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How to SEO Your Blog Posts Without Being an SEO Expert

On-page SEO refers to the changes you make directly on your blog pages to help search engines understand your content and show it to the right readers.

When done correctly, these changes can bring more visitors to your blog from search engines like Google.[1][2][3]

Think of on-page SEO as the foundation of your blog's visibility.

Unlike off-page SEO (which focuses on backlinks and other external signals), you control every aspect of on-page SEO.

Research shows that getting these basics right makes up about 85% of your overall SEO success.[4][5]

Why On-Page SEO Matters for Bloggers

Before chasing backlinks or spending money on ads, you need to get these basics right.

Search engines need clear signals about what your content covers, who should read it, and why it provides value.

On-page SEO gives search engines these signals.[2][3][4]

The better your on-page SEO, the easier it becomes for:

Keyword Research: Finding What Your Readers Search For

Keyword research means finding out what words and phrases your target readers type into search engines. This step comes before you write anything.[6][7][8]

How to approach keyword research:

Start by thinking about your blog's main topics. For example, if you run a food blog, your categories might include "quick dinners," "baking," and "meal prep".

These broad topics become your starting point.[6]

Next, find specific keywords within each topic. A keyword like "easy dinner recipes" has high search volume (60,000 monthly searches) but also high competition. Look for related terms with less competition, such as "30 minute meals" or "one pot dinners".[9]

Understanding search intent:

Search intent refers to what users want when they type a query. The same topic can have different intents:[10][11][12]

Look at what already ranks on page one for your target keyword. If all the top results are how-to guides, don't write a product review. Match the format and approach that Google already considers relevant.[13][10][11]

Focus and secondary keywords:

Pick one main keyword per post and 2-4 related secondary keywords. This gives you multiple chances to rank while keeping your content focused and clear.[7]

Title Tags: Your First Impression in Search Results

Title tags appear as the blue clickable headline in search results. They're one of the most important on-page elements.[14][15][16]

Best practices for title tags:

Keep them between 51-60 characters. Google often truncates longer titles, which can hurt click-through rates. Aim for 45-55 characters for the best results.[15][16]

Put your main keyword near the beginning. If you're targeting "keyword research for bloggers," don't bury it at the end. Place it in the first few words.[16][15]

Write for humans first. Your title should sound natural and encourage clicks, not just stuff keywords. "10 Keyword Research Tips for Bloggers" works better than "Keyword Research Tips Keyword Research Bloggers".[14][15]

Add numbers when relevant. Titles with numbers (like "10 Tips" or "7 Ways") get higher click-through rates because readers know exactly what to expect.[17][16]

Make each title unique. Every page on your blog needs its own distinct title. Duplicate titles confuse search engines and waste opportunities.[17][15]

Include your brand name when appropriate. Adding your blog name at the end (separated by a pipe or dash) can help with recognition: "Keyword Research Tips | Your Blog Name"[15].

Meta Descriptions: Encouraging Clicks from Search Results

Meta descriptions are the short summaries that appear under your title in search results. While they don't directly affect rankings, they strongly influence whether people click.[18][16][14]

How to write better meta descriptions:

Stay under 155 characters. Longer descriptions get cut off, which looks messy and reduces clicks.[18]

Use active language. Start with action words like "Learn," "Discover," or "Find out" to encourage clicks.[18]

Include your main keyword. When someone's search term appears in your description, Google bolds it, which catches attention.[16]

Create a clear reason to click. Tell readers what benefit they'll get: "Learn 10 proven keyword research techniques that will double your blog traffic in 60 days".[18]

Avoid duplicate descriptions. Just like titles, each page needs its own unique description.[14]

Header Tags: Organizing Your Content

Header tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) structure your content like chapters in a book. They help both readers and search engines understand how your content is organized.[19][20][21]

How to use header tags correctly:

Use one H1 per page. Your H1 is the main title that appears at the top of your post. It should include your main keyword and tell readers what the entire post covers.[21][22][19]

Use H2s for main sections. Each major topic within your post gets an H2 heading. If you're writing about "On-Page SEO Basics," your H2s might include "Title Tags," "Meta Descriptions," and "Header Tags".[19][21]

Use H3s for sub-sections under H2s. If you need to break down an H2 section further, use H3s. Never skip from H1 to H3 or start with H3 before having an H2.[20][1][19]

Include keywords naturally. Work your main keyword and related terms into your headers where they fit naturally, but don't force them.[5][19]

Keep headers descriptive. A header like "Tips for Better Keyword Research" tells readers more than "Tips" alone.[20][21]

Headers make your content easier to scan, which keeps readers on your page longer. This signals to Google that your content provides value.[19][20]

URL Structure: Clean and Descriptive Slugs

URL slugs are the final part of your page address that describes what the page contains. For example, in "yourblog.com/keyword-research-tips," the slug is "keyword-research-tips".[23][24][25]

Creating SEO-friendly URL slugs:

Keep them short. Shorter URLs rank better when other factors are equal. Aim for 3-5 words or about 17 characters.[24][25][23]

Include your main keyword. If your post targets "image optimization," your slug should be "/image-optimization" rather than "/tips-for-optimizing-images".[25][26][23]

Use hyphens to separate words. Hyphens are easier to read than underscores or no separators: "/keyword-research" not "/keywordresearch" or "/keyword_research".[26][23][25]

Remove unnecessary words. Cut out "a," "the," "and," and other filler words. "/seo-title-tips" is better than "/tips-for-the-best-seo-titles".[23][24]

Use lowercase letters only. URLs are case-sensitive, so stick to lowercase to avoid confusion.[25][23]

