How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Posts That Rank well
You don’t need to choose between writing for Google and writing from the heart. You can do both - and you should do. In this guide, you’ll learn how to write SEO-friendly blog posts that not only rank but also resonate deeply with your ideal audience.
We’ll walk you through a step-by-step process, from pre-writing research to post-publish after care, so your content is both strategic and aligned with your brand voice. We’ll also include essential tips and elements for you to consider when writing an SEO-friendly blog post, in order to stand out!
Why seo writing is important when blogging
First things first, SEO writing is not only limited to blog writing. There are plenty of other formats that benefit from SEO optimization, from landing pages to product descriptions. However, producing a blog post that takes into consideration both search intent and human connection is perhaps one of the most powerful ways to grow your brand organically.
Every day, billions of searches happen on Google, and blog posts remain one of the most effective ways for businesses to show up where their audience is already looking. Unlike ads that disappear the moment your budget runs out, SEO-optimized blogs can generate consistent, long-term traffic. That means every well-written blog post is an investment that continues to pay off months later, sometimes even years.
More importantly, SEO writing builds trust and authority. By answering your audience’s questions, providing real value, and aligning with Google’s E-E-A-T principles (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, trustworthiness), you show both people and search engines that your brand is worth listening to. And when you pair that strategy with a consistent brand voice, your blog posts can become powerful tools for positioning your brand as a trusted leader in your space.
process of writing an seo-friendly blog post; what are the exact steps?
There is plenty of advice out there on how to write SEO-friendly content, but much of it is scattered, overly technical, or lacks a clear process. The way we structure it at our agency is simple: we follow a 3-phase framework that makes writing strategic, soulful, and repeatable.
All the phases are equally important when it comes to producing a high-quality final product and should be given the proper attention and care.
This process ensures you don’t just throw words on a page, but you create a blog post that connects with readers, satisfies search engines, and aligns with your brand’s long-term vision. By approaching SEO writing as a holistic practice, you’ll be able to publish consistently, build topical authority, and see your content deliver results over time.
phase 1; research & preparation of SEO blog writing
Every successful SEO blog post begins long before the first word is written; it starts with research and preparation. After some initial brainstorming, we begin by selecting a topic that’s aligned with your brand’s expertise and your audience’s needs, ensuring it has both relevance and staying power.
Once we have a potential topic, we validate the idea through keyword research, which helps us see whether people are actively searching for it and whether it has the potential to bring qualified traffic to your site. Keyword research also helps us assess profitability; not just in terms of clicks, but in terms of whether the readers arriving at your blog are the right audience for your offers.
Once we’ve compiled a list of primary and secondary keywords, we incorporate them into a working outline. At this stage, we create an article overview that includes the draft title, meta description, target keywords, key takeaways, references (if applicable), and a clear structure for the post.
This preparation step ensures that the final blog is a strategically designed piece of content, with start, middle, and ending. It keeps the writing process focused, prevents wasted effort, and ensures every section of your blog post serves a purpose. More importantly, this phase lays the groundwork for consistency, so that each post you publish builds authority, trust, and alignment with your bigger SEO and branding strategy.
phase 2: Writing the blog post for seo
When it comes to writing the actual blog post, there are several paths you can take: you can write it yourself, collaborate with a professional writer, or even use AI tools as a supportive assistant.
The approach matters less than the outcome; the most important thing is producing a final piece that satisfies you, reflects your brand voice, and ticks all the essential SEO boxes.
During this stage, we follow the article overview created in Phase 1, making sure every keyword is used naturally, headings are well-structured, and the content flows in a way that’s easy to read. We also focus on storytelling and examples, so the article resonates with your audience instead of sounding robotic.
Formatting plays a big role too, using subheadings, short paragraphs, bullet points, and visuals to keep readers engaged. When done right, this phase transforms research into an effective and informative article that’s both optimized for search and enjoyable for humans to read.
phase 3: After-care
Finishing the writing and hitting “publish” is not the end of the journey. In fact, it’s where the real SEO work begins. Before a blog post goes live, we run a complete on-page SEO check to make sure everything is aligned, from keyword placement to meta tags.
For Squarespace sites, our team uses the SEOSpace plugin to perform this check, ensuring no small detail is overlooked. This tool provides us with a checklist that we can use in order to confirm that titles, descriptions, headings, keywords, links, and readability are fully optimized before we hit publish.
Once the post passes this stage, we submit it for indexing so that Google is informed about the new content and can add it to its search results faster. But even then, it is not the end of the process. We track and monitor how the article performs over time.
