You’ve no doubt heard that the key to people finding your website is to have great SEO (the digital geek-speak that stands for ‘Search Engine Optimisation’). Whilst SEO can feel like a mysterious magic potion that only a few select wizards of the internet know how to use, there’s a secret that SEO specialists don’t want you to know.

And that secret is…. Blogging!

Blogging for some people can conjure up images of having to share 1000’s of words daily about what you’ve eaten, what you’re wearing and the latest top-travel destination you’re dreaming about visiting. In a nutshell though, blogging is a term we webby-types use to describe the process of creating meaningful content your audience will enjoy and posting that content to your website in order for search engines (like good ol’ Google) to help people find you and your business.

Writing a blog increases the amount of content on your website, and therefore your opportunity to include more keywords. ‘What are keywords?’ you ask. Keywords are essentially the terms or phrases people are entering into Google when they’re researching any particular topic. If your blog is directly related to your area of expertise then it will increase the likelihood of your site being found organically by your dream client through Google’s search engine.

In this post, we’re going to share with you how you can increase your site traffic, google ranking, subscribers and ultimately customers - all through blogging!

Consider this your guide to writing amazing blog posts that your readers love - every… single… time! Whether you’re looking to start a blog or want to freshen up your website with some new content and get new eyeballs on your work, get that pen and paper ready because we’re going to teach you how to write a blog that helps your business grow.

How to come up with blog post ideas

One of the biggest hurdles people have when it comes to creating blog content is spending too much time wondering ‘what should my first blog post be about?’. You could waste weeks, months, possibly even years wondering what to blog about. Or instead you could use our handy blog post idea generator method.

First of all, let’s just say that we want to keep your ideas relevant to your industry. So if you’re in the wellness industry, you’re going to want to be generating health and wellness blog post ideas. Likewise, if your business is focused around beauty, parenting or travel all of your ideas need to come back to your main business focus.

We share our step-by-step process for generating 100’s of new blog post ideas, even for complete blogging beginners, over in this post.

But if you want the Netflix style ‘previously on’ recap version here’s what you’re going to want to focus on:

Keep an ideas diary, of conversations with clients or those lightbulb ideas that come to you mid-shampooing in the shower.
Research what’s trending on Google and Pinterest - two of the major search engines that know a whole lot about what people are wanting to know in your particular field.
Dive into your own data - Take a look at your existing website analytics and top posts on your social accounts to know what content your community are loving, so you can create more where that came from.

Crafting Catchy Blog Post Headlines

Your headline is the ultimate first impression, so it’s important it captures your readers attention and tells them exactly how your blog content will help them - let’s say no to creating click bait people!!!!

Your blog post title will help your content get found on Google and help searchers decide whether it’s the article they want to read and it will be the one thing that catches their eye as they’re scrolling through your website.

So how do you create a great blog post headline that’s going to get your dream clients reading your content?

Relative keywords - this doesn’t have to get too technical, but when it comes to getting your reader to click the link onto your website, or dive further into the blog, you need to make it clear what your blog is about. We suggest using Neil Patels’ Ubersuggest website to find keywords to include in your headline title.
Keep the length in mind - Wondering how long your blog post title should be? For SEO purposes, keep the title around 56 characters. This helps your blog post show up on Google search results pages in full (i.e. it’s not cut off), but gives you plenty of opportunity to include relevant keywords/search phrases.
Use Emotion - Using emotion is a great way to inspire action in your reader. You can tap into the conversation they might be going through in their mind and speak directly to a need, desire or struggle they are experiencing.
Offer value and results - Letting your reader know how your blog post is going to help them is key to engaging their interest. Including phrases such as ‘the ultimate guide to…’, ‘how to …’ ‘our secrets of …’ etc. explain to the reader that you’ll be sharing real value that they can take action on, inside your blog article.

How to Structure the Perfect Blog Post

You’ve got your great idea, you’ve come up with a kick-ass headline that your dream clients are going to love. Now it’s time to actually create your amazing blog post!

Before you begin bashing away at the keyboard, we’ve got a few quick tips that are going to maximise the impact your blog posts will have when they grace your website!

Design a long-form Pinterest optimised image with your blog’s title and an image that reflects the content. This is going to capture the attention of your readers when they first land on your blog, but will also make your blog content ‘pinnable’ - meaning you and your readers can share this blog on your Pinterest board and get it re-shared over and over again, boosting your website traffic. Psssst. You’ll see our pinnable blog image at the start of this blog post, and a couple more examples if you scroll right to the end!
Create connection. In your blog post introduction you’ll share what your article is promising to deliver to your reader. This is a great place to share a personal anecdote or client story that showcases that you know exactly how to help them! Invite them along the journey, and let them know what the result/s might be at the end of reading your article.
Break it down into bite-sized pieces. Your blog posts don’t need to be gigantic essays, with lengthy paragraphs of text. Ain’t nobody got time for that! Instead, help your reader digest the information by breaking it down into 3-5 actionable steps that will help them understand the process and purpose of your chosen topic. Bonus tip: look back at those keywords you researched for your blog post title, and see if you can use any additional phrases as sub-headings to break up your content.
Add images. As the saying goes … a picture tells a thousand words. Whilst you’ve already broken down your content with the use of headings, you can help readers understand the information by using pictures relevant to each content section, or you could try and create an infographic with Canva. According to Social Media Today blog content with visual content receives 94% more views! Bonus tip: When uploading images to your website, make sure you name the file with some keywords, so that your images are more likely to appear in Google’s Image Search results.
Think about creating shareable content. The easiest way to do this is through the use of a tweeting tool such as clicktotweet. By pulling out ready-made quotes for your reader, not only are you making it easy for them to share your content, but you are highlighting some key elements of your content that will stand out if your readers skim the post. We love clicktotweet.com
Use meaningful call-to-actions. Part of the process of creating content is letting your reader know that there is more in store for them and what action they should take next. That might be to leave a comment on the post, check out a particular services or download an opt-in freebie to join your subscriber list. Each blog you create should have a clear purpose for your audience, but also for your business.
Add related posts. You’ve done all the work in putting together an awesome blog post your audience will love, and you’ve got them to leave whatever social media channel they were scrolling, or jump onto your site from a search engine. Now it’s time to let them know what else you’ve got for them. Try some of our favourite ways to keep your blog reader reading with these tips.

Blogging and creating content for your website doesn’t have to be some mysterious dark-art, but instead it can become an enjoyable experience for both yourself and your website visitors, allowing you to share your knowledge and expertise in a way that helps you boost your business’ visibility across social media and search engines. After all, we want your content to be seen by the world. With these tips, you’ll be creating content that creates a connection and lasting impression for your dream clients in no time.