Picture this: you’ve poured your heart and soul into writing an engaging blog post. You’ve carefully chosen every word, every image, and every metaphor, hoping to invite your readers to your thoughts, your books, your author business.
Yet, when you hit that “publish” button, instead of a flurry of applause, you’re met with… crickets… even after days, weeks, months. Your brilliant words are seemingly lost in the vast digital wilderness, and you’re left scratching your head, wondering, “What went wrong?”
I know it doesn’t feel very encouraging when your blog post doesn’t get the attention you thought it would get and believed it deserved. Believe me, I’ve been there. I still find it hard to find the right keywords, come up with a catchy and descriptive headline, and figure out exactly what my readers want to know (reader intent).
Don’t worry, you’re not alone in this frustration. Many of us have been there, and in this journey to (re)claim your blog’s spotlight, I am here to explain to you how you, too, can optimize your blog posts for search engines and boost your visibility.
Here’s the truth: It’s a challenge many talented female authors face, and it’s not a reflection of your skills; heck, you write for a living! Instead, it’s a common hurdle in every blogger’s journey, even those who rely on blogging for their income. The good news? You’re on the path to uncovering the solution.
Why aren’t Your Blog Posts getting the Visibility they deserve?
It’s not about blaming yourself or your content. Instead, it’s about understanding that there are several moving parts to blogging success. By investigating these aspects, we can pinpoint what might be causing your posts to fly under the radar. So, let’s start exploring the possible solutions to this blogging mystery.
1. Work on Content Quality and Relevance
Regarding the quality and relevance of your content, think of it as creating a gourmet meal – your blog posts should be made with the finest ingredients, expertly prepared to satisfy your readers’ cravings for information, entertainment, or inspiration. By the way, is your mouth watering just like mine does?!
Content quality isn’t just about fancy words; it’s about providing value. Ensure your blog posts address your audience’s “pain points” (like finding a new book to read or genre to try) or interests (like wanting to know your inspiration for your stories and characters), and always aim for clarity and readability.
Relevance is the key to connecting with your readers. Your blog content should align with your niche and the expectations of your target audience. If there’s a disconnect, it’s time to reevaluate and realign.
2. Engage with Your Audience
Think of your blog as a conversation, not a monologue. Engaging with your audience means actively listening to their comments, questions, and feedback, and responding thoughtfully.
Engaging content isn’t just about likes and shares; it’s about creating a genuine connection. Encourage discussions, ask questions, and create opportunities for your readers to participate in the conversation through comments.
Remember, your readers are real people with real interests and needs. To boost audience engagement, focus on content that resonates with their emotions, aspirations, or challenges.
3. Remember Promoting and Sharing
Promotion is like throwing a party; no one will show up if you don’t send out invitations. Promoting your blog posts involves sharing them on a couple of social media platforms, in the right online communities, and using email marketing.
Sharing is caring in the blogging world. Don’t hesitate to ask your readers to share your content if they find it valuable. When people start talking about your posts, that can really boost their visibility.
Effective promotion goes beyond quantity; it’s about reaching the right people. Tailor your promotion strategy to target your ideal audience and watch your blog’s visibility soar.
4. Use SEO
And then there is SEO. Search Engine Optimization is like the roadmap that guides readers to your blog. Incorporating SEO techniques ensures search engines can find and recommend your content to users searching online for relevant information.
So, let’s take a closer look at SEO and uncover the secrets to ensuring your online literary gems get the attention they truly deserve by incorporating SEO.
Search Engine Optimization, SEO for Blogging Authors
SEO stands for “Search Engine Optimization.” It’s like a magical spell for your online content that helps it get noticed by search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
When someone types a question or a keyword into a search bar, these engines try to find the most relevant and helpful stuff to show them. That’s where SEO comes in!
Think of SEO as your secret recipe for getting your blog posts and website found. It involves tweaking your content in various ways so that search engines understand it better and think, “Hey, this is valuable stuff!”
Here are some essential SEO tricks for your author blog posts:
1. Keywords
These are the words or phrases people use when searching for something online. Do some research to find out what keywords are popular in your niche. Then, naturally include them in your blog posts. Don’t overdo it, though – Google frowns upon keyword stuffing.
