Every blogger’s dream – Finding their blog ranking on page 1, loaded analytics with thousands of visitors every day with perfect blog SEO.
This leads to more subscribers, more money and of course more joy for deciding to be a blogger.
What if I tell you – this dream is the easiest to come true.
You only need to follow this Blog SEO Optimization checklist every time you write and publish a post.
This onpage seo checklist is the answer to every “how to improve blog seo” question I receive. Taking care of your blog’s onpage is half the job done.
Don’t forget to download your seo checklist pdf at the end of the post.
Let’s start!
1. Perform a keyword research
Optimization begins with having the most relevant keywords to optimize your post. I usually prefer and suggest doing keyword research and content brainstorming for a least 15 posts in advance. It can be time-consuming and can lead to demotivation for blogging over a time when you do it every time just before you write a post.
I love using Twinword.com, Google keyword planner tool, Soovle.com and Google suggest to do keyword research. You can find one focus keyword and up to 7 related/secondary long-tail keyphrases for each blogpost.
Additionally, I use Google search console to find the exact keyphrases my audience is looking for. It helps me find topics for the new posts and optimize the existing posts with keywords I can rank better on.
2. Use Focus Keyword in Your Post Headline
Your headline is the door to your blog. It has to be irresistible, useful and inviting. Having the exact focus keyword can make this headline attract 50% more clicks from your readers. It is easier to accommodate a shorter focused keyphrase in the headline but try your best to come up with many variations of the headline with your exact focused keyphrase.
Example: The focus keyword for this post is “Blog SEO” and it’s in the headline.
3. Spread Your Focused Keyword Well Throughout the Content
Use this no-brainer irrespective of your blogposts wordcount.
- Place focused keyword in the first 15 words of your post
- Place it in the last 20 words of your post
- Place it once somewhere middle of the content
- If the post is longer than 600 words, place it twice in the middle of the post
Do this keyword accommodation after you have written the entire post with a free-flow writing. Starting to write around and for the keywords can compromise your content quality and flow.
4. Use All Related Keywords Once in the Content
Place all the related keywords once in the content where they appear and read the most relevant and natural. Spread these keywords like seasoning on the pizza. Use as many related keywords and these usually bring more related keyphrases in search console data.
5. Use Keywords in the Subheadings
Split up your content in many short paragraphs under multiple subheadings. This not only gives your blogpost an easier and attractive presentation but also allows you to optimize your blogpost for your focus keyword and related keywords in these subheadings.
When your readers skim through these subheadings, they find your blogpost more relevant and useful even without reading it all.
6. Use Focus Keyword to Label Your Images
Ditch those DSCo8659 or hgtypebgsyyt.jpeg default labels when you download the images from web.
Rename your images with the targeted keyphrases.
Prefer renaming your primary/featured image with focus keyword and rest of the images with related keywords.
7. Use Related Keywords in Image Details
Use your focus or related keywords in the Title and alt-tag of each image. This small step can make a huge difference in your content ranking not only on the web but on the Image search.
8. Use Keywords in Your SEO Meta Details
How well you write your blogpost’s meta details decides the CTR and ranking of your post in search. Place your focus keyword in the Title field once and use it in your meta description along with one of the related keywords. Do not leave your focus keyword field empty. Place your focus keyword in the field.
I strongly recommend paid version of YoastSEO to utilize the related keywords at its best and improve the rankings for multiple keyphrases by almost 200%. No surprise, it’s one of the best blog SEO tools among bloggers.
You can use up to 5 different related keyphrases with the paid version of Yoast SEO plugin and eventually the traffic improves multi-fold when your new blog posts start to rank on several target keywords at the same time instead of just one focus keyword.
Note: Make sure you write catchy meta details within the character limit. of 220 characters for description and 60 characters for title to avoid encryption.
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Consider Reading: 12 Best WordPress Plugins for Higher Traffic
9. Add Multiple Internal Links with Anchor Text
Using internal links to connect your old related posts do more than what we expect.
- It drives traffic to your old posts
- It improves the bounce rate and users’ stay on your blog
- It builds more trust and credibility as readers see more of your useful content
- It improves your ranking
Use the related or focus keyword as your anchor text to interlink the posts.
10. Link Out To External Posts & Authority Websites
Consider linking out to 1-2 useful and authority resources in your post. Ensure that they do not look forced and add value to the overall content.
11. Optimize for Social Sharing
You have got many plugins and modules these days to place little tweetables, pinterest pins and sharable clips on several social networks. Enable your blog so your readers find it super-easy to share. Consider using the floating social share bar and in-content share tools to improve social sharing.
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Consider Reading: How to Get 10000 Subscribers in Next 6 Months
12. Keep the Entire Post Light
Compress your images to the lowest best resolution, especially when you’re using multiple images and videos. Unless your blog is using dedicated hosting to handle videos, consider using third party hosts like Vimeo, Youtube, etc, to host your videos.
The loading speed determines the ranking of your post.
13. Lastly, Write Simple
Write simple keeping in mind a 6th grader for your reader. The simpler you write, the easier they find, the more posts they explore, the longer they stay, the better is the bounce rate and eventually influences your blog ranking.
This was all from me. This onpage checklist has helped me rank most of my blogposts on page 1 as soon as 1 week for most of the keywords.
I would love to hear how you found this blog seo checklist. Have you got more to add to the list from your experience? Or got any questions? Don’t hold, just ask in comments.
Happy Blogging. Happy Ranking.
