YES! You can get featured in the news for FREE. Here’s how:
We’ve seen logos on the websites we visit for seen on Fox News, as seen on the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, Mashable Refinery, ABC. We see those little badges and we’re thinking, wow, this is a legit website. They know what they’re talking about. It builds immediate trust. I mean, you look more professional.
example what I’m talking about:
Who do I want that?
Well, you know, you can get those for free. That’s right. For free. I’m going to tell you how this website you can visit.
However, you can also pay for a service on there. I like to subscribe. You can get these email alerts for free or you can reach out to these field reporters. Here’s what’s going on with that.
Okay, so there’s about 75,000 journalists and bloggers that are looking for people like you that are experts in something, whether you are a dietitian, a doctor, a psychologist, a schoolteacher, an entrepreneur, an SEO expert like myself. There’s so many people that these journalists and bloggers are looking for to interview. Okay? These people are writing news stories. They want credible sources.
They want to give you in return a link back to your website, a mention of your name, your business, it helps them. It helps you. Everybody wins, everybody’s happy. You get a logo on your website. Yay.
Now that website is helpareporter.com. It’s known as horror as helping reporter out. They have, of course, there’s some subscription packages. You can join it for free. And this works, guys, you can join for free.
How it all works…
Sign up. You’ll get an email every day. It could be annoying, I know. But you can see in that email. Okay.
If you’re someone like myself, an SEO expert, I keep an eye out for my clients. I’m like, okay, I’m looking for anything for my psychiatrist lady. I can send her this email, say, hey, can you go ahead and respond to this reporter? He’s looking for a source. Do you want to write about this?
Is this worth your time? And the submission in this email, they will usually disclose which website they will feature this on, which could be a blog, it could be a major news outlet. It really depends if you’re new, if you need some good backlinks, I would go for anything. Guys. Just you want to get a website that is getting traffic, you want to be cited, you want that citation, that backlink.
It helps. Most of the time these links are permanent, but depending on the website, those links can get flushed out. I’m just being very transparent. I’ve had a link on sites like Market Watch. I am featured organically in the New York Times bustle Business Insider.
News reporter did find me through my content. That’s why I always stress having a blog, have content that potential news reporters can find on Google. They’ll want to ask your permission to cite your content. They want to use your name. A lot of times they’ll put your photo on their website.
Yes, I’ve had features in the news too
For my old beauty blog. It happened to me when I got discovered for the New York Times. They sent a field photographer out to take my picture. I got interviewed by someone on the phone. It’s in New York. It was a lot of fun.
I think every business owner should experience this. You’re an expert in your field, you want to get cited all around the world for your expertise and in return, you get to put one of those cute little badges on your website helps gain you that credibility. Once again that website I mentioned is helpareporter.com. I’ll have it linked in the description of this podcast. But looking at you guys you can always call up your local news.
If you have something new going on in your business call your local news station, let them know hey they might show up to your news. You want to be on the morning news. How fun would that be? And also if you want to go if you have deep pockets you can always hire a PR agency that can help you get something newsworthy to your business and published all over wherever you want. Those PR services are usually they’re going to run you could be a couple thousand or around $300 for one published post.
Yeah, it is what it is. So anyway it’s worth poking around checking out helperreporter.com. Go ahead and register. What do you have to lose? Get those daily emails to see if you can get your name, your website, your company mentioned in the news.
Did this work for you too? Please let me know!
It’s a lot of fun. Alright thank you so much for listening. Hope you have an awesome day. Tata.
BTW, 👋 I’m Jen Ruhman the queen of SEO.. 😂 sure why not? I have an SEO company in San Diego, CA. Called Jen Ruhman SEO. Feel free to check out my SEO pricing and hire me for my SEO services today!
Writing a great blog post is only part of the job if you want people to actually find it through Google.
Before I write a blog post for my own website or one of my SEO clients, I think about the search intent, the topic, what already exists on the website, internal linking opportunities, and what the page needs to accomplish.
Then I optimize the article as I write it.
That’s much easier than writing 2,000 words and trying to “SEO it” afterward.
I’ve put together this SEO blog post checklist for beginners so you can follow the same basic process every time you publish.
And don’t worry: you don’t need to check a hundred boxes or stuff your keyword into every paragraph.
Good blog SEO in 2026 is primarily about creating the right page for the right search intent and making that page easy for people and search engines to understand.
1. Determine Search Intent Before You Start Writing
This is where I would start.
Before worrying about keyword density, word count, images, or meta descriptions, figure out what the person searching Google actually wants.
That’s search intent.
Someone searching:
“how long does SEO take?”
probably wants an explanation.
Someone searching:
“SEO company San Diego”
is probably looking for a company or professional to hire.
Those searches should not necessarily lead to the same type of page.
This is one of the reasons keyword research alone isn’t enough. You also need to understand what kind of content Google is showing for the query and what would genuinely satisfy the person searching.
2. Choose One Clear Primary Topic
Your blog post should have a clear purpose.
You don’t need to repeat one exact keyword twenty times, but you should know the main topic you’re trying to cover.
For this article, for example, the primary topic is an SEO blog post checklist.
Related concepts naturally include:
Blog SEO
Keyword research
Search intent
Internal linking
SEO titles
Meta descriptions
Content optimization
Indexing
I don’t need to force those phrases into the article. They appear naturally because they’re part of the subject.
3. Check Your Existing Content Before Creating a New Post
This is a step many beginners skip.
Before creating another article, search your own website.
Ask:
Have I already written about this?
Do I have another page targeting essentially the same question?
Would updating an existing article be better?
Could this topic be added to a larger guide?
You don’t want to continually create multiple weak pages that all compete for the same search intent.
I’ve become much more careful about this over the years because more content isn’t automatically better SEO.
Sometimes the smartest SEO decision is updating or consolidating what you already have.
4. Research What’s Already Ranking
Before I write, I like to look at the search results for the topic.
I’m not doing this so I can copy the top-ranking articles.
