Is Your Blog Content Good For Google?

You probably think that your blog is awesome. All your friends think so and they all have great taste so why is no one else commenting? Probably because your blog has not been properly optimised. Even if your blog is literary genius itself, no one can read it if Google doesn’t find it. There are a host of reasons why your blog is invisible. The bad news is: Your problems are self-inflicted. The good news? You can change things and get the traffic you think the blog deserves.

Keywords

The first and most obvious problem relates to keyword usage. It’s highly likely that you have no idea what keywords your target audience uses when searching for content similar to your blog. You simply must find out which keywords to use or else you may as well be writing in an alien language. The Google Keyword Tool is an essential piece of free kit. You can enter different phrases which you think are relevant in the search box and see how much traffic they actually get. You will also see whether or not there is stiff competition. Don’t be afraid to slip keywords in whenever you can but ensure that this process doesn’t affect the blog’s readability. Also, avoid using too many keywords in a single post. One or two used cleverly is good SEO practice.

Images

Images can break up large blocks of text and including them is a good idea but only if you add descriptions for each one. Google can’t see images unless there is text attached. Use an ALT tag or caption and be sure to use a keyword in this description. In terms of making your blog easier to read, there are few simpler devices than bullet point lists. As well as being more aesthetically pleasing to your readership, blogs with bullet point lists are also picked up better by Google’s search engine spiders.

Links

As important as keywords are, they will do little for your search engine rankings unless that are accompanied by links. Link building can be a real pain but there are a few easy ways to get started. You should definitely add links to your old content as this provides additional value for visitors. Although you don’t want to send visitors away from your website, there is some value in linking with other bloggers. Naturally, you don’t want to link to a direct rival but if you can add links to highly rated blogs, Google will give you credit for sharing quality content with readers.

Content

Ensure that your content is always original. In Google terms, original simply means no plagiarising. Therefore, don’t lift content from other sites. Take the ideas espoused in other websites and rewrite them using your own inimitable writing style. As a blogger, you can’t afford to be lazy. If you’re in a fast moving industry, you need to keep your finger on the pulse and fingers hovering over the keyboard. Also, make sure that your blog is shared on social media networks where there are a multitude of potential readers.

If you’re putting heart and soul into your blog posts, start using your head too and ensure that your hard work is seen and you get the credit you deserve