SEO
How to Rank Higher on Google: A Small Business Guide
How to rank higher on Google, step by step: choose the right searches, improve your pages, fix technical problems, earn trust and measure what works.
We’re big fans of blogging at Rock Solid Marketing. A blog gives customers useful answers, gives Google fresh pages to show, and gives you something to share on social media and in emails. If you’re not convinced yet, read why you need a blog.
For those who have just started, here are our tips: first for setting up, then for writing each post.
Setting up your blog
Use self-hosted WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com
It might be tempting to start a free blog on WordPress.com, but a self-hosted WordPress.org site on your own web hosting gives you far more control: your own domain, any theme, and the plugins you need. Better still, put your blog on your business website, so every post builds your own site’s authority.
Install useful plugins
Plugins are add-ons that add features with little effort: an SEO plugin such as Yoast SEO, contact forms, social sharing, security and backups. Install only what you need and keep them updated, since outdated plugins are a common security risk.
Writing each blog post
With every post, think about two things: how to make it genuinely useful and interesting (so people read and share it), and how to make it easy to find (so it shows up in Google search results).
Choose topics related to your keywords
If you’re stuck for a topic, check your list of keywords and the questions customers ask you. Build a post around one question, answer it near the top, and use the words your customers use.
Add internal links
Link to your other posts and service pages wherever it helps the reader. Internal links guide readers to related content and help Google understand how your pages fit together, so more of them can rank.
Include photos and links in every post
Photos break up the text and make posts easier to read. Use your own photos where you can, give each one descriptive alt text, and link to reliable sources when you mention facts.
Write as long as the topic needs
There’s no magic word count. A quick answer might need 500 words; a detailed how-to might need 1,500. Cover the question properly, cut the padding, and use headings so readers can skim.
Use categories and tags
Categories are broad groups for your posts (like SEO or Social Media); tags are more specific labels. Keep the list of categories short and use them consistently so readers and search engines can find related posts.
Blog consistently
There’s no fixed rule on how many posts to publish. A steady rhythm you can keep, such as two good posts a month, beats a burst of posts followed by months of silence.
Encourage engagement
End posts with a clear next step: share the post, ask a question, or contact you. If your blog allows comments, reply to them, since readers are more likely to comment when they know you’ll respond.
Rock Solid Marketing is a digital marketing agency based in Mildura. If you’d like help with your blog, our SEO copywriting team can plan and write posts with you, or contact us to talk about your website.
