SEO Archives - Christiana Collective

How to Write a Blog

by Christi Porter | Jan 27, 2023 | Marketing, SEO

First things first, most blogs you will write in the future of your career will probably be filtered through WordPress. WordPress is free to use, but you pay extra to have customized Search Engine Optimization (SEO) opportunities.

Structuring your Posts (Header 2 or “H2” tag)

GoogleDocs helps out a lot with formatting, and I prefer to write blogs inside of Docs before copy and pasting into WordPress’s posts. You will want to write generally 500-ish words for every blog, sometimes more. There should be a Title, opening paragraph, and two to five sections (with headers of their own). Feel free to create sub-sections within your larger ones to help section out each topic you are writing about.

Keyphrase

The core to every blog is the keyphrase. Generally, a keyphrase will contain two to four words and will pop up within your blog three to five times. Write it within your Title, one of your H2 titles, and a few times within the body of your blog. It’s important to keep in mind that research should generally be done to find the best keyphrase on the topic that you want to write about. This is where SEO comes in – make your keyphrase rank high on Google! This is what people are already searching for on Google, Pinterest, LinkedIn, and even TikTok! Get inspired for the keyphrase by typing in keywords into the search bar, and see what else pops up underneath it.

Inbound and Outbound Links

The goal behind every blog is for the average internet user to be able to find your website, and therefore having the page rank higher in search results. A way to have people jump through different rabbit holes is to include inbound and outbound links. Make sure when you format the post inside of WordPress that all links open within a new tab.

What is an inbound link? An inbound link is a link to your website within the text of your blog. It will relate to whatever you are writing about, and generally will lead people to more information about your product or services. For example, I want people to hire me for digital marketing services. I will talk about different techniques within my blog, then link a couple words to my digital marketing page on my website. Don’t be afraid to use two or more inbound links within each blog you write. Furthermore, for inbound links ONLY, delete all of the link before the forward slash that includes your website URL. For example, instead of http://christianacollective.com/about/, it would just be /about/.

What is an outbound link? An outbound link is a link that connects to another website. This will help the post rank higher on search engines if people already like the content that exists on that website. For example, I really love the tips and tricks that are posted through a few people on LinkedIn. I might mention their name, and share a quote of theirs that is applicable to whatever point I am trying to make.

Search Engine Optimization

This is such an important element of blog writing! Any employer will want to know that you understand what SEO is and how to use it effectively. Most people who work within blog writing use “Yoast SEO,” which is the most popular website plug-in. You will know how well you did by the completion bar beneath the fillable section, either by a red, yellow, or green bar and/or smiley face. Colors are self-explanatory (green is good to go!) Here’s a breakdown of what each section means:

Focus Keyphrase: simply type out the keyphrase you focused on in your blog.

SEO Title: This is what pops up as the blue header when you search in Google. Generally, it’s composed of your Blog Title (which contains your keyphrase), along with possibly another niche keyword or two. For example, I am located in Charleston. If someone is searching for social media marketing in Charleston, SC I am more likely to pop up.

Meta Description: This is the section that highlights what your blog is about on Google search results, right underneath the title. It generally is no longer than two sentences. Make sure to include your keyphrase.

Slug: This is just the extension that your URL has attached to your website and will be auto generated. No need to change it.

Featured Image: To upload your featured image, look to the right hand of the screen. You will “upload featured image” and choose from your media library. Make sure your Alt Text contains your keyphrase. This will assist in search results on Google Images. Not everyone does this, but it helps to have a featured image that is always the same size (I use 1000×667 pixels). This will be the image that appears at the top of your blog along with the Google search results.

Category Check: Found on the right side of page, make sure to check the category(ies) that the post most applies to. If you feel the need to add a new niche category, feel free to do so.

You’re Almost Done Writing a Blog!

Do you have a green smiley face, giving you the go-ahead?! Post your blog! Click on the link to make sure everything has been formatted correctly, and make corrections as needed. At the bottom of the blog within the last paragraph, I always prefer to include some sort of call-to-action if someone needs more help or information about what they just read, then to contact me with an inbound link to my website!

Great job! Now you know how to write a blog!

How to Create a Ranking Pin on Pinterest

by Christi Porter | Jan 10, 2023 | Marketing, SEO, Social Media Marketing

In researching how to promote businesses, I learned that Pinterest can be an amazing tool. However, the algorithm was a bit of a mystery to me. In my research to learn about how Pinterest works, I found a common formula in all the information. By following a few basic tips, you can watch a pin grow into a ranking pin! The Pinterest algorithm may feel like a secret formula, but by following these beginner tips you can create a ranking pin on Pinterest. This blog will explain all the basics of how to optimize Pinterest SEO (search engine optimization) within your pin, board, and profile using keywords.

What is Pinterest SEO?

Pinterest SEO, or Pinterest Search engine optimization, works by using relevant keywords to categorize content (such as pins) to show the target audience. It is the most important tool for creating ranking pins on Pinterest. By using Pinterest SEO within pins, boards, and profiles, it allows the algorithm to more efficiently know specifically who the content is for and what it is promoting, advertising, or showcasing.

What are Keywords?

Keywords are relevant words used to describe the content posted. There are two different types of keywords: short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords. Pinterest search is a great way to find relevant keywords that have high traffic to use for pins! This blog also has more useful and in-depth information on how to find the perfect keywords here.

Short Tail Keywords

Short tail keywords are general, nonspecific, one or two words a person may search – like ‘dinner’ or ‘fall photo’. Although the search volume is high for these words, the competition makes it difficult to rank. The short tail keywords are typically used in the pin titles.

Long Tail Keywords

The long tail keywords consist of three or more words that are very specific and descriptive. The competition for these keywords is a lot lower, making it easier to rank! These are perfect to include in descriptions. The more long tail keywords used, the more likely the pin will rank for multiple keywords, therefore, showing it to a bigger audience.

Using Pinterest SEO to Create a Ranking Pin on Pinterest

The main two focuses of pin SEO are the title and the description of the pin. The title of the pin should explain exactly what the pin is about with the relevant keywords being in the title. Ask yourself ‘What is your audience looking for?’, ‘What is the link attached about?’, or ‘What do I want my audience to do?’ The word limit for the title is about 5 words.

Describing Your Pins

The description of the pin should expand on the relevant keywords in the title. One of the most important parts of having a ranking pin is having a rich keyword description with short and long-tail keywords.

Using Boards to Your Advantage

The Pinterest board is an important part of helping the Pinterest algorithm know what your pins are about. It also recognizes the similarity in the content, allowing it to generate more relevant content for an audience. By using short tail and long tail keywords as the board title makes boards searchable and offer another way for your audience to reach your content. Depending on the type of content you are posting will depend on whether a short-tail or long-tail board title will work better to achieve a ranking pin on Pinterest.

Optimize Your Profile

Your profile is the third place you want to optimize your Pinterest SEO. Include short-tail and long-tail keywords that describe the type of content or business your profile is posting. Your profile picture should also explain who or what your profile is about.

Pinterest SEO takes a lot of trial, error, and patience. Pins may not become ranking pins overnight, and usually do take time to gain traction. Although you may not see instant results, the great thing about Pinterest is the longevity of the content you post. Are you looking for more information and tips on social media marketing? Check out my other blogs!