How To Rank Blog Posts? - [Blog Ranking]

Madhu Kumar C
Jan 17, 2023
5 min read

Updated: 23 hours ago

how to rank blog post - [blog ranking] - [rank blog posts] — Photo by Anna Shvets [Pexels]

How To Rank Blog Posts?:

Struggling to get your blog posts noticed in the crowded search landscape, or even thinking about how to write a blog post that ranks?

Don't worry, you're not alone. Ranking your content on the first page of search results can mean the difference between reaching thousands of readers or getting lost in the void.

This blog post will walk you through proven strategies to boost your blog's visibility, increase organic traffic, and achieve those coveted top positions in search engine results.

Do you know? - “there is no ideal length for blog posts. So don’t start with a target word count. Yes, there is an average length for blog posts: around 1400 words. That’s long. After growing for a decade, the research shows that it’s finally holding steady” – Orbit Media Studios

Blog Post Ranking:

The following aspects help you rank blog posts effectively:

1. Understand Your Audience and Search Intent:

Before you even start writing, you need to know who you’re writing for. What questions are they asking? What problems are they trying to solve?

Understanding the intent behind their searches helps you create effective, quality content that truly matches what they want.

Types of Search Intent: Informational (looking for info), Navigational (looking for a specific site), Transactional (looking to buy), and Commercial Investigation (researching before a purchase).
Use tools and platforms like Reddit, Quora, AnswerThePublic, AlsoAsked, or Google’s People Also Ask (PAA) to find common questions related to your topic.

2. Perform Thorough Keyword Research:

Keywords are the foundation of SEO. You want to target keywords that have a good balance of search volume and competition.

In the beginning stages of the blog ranking, target keywords with a keyword difficulty (KD) score of less than 20.

Use SEO tools like Ahrefs, Semrush, Moz, Keyword Tool, Google's Autosuggestions, or the free Google Keyword Planner for keyword research. I recommend using any premium SEO tools for larger benefits.
Look for long-tail keywords (phrases with 4-5+ words) that are more specific and usually less competitive to start with.
Analyze competitor blogs' ranking for your target keywords to understand what they’re doing well and how you can create your blog post content.

3. Craft a Compelling Title and Meta Description:

Your title tag and meta description are what users see in search results, and they can make or break your click-through rate (CTR).

Include your main keyword naturally in the title.
Make the title engaging but clear about the topic. Don't do clickbait.
Meta descriptions should summarize the post’s value and include keywords, though meta keywords themselves no longer influence rankings much.

4. Write High-Quality, Comprehensive Content:

Google rewards content that thoroughly answers the user’s query and provides value. Be aware of EEAT content aspects too.

Aim for depth: Cover subtopics, answer related questions, and provide examples or data where necessary.
Use clear headings (H1, H2, H3) to structure your post for readability and SEO.
Incorporate multimedia like images (less than 200 KB in size), videos, and infographics to enrich the user experience (UX). Make sure to optimize images.
Ensure your content is original. Avoid duplicate content at all costs.

Focus on building topical authority by understanding the hub-and-spoke model or pillar cluster model to boost search rankings and visibility.

“Clear headings, logical flow, and well-organized information help both search engines and AI systems understand your content. A messy blog post won’t rank well anywhere” – Backlinko

Where to Place Keywords?:

Here are the locations generally recommended to place keywords to rank in search results:

5. Optimize On-Page SEO Elements:

On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual pages so they rank higher.

URL structure: Keep it short, descriptive, and keyword-rich.
Internal linking: Link to other relevant posts on your blog to keep visitors engaged and distribute link equity.
Image optimization: Use descriptive file names and alt text with keywords.
Mobile-friendliness: Ensure your blog design works well on mobile devices.
Page speed: Compress images and use caching to improve load times.

6. Build Quality Backlinks:

Backlinks (links from other websites or blogs to yours) still remain one of the most important ranking factors even today.

Create link-worthy content like original research, how-to guides, or unique insights.
Reach out to bloggers or websites in your niche for guest posting or collaborations.
Share your content on social media channels to increase visibility and chances of getting linked.

Backlinks Generating Content Types:

In the current AI search era, your blog's branding and recognition, including its mentions across online platforms, will help your posts appear in AI-generated answers or responses.

7. Promote Your Content Actively:

Don’t just publish and wait. Promote your blog posts actively. Don't rely solely on search engines for website traffic. Instead, diversify your traffic sources to enhance content visibility and ensure blog sustainability.

So, share blog posts on relevant social media platforms.
Engage in communities like Reddit, Quora, or niche forums by providing value and linking back when appropriate. Ensure no spamming with links.
Use email newsletters to notify subscribers of new posts. Building email lists is becoming very necessary today.
Take advantage of content distribution and repurposing strategies to boost content reach and visibility.

Remember - “When a social post that links to a piece of content gets a lot of traction, it means that the content is being read, which in turn improves its ranking” – SmartBug and rockcontent [Report for 2023]

8. Monitor Search Performance and Update Regularly:

SEO isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It is an ongoing process.

Use tools like Google Analytics (GA4) and Google Search Console (GSC) to track traffic, rankings, and user behavior.
Identify posts that are slipping in rankings or underperforming.
Update content regularly with fresh information, new keywords, or better formatting.

Remember, easy navigation, readable fonts, and minimal ads improve engagement metrics like time on site and bounce rate, which are very crucial for search rankings performance.

It is also important to understand that SEO is a long-term game and requires ongoing effort to stay ahead of the competition and make your blog post rank.

Which Tactics help Blog Posts Rank More Highly?:

Pro-Tip: Make sure to avoid black hat SEO practices. Also, don’t ignore technical SEO aspects, as this is crucial for crawling, indexing pages, and appearing in search results.

In conclusion, ranking blog posts is about delivering what users want in the best possible way while following SEO best practices.

Start with understanding your audience and keywords, write comprehensive content, optimize all on-page elements, build backlinks, promote actively, and keep refining based on data.

Over time, this consistent effort will help your blog posts climb higher in search results and attract more readers.

Here's related information that you may also find helpful – How to Improve SEO with Google Analytics?

P.S: Ready to [unlock the power of digital marketing] and drive [your] business forward? – Access my forum today

P.S.S: Please don’t forget to forward this blog post to your network so they can get the best tips, practices, strategies, education, resources, and tools to help their businesses grow [sharing is caring].