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SEO Blog Post Checklist for Beginners: 20 Steps for 2026

SEO Blog Post Checklist for Beginners: 20 Steps for 2026

Apr 14, 2020 | Blogging, SEO Tips

Updated for 2026

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.

SEO Blog Post Checklist

  1. Determine Search Intent
  2. Choose a Primary Topic
  3. Check Your Existing Content
  4. Research the Search Results
  5. Create an Outline
  6. Write a Strong SEO Title
  7. Create a Clean URL
  8. Answer the Question Early
  9. Use Helpful Headings
  10. Add Firsthand Experience
  11. Use Keywords Naturally
  12. Add Internal Links
  13. Use Helpful External Sources
  14. Optimize Your Images
  15. Write a Meta Description
  16. Improve Readability
  17. Consider Structured Data
  18. Check Technical SEO
  19. Help Google Discover the Post
  20. Monitor and Improve the Article

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.

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.

Internal links can help:

  • Readers discover related information
  • Search engines discover pages
  • Clarify relationships between topics
  • Strengthen your website architecture
  • Reduce orphan pages

For example, if you’re having trouble getting a new article discovered, read my guide to getting your pages indexed by Google.

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.

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.

 

17 SEO Facts Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

17 SEO Facts Business Owners Need to Know in 2026

Apr 3, 2020 | SEO Tips

Updated for 2026

Quick Answer: What Should Business Owners Know About SEO in 2026?

SEO still works, but it has changed.

In 2026, SEO is no longer just about putting keywords on a website, publishing blog posts, and collecting backlinks. Strong search visibility comes from a combination of helpful content, optimized service pages, technical SEO, internal linking, authority, local relevance, reviews, backlinks, brand recognition, and search intent.

The biggest change is that people now discover businesses in more places.

Your potential customers may find you through traditional Google results, Google Maps, AI Overviews, AI Mode, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI-powered search experiences.

But after more than 20 years working in SEO, one thing has remained remarkably consistent:

The businesses that win in search tend to have websites that clearly explain what they do, demonstrate real expertise, earn trust, and provide genuinely useful information.

Here are 17 SEO facts I believe every business owner should understand in 2026.

Table of Contents

1. SEO Is a Long-Term Business Strategy

One of the first things I explain to business owners is that SEO is not an advertising switch you turn on.

I’ve always compared SEO to chess.

You don’t win a chess game because you made one brilliant move. You win because a series of smart decisions gradually puts you in a stronger position.

SEO works the same way.

You might improve an important service page this month, fix technical problems next month, earn a valuable backlink later, publish several useful resources, strengthen your internal linking, earn more reviews, and continue building recognition for your brand.

One improvement may not transform your rankings overnight.

But together, those improvements can create a website that is considerably stronger than it was six or twelve months earlier.

That is why I don’t build SEO strategies around tricks or shortcuts. I look at where a website is today, what is holding it back, where the opportunities are, and what we should improve next.

2. SEO Is Not a One-Time Project

There are absolutely SEO tasks that can be completed once.

For example:

  • Fixing technical errors
  • Optimizing a service page
  • Improving title tags and meta descriptions
  • Setting up Google Search Console
  • Improving website architecture
  • Optimizing a Google Business Profile

But completing those tasks doesn’t mean SEO is finished.

Your competitors don’t stop improving.

Your industry changes. Search behavior changes. Your business changes. Old content becomes outdated. New competitors appear. Google changes its search results. AI-powered search continues evolving.

That’s why I consider SEO an ongoing marketing strategy, not a box you check once and forget about.

3. More Content Does Not Automatically Mean Better SEO

One of the most common things business owners hear is:

“You need to blog more.”

That’s incomplete advice.

You don’t necessarily need more content.

You need the right content.

I would rather see a business have 20 excellent pages strategically supporting its products and services than 200 mediocre articles targeting random keywords.

Before I recommend creating another blog post, I ask questions such as:

  • Does this topic support something the business actually sells?
  • Are potential customers searching for it?
  • What is the search intent?
  • Do we already have another page targeting the same intent?
  • Could this new article compete with one of our existing pages?
  • Which important service or product page will this content support?
  • Does this strengthen our authority around an important topic?

I’ve written more about this in my guide explaining why publishing more content isn’t automatically an SEO strategy.

SEO isn’t a contest to see who can create the most URLs.

4. Keywords Still Matter

Every few years, somebody declares that keywords are dead.

They’re not.

What’s changed is how we use them.

Imagine you’re a custom surfboard manufacturer in San Diego, but your website barely mentions surfboards, San Diego, custom boards, the types of boards you make, your manufacturing process, or who your products are designed for.

That’s a problem.

Search engines need context.

At the same time, repeating “San Diego surfboard company” 30 times isn’t the solution.

A strong page should naturally explain:

  • What you offer
  • Who you serve
  • Where you provide it
  • How your product or service works
  • What makes you different
  • Why customers should trust you
  • Common questions customers have

When you thoroughly explain a subject, your important keywords, entities, services, locations, and related concepts tend to appear naturally.

