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 an article 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 so you can follow the same basic process before and after you publish.
And don’t worry—you don’t need to check 100 boxes or stuff your keyword into every paragraph.
Good blog SEO starts with creating the right page for the right search intent, making it genuinely useful, and helping people and search engines understand how it fits into the rest of your website.
SEO Blog Post Checklist: The 20 Steps
Before publishing an SEO blog post:
Determine search intent
Choose a clear primary topic
Check your existing content
Research the search results
Create an outline
Write a strong SEO title
Create a clean URL
Answer the main question early
Use helpful H2 and H3 headings
Add firsthand experience
Use keywords naturally
Add relevant internal links
Link to helpful external sources
Optimize your images
Write a useful meta description
Improve readability
Consider structured data when appropriate
Check the technical basics
Help search engines discover the post
Monitor and improve the article
Let’s go through each one.
1. Determine Search Intent Before You Start Writing
This is where I start.
Before worrying about keyword density, word count, images, or meta descriptions, figure out what the person searching actually wants.
That’s search intent.
Someone searching:
“how long does SEO take?”
probably wants information.
Someone searching:
“SEO company San Diego”
is much more likely to be looking for a company or professional to hire.
Those searches shouldn’t necessarily lead to the same type of page.
This is one reason keyword research alone isn’t enough. You also need to understand what type of content is appropriate for the query.
For larger websites, creating a keyword map can also help establish which URL should own each important topic or search intent.
4. Research What’s Already Ranking
Before I write, I look at the search results.
I’m not doing this so I can copy the top-ranking articles.
I’m looking for clues.
What types of pages appear?
Are they:
How-to guides?
Lists?
Product pages?
Service pages?
Videos?
Local businesses?
Forums or discussions?
What questions are those pages answering?
What appears to satisfy the search intent?
Then I look for something even more important:
What can I contribute that makes my page genuinely useful?
Don’t simply combine everything the first ten results already say and call it a new article.
Look for an opportunity to add something of your own.
5. Create an Outline Before Writing
I strongly recommend outlining your article before you start writing.
It doesn’t need to be complicated.
Start with the main question and break the subject into logical sections.
For example:
What is it?
Why does it matter?
How does it work?
What should someone do?
What mistakes should they avoid?
What related questions do people commonly ask?
A good outline makes the article easier to write and helps prevent unnecessary repetition.
It can also help you notice when you’re drifting away from the primary purpose of the page.
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 compelling enough for someone to want to click.
For example:
Weak: My Blogging Tips
Better: SEO Blog Post Checklist for Beginners: 20 Steps Before You Publish
The second title immediately explains what the reader will get.
Don’t make the title misleading just to attract clicks.
The page 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, links, traffic, or history, changing the URL unnecessarily can create additional work and risk.
For existing content, I generally keep a good URL unless there’s a compelling reason to change it.
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 useful answer near the beginning and then expand on it.
This helps people quickly determine that they’re in the right place.
It also creates a clearer page for search systems to interpret.
You don’t need a 500-word introduction explaining why the question is important before answering it.
Get to the point.
9. Use Helpful H2 and H3 Headings
Headings help organize your article.
Your H1 should identify the primary subject of the page.
Then use H2s for major sections and H3s when useful for subsections.
I don’t recommend stuffing an exact-match keyword into every heading.
Write headings for people first.
Someone skimming the article should be able to understand its overall structure simply by reading the headings.
That’s a good test.
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 such as:
Lessons you’ve learned working with customers
Common mistakes you’ve observed
Real examples
Case studies
Original photos
Screenshots
Your own process
Professional observations
Original data when available
For example, after working in SEO for more than 20 years, I’ve changed my opinion about several common blogging practices.
I used to put much more emphasis on publishing frequency and specific keyword placement.
Today, I’m far more concerned with whether a page serves a distinct purpose, matches search intent, contributes something useful, and fits logically within the rest of the website.
That’s a perspective I can bring to the article because I’ve actually done the work.
Ask yourself:
What can I add because I have real experience with this subject?
11. Use Keywords Naturally
Forget rules such as:
“Use your keyword exactly five times.”
There is no universal number of times you need to repeat a keyword.
If you’re writing comprehensively about the subject, you’ll naturally use the primary phrase and related terminology.
Your main topic may logically appear in places such as:
SEO title
H1
Introduction
Relevant headings
Body copy
URL
Meta description
But don’t force it.
If the writing sounds unnatural because you’re trying to squeeze the same phrase into every section, you’re overdoing it.
