For now, let’s look at the technical side, specifically, search engine optimization (SEO). Although there are other pieces to the puzzle, this post is all about on-page SEO.

On-page SEO encompasses the content that shows up on your website, as opposed to your behind-the-scenes SEO projects.

If I had to cut this blog post short, I would leave you with this: creating search engine optimized content means creating content that’s on-brand, Googleable, and reader-focused.

SEO content is on-brand, Googleable, and reader-focused.

You can take a big sigh of relief when you realize that your ideal audience has already created this content for you. You’re not pulling a problem out of thin air. Likewise, you’re not creating a solution out of thin air.

Your writing process is rooted in the public’s Google searches. This information is made available to you through keyword research tools, like Ahrefs and Moz.

On-Brand Blog Content

Staying on-brand includes what you say and how you say it (i.e.  tone of voice). I’ll use some of my favorite small business owners as examples.

If I sold organic superfood desserts out of San Diego, I’m likely not going to research the keyword “Dallas brunch spots.” I’m also not going to write a blog post titled “How to Start a Cattle Farm.”

If I taught private drum lessons, I could write “5 Easy Steps to Assemble Your First Drum Kit,” instead of“5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Play the Drums.”

If I owned a window repair business, I could research keywords like “home maintenance” and “energy efficient windows.” If I’m known for my approachable and funny tone of voice, I could use the blog post title “3 Quick Ways to Clean Your Windows When You’d Rather be Watching Lord of the Rings,” instead of “How to Clean Your Windows.”

Going Off-Brand

Have you ever gone skydiving? What’s the difference between anti-gravity and zero-gravity?

Right now you’re probably wondering, “Is Kat glitching? I thought we were talking about blogging!” It’s kind of like sitting front row at an Andrea Bocelli concert, and all of a sudden you hear him singing “Wrecking Ball” by Miley Cyrus. It could be fascinating, but you’re also like, “How did we get here?!”

I’m taking this silly moment to remind you — you don’t have to be dull or bland. Hold onto what makes your brand stand out from the crowd. However, if you want the Google algorithm to favor your website, you must stay on topic.

Going off-brand will confuse and repel your ideal audience.

That’s why you conduct keyword research. You eliminate guesswork, while strategically choosing a variety of keywords that all point to common themes and goals within your niche.

Googleable Blog Content

First, what makes content un-Googleable?

Misalignment with search intent.

“The last time I walked my dog I fell” is a highly unlikely search term. Google would not understand which problem needs to be solved. Do you need knee doctor? Non slip shoes? A dog walker? The intention is unclear.

People don’t conduct Google searches that way, so you shouldn’t position your content that way. Instead, create blog post titles and headings that match search intent. “Top 5 Ways to Strengthen Your Knees Without a Gym” or “7 Best Dog Walking Services for Busy Dog Moms” could work for this example.

Yes, you should still include creativity, context, and stories. That’s more so for the body of the text. Your titles and headings (which organize different sections of your blog post) get to be simple, based on search intent. This eliminates the excuses of “I’m not a good writer” and “I’m just not creative.”

Googleable content is to the point and connects real people with real solutions. It’s the type of content that both Google robots and your human readers appreciate.

Reader-Focused Blog Content

Ultimately, SEO is a means to an end. Yes, I enjoy the process. I’m glad if you do, too. Yet, the true purpose behind SEO skill development is people. We strive to improve our internet visibility in order to serve our people well.

Find your sweet spot between SEO-focused writing and relationship-building writing. Both can be professional. Don’t underestimate your readers. They will notice any attempts to hack the Google algorithm by overusing keywords.

Yes, prioritize keyword research, but also make sure you’re tending to your audience’s communication style. You have permission to dump a couple SEO rules here and there, if it means truly getting through to your audience.

The post SEO Blog Content For Your Business appeared first on Kat Quintana.

Yet, this blog is geared toward a more competitive, growth-oriented experience. I like to break it down this way:

Growing businesses begin website-ready and become Google-ready.

This especially speaks to new businesses with small audiences.

The journey of website-readiness involves deciding how you’re going to communicate through visuals, words, and your overall customer or client experience.

For example, as a blog ghostwriter, I can help a client move closer to page one, only if they’re already intimately familiar with their brand. There is no hacking Google, and there is no avoiding branding.

Do you have a website-ready business?

• You know your brand and ideal audience well
• Your copywriting, visuals, and user experience are on-brand
• Your products or services are clear, deliverable, and valuable 

The point of having a business website is to connect with potential customers or clients online. You build a presence online in order to form relationships and make sales.

How do you blast through your sales goals?

I could answer this from a financial angle, but let’s stay in the realm of branding for a bit longer. You reach and exceed your sales goals by spending time and energy on your brand values and behavior.

Two ideas stand out: ownership and framing.

It’s essential to own and frame the following:

• your learning curve
• your wins
• your losses
• your contributions to relationships

Properly owning and framing what happens within your life is empowering. It’s about maintaining an internal understanding of what you’re doing, the risks you’re willing to take, the way you want to show up in the world. It’s a matter of defining different aspects of your life, before letting others define them for you.

Incorporating this into your business is super energizing. With proper planning and perspective, you can leverage your reality to grow your audience and lead your ideal clients or customers in the desired direction.

This process is emotional, mental, and spiritual. It’s about mindset work. At the same time, it’s practical and hands-on.

The Reframe

If I own the fact that I am new in the world of ghostwriting, and I frame that as an opportunity to teach my audience what I’m learning, I can draw closer to my sales goals. Instead of shaming the fact that I am a newbie, I can own it humbly, yet, proudly. I then become more likely to hit the bull’s-eye on a client that is going to work well with me.

Because of the way I have portrayed myself, the client has realistic expectations of my services. I’m empowered to keep growing, and they’re empowered to make a judgment call with their time, energy, and money.

With this perspective, it’s less about forcing sales to happen and more about accurately representing who you are and what you offer within your market. Reframing your reality in a positive light or “upward spiral” kind of energy — we dig that!

This high-energy reframing gives you the freedom to have a couple key experiences. You get to start before you’re “ready,” in the conventional sense. You find yourself learning through real life experiences, which is often richer than reading or hearing alone.

Lastly, you get to speak to the heart of your audience, made of individuals who also go through real human experiences.

This is all about grounding your brand in response-ability. Repeat after me:

I am fully able to respond to any challenge, win, or loss.

The post Get Your Business Google-Ready With Mindset and Practical Work appeared first on Kat Quintana.

What is strategic blogging? Simply put, it’s making your web pages easily indexed on search engines (AKA found by Googlebot). In the world of KQ Writing Studio, “search engine” is synonymous with Google, as it is the most widely used search engine out there.

Aligning your digital marketing strategy with Google makes finding customers online a straightforward process.

A significant part of getting indexed is conducting keyword research to identify blog topics that align with popular Google searches. Writing engaging blog posts based on keyword research helps Google push your website closer to page one.

Why do we care about making it to page one? Well, when was the last time you typed a question into Google and proceeded to click on page 10 to find your answer?

Exactly.

Almost no one does this, especially if they’re pressed for time. Google search users automatically trust the results on page one because of convenience, as well as the assumption of authority.

Existing closer to page one tells Google search users that your information, products, or services are important. Hello, potential customers!

Further Reading on KatQuintana.com: Need more help finding customers online? Read my digital marketing guides here.

The post Finding Customers Online With Strategic Blogging appeared first on Kat Quintana.