Keywords are the signposts on your SEO roadmap. Choosing the right keywords means understanding what your audience is searching for and strategically placing those keywords in your blog posts.
2. Quality Content
I’ve already touched on this before in this blog post, but write awesome, helpful, and engaging content that people want to read. Providing value to your readers means they stay on your website longer. And when readers stay on your page longer and share your stuff, it tells search engines that your content is valuable.
3. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
These are like your blog’s first impression. Craft catchy titles and descriptions that make folks want to click on your link when they see it in search results.
Title Tags
Think of a title tag as the headline of a newspaper article. It’s the first thing people see when your blog post pops up in search results. A good title (tag) should be clear and catchy and tell readers what to expect from your content.
When you’re trying to get noticed among all those search results, your title (tag) needs to be intriguing. Use language that sparks curiosity or emotion. For example, instead of “How to Bake a Cake,” you could go with “The Ultimate Cake Baking Guide: Mouthwatering Recipes Inside!”
It is important to include your main keyword in the title. If you’re writing about healthy eating, make sure “healthy eating” is in there.
Meta Descriptions
The meta description is like a sneak peek or a movie trailer for your blog post. It’s the short snippet of text that appears below the title in search results. This is your chance to convince someone that your content is exactly what they’re looking for.
You want to keep it brief and to the point. You have limited space (usually around 150-160 characters), so use it wisely. Mention what your blog post is about and why it’s valuable. If your post offers “Proven Techniques for Weight Loss,” say that in the meta description.
Using phrases like “Learn how to…” or “Discover the secrets to…” you entice users to click on your link. If possible, place your primary keyword near the beginning of the meta description. This can catch the reader’s eye quickly.
Let’s look at an example, shall we?
Title Tag: “Behind the Scenes: Unveiling the Spark of Inspiration for [Your Book Title]”
This title tag gives a sneak peek into what the blog post is about – the inspiration behind the book. By mentioning the book’s title, it adds a personal touch and lets readers know it’s a unique and specific story.
Meta Description: “Step into the author’s world and discover the magical moments, personal journeys, and unexpected sources of inspiration that brought [Author’s Book Title] to life. Get ready for a captivating tale of creativity and passion!”
This meta description provides a taste of what readers can expect from the blog post. It hints at the personal and intriguing aspects of the author’s inspiration journey, making it enticing for anyone interested in the book or the creative process.
4. Internal and External Links
Another good SEO practice is linking to other relevant posts on your blog and to reputable sources outside your blog. It’s like giving search engines a hint about what your article is all about.
Internal and external linking is a bit like weaving a web of connections within your blog posts, and it’s essential for authors and their blog posts for a few key reasons:
Internal Links (= Links to Your Own Content on Your Website)
Internal links guide your readers around your website. When you mention a related topic in your current blog post, you can link to a previous post, page, or product where you discussed it in detail. This helps readers navigate your site more easily, finding valuable information without much effort.
It is important for ranking and telling search engines that you keep readers engaged longer. You can do this by linking to your other content on your website. They might click through to more of your posts, spending more time on your site. Search engines notice this and interpret it as a sign of quality content.
When you consistently link to your own relevant content, it shows that you’re an expert and you know what you are talking about. You will build authority in your niche, in your genre, which is excellent for both readers and search engines.
If readers find what they’re looking for within your blog posts, they’re less likely to “bounce” away (leave your site) immediately. When readers stick around on your site instead of leaving quickly, search engines see it, as a thumbs-up!
External Links (= Links to Other Websites)
When you link to reputable sources outside of your blog, it adds credibility to your content. It shows that you’ve done your research and you’re not just making things up. For example, when you talk about the Amalfi Coast in Italy, where your story takes place, and you link to another website with an article about the Amalfi Coast, that is a great external link.
External links can provide context to your content. Let’s say you’re writing about a historical event in your book. Linking to a well-known historical website or a credible news source can help readers understand the context of your story better.