I’m looking for clues.
What type of pages are ranking?
Are they:
How-to guides?
Lists?
Product pages?
Service pages?
Videos?
Local businesses?
I also look at the questions people are trying to answer and where existing results may be weak.
Then I ask:
What can I add that makes my article more useful?
5. Create an Outline Before Writing
I strongly recommend outlining your article before you start writing.
Your outline doesn’t need to be complicated.
Start with the main question and break it into logical sections.
For example:
What is it?
Why does it matter?
How does it work?
What should you do?
What mistakes should you avoid?
What questions do people commonly ask?
A good outline makes the article easier to write and helps prevent unnecessary repetition.
6. Write a Strong SEO Title
Your page title should clearly communicate what the article is about.
I usually try to incorporate the primary topic naturally while also making the title appealing enough for someone to click.
For example:
Weak: My Blogging Tips
Better: SEO Blog Post Checklist for Beginners: 20 Steps for 2026
The second title tells both the reader and search engine exactly what they’ll find.
Don’t make the title misleading simply to get clicks. The article needs to deliver what the title promises.
7. Create a Short, Descriptive URL
I prefer clean URLs that communicate the page topic without unnecessary words.
For example:
example.com/seo-blog-post-checklist/
is much easier to understand than:
example.com/blog/category/2026/04/post-18474/
You also don’t need to change an established URL every time you update an article.
If an existing page already has rankings, backlinks, or traffic, changing the URL unnecessarily can create more work and risk than benefit.
8. Answer the Main Question Early
Don’t make someone read ten paragraphs before getting to the point.
If your article targets a question, give the reader a concise answer near the beginning and then expand on it.
This is good for readers because they immediately know they’re in the right place.
It’s also helpful when your content is being interpreted by traditional search engines and AI-powered search experiences.
9. Use Helpful H2 and H3 Headings
Headings help organize your article.
Your H1 should generally identify the primary topic of the page.
Then use H2s for major sections and H3s when you need subsections.
I don’t recommend stuffing exact-match keywords into every heading.
Write headings for humans first.
A person skimming the page should be able to understand the structure of the article simply by reading your headings.
10. Add Firsthand Experience and Original Insight
This is one of the biggest opportunities business owners have.
You know things about your industry that a generic content writer doesn’t.
Use that.
Include:
Things you’ve learned working with customers
Common mistakes you’ve observed
Real examples
Case studies
Original photos
Your own process
Lessons from your experience
For example, after working in SEO for more than 20 years, I’ve changed my opinion about several common blogging practices.
I used to place much more emphasis on publishing frequency and specific keyword placement.
Today, I’m far more concerned with whether the page serves a distinct purpose, matches search intent, adds something useful, and fits logically within the rest of the website.
That’s the kind of perspective that makes an article uniquely yours.
11. Use Keywords Naturally
Forget rules like “use your keyword exactly three times.”
There is no universal number of times you need to repeat a keyword.
If you’re writing comprehensively about your topic, you’ll naturally use the primary phrase and related terminology.
Your main topic may logically appear in places such as:
Page title
H1
Introduction
Relevant headings
Body copy
URL
Meta description
But don’t force it.
If the writing starts sounding unnatural because you’re trying to squeeze the same phrase into every section, you’re overdoing it.
12. Add Relevant Internal Links
Internal linking is one of the easiest SEO improvements you can make.
When you mention a topic you’ve already covered elsewhere, link to that resource.
I also recommend periodically going back to older articles and adding links to useful newer content.
Internal linking shouldn’t only happen when a page is first published.
13. Link to Helpful External Sources When Appropriate
Don’t be afraid to link to another website when it genuinely helps your reader.
If you’re citing research, discussing official documentation, referencing statistics, or pointing someone toward a useful resource, link to the original or authoritative source when appropriate.
Your goal isn’t to trap people on your website.
Your goal is to make your page useful.
14. Optimize Images for Users and Search Engines
Images can improve a blog post when they actually contribute something.
Use:
Original photos
Screenshots
Charts
Examples
Infographics
Diagrams
Compress large images so they don’t unnecessarily slow down the page.
And use descriptive alt text when an image needs an alternative text description for accessibility.
I don’t recommend stuffing SEO keywords into alt text just because you can.
Describe what the image communicates.
15. Write a Useful Meta Description
Your meta description should summarize the page and encourage the right person to click.
It isn’t a place to cram every keyword you’re targeting.
Keep it concise and useful.
For example:
Use this beginner-friendly SEO blog post checklist to optimize your content before and after publishing. Follow 20 practical SEO steps for better Google visibility.
Google may sometimes display different text in search results, but I still recommend writing a good description for important pages.
16. Make the Article Easy to Read
People don’t read websites the same way they read novels.
They scan.
Make that easy.
I like to use:
Short paragraphs
Descriptive headings
Bulleted lists
Numbered steps
Bold text selectively
Images when useful
Plenty of visual breathing room
There is no rule that every paragraph must contain exactly three sentences.
Format your content based on what makes it easiest to understand.
17. Consider Structured Data When Appropriate
Structured data can provide search engines with additional information about certain types of content.
Depending on the page, appropriate schema may include things such as Article, Breadcrumb, Product, LocalBusiness, or other supported types.
Don’t add random schema simply because an SEO plugin gives you the option.
Use structured data that accurately represents what’s actually on the page.
18. Check the Technical Basics Before Publishing
Before hitting Publish, check the page itself.
Make sure:
The page is indexable
The canonical URL is correct
The page works on mobile
Images aren’t enormous
Links work
The URL is correct
There isn’t an accidental noindex directive
The page loads properly
Fantastic content can still struggle if technical problems prevent search engines or users from accessing it properly.
19. Help Google Discover Your New Blog Post
After publishing, don’t assume Google will immediately find and index the article.
Make sure the new post:
Appears in your XML sitemap
Has relevant internal links pointing to it
Is accessible to search engines
Uses the intended canonical URL
You can also inspect the URL through Google Search Console.