You can also use money keyword research to distinguish commercially valuable searches from purely informational topics before deciding what kind of page you should create.
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 when it helps the reader.
Internal links can:
Help people discover related information
Help search engines discover pages
Clarify relationships between topics
Reinforce website structure
Prevent valuable pages from becoming isolated
Internal linking shouldn’t only happen when you first publish an article.
When you publish something new, look for older relevant pages that could link to the new article, too.
13. Link to Helpful External Sources When Appropriate
Don’t be afraid to link to another website when it genuinely helps the reader.
If you’re citing research, discussing official documentation, referencing statistics, or pointing someone toward an authoritative resource, linking to the original source can improve the usefulness of your page.
Your goal isn’t to trap someone on your website.
Your goal is to create a trustworthy, useful resource.
Choose external sources carefully and make sure they actually support what you’re saying.
14. Optimize Images for Users and Search Engines
Images can improve an article when they contribute something useful.
Depending on the topic, that might include:
Original photographs
Screenshots
Charts
Examples
Infographics
Diagrams
Compress unnecessarily large images so they don’t 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 simply 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 accurate, useful, and concise.
For this article, for example:
Use this 20-step SEO blog post checklist to optimize search intent, titles, keywords, internal links, images, technical SEO and indexing before and after publishing.
Google may sometimes display different text in the search results, but I still write useful descriptions for important pages.
16. Make the Article Easy to Read
People often scan webpages before deciding whether to read them closely.
Make that easy.
I like to use:
Short paragraphs
Descriptive headings
Bulleted lists when appropriate
Numbered steps
Bold text selectively
Images when useful
Enough visual breathing room
There is no rule that every paragraph must contain exactly three sentences.
Format the content according to what makes the information easiest to understand.
17. Consider Structured Data When Appropriate
Structured data can provide search engines with additional machine-readable information about certain types of content.
Depending on the page, appropriate structured data might include types such as Article, Breadcrumb, Product, LocalBusiness, or another supported type.
But schema isn’t a magic ranking trick.
And I don’t recommend adding random structured data simply because an SEO plugin gives you the option.
Use structured data that accurately represents the content that’s actually on the page.
18. Check the Technical Basics Before Publishing
Before hitting Publish, check the actual page.
Make sure:
The page is indexable
The canonical URL is correct
The page works properly on mobile
Images aren’t unnecessarily large
Internal and external links work
The URL is correct
There isn’t an accidental noindex directive
The finished page loads properly
Excellent content can still have problems if technical issues prevent users or search engines from accessing it correctly.
19. Help Search Engines Discover Your New Blog Post
After publishing, don’t assume Google will immediately discover and index the article.
Make sure the new page:
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 use URL Inspection in Google Search Console for an important new or substantially updated page.
Remember:
Crawling, indexing, and ranking are three different things.
A page being indexed doesn’t mean it’s automatically going to rank.
20. Monitor the Article and Improve It Over Time
Publishing isn’t the end of SEO.
Once the article has had time to generate data, look at what happens.
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 useful question you barely addressed.
That’s valuable information.
You might expand that section, improve the title, strengthen internal links, update outdated information, or discover that the article overlaps with another page.
SEO content should evolve as you learn more.
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 subject.
If a question can be answered thoroughly in 700 words, don’t stretch it to 2,500 because an SEO tool tells you to.
If a complicated subject legitimately requires 3,000 words to explain properly, don’t stop at 1,000 just because you’ve reached an arbitrary target.
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, canonical URLs, 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 you chose the right topic
Whether the page satisfies search intent
Whether you’re competing with another page on your website
Whether your firsthand experience adds value
Whether the content fits your overall site strategy
Whether people will find the page useful
Use the plugin as a tool.
Don’t use it as your SEO strategy.
My Quick SEO Blog Post Checklist Before I Hit Publish
Here’s the condensed version:
☐ Does the article satisfy a clear search intent? ☐ Have I checked whether competing content already exists on my site? ☐ Does this topic deserve its own URL? ☐ Is the title clear and compelling? ☐ Is the URL clean? ☐ Does the introduction answer the primary question? ☐ Are H2s and H3s organized logically? ☐ Did I include firsthand experience or original value where appropriate? ☐ Are keywords used naturally? ☐ Did I add useful internal links? ☐ Did I link to authoritative external sources where appropriate? ☐ Are images compressed and useful? ☐ Is alt text descriptive where needed? ☐ Did I write the SEO title and meta description? ☐ Is the page easy to use on mobile? ☐ Is the canonical correct? ☐ Is the page indexable? ☐ Is it included in the XML sitemap? ☐ Do relevant existing pages link to it? ☐ Will I monitor its performance after publishing?
