Writing for the Internet: An On-Page SEO Guide and Article Format for Content Writers| MindBrews
On-page SEO is a powerful tool that, when applied effectively, can dramatically increase the number of new visitors to your website. Whether you are a seasoned blogger or just beginning your journey, mastering the art of creating engaging, well-structured, and SEO-optimized blog posts is essential to expanding your digital footprint. This guide will provide a detailed walkthrough of each element of a blog’s structure, offering practical tips and in-depth practices to perfect your content.
On-page SEO is slightly different from how you approach homepage SEO. On-page, it’s entirely up to you. You get to establish the goal and focus topic for each page. You get to decide the target audience for that page. And everything else that comes along with it.
On-page SEO is called “on-page” because the tweaks and changes you make to optimise your website can be seen by visitors on your page (whereas off-page and technical SEO elements aren’t always visible).
Elements of on-page SEO
E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness)
Expertise: Imagine you’re writing an article about healthy eating. Showcase your expertise by citing scientific studies, sharing personal experiences, and providing practical advice. For example, explain the impact of different nutrients on health and back it up with research.
Authoritativeness: If you’re a registered dietitian, mention it in your author bio. Share success stories or case studies to demonstrate authority. For instance, discuss how your recommendations helped a client lose weight or manage a health condition.
Trustworthiness: Be transparent about any affiliations or sponsorships. If you recommend a specific product, explain why you trust it. For instance, “As a certified fitness trainer, I recommend XYZ protein powder because it’s third-party tested and free from additives.”
Now, our writer friend, you won’t have to be bothered by all the elements, only those relevant to you and you have control over. Indented and marked in bold is what you need to know and do. Every article you submit must contain the following —
Page Titles
Aim for 60–70 characters. This ensures your title is fully visible in search engine results and grabs attention quickly.
Use your primary keyword to improve SEO. In specific cases, a longer title might be necessary to capture the essence of your article, especially if it’s more detailed.
Don’t use all caps
Use your Brand Title — [ title] | MindBrews
Meta Title
Imagine you’re writing a blog post about hiking trails. Instead of a generic title like “Best Hiking Trails,” create a compelling one: “Uncover Hidden Gems: 10 Breathtaking Hiking Trails You Must Explore.”
Use keywords naturally. For example, if your article focuses on trails in the Pacific Northwest, include relevant terms like “Cascade Mountains” or “rainforest hikes.”
While often similar to your article title, the meta title should be optimised for search engines and can be slightly different to enhance clarity or focus more on keywords.
A meta title appears when a user searches, and the meta title appears on the screen.
Main Title
Your main article title is the headline of your article.
Keyword Research
Pages that feature the keywords used in a query, whether in the body, headings, or both, are more likely to be relevant to the search. Sometimes, this is easy to determine. For example, if you’re optimising the website of a furniture store, you’ll probably want to include keywords like [sofa], [dining room set], and [end table].
You can use tools like Ahrefs, AnswerthePublic, SE Ranking, Google Trends, UberSuggest, Free Keyword Research Tool
Some benefits of keyword research:
- traffic growth
- customer acquisition
- Identifying keywords vs. topics
- Establishing Relevance and Authority
- Understanding Search Volume
Don’t just focus on your primary keyword. Use synonyms and related terms to create more natural and engaging content.
Search engines favour websites that are regularly updated. Keep your content fresh and relevant—this is especially important to keep ranking and keeping your pages relevant.
Images
Clearly describe what the image shows, using keywords where appropriate but avoiding stuffing.
Think about what someone who cannot see the image would need to know.
Example:
For a photo of a yoga class: “yoga instructor demonstrating a pose with a class in a sunny studio.”
For better SEO performance, the image should be original, or you should make sure you cite the sources. Always include a relevant caption and a descriptive file name.
Meta Descriptions
Treat the meta description as a mini-ad for your content. It should entice users to click while naturally including relevant keywords. Make sure to include meta descriptions across pages.
Keep your meta description under 160 characters to ensure it’s not cut off in search results. Include both primary and secondary keywords naturally. This snippet should succinctly summarise the content’s core, compelling readers to click through.
Use a complete, compelling sentence (or two). Avoid alphanumeric characters like — , &, or +.
Image Alt-text
Clearly describe what the image shows, using keywords where appropriate but avoiding stuffing.
Think about what someone who cannot see the image would need to know.
Example:
For a photo of a yoga class: “yoga instructor demonstrating a pose with a class in a sunny studio.”
Structured Markup
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Page URL/Slug
Exclude special characters, dates, and stop words. Think of it as a simplified version of your title that still captures the main keywords, such as ‘crew-review-heist-film-missed-opportunities’.
Formatting
Use H2 and H3 tags for subheadings to structure your content effectively.
Lists and Bullet Points: Break information into smaller, easily digestible parts.
Paragraphs: Keep them short to improve readability and maintain reader interest.
Visuals: Plan for relevant, high-quality images and specify where they should be placed to break up text and illustrate your points.
Pull Quotes: Highlight key statements to draw attention and provide emphasis.
Content-Length
Choose between 400–700 words for lighter content and 800–1200 for more in-depth exploration.
Internal Linking
When interlinking, it’s preferable (in most cases) to have the linked word as part of the title. It's not mandatory, but if it works, it's great for SEO.
Interlinking should be done. The strategy should be to use a mix of context-related keywords and direct-linked keywords.
Mobile Responsiveness
Click the link to learn more about this; please read this one.
Site Speed
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Research
Use tools like Google Trends to identify relevant keywords.
Natural Usage: Integrate keywords smoothly into your content without overstuffing.
If you have PDFs, please upload them to the drive
Citations and References
Ensure to cite sources within the article and include the rest in the Word doc.
Social Media Strategy
Tailor your content for different social platforms. Consider each platform's unique audience and format. Prepare content in various sizes suited for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Pinterest to enhance your post’s reach.
Glossary
Example
Word: Ibex
Sentence within the article: Hunting Ibex is off the table altogether as they believe these animals are owned by the Gods.
Meaning: A species of wild goat inhabiting mountains, distinguished by the male’s large recurved horns, which are transversely ridged in front.
To thrive in the competitive world of writing for the internet, nailing on-page SEO is key. Applying the strategies outlined in this guide — from researching keywords to structuring your content with clear, engaging elements — can enhance your visibility and make your mark in the digital space.
Remember, SEO is not just about reaching the top of search results; it’s about connecting with your audience and delivering valuable content that stands the test of time. With consistent practice and a commitment to quality, your journey in content writing is bound to be successful.