If you link to other authors’ blogs or websites, it can be a way to build relationships and network in your writing community. They might notice your link and reciprocate, helping you gain more visibility. A win-win for both of you!
Search engines like to see external links to reputable sources. It suggests that you’re part of a broader online conversation. Just be careful not to overdo it; two or three well-placed external links are more valuable than many irrelevant ones.
Basically, both the links within your content an the ones from other websites give search engines a better idea of what your blog post is all about. For authors, this can translate into better search engine rankings, more engaged readers, and an enhanced reputation as a credible source of information. So, don’t hesitate to weave these links into your blog posts strategically!
5. Mobile-friendly design
Have you accessed a website on your phone before, and the text was so small you couldn’t read it? You probably tried to read, though, by zooming in and swiping from left to right, you get annoyed with it by the minute. Changes are that the website had no mobile-friendly design.
You don’t want to have that happen to your website. Make sure it looks good and works well on mobile devices. Google gives bonus points to mobile-friendly sites, which is positive for visibility.
If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, you risk alienating a significant portion of your potential readers. Making your site responsive ensures that everyone can access and enjoy your content regardless of their device.
Google, the king of search engines, loves mobile-friendly websites. In fact, Google considers mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. So, if your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it might not rank as high in search results, even if your blog post is “perfect” on all other points. That means fewer people will discover your blog posts.
The way people consume content is evolving. Many folks prefer to read blogs on their mobile devices during their commute, breaks, or while relaxing on the couch. A mobile-friendly design doesn’t just mean your website looks good on smaller screens; it also means it’s easier to navigate and interact with. When readers have a smooth, frustration-free experience on your site, they’re more likely to stick around, read your blog posts, and even share them with others.
6. Page speed
We live in a fast-paced world these days. That means we want to get to our information asap. And so do your readers. They want information quickly and easily. When webpages take forever to load, it can really annoy readers and make them hit the back button, leaving your site without even giving your awesome content a chance.
Also, large, unoptimized images are a common culprit for slow-loading pages. Using images is good practice because it makes reading larger blog posts more manageable and enjoyable. When you want to include images in your blog posts, optimizing them without compromising quality is crucial. Smaller image file sizes can significantly improve page speed.
7. Update regularly
When you publish new blog posts consistently, it’s a sign for search engines that your site is active. This could mean you show up higher in search results, making it easier for readers to find your blog posts.
When you consistently update your blog, you keep your readers engaged and coming back for more. If they know you regularly share valuable content, they’re more likely to subscribe to your blog or bookmark it. This loyal readership can provide you with a steady stream of traffic and potentially lead to more book sales or engagement with your writing. You can invite your loyal readers to subscribe to your newsletter, where you share updates to your blog, among other news, like book releases.
Over time, consistent blogging builds a rich library of content on your website. This library can become a valuable resource for readers, who may explore older blog posts in addition to your new ones, making it easy for them when you link internally. It’s a way to keep your blog evergreen with a collection of content that continues to attract readers over time.
In Conclusion
Remember, search engine optimization (SEO) is not a single task you can check off and forget about. It’s a continuous effort that requires your attention over time. The incomprehensible algorithms search engines use to figure out what content suits the search best, is always changing. So it’s important to keep up with these changes. While you might not see significant improvements overnight, be patient and persistent. Measuring your success using SEO is how you will stay on top of things. More about measuring blog success later this year.
If you’re dedicated and open to learning, your hard work will eventually start showing results. Your blog posts will gradually gain the visibility they rightfully deserve as you navigate the dynamic landscape of SEO.
Remember, SEO isn’t a one-time thing; it’s an ongoing process. Keep learning and adapting as search engine algorithms change. It might take some time to see significant results, but with patience and persistence, your blog posts should start getting the visibility they deserve!
The Visibility Membership
When you find it challenging to get on the right track with SEO, let me help you. My Visibility Membership provides you each month with blog post ideas, keywords you can use, and ideas on what to include to put this blog post together. Additionally, you’ll get a swipe file for your monthly newsletter, and social media templates to promote your blog posts.
You can sign up for only $10 per month. Read more here and let’s put your blog on the map!