Write comprehensively first. Optimize intelligently second.

5. Search Intent Can Be More Important Than Search Volume

A keyword isn’t valuable simply because an SEO tool says thousands of people search for it.

You need to understand why those people are searching.

For example:

“What is SEO?”

and

“SEO company San Diego”

represent completely different intentions.

Someone searching what is SEO? probably wants to learn.

Someone searching SEO company San Diego may be actively looking for a company to hire.

That’s a huge difference for a business owner.

I’ve seen websites rank well and still generate very little business because they’re ranking for keywords that don’t attract potential customers.

Traffic isn’t the ultimate goal. Qualified traffic is.

6. Your Service Pages May Be More Important Than Your Blog

I regularly see business websites with hundreds of blog posts but surprisingly weak service pages.

That’s backwards.

Your blog can help you build topical depth, attract informational searches, earn links, answer customer questions, and create internal-linking opportunities.

But your service pages explain what people can actually hire you for.

If I had to choose between:

50 mediocre blog posts

or

5 outstanding service pages

I’d take the five service pages.

Every time.

Then I would strategically build supporting content around those pages.

Your blog should support your business—not become a completely separate publishing operation that happens to live on your domain.

Internal linking is one of the first things I examine when auditing a website.

Suppose you’ve written ten excellent articles related to one of your primary services.

But none of those articles links to the primary service page.

That’s a missed opportunity.

Internal links help visitors discover useful related information. They also help search engines understand how your pages relate to one another and which pages are particularly important.

The anchor text surrounding those links can provide additional context as well.

I’ve written an entire guide about internal linking for SEO.

Your website shouldn’t feel like hundreds of isolated pages.

It should feel like an interconnected library of information about your business and expertise.

Backlinks have been important to SEO for decades.

They still matter.

What has changed is how I think businesses should approach them.

I would never tell a client:

“Let’s get as many backlinks as possible.”

I’d rather earn links and mentions from websites that are legitimate and relevant to the business.

These might include:

  • Industry publications
  • Local news websites
  • Professional organizations
  • Business associations
  • Suppliers
  • Business partners
  • Universities
  • Community organizations
  • Expert interviews
  • Digital PR opportunities

One legitimate editorial link from a respected, relevant website can be far more meaningful than dozens of low-quality links created solely to manipulate rankings.

For local businesses, I’ve also put together a resource covering local citation opportunities.

9. Local SEO Is Its Own Battlefield

If you operate a local business, you’re competing in more than traditional organic results.

You’re also competing for visibility in Google Maps and location-based search results.

Local visibility can be influenced by a combination of factors involving:

  • Your Google Business Profile
  • Your website
  • Your physical location
  • Business categories
  • Reviews
  • Business information
  • Local relevance
  • Links and mentions
  • Competition

That’s why a business can perform extremely well in Google’s traditional organic results but struggle in Maps—or vice versa.

If nearby customers are important to your company, Local SEO deserves its own strategy.

10. Technical SEO Can Hold Back Excellent Content

You can have the best-written page in your industry and still struggle if Google has trouble crawling, understanding, or indexing it.

Technical problems I commonly look for include:

  • Indexing issues
  • Incorrect canonical tags
  • Broken internal links
  • Redirect problems
  • Duplicate pages
  • Thin or unnecessary URLs
  • Poor site architecture
  • Mobile usability problems
  • Performance issues
  • Accidentally blocked pages

This is why I don’t walk into every SEO project saying:

“Let’s publish more blog posts.”

Sometimes you don’t need more.

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is fix and strengthen what you already have.

11. Website Speed Matters, but It Won’t Save a Weak Website

Website performance matters.

Nobody enjoys using a painfully slow website, particularly on a phone.

But business owners sometimes become obsessed with achieving a perfect website-speed score while ignoring much larger SEO problems.

A lightning-fast website with weak content, poor service pages, little authority, no backlinks, and weak local relevance doesn’t automatically outrank a strong competitor.

I want websites to be:

Fast enough. Stable. Mobile-friendly. Easy to navigate. Easy to use.

Speed is important.

It’s just not the entire SEO strategy.

12. “Domain Authority” Isn’t a Google Ranking Score

This is something more business owners should know.

Google does not use Moz Domain Authority, Ahrefs Domain Rating, or Semrush Authority Score as Google’s ranking scores.

These are third-party metrics.

They can be useful for research and comparisons, but increasing a third-party number shouldn’t become the objective of your SEO campaign.

Real authority is much bigger.

It can come from:

  • Excellent service pages
  • Helpful supporting content
  • Relevant backlinks
  • Brand mentions
  • Genuine customer reviews
  • Expert authorship
  • Case studies
  • First-hand experience
  • Strong internal linking
  • Consistent business information

I explain this further in my guide to topical authority vs. Domain Authority.

Build a business Google has reasons to trust—not merely a better score inside an SEO tool.

This is one of the questions I hear most often in 2026:

“Is AI going to replace SEO?”

I don’t believe it will.

But I absolutely believe AI is changing search.

