In this day and age, good content rules the world. There are new websites, blogs and social media posts popping up by the dozen. Every day we have some trending hashtag, a burning topic or something sensational to talk about. The virtual landscape is dynamic, volatile and ever-changing. In such a scenario, one has to pull up their socks to stay afloat.
SEO or search engine optimization is a crucial parameter for judging the credibility and quality of your content. Search engines like Google endorse websites that have high readable value and relevance in the market. Writing an excellent blog is hard work, but marketing is a whole new ball game. If you are a newbie looking for ways to advertise your WordPress posts, then I’m here to help you. Check out this detailed guide on how to create perfect SEO-optimized articles in WordPress;
Choosing the Right Theme
Picking a template is the first step to creating an attractive blog. WordPress offers users a vast collection of customizable themes and templates, most of which are free. The WordPress theme is readymade layouts, optimized for mobile devices. This enhances your visibility among readers. All you have to do is pick your favorite theme and then populate it with your content.
The right theme should be following your brand and the content you’re posting. WordPress has divided its themes into multiple categories based on the industry they cater to. You can even invest in the premium templates and designs.
The WordPress themes are super intuitive, responsive and user-friendly. They don’t require any coding or technical expertise. All you have to do is pick a theme, add your content and then publish it. Some themes and layouts also offer the user a preview of how the content would appear on the user-end browser. This feature is called WYSIWYG aka what-you-see-is-what-you-get is the ideal website development feature for newbies.
Keep your Content Concise
Next, you need to check if your content meets all the quality standards set by the search engines. Find your target audience and get valuable insights into what they want. Also, have a look at what your peers are doing. What are the topics that they have covered? How long are their blog posts? What are the trending issues that they talk about? Draw inspiration from your competitors. Look for ways you can improvise upon an idea and add value to the reader’s experience.
People don’t spend a lot of time reading lengthy articles. The regular reader would skim through the subheads and highlighted text. It is the graphics that catch the attention of the audience. Add images, colors, headers, videos and other attractive features to your post.
The readers today have neither the time nor the patience to read every word that you have written. With analytical tools, you can figure out exactly how much time a reader spends reading your content on an average. Work on the introduction paragraph. Also, keep the tone personal, informal and friendly. You’re writing a blog, not an essay.
Highlight the Relevant Keywords
For most people, SEO is all about keyword research and integration. Well, that’s not true at all. Search engine optimization is not just limited to adding a sprinkle of relevant search terms and phrases. Sure, it’s a significant part of the process; it helps you attract a huge chunk of your audience base.
WordPress comes with a lot of analytical tools to help you with this. You can find out your target demographic and the search terms they use. You can also monitor the reach of your posts and how well received they are among your readers. Publish your blogs as per these metrics to enhance your chances of being noticed by your readers.
Keywords help search engines identify and categorize your content. There are several free tools and third-party plugins by WordPress to help bloggers identify the trending keywords. With these tools at your disposal, you know exactly what your readers are searching for. You also have an idea about what your competitors are doing. For budding businesses, I would suggest that you target the lesser-explored markets that don’t have a lot of contenders.
Work on the Title and Meta Title
Meta title and post title are two different things. The main title is what the readers see, and the meta title is what the search engines look for. You need both these aspects to be just right. Have titles that are catchy, concise and convenient to remember. The meta title is what appears in the search engine results as well. And upon clicking that link, the visitor will be directed to your WordPress blog with the post title. There are tools and applications to help novice bloggers create exciting and informative titles.
The title is the main selling point of the article. The more keyword-intensive and relevant the title is, the better your odds of ranking higher on Google. A good post title also increases your CTR aka click-through rate, a parameter in online advertising. It checks the ration between the users who’ve clicked the link to people who have seen the content.
Meta Descriptions and Summaries
Having a summary and meta description is a necessary SEO requirement. The review gives the search engine and the reader a brief idea about the article. It saves them the time and effort of having to read through your entire blog post thoroughly. Research studies show that an average web browser takes roughly 30 seconds to decide if it’s worth their time.
Also, don’t forget to add plain text descriptions to all the images and videos that you add to your blog. This is because search engines like Google cannot read graphics unless accompanied by plain text. These descriptions would make it easier for search engines to identify and categorize your content. It also gives your articles more credibility and appeal.
The Power of Internal Linking
Internal linking is a compelling and effective way to widen your client base. Approach the established bloggers and websites in the sector for guest blogging opportunities. Also, ensure that you have a few internal links to other blog posts of your site integrated into your content. This enhances your chances of diverting more traffic.
Add a few other credible sources, research papers, and high authority websites as well. The purpose of writing a blog post is to offer value. With external links to academic studies or statistical figures, you are making your content more authentic and trustworthy. The more people refer to these links, the more visible your blog becomes. It is a smart way to generate more leads and even convert them to a loyal reader base. Ensure that the internal links or external hyperlinks are valid and working — lookout for any server errors or other technical glitches. Google doesn’t accept or endorse posts that have faulty internal links.
WordPress also allows bloggers to add description tags to their content. The process is similar to how Instagram hashtags work. It enhances the visibility and accessibility of the posts. For instance, if your content is related to fashion, you would want to add a fashion-related tag to the post. This makes it easier for like-minded readers to identify and single out your content.
It also saves both the parties a lot of time and effort. It is a personalized and focused approach for growing blogs to establish a reader base. Also, ensure that the post title, meta title, and URL of the blog are relevant and credible. You can customize the URL and include the post title to make it searchable and authentic. In WordPress, bloggers have the option of adding content tags as well. This makes it easier for the average reader to find your posts. Ensure that the name of the blog is included in the URL address, to optimize your page rank. Customized URLs are time-effective, unique and quicker to identify.
Optimize the WordPress Comments
Ensure that the comments section of the blog posts caters to your needs. Filter out the spam content and troll messages regularly. This space allows you to get instant feedback from your readers. WordPress also gives you valuable insights on what are the trending topics that you should be posting about. The comments section also allows you to interact with your reader. It is a space to answer any queries or complaints the visitors may have about your content.
Also, have a reliable customer support system if you want to monetize your WordPress blog. There are special programs, readymade layouts and bots to help you manage customer complaints. Have a team of technical experts as well if the solutions have to be more detailed and tailor-made.
Follow-up Services
SEO optimization is not just about attracting more people to your platform. It is also about user engagement, customer retention and building a loyal reader base. The follow-up messages ensure that your readers remain interested in the content you post. Have an email template for potential clients and regular visitors alike. Encourage them to like, share and comment on the post. Other than that, you also need an email list that people can subscribe to.
Starting your blog and sustaining are two completely different things. It takes a consistent effort to stay afloat in this intensely competitive market. It is, therefore, essential that you learn to read your audience base and find your niche. SEO helps you achieve just that.
The Bottom Line
Thanks to the internet, everyone has a platform to express their opinions and profit from it. The world wide web has brought the world a lot closer. However, this has also added on to the competition. Gone are the days when a few companies ruled the market. Today, anyone with an idea and an internet connection can post online. SEO and relevancy hence become the most significant benchmarks to calculate the blog’s performance.
WordPress is an extremely user-friendly and intuitive tool for bloggers. A few simple steps can further enhance your blog’s reach. I hope that these simple SEO tips would be useful to you. Continue writing and perfecting your craft! All the best!
As a technology enthusiast, Bella contributes to open-source projects. She is also a Consultant for topmygrades and part-time academic tutor at expertassignmenthelp and loves to write about students. When she is not helping a student, you can find her enjoying a bar of chocolate, traveling or taking a stroll down the beach. You can also find her on LinkedIn