How to Write a Blog Post for SEO
Learn how to write an SEO-optimized blog post, and you’ll be well on your way to gaining organic (free!) traffic to your website. Maintaining a blog is key to ranking on search engines like Google and it all starts with the first post. I’ll walk you through each step; from keyword research to publishing a post that has the potential to show up on the first page of search results.
When I launched the Maya Does Media website, it started as an online portfolio. I wanted a professional space to refer potential clients to. But then I realized that I could optimize my website to attract new clients by writing search engine-optimized blog posts. So, in a super meta way, I am helping both myself and you!
SEO is not dead. Whether you’re a content creator looking to monetize a website, an e-commerce business owner growing your online presence, or a brick-and-mortar entrepreneur trying to attract new customers, you can benefit from this guide on writing a blog post that will rank.
Even if you’re not ready for my services, you can begin to build content on your own using this article. It’s the same strategy I use to write blog posts and do blog post updates for my clients.
Do Your Research
How to Generate Blog Post Ideas
To start, you should already have an established brand or niche. It is under this umbrella that you’ll determine what topics you want to cover. Here are some methods:
See What’s Trending: Use tools like Google Trends or Pinterest Trends to find relevant topics people are searching for.
Follow Competitors: If you’re having trouble generating ideas for a blog post, get inspired by others in your field. Follow other professionals or brands within your niche on social media. Bookmark the topics and discussions that pique your interest. Chances are, you can write an entire blog post about them.
Brainstorm: Think about the topics your audience will be most interested in. Consider the issues they may face and how you can solve them. That’s what you write about!
Quick Tip: I keep a Google doc to organize all my content ideas. This way, I always have something to write about, even on days when I’m feeling uninspired.
Keyword Research
Now that you have a list of ideas, determine your long-tail keyword or keyphrase. This is where search engine analytical tools like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Ubersuggest come into play.
To determine SEO keywords for your blog post, add phrases (I suggest 2-3 words per keyphrase) to the platform’s search engine to analyze keyword difficulty and search volume. You want to pick a keyphrase with a high search volume and a low (easy) keyword difficulty.
Here are a few factors to consider when choosing the best keyphrase for your blog post:
Search Volume: This tells you how many people are searching for a specific keyphrase each month. If no one’s checking for it, it’s probably not worth your time—unless you’re intentionally targeting a super niche topic. But if you’re just starting out, focus on keyphrases that are popular enough to draw traffic.
Keyword Difficulty: This is a metric that determines how easy is it for you to rank if you use a particular keyphrase. If you’re launching a blog and you want to rank, you should steer clear of highly competitive keyphrases. A new food blogger probably shouldn’t have "chocolate chip cookies” as their first blog post’s keyphrase because everybody and they mama has a chocolate chip cookie recipe! You’re going to have to put a spin on it. “Brown butter chocolate chip cookies” is much easier to rank for (and still has a high search volume).
Relevancy: You’ve found a keyphrase with good search volume and low difficulty—great! But before you commit, ask yourself: Can I actually deliver valuable content for this topic? If you can’t write at least 500–1,000 words of solid information, it’s a no-go. Misleading readers with an empty blog post only leads to high bounce rates, and that’s a big red flag for Google.
Analyze Competing Blog Posts
Search your chosen keyphrase on Google to see what’s already ranking. Study the top-performing posts to understand what they include (word count, FAQs, unique insights, etc.) and figure out how you can make your post better or different. To lear more about researching your competitors, check out my article about boosting SEO.
How to Write a Blog Post
Blog Post Structure
Write a 2–3 sentence intro that includes your keyphrase.
Use at least 3–5 H2 headers to break up the content and improve readability.
Include a section for frequently asked questions (FAQs) to address potential reader queries.
Want an example of a blog post? I have a free food blog post template you can use to structure your own post.
Optimizing Your Blog Post
Images
Give your images relevant titles and descriptions.
Add alt text to describe images for accessibility and SEO.
Use advanced title attributes to provide additional context if needed.
Meta Descriptions
Write a compelling description to encourage clicks.
Include your keyphrase naturally.
Keep it under 155 characters.
Call to Action (CTA)
Place CTAs strategically to encourage engagement (e.g., buttons or links at the top, middle, and end of the post).
Use external links to direct readers to related resources or your social platforms.
Clearly prompt readers with what to do next.
Click here for more for more ways to boost your SEO.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blog Post Optimization
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I always include a CTA at the end of a blog post to guide readers on what to do next. Whether it’s clicking a link, downloading a resource, or scheduling a consultation, a strong CTA gives your audience a clear direction and keeps them engaged with your content—even after they’ve finished reading.
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Not necessarily. Use an H1 for the title and organize the body with H2s and H3s for better readability and SEO.
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Use at least 2–5 photos, depending on the post length. Ensure every image adds value, such as breaking up text or illustrating a concept. You may need to add more if providing step-by-step instructions that require visuals.