SEO Blog Post Checklist: 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 right page for the person searching for this information?
Then make the page genuinely useful and make sure search engines can discover it, understand its subject, and see how it connects to the rest of your website.
That’s a much stronger foundation for SEO.
And remember that publishing frequency isn’t the goal either. If you’re trying to decide how much content you actually need, read How Often Should You Blog for SEO?.
Once an article is live, the work isn’t necessarily finished. Monitor what happens, improve it when you learn something new, and continue building useful connections between your content.
If you’re a business owner and you’d rather have someone handle content strategy, optimization, internal linking, technical SEO, and ongoing analysis, 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 the technical basics, and make sure search engines can discover the page.
How many times should I use my keyword in a blog post?
There is no universal number. Use your primary topic and related terminology naturally 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 article. Your post should be long enough to satisfy the search intent and explain the subject 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 title can help readers understand what the page is about. The title should still be accurate, useful, and written for people rather than constructed solely around a keyword.
Do internal links help blog SEO?
Internal links help readers discover related information and help search engines discover pages and understand relationships across a website. They can also establish a clearer site structure.
Should I submit every new blog post through Google Search Console?
You can use URL Inspection 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 content naturally.
Do I need an SEO plugin to rank a blog post?
No. An SEO plugin can make it easier to manage titles, descriptions, canonicals, sitemaps, and other settings, but the plugin itself doesn’t make an article rank.
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.
Do not judge your strategy by the number of articles you publish.
That is an activity metric.
Instead, look at what the content is accomplishing.
Depending on the business, I may evaluate:
Organic impressions
Organic clicks
Visibility for relevant searches
Growth in non-branded search
Traffic to important landing pages
Movement from informational pages to service pages
Leads
Conversions
Backlinks
Pages gaining visibility over time
Google Search Console is especially helpful here.
You may discover that an article published two years ago is gaining impressions for dozens of relevant searches.
Improving that page could be a much better opportunity than creating something new.
So, How Often Should You Really Blog?
As often as you have something genuinely useful that deserves its own page.
That is my answer.
For one business, that may mean several articles in a month.
For another, one.
For an established website with hundreds of pages, there may be months when the ideal publishing frequency is:
Zero new blog posts.
That does not mean SEO has stopped.
You may be:
Improving old pages.
Consolidating content.
Strengthening internal links.
Updating service pages.
Earning backlinks.
Analyzing Search Console.
Improving local SEO.
Refining your conversion strategy.
There is no prize for having the largest blog.
The goal is to build the most useful and strategically organized website you can around the searches that matter to your business.
And do not forget the content you already created.
Prune the rosebush. 🌹
Some of your best SEO opportunities may already be growing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blogging Frequency
How many blog posts should I publish per month for SEO?
There is no required number. Your ideal publishing frequency depends on your website, competition, existing content, available opportunities, resources, and business goals.
Is one blog post per month enough for SEO?
It can be. One useful article that fills an important content gap may be more valuable than several rushed posts. Some businesses need more content while mature websites may need less.
Does blogging every day improve SEO?
Not automatically. Publishing every day only makes sense if you have enough genuinely useful, distinct subjects to justify that frequency.
Can I publish too many blog posts?
The number itself is not the problem. Problems arise when websites accumulate overlapping, outdated, redundant, or low-value content.
Should I update old blog posts or write new ones?
Do both strategically. If an existing page already addresses the search intent, improving it may be better than creating another competing URL. Publish a new page when there is a genuinely distinct opportunity.
How long should a blog post be for SEO?
There is no ideal word count. The article should be long enough to answer the question properly without unnecessary filler.
Does updating old content help SEO?
It can when the update genuinely improves the page. Useful updates may include correcting outdated information, strengthening search intent alignment, adding better examples, improving internal links, or consolidating redundant content.
Is blogging still worth it?
Yes, when there is a strategy behind it. Useful articles can attract relevant searches, demonstrate expertise, support important pages, earn links, and educate potential customers.
Need Help Deciding What to Publish Next?
If you have been blogging consistently but are not seeing stronger rankings, leads, or visibility, publishing even more content may not be the answer.
You may need to look at the bigger picture.
Are you targeting the right searches?
Are several pages competing?
Do your important service pages have enough support?
Does your internal linking make sense?
Do you already have content that should be improved instead?
That is the kind of work I help businesses figure out.
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
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