Nailing good SEO for an article is not tough and a good SEO checklist can help with this. When trying to meet deadlines, making a list and checking it twice is always a good thing.
Do your keyword research.
It may feel tedious, but this is a game-changer. Aim for keywords that match the intent and lingo of your reader. You can research this with software such as Ahrefs or even simply by Googling your topic. There are many free keyword search tools available to help you choose the most targeted ones for your audience.
Be smart about keyword usage.
Keyword stuffing is a no-no. Instead, work your keywords into your headlines, image alt tags, & meta description.
A blog post or article stuffed with keywords reads awkwardly and can drive away your readers. Search engines will take note and won’t reward that behavior or tactic.
Use supporting keywords too.
Throw some secondary keywords in too, like synonyms for your targeted keyword. Search engines pick up on this.
In the above example, we also used “replacing my AXS shifter battery”
Use images and alt tags
Images and alt tags are important. You can also read the following article on how to optimize images for SEO.
Include internal links.
Give visitors a chance to engage with other pages on your site by linking to them. This also signals to Google that people like your content.
Tip: Make sure those links are set to open in new tabs, this makes it easier for a reader to make it back to the original content.
Add external links too.
Throw in some links to helpful content from other sites too. Search engines & visitors alike appreciate the nod to additional info that’s relevant.
Keep it conversational.
Technical jargon can be uninviting and dissuade visitors from staying. Keep your writing at an 8th-grade reading level and use an active voice.
Use a tool like the Flesh-Kincaid reading scale to grade your writing’s reading level and adjust accordingly.
White space is your friend.
Proper formatting can make or break you. Make use of white space, plus your H & title tags. The more skimmable your post, the better.
Break up Content
Break up content into manageable sections, this makes the site more skimmable and also helps with SEO and appearance. A good SEO plugin like Yoast will help with this.
Nail your title.
Make sure to include your keywords and keep it under 60 characters so it isn’t truncated in search results.
Finesse the URL.
Your URL should include your keywords, but don’t fill it with conjunctions, adjectives, and articles. Separate your words with dashes.
Update your meta descriptions.
And make ’em good. These short blurbs are often what capture a visitor’s attention. And of course, don’t forget to include your keyword!
Share
Be sure to let the world know you article is posted. The following are good ways to help indexing.
- Add internals links from older articles to newer articles.
- Share to social media
- Submit page to Google search console
