How to Update Blog Posts for SEO

We keep hearing how important Search Engine Optimization is for improving organic search traffic.

Maybe you've already taken the step of developing an SEO keyword strategy for your regular posting.

But what about all that content you made pre-SEO?

You have a library of great blog posts that your readers have loved. They're still published; they still get hits now and then.

Can we update blog posts for SEO?

The answer: Yes!

You can, and you definitely should!

And it doesn't take much time.

Steps to upgrade already-published content for SEO:

Begin by selecting a post to update. Consider posts that have gotten a lot of traffic in the past, but aren't getting as much now.

Keyword insertion

1. Conduct keyword research to identify a target keyword for each post. (I use ahrefs.com keyword research tool, but moz.com and semrush.com are also excellent resources.) Select keywords that are highly relevant to the post, low in competition, and high in search volume.

2. DO NOT CHANGE the URL. Search engines have already indexed the URL, so you do not want to lose that record.

3. Edit the post title (H1) to include the keyword.

4. Add the keyword twice in the post content.

Update Metadata

1. Add or update the post's meta description. Include the keyword in the text.

2. Add descriptions and alt text to all images. Include the keyword.

Improve post and site structure

1. Test all links in the post to make sure they're still live. Delete or edit any links that don't lead to live content.

2. Add an internal link to another page on your site.

3. Add an external link to an external website that is reliable and authoritative.

Republish the post.

As with any SEO keyword strategy, it'll take a few months to show its full impact. In the long term, this tactic will improve your site's authority and keep you higher up in search rankings.

If you like this idea, but your plate is full enough already, contact me. I'd love to learn more about your goals and how I can help you grow!