Avoid dates and numbers. Including "2025" or post numbers makes your URL look outdated quickly and creates problems if you update content.[24][23]

Make them readable. Someone should understand what your post covers just by reading the URL.[26][23][25]

Internal Linking: Connecting Your Content

Internal links point from one page on your blog to another page on the same blog. They help readers find related content and show search engines how your content connects.[27][28][29]

Internal linking best practices:

Link to related content. When you mention a topic you've covered in another post, link to it. If you're writing about keyword research and mention meta descriptions, link to your meta description guide.[29][30][27]

Use descriptive anchor text. Instead of "click here," use text that describes the linked page: "learn how to write better meta descriptions".[28][29]

Link from high-traffic posts. Add internal links in your most popular posts to spread their authority to newer content.[27][29]

Link both ways. When you publish new content, link back to older related posts. Then update those older posts with links to your new content.[29][27]

Keep links natural and helpful. Only add internal links when they genuinely help readers. Forced or irrelevant links hurt the user experience.[27][29]

Aim for 2-5 internal links per post. This gives readers helpful options without overwhelming them.[28]

Internal linking spreads authority across your blog and keeps readers on your site longer, which improves rankings.[31][28][29][27]

Image Optimization: Alt Text and File Names

Images make your content more engaging, but search engines can't "see" images without your help. That's where alt text comes in.[32][33][34]

How to optimize images:

Write descriptive alt text. Alt text describes what an image shows. For a photo of someone typing on a laptop, write "person typing blog post on laptop at desk" rather than just "laptop".[33][34][32]

Keep alt text under 125 characters. Most screen readers work best with shorter descriptions.[32][33]

Include relevant keywords naturally. If your keyword fits naturally, include it. But don't force keywords where they don't belong.[35][33][32]

Don't start with "image of" or "picture of." Screen readers already announce that it's an image.[33][32]

Use descriptive file names. Before uploading, rename "IMG_1234.jpg" to "keyword-research-tools.jpg".[36][1]

Skip alt text for decorative images. Background patterns and design elements don't need descriptions. Leave the alt attribute empty: alt="".[32][33]

Be specific. "David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox batting at Fenway Park" is better than "baseball player hitting ball".[33]

Well-optimized images can rank in Google Image Search, bringing another source of traffic to your blog.[34][36][33]

Content Quality: Writing for Readers and Search Engines

Good on-page SEO starts with content that helps readers. Search engines reward content that keeps people engaged and satisfies their search intent.[37][38][39]

Creating high-quality content:

Use your main keyword in the first 100 words. This helps search engines understand your topic right away.[1][5]

Write short sentences and paragraphs. Break up long blocks of text. Most paragraphs should be 2-3 sentences.[40][41][37]

Include multimedia. Add images, videos, or infographics to make your content more engaging. For topics like "how to tie a tie," videos perform especially well.[38][37]

Write naturally. Avoid keyword stuffing. If you mention your keyword 30 times in a 500-word post, it will sound robotic and hurt your rankings.[39][37]

Cover topics thoroughly. Longer content often ranks better because it provides more complete answers. Most top-ranking posts contain 1,400-2,400 words. However, length alone doesn't matter—focus on depth and quality.[42][43][44][45]

Match search intent. If someone searches "how to bake bread," they want instructions, not a history of bread. Give readers what they're actually looking for.[12][13][10]

Mobile-Friendliness and Page Speed

More than 60% of web visits come from mobile devices. Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means it looks at the mobile version of your blog first when deciding rankings.[46][47][48]

Making your blog mobile-friendly:

Use a responsive design. Your blog should adapt automatically to different screen sizes.[47][46]

Make buttons and links easy to tap. Avoid tiny text or crowded layouts that frustrate mobile users.[47]

Improve page speed. Mobile users expect pages to load in under 3 seconds. Slow pages lose visitors and hurt rankings.[48][46][47]

Optimize images. Use compressed images in modern formats like WebP. Enable lazy loading so images below the fold load only when needed.[46][48]

Minimize code. Remove unnecessary JavaScript and CSS. Combine files where possible.[49][48][46]

Use browser caching. This stores static resources locally so returning visitors see faster load times.[48][46]

Consider a CDN. Content Delivery Networks serve your content from servers close to each visitor, reducing load times.[49][46]

You can test your blog's speed using Google PageSpeed Insights, which also provides specific recommendations.[47]

Understanding E-E-A-T: Building Trust and Authority

E-E-A-T stands for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness. Google uses this framework to judge content quality, especially for topics that could affect someone's health, finances, or safety (called YMYL topics).[50][51][52]

How to show E-E-A-T:

Demonstrate experience. Write about topics you've actually experienced. If you review a product, mention that you tested it yourself.[51][52][50]

Show expertise. Include author bios that explain why you're qualified to write about your topic. Link to credentials, publications, or relevant work.[52][53][51]

Build authoritativeness. Get mentioned and linked by other trusted websites in your field. This shows that others recognize your knowledge.[53][50][52]

Prove trustworthiness. Use accurate information, cite reliable sources, keep content updated, and use HTTPS for security.[50][51][52]

While E-E-A-T isn't a direct ranking factor, Google's quality raters use it to evaluate search results. Their feedback helps train Google's algorithms to recognize quality content.[51][52][50]

On-Page SEO Checklist

Before publishing your next blog post, check these items:

Getting on-page SEO right takes practice, but these basics give you a solid starting point. Focus on one element at a time rather than trying to perfect everything at once.[3][2][5][1]

References: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81

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