Blog writers and other web content writers don't have to be SEO experts, but knowing basic on-page optimization techniques goes a long way in promoting online visibility. People want helpful information delivered in a way they can easily read and understand. Search engines like exactly what people want and like. If you are starting your blog writing journey or need to hone some of your writing skills, I have just published my new eCourse "Lean to be a Professional Blog Writer - No Degree Required" on Udemy. You need to take this course now and take advantage of the 30% discount being offered to the first 100 students.

1. Blog Writer’s Checklist
On-Page Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
“The best written blog article is of little value
if people and search engines can’t find it.” –
Ken Bradford
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

2. Article Title
Is the title unique?
Does the title immediately grab attention?
Does the title describe exactly what the article is
talking about?
Does the title include a targeted keyword or phrase?
Does the title make people want to read more?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

3. First Paragraph (Introduction)
Is the introduction short, to the point, and thought provoking?
If the introduction was a trailer for a movie, would people want
to see it?
Does the introduction include a targeted keyword or phrase?
Does the introduction include a text link to a related post on
your blog?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

4. Article Body
Are sentences and paragraphs short, informative, and to the
point?
Is the body of the article conversational?
Will the article make sense to the average person?
Will sub-headings make the information easier to scan and
understand?
Will people learn something new from your article?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

5. Sub-Headings
Do the sub-headings add quality to the blog post?
Do the sub-headings attract attention?
Do sub-headings include a targeted keyword or phrase?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

6. Closing Paragraph (Conclusion)
Does the last paragraph adequately summarize the main point
of the article?
Does the last paragraph include an appropriate Call-to-Action
(CTA)?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

7. Targeted Keywords
Is there a targeted keyword in the title?
Is there a targeted keyword in the first paragraph?
Is there a targeted keyword in sub-headings?
Have you sprinkled in 3 or 4 targeted keywords in the body of
the article?
Have you written sentences just to stuff keywords that sound
unnatural?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

8. Images
Have you used images to break up long areas of text?
Have you included “Alt text” and “Captions” for all images?
Are images large enough to make social sharing easier?
Are images relevant to the blog article and free from
copyright restrictions?
Are images of high quality?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

9. Social Media
Have you included a social media “Share” link above or below
each blog article?
Have you shared the article in your own social networks?
Is the article good enough that people will want to share on
social media?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

10. Editing
Have you checked for misspelled words and errors in
grammar?
Have you read the article out loud?
Is the article clear and easy to read?
Could a five line paragraph provide the same information in four
lines?
Have you included “fluff” just to make the article longer?
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

11. Quality blog content must be . . .
Original
Conversational (there are exceptions)
Relevant and useful
Informative
Easy to read and understand
Current
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

12. Goals of Blog Writing
GOAL #1:
Write useful information for a targeted audience.
GOAL #2:
Establish trust and credibility with major search engines.
GOAL #3:
Provide expertise that people and businesses want to
share and link to.
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

13. Again, it’s not rocket science . . .
© Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.

14. © Ken Bradford. All rights reserved.