Remember that crawling, indexing, and ranking are three different things.
If you’re confused about how those pieces fit together, my guide explaining how SEO works goes deeper into the process.
20. Monitor the Article and Improve It Over Time
Publishing isn’t the end of SEO.
After the article has had time to perform, look at its data.
Google Search Console can help you see:
Which searches trigger impressions
Whether impressions are growing
Which queries generate clicks
Average search positions
Which pages are gaining visibility
You may discover that Google is showing your article for a question you barely addressed.
That’s useful information.
You might expand that section, improve the title, strengthen internal links, update outdated information, or consolidate the article with another page.
SEO content should evolve as you learn how people and search engines respond to it.
What About Blog Post Word Count?
I used to recommend specific minimum word counts much more often.
I don’t anymore.
There is no magic 800-word, 1,500-word, or 2,000-word threshold that suddenly makes an article good for SEO.
The appropriate length depends on the topic.
If a question can be completely answered in 700 words, don’t stretch it to 2,500 just because an SEO tool tells you to.
And if a complex subject genuinely requires 3,000 words to explain properly, don’t stop at 1,000.
Write enough to satisfy the search intent without adding fluff.
Should You Use an SEO Plugin Like Yoast?
SEO plugins can be helpful.
I use SEO tools to manage things such as titles, meta descriptions, canonicals, sitemaps, and other technical elements.
But don’t treat a green light from an SEO plugin as proof that your article is optimized.
A plugin can’t fully determine:
Whether your article satisfies search intent
Whether you chose the right topic
Whether you’re competing with another page on your site
Whether your firsthand experience is valuable
Whether the content deserves to rank
Use the plugin as a tool, not as your SEO strategy.
My Quick SEO Blog Post Checklist Before I Hit Publish
If you want the shortened version, here’s what I would check:
☐ Does the article satisfy a clear search intent?
☐ Have I checked whether I already have competing content?
☐ Is the title clear and compelling?
☐ Is the URL clean?
☐ Does the introduction answer the main question?
☐ Are H2s and H3s organized logically?
☐ Did I include firsthand experience or original value?
☐ Are keywords used naturally?
☐ Did I add useful internal links?
☐ Did I cite authoritative external sources where appropriate?
☐ Are my images compressed and useful?
☐ Is the alt text descriptive where needed?
☐ Did I write the SEO title and meta description?
☐ Is the page easy to read on mobile?
☐ Is the canonical correct?
☐ Is the page indexable?
☐ Is it included in the XML sitemap?
☐ Do other relevant pages link to it?
☐ Have I checked the finished page after publishing?
☐ Will I monitor its performance in Search Console?
SEO Blog Post Checklist for Beginners: Final Thoughts
SEO blogging doesn’t need to be complicated.
One of the biggest mistakes beginners make is concentrating on tiny optimization rules while missing the bigger picture.
Don’t obsess over whether your keyword appears exactly three times.
Instead, ask:
Is this the best page I can create for the person searching for this information?
Then make sure search engines can discover it, understand it, and see how it connects to the rest of your website.
That’s a much stronger foundation for SEO.
Once the article is live, the next step is getting it in front of people. That’s where my Blog Post Promotion Checklist comes in.
If you’re a business owner and you’d rather have someone handle the strategy, content optimization, internal linking, technical SEO, and ongoing analysis for you, that’s what I do.
I work directly with businesses as an SEO expert in San Diego to develop organic search strategies based on what their websites actually need.
Call or text: (619) 719-1315
Thanks for reading, Jen Ruhman Founder, Jen Ruhman SEO
Frequently Asked Questions About Blog SEO
How do I optimize a blog post for SEO?
Start by identifying the search intent and primary topic. Create useful content that answers the searcher’s question, organize it with descriptive headings, use keywords naturally, add relevant internal links, optimize the title and meta description, check technical SEO, and make sure search engines can discover and index the page.
How many times should I use my keyword in a blog post?
There is no universal number of times a keyword needs to appear. Use your primary topic and related terminology naturally throughout the article without sacrificing readability or repeating phrases simply to reach a keyword count.
How long should an SEO blog post be?
There is no ideal word count for every SEO article. Your post should be long enough to satisfy the search intent and explain the topic properly without adding unnecessary information simply to increase the word count.
Should I put my keyword in the title?
If it fits naturally, using the primary topic in the page title can help readers and search engines understand what the page is about. However, the title should remain accurate, useful, and appealing to humans rather than being written solely around a keyword.
Do internal links help blog SEO?
Internal links help readers discover related content and help search engines understand relationships between pages. They can also help search engines discover new pages and establish a clearer website structure.
Should I submit every new blog post to Google Search Console?
You can use URL Inspection in Google Search Console for important new or substantially updated pages, but your website should also have strong internal linking and an XML sitemap so search engines can discover new content naturally.
Do I need an SEO plugin to rank a blog post?
No. An SEO plugin can make it easier to manage titles, meta descriptions, canonicals, sitemaps, and other technical settings, but the plugin itself does not make content rank. Search intent, content quality, site structure, authority, competition, and technical accessibility still matter.
If you’re still hesitating to implement email marketing, here’s the bottom line: email is one of the most cost-effective tools you have for nurturing leads, retaining customers, and building long-term loyalty. Unlike social media, where you’re at the mercy of platform changes, your email list is yours to own. You can use it to promote products, share updates, or simply keep your audience engaged with your brand.
Not convinced? Here are a few compelling stats:
Email marketing ROI averages $36 for every $1 spent. This is higher than almost any other marketing channel.
Emails reach about 85% of their intended recipients, compared to a fraction of that for social media posts due to algorithms.
47% of email recipients open emails based on the subject line alone. Imagine the impact of a great offer landing directly in your audience’s inbox.
Email marketing is still a must for business websites and even blogs.
There have been many claims email marketing is dead but guess what?
In fact, email marketing is still alive and doing well.
Heck, email marketing is still kicking butt for many businesses.
Why should You Collect Email Addresses?
