Blogging isn’t just a way to share your latest company updates or write down random thoughts. When done well, it’s one of the most powerful ways to improve your visibility in Google search.
But let’s be honest: not all blogs are created equal. Publishing a post once a month without thinking about SEO won’t move the needle. What does? Smart, consistent blogging that’s written for humans—but optimized for search engines.
Let’s walk through the real SEO benefits of blogging, and four areas to focus on if you want to start seeing results.
Blogging Builds Topical Authority and Increases Visibility
The more high-quality content you create, the more chances you have to rank in Google. That’s the core benefit of blogging for SEO: it gives your site more surface area.
Each blog post is an opportunity to:
- Target a new keyword or search phrase
- Earn backlinks from other websites
- Answer a question your audience is already asking
Regular blogging shows Google that your site is active, useful, and trustworthy—which helps improve your domain authority over time. Think of every post as a new door into your website.
Blog SEO Tip #1: Write Better Metadata (So Google Doesn’t Rewrite It)
Meta titles and descriptions are the first thing people see in search results. But here’s the catch: Google rewrites over 60% of meta titles. That doesn’t mean metadata isn’t worth doing—it just means you need to do it right.
Here’s how to improve your chances:
- Keep titles under 60 characters, and descriptions around 155–160
- Use your main keyword early in the title
- Avoid quotes, brackets, or parentheses—these can get cut off
- Write unique metadata for every page to avoid keyword cannibalization
- Align your title with your H1 (they don’t have to match exactly, but keep them closely related)
- Use tools like Portent’s SERP Preview to double-check formatting
Bonus: Meta descriptions may not be a ranking factor, but they influence clicks. And more clicks = better signals to Google.
Blog SEO Tip #2: Target Featured Snippets and AI Overviews
Want to jump to the top of Google without paying for ads? Aim for the featured snippet.
These short answer boxes—also known as “position zero”—pull content from high-ranking pages to give users a quick result. Google’s evolving use of AI overviews works similarly.
To improve your chances of getting picked:
- Use questions as subheadings (H2 or H3)
- Keep your answer under 30 words
- Include bulleted lists, charts, or tables when relevant
- Add videos or tools when possible—they increase engagement
Example:
Q: What’s the best way to write meta descriptions?
A: Keep them under 160 characters, use a main keyword, and write compelling copy that earns clicks.
Simple formatting tweaks can make a huge difference in how your blog shows up in results.
Blog SEO Tip #3: Use Descriptive Image Alt Text (For Google & Accessibility)
Search engines can’t “see” your images, but they can read your alt text. And with over 60% of Google searches now including image results, this is more important than ever.
Alt text should:
- Be under 125 characters
- Skip phrases like “image of” or “picture of”
- Include keywords naturally, if relevant
- End with a period for better screen reader pauses
Also, compress images before uploading to keep page load times fast, and use keyword-rich filenames (e.g., new-homeowner-handing-over-keys.jpg instead of IMG_3394.jpg).
Need an example?
❌ “People shaking hands”
✅ “Real estate agent handing keys to new homeowner after closing”
Small changes like this help your images rank, boost accessibility, and improve overall SEO.
Blog SEO Tip #4: Add Smart Internal Links (With Anchor Text That Makes Sense)
Internal linking helps Google crawl your site—and helps users find what they need. But it’s not just about throwing links everywhere. The words you use as anchor text matter, too.
Here’s what to do:
- Link related content within your blog posts
- Use descriptive anchor text (not “click here” or “read more”)
- Avoid linking with the same phrase every time—mix it up to avoid looking spammy
- Don’t overdo it—too many links can distract the reader
- Make sure links are visibly clickable (different color or underlined)
Also, consider adding a table of contents to long blog posts. This not only improves the user experience but may also show up as “jump to” links in search results.
Don’t Forget: Update Old Content, Too
Blogging isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it strategy. Revisit older posts regularly to:
- Refresh outdated stats or information
- Add new internal links to newer content
- Improve metadata or headers
- Remove broken links or irrelevant sections
Even small tweaks can bring an old post back to life—and improve its ranking.
Final Word: SEO-Friendly Blogs Are a Long-Term Play
Blogging is one of the most effective ways to build organic search visibility. But it only works when your posts are:
- Written with a clear structure
- Built around keywords that match search intent
- Regularly updated and optimized
SEO blogs don’t need to be robotic or keyword-stuffed. They just need to be helpful, relevant, and structured in a way Google (and your audience) understands.
Want your content to actually show up? Make it worth showing.
FAQs
1. How often should I blog to improve SEO?
There’s no magic number, but publishing 2–4 optimized posts per month is a solid starting point for most small businesses.
2. Are meta descriptions still important for SEO?
While they’re not a ranking factor, well-written meta descriptions can improve your click-through rate, which is a ranking signal.
3. Can I use the same keywords on multiple blog posts?
Yes—but target different variations or angles. Avoid keyword cannibalization by giving each page its own unique focus.
4. Should I delete old blog posts that don’t rank?
Not always. Sometimes it’s better to update or combine underperforming content instead of deleting it outright.
5. Do internal links really help SEO?
Absolutely. They help search engines crawl your site more efficiently and guide users to valuable content—both of which improve your site’s overall performance.
