gender, age, location, income, family values, marital status and any other indicator that may be relevant for your business.
2) How can you help your readers?
Those reading your blog may be looking for help on something related to your business. For example, are you a clothing business? Maybe, women are looking for advice as to what styles suit pear shaped bodies the most. Are you an IT company, perhaps your customers want to understand what kind of service package would be suitable for small and medium enterprises? Or maybe you could provide some comic relief or an aww factor with a photo and a story of your kitten curled up inside the custom slippers you supply.
By offering advice relevant to your business, you come across as concerned and engaged. Also, you increase your brand’s authority and cultivate a positive image of your company.
3) What is the language of my audience?
You shouldn’t be assessing the linguistic capabilities of your readers. Rather think as if your audience speaks a foreign language, one that is made up of their wants, needs, values, beliefs and desires. Your job is to figure out what they want to hear so that you get the results you desire. If your message does not match your intended market, it will fail to be impactful along with your blog.
4) What should my posting frequency be?
You could post a blog every day, but usually, two to three posts per week work better. Five years ago, blogging wasn’t as popular as it is today and readers were eager for content. Now there is plenty of blogs to choose from, and readers can get bored and burnt out fairly quickly.
You could decrease the frequency to post once a week or even once every two weeks, as long as your blogs have something genuinely useful to say rather than just blogging for the sake of it. At the end of the day, there is no hard and fast rule regarding how often you should blog. You can decide on your frequency depending on your aims and abilities of your firm.
5) Does consistency matter?
Yes, it does. You cannot blog every day for a week and then take a break for a month. You need to commit to a reasonable schedule and set readers’ expectations, accordingly.
Frequency depends entirely on how much time you are willing to commit to creating valuable content on your blog. Remember, you need to make a schedule of only as many blogs as you can write. But the schedule should be consistent so that your readers are not disappointed when they open your blog page expecting new stuff.
Your blog showcases your company, and lack of reliability may indicate a lack of reliability of your company. Thus, it could adversely affect your credibility.
6) Who is going to do the writing and where is it going to be published?
As the owner of the company, are you going to do all the writing? Is the schedule going to be spread out among your team members or are you going to outsource or will you be using guest bloggers? Everyone has their own expertise of writing. Business blogs benefit from being written by more than one person since most companies have blogs with more of a magazine feel to them. You need to know who your primary and contributing writers will be and where you are going to find them to be able to deliver high-quality content, consistently.
Which topics should you write on?
So now that you know what not to write on and the parameters of what you should be writing on, the final step is deciding the actual topics of your blog.
The list of choices will be endless because the options and topics are boundless as a simple google search will tell you. We have still broken down the very long list of possibilities into categories, to inspire you so that you never run out of topics to write on.
● Useful blogs
These blogs can include solutions of common problems that customers usually face. They can be about the new tools or applications that you have used recently to improve your workflow or the questions and answers that helped you the most in hiring the relevant person for an opening in your firm. Reviews of products and when and how to use them, helpful checklists, good go-to books and websites for explanations and relevant details are all options for writing blogs that can be useful for your target audience.
● Updates
You can humanize your company by providing regular weekly or monthly updates. You can blog about how your company is doing and what new projects you have taken up; not in the way of promotional content but more like friends sharing highlights of their week. You can also talk about the bring-your-daughter- to-work-day you held recently or the volleyball tournament your HR department won at your annual beach party.
● History
History blogs can cover a lot of aspects of your business. They could be the story of your grandmother and how she perfected the recipe of the tomato sauce you are selling today. Or, you could narrate your story of how you went from a 9-to-5 employee to an entrepreneur. You could talk about the milestones your company has achieved over the years and the hurdles you have overcome. You can give the history of your offerings as well or talk about the origins of the industry you are operating in.
● List posts
These blogs could have steps that a reader should ideally perform to achieve an end result or just a compilation that you think your readers can find interesting or useful.
For example, if you sell beverages, you could provide a list of 10 best sweets or savories that go with that beverage with photos. Or if you are a travel agent, you could provide a list of the top 5 economical destinations that a couple can visit during their vacations. Or you could write down steps a reader should take to unclog the kitchen drain quickly. List ideas can be endless and tend to be one of the favorite blogging formats.
These are just a few ideas that you can use to churn out enough blogs to have your site’s blog’s section running well for the next six months at least. If you are still stumped, you can also use Hubspot’s blog topic generator to give you ideas on what to write on next. A Google search for what your competitors are doing and the popularity of their blog posts could also be a starting point for the topics of your blog.