Numero uno – your email marketing is the only platform YOU have 100% control.
That’s the sad truth. If you’re familiar with all the wonky algorithm updates on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you know it’s true.
Second, an email address is still a great piece of contact information to reach your audience. Many people still check their email in the morning simply by skimming, deleting, reading, and opting to read later. Guess what? Just seeing your brand in their inbox rents a few seconds in that person’s mind.
Many people that visit your website are simply in research mode and not ready to be a customer – you need to keep in touch with them and reel them back in with email campaigns.
People don’t even need to read your emails for them to be effective.
They see them, think about you and carry on – or engage with your email. It’s a win-win.
As long as you’re not spamming them or being annoying with daily emails, email marketing is effective!
Heck, I get emails daily that I subscribed to years ago, some as way back to ten years ago. Do I unsubscribe? Yes but only if they’re annoying! Honestly, I don’t mind an occasional email. It shows your brand is alive and “keeping relevant”.
Third, people are not ready to do business with you. They subscribe because they like your services or products online, but they’re not ready to go forward. They’re waiting for a coupon or waiting to learn more; they’re simply in research mode. It can take as little as a few emails or even a dozen to get an email subscriber to convert into a lead.
How Do I Collect Email Addresses?
I recommend you use one of the following 100% FREE platforms using WordPress, you can add: Sumo Email Capture (the one I use on this site) or Bloom Email Optin by Elegant Themes. These two options simply help you collect email addresses in a pretty and functional platform. Design options such a popup that appears in the lower screen, content unlocks, ebook signups, and more! Next, you’ll need a place to create emails, especially automated emails hence the next step…
1 -Example of SUMO email capture2 – Example of Bloom’s email capture3 -Example of MailChimp’s email capture
How Do I Send Emails to My List?
My recommendation is the 100% free MailChimp. You can use this as an all-in-one email marketing solution by also using it to collect emails like Sumo and Bloom, but they’re not as pretty…yet! MailChimp is great at sending pretty emails using templates anyone can easily use. You can create an automated email response that drips scheduled emails. Or you can simply send out an email blast. Even better, have an automated email sent to your subscribers when you publish a new blog post.
What Do I Send to my Email Subscribers?
Sales – coupon codes HOT New items for sale Brand new blog posts Updated features added to your products / services Tips How-to guides for your products News about your business Happy Birthday Deals There are so many possibilities
Advanced Strategies to Level Up Your Email Marketing
Segment Your Audience
Not all subscribers are the same, so don’t treat them that way. Use segmentation to divide your audience into categories based on behavior, interests, or demographics. For example:
New subscribers
Frequent buyers
Inactive users
Specific product or service interests
By tailoring your messages to each group, you’ll see higher open and click-through rates.
Personalize Your Emails
Beyond just addressing your subscribers by name, personalize your content based on their past interactions. Did they browse a specific product? Send a follow-up email highlighting its benefits or announcing a sale.
Use Automation Wisely
Automation is a game-changer for email marketing. Tools like MailChimp or ConvertKit make it easy to set up workflows that keep your audience engaged without constant manual effort. Some examples:
Welcome emails: Automatically sent when someone subscribes.
Abandoned cart emails: Remind users to complete their purchase.
Birthday or anniversary emails: Offer special discounts or rewards.
Post-purchase follow-ups: Encourage reviews or suggest complementary products.
Optimize for Mobile Devices
Did you know that more than half of all emails are opened on mobile devices? Ensure your emails look great on every screen size by:
Using responsive templates
Keeping subject lines short (40–50 characters)
Ensuring your call-to-action (CTA) is clear and easily clickable
Build Trust with Your Subscribers
Your email list is not just a marketing tool—it’s a relationship. Here’s how to build and maintain trust:
Be consistent but not overwhelming. Sending 1–2 emails per week is usually enough to stay on your audience’s radar without being intrusive.
Be transparent about how often you’ll email and what type of content they can expect when they subscribe.
Provide value in every email, whether it’s a useful tip, an exclusive discount, or behind-the-scenes content that builds a personal connection.
Track Your Success
To make the most of your email marketing efforts, you need to analyze performance metrics such as:
Open rate: How many people are opening your emails?
Click-through rate: How many people are engaging with your content or CTAs?
Conversion rate: How many email recipients take the desired action, like making a purchase or signing up for an event?
Unsubscribe rate: A rising number here could mean your content isn’t meeting expectations or you’re emailing too frequently.
Adjust your strategy based on these insights to continually improve your campaigns.
Ready to Get Started?
Email marketing is one of the most powerful tools in your arsenal for growing your business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to revamp your strategy, I can help you implement a seamless system that collects email addresses, sends engaging content, and drives results.
Don’t wait—start building your list today and take control of your audience! Reach out, and let’s create an email marketing strategy that works for you.
Final Reminder: Social media platforms may come and go, but your email list is forever. Take action now, and secure a direct line of communication with your audience that stands the test of time.
Need help? Contact me today, and let’s get your email marketing system up and running!
Tips
Do not ever buy an email list! NEVER send emails every day!
The reason, you’ll get flagged for spam! This can affect your future emails!
Looking to hire someone to get your website started collecting emails?
I’m happy to help add email marketing to your website! I can set up a beautiful email opt-in, set up automated emails, a list of drip emails and more!
Final thoughts
Email is here to stay. You Need to Be Collecting Email Addresses! Don’t rely on social media alone! We have no idea what their platforms algorithms have planned. You’re showing up one day, the next day – you’re nowhere to be found.
How often should you blog for SEO? This is a question I’ve been asked by business owners for years, and my answer has changed as Google and search behavior have evolved.
Years ago, SEO advice often focused heavily on publishing frequency. Businesses were encouraged to keep producing more and more blog posts because “fresh content” was supposed to help Google rankings.
In 2026, I look at blogging very differently.
For most small businesses, publishing 1–4 high-quality blog posts per month is a reasonable starting point. However, there is no magic blogging frequency that automatically improves SEO.
