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How to Set Up SEO for a Blog Post: A Simple Guide

Before publishing any blog post, it’s essential to configure a few key SEO elements. These adjustments will help your post rank well in search engines and attract more readers. Here’s a step-by-step guide.

1. Title – The Search Headline

The title is the headline users see in search engine results.

How to Write a Title:

  • Keep it under 60 characters.
  • Place the main keywords or phrase at the beginning.
  • Add the year if the content is time-sensitive.
  • Avoid unnecessary additions like your company name unless it builds trust or enhances brand recognition.
When to Include Your Brand Name:

For Corporate Blogs:
Include the company name in meta tags if:
  • The blog belongs to a well-known company (e.g., Google, Amazon).
  • It builds trust with the audience.
  • It’s part of your brand awareness strategy.

For Expert Blogs:
Add the expert's name if:
  • The expert’s name is already a recognized brand.
  • It enhances the perception of authority and expertise.
  • It supports sales and conversions.

However, Consider These Drawbacks:
  • Takes up valuable space in the title (from the 60-character limit).
  • Might be irrelevant to the reader's search intent.
  • Doesn’t always influence click decisions in search results.
Example Titles:
✅ “How to Set Up SEO for a Blog Post: Simple Guide”
✅ “LinkedIn Marketing 2024: Step-by-Step Instructions”
❌ “A Very Long Blog Post Title About Setting Up SEO for Your Blog to Attract More Readers.”

2. Description – The Search Snippet

The description is the text displayed under the title in search results.

How to Write a Description:

  • Stay under 160 characters.
  • Start with a clear summary of the post and why it’s worth reading.
  • Optionally, end with a call-to-action.
Example Descriptions:
✅ “Set up SEO for your blog in 15 minutes. This guide covers all key steps in simple terms. Get the checklist and start optimizing today!”
❌ “SEO, search engine optimization, blog, article, guide, instructions…”

3. OG Tags – Social Media Previews

Open Graph (OG) tags define how your post appears when shared on social media.

Key OG Tags to Configure:

  • og:title – The headline.
  • og:description – A short description.
  • og:image – An image (recommended size: 1200x630px).
Do You Have to Set These Tags?
Not necessarily—if left blank, most platforms will use your SEO tags. However, adding a custom image boosts visibility and encourages clicks

4. URL – The Post Address

URL — это адрес, по которому читатели найдут вашу статью. Он важен и для SEO, и для удобства читателей. В SEO часто используют термин «ЧПУ» — человекопонятный URL. Это значит, что из адреса страницы сразу понятно её содержание.
The URL is the address where readers find your post. A clear, concise, and reader-friendly URL improves SEO and trust.

How to Create an SEO-Friendly URL:

  • Use transliteration for non-English posts.
  • Separate words with dashes.
  • Keep the URL short and descriptive.
Examples:
✅ /blog/seo-for-blog-posts
✅ /blog/how-to-get-clients
❌ /blog/how-to-setup-seo-blog-post
❌ /blog/post_12345
❌ /blog/a-very-long-url-about-how-to-set-up-seo-and-attract-traffic-to-your-blog

Why It Matters:

  • Readers see URLs in search results.
  • Clear URLs inspire trust.
  • Short URLs are easier to remember.
  • Search engines use URL keywords for ranking.

Where to Set it:

Most CMS platforms like WordPress and Tilda offer an SEO section under each post where you can set the URL, Title, and Description.

Bonus Tips

  1. Skip the Keywords Tag: Search engines no longer use it for rankings.
  2. Use Canonical Tags: If your post has duplicates on other URLs, set the primary version with the canonical tag.
  3. Check Search Preview: Use tools like Google Search Console or Yandex Webmaster to preview and submit your post for indexing.

Quick SEO Checklist

Before hitting “Publish,” make sure you’ve done the following:
□ Title written (under 60 characters).
□ Description added (under 160 characters).
□ Social media preview image uploaded.
□ URL set (short, clear, with dashes).
□ Post preview looks good in search results.
2024-11-27 12:17