Using Google Search Console (GSC), we analyze which keywords drive the most traffic, how readers engage with the content, and whether the article is fulfilling the search intent it was designed for. This data is gold, because it tells us what’s working, what needs refinement, and how to improve future posts.
Regularly updating, interlinking, and refreshing your content based on this performance feedback helps turn a single blog post into a long-term traffic and authority asset.
seo tips to stand out
Paying attention to the finer SEO elements is often what separates content that ranks from content that disappears into the noise. Many people struggle to get this right, skipping over details like meta descriptions, keyword placement, or internal linking, which can cost them visibility.
In reality, these elements are often the difference between a good article and a bad one, no matter how strong the writing may be. By making sure your posts are optimized for both readers and search engines, you set your content up for long-term success. SEO may seem technical, but when done with care, it becomes the bridge that ensures your authentic voice is actually heard.
brand voice & consistency
Your brand voice is what makes your writing instantly recognizable. It’s the tone, style, and energy that set you apart from every other blog on the internet. Preserving that voice across all your posts builds familiarity and trust, helping your audience feel like they know you before they’ve even worked with you. Here’s what you should pay attention to on that regard:
Consistency signals professionalism: it shows both readers and search engines that you are a reliable source of information.
Create a style guide: outline your tone, preferred phrases, and communication do’s and don’ts to preserve your voice across platforms. Psychotherapists may use a calming, empathetic tone that reassures readers they’re safe and understood. Coaches often benefit from motivational, action-driven language that inspires bold steps. Wellness professionals can lean into a nurturing, holistic style, blending encouragement with practical advice.
Consistency deepens connection: maintaining your voice across blog posts creates a cohesive experience that builds trust with your ideal audience. SEO and brand voice together attract not just traffic, but the right people who resonate with your way of speaking.
topic coverage
When writing an SEO-friendly blog post, it’s essential to cover all the important aspects of your topic, especially the ones your competitors are already addressing. If you leave major questions unanswered, readers will bounce to another site to find what they’re looking for, and Google will notice.
Comprehensive coverage signals to search engines that your post is authoritative and deserves to rank higher. It’s also a powerful opportunity to demonstrate your expertise and go deeper into the subject than others might. The goal is to become the go-to resource, so readers (and search engines) trust that they don’t need to look anywhere else.
To cover a topic completely, start by researching what competitors have written and identify any gaps or unanswered questions. Then, expand on those areas with your own expertise, practical examples, and insights so your post becomes the most comprehensive and helpful resource available. This way, you position yourself as a trusted authority while giving both readers and search engines every reason to prioritize your content.
unique angle & value preposition
Google rewards content that offers something fresh, and that’s where your unique angle comes in. Having a perspective or approach that stands out shows both search engines and readers that you’re not just repeating what’s already out there. It demonstrates your willingness to go the extra mile and create content that truly matters.
The goal is always to provide real value, in other words to make your reader’s life easier. Every blog post should solve a problem, answer a question, or bring clarity to a challenge your audience faces. This way, you become more than just another voice online, but a reliable source that people return to and trust.
Three excellent ways to differentiate yourself from your competitors are the following:
Share personal stories or case studies that competitors aren’t including.
Add original data, research, or unique insights that highlight your expertise.
Offer practical takeaways or step-by-step guidance that readers can apply right away.
interlinking
Including both internal and external links in your blog posts is one of the strongest signals you can send to Google that your content is trustworthy and well-connected. Internal links help distribute authority across your own site, making it easier for search engines to crawl and understand the relationship between your pages. External links, when pointed to reputable sources, build credibility and show that your content is backed by reliable information.
As noted by Exposure Ninja in their Ultimate Guide to SEO Blogs and SEO Content Writing (2023) article, linking strategies play a vital role in boosting both authority and visibility. Ultimately, links act as pathways for both readers and search engines, as they provide context and additional value, and improve crawlability and prioritization in rankings.
UX formatting
User experience (UX) formatting goes hand-in-hand with SEO because search engines measure how readers interact with your content. No one likes a page that is hard to read, hard to scroll, or hard to digest. And if readers leave quickly, Google takes note.
To avoid such unpleasant turn of events, make sure you:
Use clear headings to organize your ideas and guide readers through the post.
Write in short paragraphs to improve readability and avoid overwhelming the reader.
Incorporate bullet points and lists to break down information into digestible chunks.
Add visuals or graphics to illustrate key points and keep attention.
Prioritize smooth navigation; a positive reading experience signals to Google that your content is worth ranking higher.