I’d rather see a business publish one genuinely useful article than crank out ten thin posts that target variations of keywords already covered elsewhere on the website.
And sometimes, the smartest thing you can do isn’t publish anything new at all.
Sometimes you should update what you already have.
Quick Answer:
There is no perfect number of blog posts you need to publish for SEO. For many small businesses, 1–4 strategic posts per month can be enough. Competitive businesses may benefit from publishing more frequently, but quality, search intent, topical coverage, internal linking, and website authority matter far more than simply publishing often.
Yes. Blogging can still be extremely valuable for SEO.
But blogging doesn’t help simply because you’re adding more pages to your website.
A good blog gives you opportunities to answer questions your potential customers are searching for, demonstrate your experience, build topical relevance, attract backlinks, strengthen internal linking, and introduce potential customers to your business before they’re ready to buy.
That’s an important distinction.
The goal isn’t:
“I need to publish four blog posts this month.”
The goal should be:
“What does my ideal customer search for, and do I have the best page on my website to answer that search?”
That’s a much better way to build a content strategy.
How Often Should You Blog for SEO?
There isn’t a universal blogging schedule that works for every website.
Your ideal publishing frequency depends on:
Your industry
Your competition
Your website’s existing content
Your domain and brand authority
Your target keywords
Your geographic market
The quality of the content you can realistically produce
How much existing content needs to be updated
A brand-new website with ten pages has very different content needs from a website that’s been publishing articles for ten years.
That’s why I don’t like blanket recommendations such as “every business should publish three times a week.”
SEO doesn’t work that way.
How Often Should a Small Business Blog?
For many small businesses, I think 1–4 quality blog posts per month is a perfectly reasonable starting point.
A local plumber, attorney, financial advisor, med spa, personal trainer, or dentist probably doesn’t need to publish a new article every day.
What they need is a strategically organized website that thoroughly covers the services they provide and the questions potential customers ask before choosing those services.
For example, a local business might have:
A strong primary service page
Individual pages for major services
Important location pages where appropriate
Case studies or examples of work
Helpful educational articles
Frequently asked questions
Once those foundations are built, blogging can expand the number of relevant searches for which the website can appear.
But more isn’t automatically better.
Does Publishing More Content Improve SEO?
Not necessarily.
This is one of the biggest SEO misconceptions I see.
A website with 500 mediocre blog posts does not automatically have an advantage over a website with 100 exceptional pages.
In fact, publishing too much similar content can create problems.
You can end up with:
Multiple pages targeting essentially the same keyword
Thin articles that don’t provide anything new
Old content nobody maintains
Weak internal linking
Pages receiving no organic traffic
Confusing website architecture
Keyword cannibalization
I’ve worked on websites where the problem wasn’t a lack of content.
The problem was too much content.
That’s why I’ve become increasingly interested in content pruning, consolidation, internal linking, and updating pages that already have ranking potential.
I’d rather publish one article that becomes a valuable resource for years than publish twenty posts nobody ever finds.
When I create SEO content, I want it to have a reason to exist.
A strong article should ideally accomplish several things:
Target a real search query
Satisfy the intent behind that search
Provide useful information
Demonstrate first-hand knowledge or expertise when appropriate
Answer related questions
Link naturally to other helpful pages
Support the website’s broader topical authority
Give the visitor a logical next step
If an article isn’t accomplishing anything new, I question whether it needs to be published.
Should You Update Old Blog Posts Instead of Publishing New Ones?
Absolutely.
In fact, this is something I’ve become much more aggressive about on my own website.
I started blogging years ago. That means I now have a large library of content.
At this stage, creating another article isn’t always the best use of my time.
Sometimes I can get far more SEO value by finding an older page with impressions or historical rankings and making it significantly better.
I think of a website like a rosebush. 🌹
You don’t just keep planting more rosebushes and ignore the ones already growing.
You prune them.
You remove what’s dead, strengthen what’s healthy, and give the best parts room to grow.
Your website content should be treated the same way.
What Can You Update on an Old Blog Post?
When I refresh older content, I may:
Rewrite outdated sections
Add new information
Improve the introduction
Better answer the primary search query
Add relevant FAQs
Improve headings
Add internal links
Remove obsolete links
Add original examples
Add images or videos
Improve the title and meta description
Consolidate overlapping articles
Add appropriate structured data
The important thing is to make a meaningful improvement.
Changing a few sentences just so you can change the publication date isn’t a content strategy.
Watch Out for Keyword Cannibalization
This is especially important if you’ve been blogging for years.
Keyword cannibalization happens when multiple pages on your website compete for the same or extremely similar search intent.
For example, imagine publishing:
How Often Should I Blog?
How Many Blog Posts Should I Publish?
How Often Should Businesses Blog for SEO?
Best Blogging Frequency for SEO
How Many Blogs Per Month for SEO?
Do those really need to be five separate articles?
Maybe not.
In many cases, one comprehensive resource would be stronger.
This is why I recommend checking your existing website before creating another article.
You might already have the page you need.
Instead of creating another competing URL, improve the existing one.
Use Blogging to Build Topical Authority
One of my favorite ways to think about content strategy is by topic rather than individual keywords.
If you’re an expert in something, your website should demonstrate that expertise through a useful collection of interconnected pages.
For example, because I provide SEO services, my website doesn’t contain one generic page that says “I do SEO.”
I write about:
Local SEO
Google Business Profile optimization
SEO for small businesses
SEO timelines
Keyword research
Backlinks
Technical SEO
Content optimization
Blogging
Indexing
Google rankings
SEO for specific industries
AI search
Together, those pages help create a much deeper resource about SEO than a single service page could.
That’s the type of blogging strategy I prefer.
Don’t ask:
“What random thing can I blog about this week?”
Ask:
“What important part of my core topic have I not thoroughly covered yet?”
Use Blog Posts to Support Your Service Pages
This is especially important for businesses using SEO to generate leads.
Your blog shouldn’t exist on an island.
