In some ways the term blog has become a buzz word in SEO, webmasters and business owners know they need one, but it’s maybe not so obvious how to squeeze every last drop of value out of it. Done correctly you can achieve quick wins in terms of long-tail keywords and assist your major site search terms. On top of this you can become a force to be reckoned with on the social media circuit.

Here at SEO Consult clients often question the necessity of a blog on their site. To fully understand the value of a blog or news section you need to get into the head of your target audience. If it’s of value to a search engine user it’s of value to a search engine.

When writing an article there are some basic rules that should always be considered.
Only post when you have something to say. It seems obvious but this will ensure that you are not boring the reader with drivel, if you have something you want to get off your chest, or information that is not common knowledge then there is a good chance others will find it of interest. It’s clear when a blog post has been forced as it will lack direction.

Encourage audience participation. If you ask a question in your blog, its human instinct to try and answer it, especially so if the reader is knowledgeable and passionate about the subject in question. The more people that comment the more others will like to get involved and have their say.

Look at long-tail keywords. By analysing your PPC data, and using keyword generators you can find some 4+ word terms that will generate traffic if you can get to the top of the search engine. Utilise these in the blog post and title, and rankings will be achieved in a short space of time.

Link to the blog from your homepage. By creating a feed on your homepage of the latest posts you will pass authority and visitors to the individual posts and blog section. This will ensure it gets the most amount of exposure and increase the likelihood of strong rankings.

As always your comments are appreciated!

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