If you didn’t know it already, there are a lot of blogs on the internet—and that’s putting it lightly. In 2024, it is estimated that around 7.5 million blogs are published every day. To put that number into context, if you spent 5 minutes trying to read each post, it would amount to over 37 million minutes—or 625,000 hours (over 26,000 days). Obviously, there’s no way for anyone to achieve this feat, so your best shot at getting the blog views you need is to stand out from the rest. So, how can that be done? It all starts with the right Search Engine Optimization (SEO). SEO is crucial for blog visibility, as it helps your content rank higher in search engine results. In this SEO checklist, we’ll go over everything you can do to make your blogs perform better across Google and other search engines.

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Step One: Research Your Topic

No matter what you’re writing about, whether it be a conference recap or an opinion piece on why pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza, you need to know what your potential readers will be searching for. To kick off our SEO checklist, follow these four steps before you begin writing your content:

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1. Identify the Primary Keyword: This keyword will become the primary foundation for your blog. For example, we chose “SEO Checklist” for the blog you’re reading right now!
2. Include Secondary Keywords: On top of your primary keyword, be sure to gather a handful of supporting keywords that can drive further traffic to your page.
3. Analyze Search Intent: Understand what or why your target readers search. Your content should help readers in some way. Google rewards content that directly solves a searcher’s problems. So, if you were writing about pineapple on pizza, focus your words on why it does or doesn’t belong.
4. ‍Identify Your Content’s “Solution”: Finally, be sure the content you write will provide value to the reader. Take this SEO checklist, for example.

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Step Two: Ensure You Write SEO-Friendly Content

Next up on our SEO checklist is writing the content itself. Once you’ve established your SEO playbook, there are several steps you can take to further optimize the words you write:

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1. Featured Snippet: Instead of leaving your featured snippet as-is, take a look to make sure it features both the primary and secondary keywords.
2. Heading Structure: Incorporate your primary and secondary keywords into your H2-H4 headings. Make sure they’re written in a clear and engaging tone.
3. Competitor Analysis: Do your competitors have blogs about the same topic? Identify gaps you can fill in your blog to better solve a reader’s problem.
4. Google Autosuggest and Related Searches: Find hidden gems you can write about by leveraging Google’s Autosuggest, “People Also Ask,” and Related Searches tools.
5. Topic Expertise: If you’re writing about a topic you’re particularly passionate about, add some of your own perspective. Believe it or not, this can go a long way when Google ranks your content.
6. Content Readability: Make your content easy to skim. Use short paragraphs, bullet points, and bold text to add emphasis where needed. Also, don’t keyword stuff, as excessive repetition can hurt your SEO ranking and make content harder to digest.
7. Image Compression: Speed is king these days, especially when it comes to loading content. Ensure all images are compressed to <100KB for faster load times.
8. Internal Linking: Connect your blog to relevant content on your site and optimize the anchor text for SEO. For example, if you’re interested in this SEO checklist, you might also enjoy reading about creating a high-converting eCommerce funnel.
9. Clear Formatting: Use bullets, numbered lists, and tables to improve clarity. The easier the information is for your readers to digest, the better you can rank.‍
10. Short Sentences: Finally, ensure you don’t ramble too much. This can negatively affect your SEO score.

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Step Three: Optimize Your On-Page Content

As the saying goes, nobody is perfect. That couldn’t be more true for SEO-friendly content. There will always be ways for you to boost your ranking:

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1. Use Relevant CTAs: When adding calls to action in your blog, make sure they align with a reader’s search intent.
2. Add a Table of Contents: This can help you improve the navigability of your blog, as many readers may not want to consume the entire piece.
3. Craft a Compelling Title: Also be sure your title includes the primary or supporting keyword to drive traffic.
4. Optimize Your URL: Keep your URL short, keyword-rich, and free of unnecessary symbols.
5. Focus on Word Count: Check the average word count of top competitors and aim to be within 200-400 words of the average.
6. Write Alt-Text: Include descriptive and concise alt-text for all images, incorporating keywords naturally.
7. Include a Compelling Meta Description: Give users a clear reason to click on your blog within 150-160 characters.
8. Avoid Over-Optimization: Don’t overuse the primary keyword in headings (H2-H6) or in alt-text. Focus on natural language and variations.
9. Have a Strong Intro: Be sure you’re hooking readers early in your piece by introducing the topic.
10. Professionally Conclude the Piece: Tie the piece back into the main theme and leave readers wanting more.
11. Emphasize Key Text: Highlight key phrases with bold or italics to make important content stand out.
12. Add External Links: Don’t just link to your website. Be sure to link out to relevant information, too.‍
13. Always Cite Sources: This will help you maintain your credibility.

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To conclude, SEO is more than just your overall ranking. Yes, we all want to be in the top 3 on Google. Don’t forget about your user experience (UX), though. From mobile responsiveness and load speed to eye-catching visuals, a seamless UX boosts engagement and helps your content rank. If you enjoyed this SEO checklist, be sure to check out the rest of our blog, where we discuss all things marketing.