Blog posts can support your important commercial pages through internal links.
For example, someone might find one of my articles while researching how SEO works. That person may not initially be searching for an SEO company.
But after reading the article, they may realize they need professional help.
That’s where a natural internal link to my SEO company in San Diego gives them a logical next step.
This is one reason informational content can be so valuable.
It can introduce people to your business earlier in their decision-making process and then guide them toward your services when they’re ready.
What About Blogging for Google AI Overviews and AI Search?
Blogging has another purpose in 2026 that businesses should be thinking about: AI-powered search.
People aren’t only finding information through traditional Google search results anymore.
They’re also using AI Overviews and AI assistants to research products, services, companies, and questions.
That doesn’t mean traditional SEO is dead.
It means your content needs to be even clearer about:
Who you are
What you know
What your business does
Where you operate
What specific questions your content answers
Why your information should be trusted
I like content that answers specific questions directly while still providing enough depth to demonstrate genuine expertise.
FAQs, concise definitions, examples, comparisons, original insights, case studies, and clearly structured headings can all make content easier for both people and search systems to understand.
This is one of the reasons I still believe blogging is valuable in 2026.
We’re not just optimizing individual keywords anymore. We’re building a body of information around a business and its expertise.
A Practical Blogging Schedule for 2026
So what should your actual schedule look like?
Here’s a general framework I would consider for a small business.
New or Small Website
If your website doesn’t have much useful content yet, you may want to publish more aggressively while building your foundation.
Consider: 2–4 quality articles per month.
Focus on your most important customer questions and topics closely related to your services.
Established Website
If you already have dozens or hundreds of articles, don’t assume you need more.
Consider: 1–2 new articles per month plus strategic updates to existing content.
Your time may be better spent improving pages that already have impressions, backlinks, rankings, or traffic.
Highly Competitive Industry
If you’re competing nationally or in a very competitive market, you may need a more aggressive content strategy.
But I would still base publishing frequency on your actual keyword and competitor research rather than an arbitrary number.
Very Small Local Business
A highly localized business may only need one strong article per month—or even less—if its core service and location pages are already excellent.
There’s no reason to publish fluff just to satisfy a content calendar.
What Should You Blog About?
If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, start with your customers.
Think about what they ask you before buying.
Those questions are often excellent SEO topics.
Try looking at:
Questions customers ask on the phone
Questions from contact forms
Google Search Console queries
Google autocomplete suggestions
People Also Ask questions
Competitor content
Industry changes
Common misconceptions
Cost questions
Comparisons
Problems your services solve
One of the advantages of working directly with businesses is that I get to hear the questions real customers ask.
Those conversations can be more valuable for content planning than generating a giant list of random keywords.
How Do You Know if Your Blogging Strategy Is Working?
Don’t judge your blogging strategy solely by how many posts you published.
That’s an activity metric—not necessarily a business result.
I prefer looking at things like:
Organic impressions
Organic clicks
Keyword visibility
Growth in relevant non-branded searches
Internal traffic to service pages
Leads from organic search
Conversions
Backlinks earned
Pages gaining visibility over time
Google Search Console is especially useful because you can see which queries are generating impressions and clicks for individual pages.
You may discover that an older article is sitting just outside the top results for dozens of useful searches.
That could be a much better opportunity than writing another article from scratch.
So, How Often Should You Really Blog?
As often as you can produce something genuinely useful that deserves its own page.
For many small businesses, that’s around 1–4 high-quality posts per month.
For some businesses, it may be more.
For an established website with hundreds of articles, it might actually be less.
There is no prize for having the largest blog.
The goal is to have the most useful website for the searches that matter to your business.
And don’t forget about the content you already created.
Prune that rosebush. 🌹
Some of your best SEO opportunities may already be sitting on your website waiting for a little attention.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blogging for SEO
How many blog posts should I publish per month for SEO?
There is no required number. For many small businesses, 1–4 high-quality blog posts per month is a reasonable starting point. However, your ideal publishing frequency depends on your competition, existing content, target keywords, resources, and business goals.
Does blogging every day improve SEO?
Not automatically. Publishing every day can be useful for websites that genuinely have enough valuable topics to cover, but frequency alone doesn’t guarantee higher rankings. Publishing large amounts of thin or repetitive content can create more problems than benefits.
Is one blog post per month enough for SEO?
It can be. One excellent article targeting an important topic can be more valuable than several weak posts. Small local businesses with strong service pages may not need an aggressive publishing schedule.
Should I update old blog posts or write new ones?
Do both strategically. If an existing article already covers a topic and has ranking potential, improving that page may be better than creating another URL. New articles make sense when there is a meaningful topic or search intent your website doesn’t already cover.
Can too many blog posts hurt SEO?
Having a large blog isn’t inherently harmful, but publishing many overlapping, outdated, thin, or low-value pages can make a website harder to manage and may create keyword cannibalization. Regular content audits can help identify pages that should be improved, consolidated, redirected, or removed.
How long should an SEO blog post be?
There is no ideal word count that guarantees rankings. An article should be long enough to satisfy the searcher’s question thoroughly without adding unnecessary filler. Some topics can be answered well in several hundred words, while complicated subjects may require a much longer guide.
Does updating old content help SEO?
Updating older content can help when the changes genuinely improve the page. This might include correcting outdated information, adding useful sections, improving internal links, answering additional questions, or making the page better match current search intent.
Is blogging still worth it in 2026?
Yes, when blogging is part of a broader SEO strategy. Helpful articles can attract organic search traffic, demonstrate expertise, support important service pages, earn backlinks, strengthen topical coverage, and provide useful information that may also be discovered through AI-powered search experiences.
Need Help Building an SEO Content Strategy?
If you’ve been blogging consistently but you’re not seeing more traffic, rankings, leads, or customers, publishing even more content may not be the answer.
You may need to look at the bigger picture.
Are you targeting the right keywords?
Are several pages competing against each other?
Are your most important service pages strong enough?
