What are the top 5 elements of an SEO-friendly blog post?

1 Keyword Research

The first step to writing an SEO-friendly blog post is to do keyword research. Keyword research is the process of finding out what words and phrases your target audience is searching for on Google and other search engines. You can use tools like Google Keyword Planner, Moz Keyword Explorer, or SEMrush to find relevant and popular keywords for your topic. You should aim for keywords that have high search volume, low competition, and match the intent of your readers.

2 Title and Meta Description

The second element of an SEO-friendly blog post is the title and meta description. The title is the main headline of your post that appears on the search results page and on social media. The meta description is the short summary of your post that also appears on the search results page. Both the title and meta description should include your main keyword and entice the reader to click on your link. You should also use modifiers like "how to", "best", "guide", or "tips" to make your title more specific and appealing.

3 Content Structure and Formatting

The third element of an SEO-friendly blog post is the content structure and formatting. You should organize your content into clear and logical sections, using subheadings, bullet points, lists, tables, images, and other visual aids to break up the text and make it easier to read and scan. You should also use short paragraphs, simple sentences, and active voice to keep your content concise and engaging. Additionally, you should use your keywords and related terms throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing or over-optimization.

4 Internal and External Links

The fourth element of an SEO-friendly blog post is the internal and external links. Internal links are links that point to other pages or posts on your own website. External links are links that point to other websites or sources that are relevant and authoritative. Both types of links help to improve your SEO by showing the search engines the context and value of your content, as well as providing more information and resources for your readers. You should use descriptive anchor texts for your links, and avoid using generic terms like "click here" or "read more".

5 Content Quality and Originality

The fifth and final element of an SEO-friendly blog post is the content quality and originality. You should always aim to create content that is useful, informative, accurate, and engaging for your audience. You should also avoid copying or duplicating content from other sources, as this can harm your SEO and reputation. You should strive to provide fresh and unique insights, perspectives, or solutions that add value to your readers and differentiate you from your competitors.