Effective formatting is more than design, as it ensures a fluid reading journey that serves your audience and boosts visibility.
clear call-to-action (cta)
Every blog post should have a purpose beyond simply informing. It should guide the reader toward the next step in their journey with you. Many people do this wrong by either skipping a call-to-action (CTA) altogether or making it too vague to inspire action. A clear, well-placed CTA turns your article into a funnel for conversion, moving readers from passive consumers into active clients or subscribers. It shows your audience how you can continue to help them.
Give your readers both ways (download a guide, book a consultation, join a newsletter) and reasons (save time, reduce stress, get expert support) to buy from you. When done well, CTAs make your content not only valuable but also profitable.
technical optimisation
Even the best-written blog post can underperform if the technical SEO foundations aren’t in place. Making sure all meta tags, images, and headings are properly optimized helps Google understand your content and rank it more accurately. Alt text on images not only supports accessibility but also creates another opportunity for search engines to index your work.
Headings, when structured correctly, guide both readers and crawlers through the flow of your article. Page speed is another critical factor. If your site loads slowly, visitors will leave before they ever get to your content, and Google will lower your ranking as a result.
In short, technical optimization ensures that your blog isn’t just valuable, but also discoverable and accessible.
google’s Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (e-e-a-t)
Respecting Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines is essential because they define the standards of quality content that deserves to rank. More specifically:
Experience shows readers that you’ve actually worked with or lived through the subject matter, giving your insights credibility.
Expertise proves you know what you’re talking about and that your content goes deeper than surface-level advice.
Authoritativeness signals that others recognize your content as reliable, whether through backlinks, references, or professional credentials.
Trustworthiness ties it all together, reassuring readers that the information you provide is accurate, ethical, and honest.
We ensure E-E-A-T by integrating all the elements discussed above: thorough research, comprehensive topic coverage, interlinking to credible sources, technical optimization, and a consistent brand voice. In practice, this means writing with care, citing sources when needed, and always putting the reader’s needs first.
When these pieces come together, your content becomes a genuine resource that readers can return to again and again.
Final Thoughts
Writing SEO-friendly blog posts is about balancing strategy with authenticity. You can please both Google and your audience. Research and preparation lay the foundation for content that is not only optimized but also purposeful. Consistency in brand voice ensures that your readers recognize and trust you across every post. Covering topics thoroughly and adding unique angles helps you stand out from the competition. And with technical optimization, interlinking, UX formatting, and clear CTAs, your content becomes both discoverable and impactful.
At Meraki Branding, we take care of blogging and SEO so you can focus on running your business. Visit our SEO services page and let’s discuss together how we can help your blog posts rank higher, attract the right audience, and truly reflect the soul of your brand.
References
Exposure Ninja. The Ultimate Guide to SEO Blogs and SEO Content Writing. Retrieved from https://exposureninja.com/blog/ultimate-guide-seo-blogs-seo-content-writing/
Statista. Number of internet users worldwide from 2000 to 2021. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/617136/digital-population-worldwide/
FAQs on
How to Write SEO-Friendly Blog Posts That Rank well
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To write an SEO-friendly blog post that ranks on Google, start with thorough keyword research to understand what your audience is searching for. Structure your article with clear headings (H1, H2, H3), use your primary and secondary keywords naturally, and answer the reader’s intent fully. Don’t forget to optimize your meta title, description, and images, and include internal and external links to build authority. Above all, write content that provides genuine value, as Google prioritizes helpful, original content over keyword stuffing.
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While there’s no magic number, most SEO experts agree that long-form content performs better, with 1,500 to 2,500 words being the sweet spot for comprehensive blog posts. Longer articles give you more space to cover a topic in depth, naturally include keywords, and answer related questions your audience may have. That said, quality always comes first, a concise, 800-word post that fully solves a problem will outperform a 2,000-word article that rambles.
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Consistency is more important than sheer volume when it comes to blogging for SEO. Publishing one high-quality, optimized blog post every 2–4 weeks can be enough to build topical authority and steadily increase organic traffic. The key is to stick to a schedule so Google sees your website as active and trustworthy. Over time, consistent publishing combined with smart internal linking will compound your results.
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The best way to write SEO blog posts without sounding robotic is to prioritize your audience first and optimize second. Use your brand’s natural voice, tell stories, and give real-world examples to make your content engaging. Keywords should flow naturally into your sentences rather than being forced. Google’s algorithms are smart enough to recognize quality writing. When you combine authenticity with strategic optimization, you get content that both ranks and resonates.
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Dimitris
This article was written by Dimitris, the Head of SEO at Meraki Branding.