Blogging is a strong tool for any business. As a matter of fact, it is one of the best ways to grow your business, generate more leads and become a thought leader in your industry. A great blog is a cornerstone of your marketing strategy, can build brand loyalty, target the audience you want, and boost your bottom line. But all this can come about only with great content. And to generate great content, you need to know what to write about and what not to write about.
Once you have identified your audience and narrowed down your parameters, the options of topics for your blog will be infinite.
By knowing your readership base well and writing light conversationalist blogs that can enlighten and entertain your readers, you can increase traffic to your website. The suggestions we have given for your business blog should help you achieve your goals and keep you busy blogging in the near future.
I am sure you do. And there is something behind that. If you want some statistics on how many articles are published every day, I have some numbers to reveal you.
According to MarketingProfs it is more than 2 million articles per day. Chartbeat reveals the following numbers – over 92, 000 articles every 24 hours. Impressive, isn’t it?
Despite the numbers, people face the problem of writing new fresh posts every day. Nevertheless, they find ideas and turn them into awesome content.
You might ask yourself:
“How is it possible to find a fresh idea?”
“How can I generate more and more articles every day?”
“How to overcome a writer’s block?”
“How to find new guest post opportunities?”
I am not surprised with all these questions because I have already found the answers. The answers that helped me write a brand new blog post almost every day (I am a human, I need some rest as well).
I am pretty sure you want to write on a daily basis without any problems, am I right?
Great!
Thus, this post is for you!
I will show you the basic steps towards successful guest posting. Are you ready?
I believe there is no writer in the world who has never ever been a victim of a writer’s block. Let’s imagine that you are an engine that produces ideas for new articles. You might work a month in a constant condition; nevertheless, you will face the problem of absence the ideas for new posts anyway. Source
Why does this happen?
The reason is pretty evident. Our brain needs some rest and if you bring nose to the grindstone, you will get a zero result.
Likely, you can fix this problem following a few simple but yet effective rules.
Day schedule.
It is very important to have a right working day schedule. However, you should start with your sleeping one. There are various points of view on how many hours a person should sleep every day. Some people claim that it is normal to sleep strictly 8 hours; the others suggest to sleep about 6 hours. From my perspective, it is up to you how many hours you should sleep but I strongly recommend you to go to bed before the midnight. Remember that we are living beings, thus we must go to sleep when it is getting dark and wake up when a day is breaking.
Perhaps, it is a standard to work 8 hours per day and that’s why we are used to start our working day in the morning. Alas, it is a bit hard to leave the bed and drown yourself in work without a few morning ‘attributes’ such as physical exercises, a contrast shower and a cup of coffee (tea).
I heard some experts state that it is far better to start writing an article being hungry. It is believed that your activity will be higher in this way. Again, it is up to you whether you should have a breakfast before writing a post or not. I, personally, disagree with this statement and I can’t start doing anything before I have a solid breakfast.
When it is time to write a piece of content, you must specify for yourself how many breaks are you going to do and how long each break should be. Don’t limit yourself with breaks because your endless sitting in front of the screen of your PC won’t give you any positive results.
I prefer to do about 3 breaks during my working day. Of Course, I don’t take into account my lunch break (1 hour in the afternoon) but these 3 breaks take approximately 15 – 20 minutes each. I like to get a little exercise and switch attention to the things outside the window. Moreover, it would be great if you could have a communication with your relatives (friends) or listen to the music.
By the end of the working day, I would suggest you have a walk in the street or visit some gym. You must unbend the mind and let your body work. And don’t neglect your sleep if your brain asks about it (I mean no watching TV long after midnight).
Plan Your Day With the Help of Special Tools
I know busy people can’t keep in mind everything they have to do over the week. That’s why they should use special tools for organizing a day schedule. I would like to introduce you a few of them:
It is a free app for different devices you use (iPad, iPhone, Android etc). It works almost the same as other ‘ToDo list’ services but it has a few special features:
• Print your list of tasks if even you can’t login to the device.
• Repeat your tasks, notes and share them with other people.
This app focuses mostly on the most significant tasks you must do over the week. It is pretty easy in use and all you will have to do is to put your tasks according to the priority each of them has. As your main purpose is writing articles, you may put this task atop.
Another one ‘ToDo list’ tool you can use for planning the working week. User-friendly and you won’t miss anything using this tool.
