If you’ve ever spent hours writing a blog post, hit publish, and then… nothing happens, you’re not alone. Many of my clients come to me wondering why their consistent blogging efforts aren’t bringing in website traffic or leads. A well-written post is great, but if it’s not strategically written for SEO, it won’t reach the people who need it most.

Blogging has the potential to be powerful for your website’s SEO. Done right, it helps you rank for more terms on Google, bring in consistent traffic, and connect you with your ideal clients, organically!

And no, SEO blogging isn’t about stuffing keywords into your posts. It’s about writing content people actually want to read, while making sure search engines can find it too.

Let’s walk through how to plan, write, and optimize blog posts that help your website rank and grow your business.

Why Blogging for SEO Works

SEO blogging isn’t just about putting content out there—it’s about creating strategic, valuable content that answers your audience’s real questions.

Unlike social media posts that disappear in 24 hours, a well-optimized blog post can drive traffic to your website for years!

My content strategy is focused on driving the right traffic through the power of SEO, and includes three intentions:

1. Establishing topical authority in your niche and industry, positioning you as an expert to both website users and bots.
2. Targeting specific city and region keywords to establish your local SEO.
3. Building traffic through long-tail keywords to help you reach more of your audience.

Every blog should be written with these three intentions in mind, making sure you’re not needlessly writing and creating new pages.

Step 1: Keywords Research

Before you start writing, you need to know what people are searching for. This is where keyword research comes in. Instead of guessing, you’re finding out what your audience is already typing into Google.

How to Find SEO-Friendly Blog Topics:

• Use Google Auto-Suggest – Type in a topic and see what phrases pop up.
• Check the “People Also Ask” Section – These are real questions people search for.
• Use SEMrush or Google Keyword Planner – See search volume and competition.
• Look at Your Audience’s FAQs – What do your clients ask you all the time?

If you’re a wedding photographer, for example, your audience might be searching for:

• “Best locations for engagement photos in Austin”
• “What to wear for an engagement session”
• “How to plan a stress-free wedding timeline”

All of these make great blog posts that serve your audience and help you rank on Google.

Step 2: Structure Your Content for Search Engines and Readers

Once you have a topic, structure it in a way that’s easy to read (for both humans and Google).

Your blog post should include:

1. A compelling, keyword-rich title – Make it clear and easy to read.

✅ “Best Engagement Photo Locations in Austin”

❌ “Engagement Photography Spots Austin Photos”

2. An engaging introduction – Hook the reader in and introduce the topic.
3. Headings (H1, H2, H3) – Break up the content into scannable sections.
4. Short, easy-to-read paragraphs – Avoid long blocks of text.
5. Internal & external links – Link to relevant blog posts or sources.
6. Images with alt text – Optimize images for SEO by using descriptive alt text.

By formatting your post properly, you make it easier for readers to skim and easier for Google to understand your content.

Step 3: Write for People First, Then Optimize for SEO

A common mistake is writing blog posts for search engines instead of real people. SEO works best when you focus on writing valuable, engaging content first, then optimize it.

Here’s how to naturally include your keywords:

• Use them naturally in your title, headings, and throughout your post—no overstuffing.
• Make sure your meta description (the preview text on Google) is compelling and includes your keyword.
• Use variations of your keyword (ex. “wedding photo locations in Austin” instead of just “Austin engagement photos”).

A post should read like a conversation—not like a list of forced keywords.

Step 4: Add a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA)

Every blog post should guide your reader to the next step. Don’t just end a post without telling them what to do next.

Some examples of CTAs:

• For service-based businesses: “Ready to book your engagement session? Contact me here!”
• For email list growth: “Download my free wedding planning checklist below!”
• For product-based businesses: “Shop the best wedding stationery here.”

The goal is to keep your audience engaged and moving through your website.

Step 5: Promote Your Blog Post (Don’t Just Wait for Google)

SEO takes time, but you can get traffic faster by promoting your posts.

Ways to get more eyes on your blog:

• Share on Instagram Stories or Pinterest with a link to the full post.
• Send it to your email list—your subscribers are already interested in your content.
• Repurpose it into social media posts, carousels, or reels.

The more engagement your blog gets, the better Google sees it as valuable content.

Step 6: Track Your Blog Performance and Adjust

SEO isn’t a one-and-done thing. To improve your rankings, analyze what’s working and adjust your strategy.

Use these tools to track performance:

• Google Search Console – See what keywords are bringing traffic.
• Google Analytics – Track where visitors are coming from.
• SEMrush – Monitor rankings and keyword performance.

If a post isn’t ranking well, optimize it by:

• Updating it with fresh information.
• Adding more internal links.
• Improving readability or adding new images.

SEO blogging is an ongoing process, but the more you refine your content, the better results you’ll see.

Blogging for SEO is a Long-Term Strategy

Blogging for SEO isn’t about overnight results—it’s about creating content that works for you long-term. It’s worth taking time to invest in your blogging strategy, and be intentional about what you put out there in the Google-verse!

By researching keywords thoroughly, writing valuable, well-optimized content, and following a consistent content strategy, you can rank for more search terms, get consistent organic traffic, attract high-intent leads, and build trust with your audience!

If you invest time in strategic blogging, your website can become a powerful marketing tool that attracts your ideal clients without relying on social media.

Ready for an SEO Transformation?

I’m Taylor, photographer turned SEO specialist, and I help service providers improve their website’s SEO so they can reach more dream clients online! Through my done-for-you SEO services and blog management plans, I help busy business owners grow their businesses while reducing their to-do lists! Contact Aligned SEO to learn more about how I can help you with your SEO.