Does your internal linking make sense?
Do you have older content that should be updated or consolidated?
That’s the kind of work I do every day.
I’m Jen Ruhman, and I’ve been working in SEO for more than 20 years. I help businesses improve their visibility in Google search, local search, and today’s evolving AI search environment.
If you’re looking for an experienced SEO expert in San Diego, I’d be happy to take a look at your website and see where your biggest opportunities are.
Call or text me: (619) 719-1315
— Jen Ruhman SEO Expert & Founder of Jen Ruhman SEO
If your website isn’t getting traffic from Google, there’s usually a reason.
I’ve worked on SEO for more than 20 years, and one thing I’ve learned is that low organic traffic usually isn’t caused by one mysterious Google algorithm. More often, I find a combination of problems: Google isn’t indexing important pages, the website is targeting the wrong keywords, the content doesn’t satisfy search intent, the site lacks authority, or technical issues are making it harder for search engines to crawl and understand the website.
The good news is that most of these problems can be diagnosed.
If your website traffic has stalled—or you’ve published pages that seem invisible in Google—here are the things I would check first.
Quick Answer:
If your website isn’t receiving organic search traffic, check indexing, keyword targeting, search intent, content quality, internal linking, backlinks, technical SEO, mobile usability, page speed, canonical tags, local SEO, and whether you’re actually ranking high enough to earn clicks.
You might have an excellent page, but if you’re trying to outrank businesses that have spent years building topical authority, links, content and brand recognition, you’re facing an uphill battle.
Instead of only targeting extremely broad terms, look for specific searches that closely match what you offer.
For example, a computer repair company might have difficulty ranking immediately for:
computer repair San Diego
But it may have opportunities around more specific searches involving particular devices, problems, neighborhoods or services.
This is where long-tail keyword research can be useful.
The goal isn’t simply finding an “easy keyword.”
The goal is finding searches where your website can realistically compete and where ranking could actually produce useful traffic or customers.
3. You’re Ranking for the Wrong Keywords
Here’s another problem I see:
A business tells me, “We’re ranking!”
My next question is:
Ranking for what?
Being #1 for a phrase almost nobody searches—or a phrase that has nothing to do with hiring your company—isn’t particularly valuable.
Traffic alone isn’t the goal either.
You want relevant organic traffic from people who could realistically become customers.
Look at Google Search Console and identify:
Queries generating impressions
Queries generating clicks
Average positions
Pages receiving those impressions
Whether those searches match your services
This is one of the reasons keyword strategy matters so much.
Sometimes Google indexes a page perfectly well but doesn’t rank it highly because another page better answers what people are actually looking for.
That’s search intent.
For example, someone searching:
what is SEO?
probably wants educational information.
Someone searching:
SEO company San Diego
is much more likely to be comparing companies or looking for professional SEO services.
Those searches shouldn’t necessarily lead to the same type of page.
Before optimizing a page, look at what Google currently rewards for the query.
Are the results primarily:
Service pages?
Guides?
Product pages?
Local businesses?
Videos?
Comparison articles?
List posts?
Your page should make sense for the person performing that search.
5. Your Content Isn’t Good Enough to Compete
Sometimes there’s no technical problem.
The competing pages are simply better.
This is something business owners don’t always want to hear, but it’s important.
If the pages ranking above yours provide clearer explanations, stronger firsthand expertise, better examples, original information, useful visuals and more complete answers, improving your content may be necessary.
Don’t obsess over reaching an arbitrary word count.
A 3,000-word article isn’t automatically better than a 1,200-word article.
Write enough to satisfy the query thoroughly without padding the page with information people don’t need.
6. Your Internal Linking Is Weak
Internal links are one of my favorite overlooked SEO opportunities.
They help users discover related information and help search engines understand relationships between pages.
They also help establish which pages on your website are important.
If you publish a new service page or article and nothing else on your website links to it, you’ve made Google’s job harder.
I recommend creating logical connections between related pages.
For example, my articles about keyword research, indexing, content optimization and backlinks should naturally connect to other relevant SEO resources on my website.
8. Multiple Pages Are Competing for the Same Search
This is commonly called keyword cannibalization.
Suppose you have five pages that all essentially target:
SEO services San Diego
Google may have difficulty determining which page is the best result.
Instead of strengthening one excellent page, you’ve spread related signals across several competing URLs.
When I see this, I evaluate whether the pages should be:
Consolidated
Repositioned around different search intents
Internally linked differently
Canonicalized
Redirected
Or substantially differentiated
More pages aren’t automatically better SEO.
Every page should have a purpose.
9. Your Titles Aren’t Earning Clicks
Ranking is only part of the equation.
People still need to click your result.
Your title should clearly communicate what the page offers while naturally incorporating the primary topic.
Avoid writing titles purely for Google.
Think about the human being looking at ten different results.
Why should that person choose yours?
Google Search Console can help here too. If you’re receiving significant impressions and decent rankings but very few clicks, your search appearance and relevance deserve closer examination.
10. Your Website Is Too Slow
Page speed isn’t something I optimize simply to chase an SEO score.
I care because slow websites frustrate users.
Large images, bloated plugins, unnecessary JavaScript, poor hosting and badly configured caching can make pages painfully slow—especially on mobile devices.
Some common improvements include:
Compressing large images
Serving appropriately sized images
Improving caching
Removing unnecessary scripts
Reducing plugin bloat
Using better hosting when appropriate
Using a CDN when it makes sense
Don’t sacrifice the usefulness of your website merely to achieve a perfect speed score.
The objective is a fast, usable website.
11. Your Website Has Mobile Usability Problems
Google uses mobile-first indexing, which makes the mobile version of your website extremely important.
But there’s an even simpler reason to care:
Your customers use their phones.
Check your site yourself.
Can you easily:
Read the text?
Navigate the menu?
Tap buttons?
Complete forms?
Call the business?
View images?
Understand the page without zooming?
A technically responsive website can still provide a terrible mobile experience.