What about a ‘Pomodore technique’?
If you want to improve your work but you don’t know how to do it by yourself, thus you should use this unique technique – Pomodoro technique.
It “sets” you for working 25 minutes without any distractions from the outside. Basically, you can’t do anything else except writing an article (no phone chatting, no listening to the music etc). After each 25 minutes of work, you should do a 15 minutes break (after four ‘Pomodoro’ sets you will have to do a 30 minutes break).
From my point of view, this technique is really useful and you’ll gain a success following this simple “Pomodoro” rule.
2. Need a Fresh Guest Post Idea? No Problem!
Yes, this is, probably, the worst thing that could happen to a writer. The absence of ideas for a new post. I know the questions that revolve in your head when you have no idea what you should write about. Relax! Every question has the answer to it. Thus, I will share with you some tricks on how to find fresh ideas for the post.
Quora is one of the places I attend foremost. This ‘question-answer’ resource provides you with a bunch of questions people ask (and the replies they get). These question you can use as the ideas for new content. Let’s see:
As you can see any keyword you put into a searching box will reveal you the potential topics for your future post. Considering the example I gave you above on ‘Digital marketing’, I must say I wouldn’t change or rephrase anything (just a bit if you want). These questions seem to be great topics to think about.
“How to Generate Traffic with a Zero Marketing Budget”
Or
“Best Practises for Local SEO”
Or
“SEO Tools You Should Use in Your Work” (this one is a pretty tricky one, though)
Well, do you still have some doubts about getting ideas via Quora? I am sure you don’t!
You might wonder how you can use Ahrefs Content Explorer in searching new ideas for your post. This service fits great for this type of activity as well. Just pick up a keyword you are interested in and see what Content Explorer reveals you:
As you’ve already mentioned Ahrefs Content Explorer suggested you a list of topics you can use as ideas for your posts. Of course, you can change the title (it is up to you) but you’ve got the material that is in trend. Let’s see what you can write about:
“15 Step Guideline to Create Your 2017 Digital Marketing Strategy”
Or
“10 Reasons You Need a Digital Marketing Strategy in 2017”
Go ahead and write two fresh articles:)
Isn’t it great, right?
I, personally, use only these two tricks. However, you can ask for help Brian Dean’s skyscraper technique and give a new life some “ancient” piece of content. But I don’t use it at all:)
3. In Search of Guest Post Opportunities
I believe you’ve already guessed what is the first place where you should look for guest post opportunities! Yes, it is Google.
Just put into the searching box the following combinations of phrases and you’ll get what you need:
• Keyword + “write for us”
• Keyword + “submit a guest post”
• Keyword + other variations (maybe you’ll find a few more that work)
The second trick I like the most is searching via Twitter. Yes, it is far better to search for guest post opportunities using this social network. Put into a searching box something like “marketing” + “write for us” and obtain results.
Moreover, I must admit that you could ask other bloggers about guest posting. Some of them might give you a hint on where you can ask for submitting your post. I don’t hesitate of doing that and it gives me positive results.
4. How to send a guest post inquiry successfully
Before you send the inquiry, you should discover the blog you are interested in. Look through what topics the blog accepts; are the articles commented and shared well; is there a guest post guideline. These features will help you understand of what you should write in your inquiry.
I recommend you to send the topic of your post with a few details about it first. Don’t send the article at once. First of all, you should clarify what exactly the blogger needs. His or her comments might help you to ‘chart a course’ and write the piece of content that is in-demand (or correct the one you’ve already written).
Remember it the blogger approved your topic for the article, you will have more chances that he or she won’t refuse you to publish it on the blog. At least, you will have your time to put right the wrongs:)
5. Start Your Writing
Your big challenge starts here (however, if you have already written a dozen of articles before, you won’t have any problems). Nevertheless, your experience and some specialized tools will help you cope with this task. I would like to share some services that help me in writing the articles:
– Grammarly
This service helps me a lot. As you’ve probably mentioned I am not a native speaker, thus it is essential for me to correct the mistakes I make.
– Titlecapitalization
Use this tool for capitalization titles in your article.
– Hemingway Editor
If you want to write in a pure English language, thus this service is for you.
Conclusion
Taking everything mentioned above, I must say that guest posting is your opportunity to share some knowledge, build your credibility and, of course, bring more traffic to your website.
I hope the tricks I listed above will help you always be able to create engaging and powerful content:)
Please, don’t forget to comment and share these tricks.