12. You’re Accidentally Blocking Search Engines
This one sounds ridiculous until you see it happen.
I’ve encountered websites where search engines were unintentionally discouraged from indexing the site after development.
Check for:
Noindex tags
Robots.txt rules
Password protection
Incorrect HTTP status codes
Staging-site configurations carried onto the live site
WordPress users should also review the Search engine visibility setting under Settings → Reading.
If something is preventing Googlebot from accessing or indexing an important page, content optimization isn’t going to solve the underlying problem.
13. Your Canonical Tags Are Wrong
Canonical tags help search engines understand which URL you consider the primary version when similar or duplicate URLs exist.
A bad canonical configuration can create confusing indexing problems.
For example, an important service page could accidentally canonicalize to another URL.
When diagnosing stubborn indexing problems, I check:
The page’s canonical tag
Google’s selected canonical in Search Console
Redirects
Duplicate versions of URLs
HTTP vs. HTTPS
WWW vs. non-WWW
URL parameters
Technical SEO isn’t glamorous, but mistakes here can undermine otherwise excellent content.
14. Your Local SEO Isn’t Strong Enough
If you’re a local business, traditional organic SEO is only part of your visibility.
You also need to think about Google’s local results.
For a San Diego business, I’d look at:
Google Business Profile optimization
Business categories
Reviews
Local relevance
Website location signals
Consistent business information
Local citations
Location and service pages
Local backlinks
Proximity and competition
You can have a great website and still leave a lot of local visibility on the table if your local SEO strategy is weak.
If local rankings are the problem, learn more about my Local SEO services.
15. You’re Expecting SEO Results Too Quickly
Finally, sometimes nothing is “wrong.”
The website simply hasn’t had enough time to build visibility.
This is especially true for:
Brand-new domains
Competitive industries
Newly published pages
Websites with little authority
Businesses entering highly competitive markets
Technical changes can sometimes produce improvements relatively quickly, while competitive rankings can take considerably longer.
SEO compounds.
A website that consistently improves its content, authority, internal linking, technical foundation and overall usefulness can become significantly more competitive over time.
How I Diagnose a Website That’s Not Getting Google Traffic
When someone comes to me and says, “My website isn’t getting traffic,” I don’t immediately start rewriting pages or building backlinks.
I first want to know why.
I’ll typically look at:
Whether important pages are indexed
What queries are generating impressions
Current rankings
Search intent
Keyword targeting
Competing pages
Internal linking
Backlinks and authority
Technical crawl and indexing issues
Local visibility
Organic conversions
That’s the difference between randomly “doing SEO” and diagnosing the actual problem.
Rankings Aren’t the Ultimate Goal
One last point:
Don’t judge SEO success only by rankings.
I’ve seen businesses rank #1 for keywords that produce virtually no business.
I’d rather see a client rank for searches that produce qualified visitors, phone calls, forms and customers.
Ultimately, I pay attention to:
Qualified organic traffic
Leads
Phone calls
Form submissions
Sales
Non-branded visibility
Local visibility
Organic conversions
SEO should contribute to the growth of the business—not simply make a ranking report look impressive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my website not getting traffic from Google?
Your website may not be indexed properly, may be targeting the wrong keywords, may not match search intent, or may have technical, authority, content, internal-linking or local SEO problems. Start by reviewing Google Search Console to see whether important pages receive impressions and whether Google has indexed them.
How long does it take for a new website to get Google traffic?
There is no fixed timeline. New websites often need time to be crawled, indexed and build enough relevance and authority to compete. Less competitive searches may gain visibility sooner, while difficult markets can require many months of ongoing SEO work.
Why is my page indexed but not ranking?
Indexing only means Google has added the page to its index. Ranking depends on many additional factors, including relevance, search intent, competition, content quality, website authority, internal linking and technical SEO.
Can poor internal linking reduce organic traffic?
Weak internal linking can make important pages harder for users and search engines to discover and can make relationships between your content less clear. Strong internal linking helps create a more organized website structure.
Can duplicate content hurt my rankings?
Overlapping or near-duplicate pages can create confusion about which URL should rank for a topic. Rather than publishing multiple pages targeting essentially the same search intent, consider consolidating or differentiating the content.
Do I need backlinks to get Google traffic?
Not every search requires a large backlink profile, but links and mentions from reputable, relevant websites can strengthen authority and help competitive pages. The importance of backlinks depends on the market and competitors.
Does page speed affect SEO traffic?
Page speed contributes to user experience and can become especially important when a website is extremely slow. Focus on making your site fast and usable rather than chasing a perfect performance score.
Why am I ranking but not getting clicks?
Your position may not be high enough to earn many clicks, your title may not be compelling, your result may not closely match search intent, or search features may be reducing traditional organic clicks. Review impressions, positions and click-through rates in Google Search Console.
Need Help Figuring Out Why Your Website Isn’t Getting Traffic?
If you’ve been publishing content, working on SEO and wondering why Google still isn’t sending you the traffic you expected, I can help identify what’s holding your website back.
I’m Jen Ruhman, and I’ve worked in SEO for more than 20 years. I help businesses improve visibility through technical SEO, keyword strategy, content optimization, internal linking, local SEO and authority building.
If you’re looking for an experienced SEO expert in San Diego, I’d be happy to take a look at your website.
Call or text: (619) 719-1315
— Jen Ruhman SEO Expert & Founder of Jen Ruhman SEO
There’s a blog network that works for every niche. Take a look at each of these paid blogger networks. Every blogger can earn money online! Everybody such as stay at home moms, dads, fashionistas, foodies, travelers, you name it. They all earn money from at least a few of these paid blog networks.
“But I think it’s too complicated…”
I talk to tons of bloggers and many say their blog brand is not established enough or they think it’s difficult or they’re not tech savvy enough.
But they’re wrong.
No blog traffic yet? Monetize your blog now because eventually, you WILL get traffic!
Imagine waking up realizing one of your pinterest pins went viral and one of your blog posts went viral.