Your customers can now discover businesses and information through:

  • Google Search
  • Google Maps
  • Google AI Overviews
  • Google AI Mode
  • ChatGPT
  • Gemini
  • Other AI-powered discovery platforms

That means businesses need to start thinking beyond earning one traditional blue link in Google.

But here’s something important:

AI systems still need information.

They need to understand who you are, what your business does, what you’re known for, where you operate, whether you’re credible, what other sources say about you, and whether your content actually answers the user’s question.

That’s why my approach to AI Search Optimization builds on good SEO fundamentals rather than throwing them away.

SEO isn’t disappearing. Search is expanding.

14. Ranking #1 Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Your SEO Is Working

I love seeing one of my clients move into a top Google position.

Of course I do.

But ranking #1 isn’t the ultimate business goal.

Imagine ranking #1 for a keyword nobody searches.

Or ranking #1 for a keyword that brings hundreds of visitors but zero customers.

What did that ranking actually accomplish?

That’s why I look beyond rankings at signals such as:

  • Organic visibility
  • Qualified organic traffic
  • Leads
  • Phone calls
  • Form submissions
  • Sales
  • Google Maps interactions
  • Important service-page rankings
  • Branded searches
  • Non-branded searches

I want to know whether SEO is helping the business become more visible to the people who matter.

The goal isn’t prettier SEO reports.

The goal is more opportunities for the right customers to discover your business.

15. Good SEO Requires Real Work

SEO is much more than changing a few title tags every month.

Depending on the website and competitive landscape, an SEO campaign can involve:

  • Research
  • Strategy
  • Technical SEO
  • Content
  • On-page optimization
  • Internal linking
  • Local SEO
  • Google Business Profile optimization
  • Authority building
  • Reporting
  • Competitor research
  • Content updates
  • Conversion improvements

That’s why two companies can both sell something called “monthly SEO” while providing completely different services.

A $200 SEO package and a $2,000 SEO package aren’t necessarily the same work with a different markup.

Before hiring anyone, ask:

What are you actually going to do every month?

That’s also why I publish my SEO pricing. I’d rather business owners understand what they’re paying for before they contact me.

16. Nobody Can Honestly Guarantee When You’ll Rank #1

Be cautious when someone promises:

“I’ll get you #1 on Google in 30 days.”

Nobody controls Google’s organic rankings.

SEO timelines vary considerably depending on:

  • Competition
  • Industry
  • Location
  • Website history
  • Current rankings
  • Content quality
  • Website authority
  • Technical health
  • Competitor strength
  • Available resources

A brand-new website trying to rank for an extremely competitive personal injury keyword in San Diego faces a completely different challenge from an established local business targeting a less competitive service.

There is no responsible universal answer to:

“How long will SEO take?”

There are estimates based on experience, competition and data.

There are not guarantees.

17. SEO Can Become More Valuable Over Time

This is one of my favorite things about SEO.

A useful page you publish today can continue bringing people to your website years from now.

A strong backlink you earn today can continue pointing to your website.

A well-built service page can accumulate internal links, external links, search visibility, engagement, and authority over time.

Supporting articles can strengthen your website’s coverage of an entire subject.

More people can become familiar with your brand.

And all of those improvements can begin building upon one another.

That’s very different from advertising, where your paid placement generally disappears when you stop paying.

That doesn’t mean SEO is free.

Building and maintaining strong organic visibility requires time, expertise, content, technical work, and resources.

But SEO’s ability to compound is one of the reasons I still believe it’s one of the most valuable long-term digital marketing investments a business can make.

SEO Facts Business Owners Need to Know: Final Thoughts

I’ve worked in SEO for more than 20 years, and I’ve watched this industry change dramatically.

Some tactics I used years ago aren’t tactics I’d recommend today.

That’s normal.

Google changes. Technology changes. Websites change. Your competitors change. And now AI is changing how people search for information.

But the fundamental objective hasn’t changed nearly as much as people think.

Help the right people find the right information at the right time—and give search engines strong reasons to trust your website and business.

That’s why I don’t build SEO campaigns around tricks.

I focus on creating stronger websites, better service pages, genuinely useful content, logical internal linking, technical accessibility, authority, local relevance, and recognizable brands.

And I don’t believe every business needs exactly the same SEO strategy.

Some websites need content.

Some need better service pages.

Some desperately need technical cleanup.

Some need backlinks and authority.

Some need Local SEO.

Some are already receiving traffic but targeting the wrong searches.

The first step is figuring out what is actually holding your website back.

As a San Diego SEO expert, I work directly with business owners to identify what’s helping their visibility, what’s hurting it, and where I see the strongest opportunities for growth.

Want Me to Take a Look at Your Website?

I’ll analyze your website and show you where I see opportunities to improve your search visibility.

GET YOUR FREE SEO ANALYSIS

Call or text: (619) 719-1315

Thanks for reading,
Jen Ruhman
SEO Expert & Founder of Jen Ruhman SEO

Frequently Asked Questions About SEO

Does SEO still work in 2026?

Yes. SEO still helps businesses become visible when potential customers search for products, services, businesses, and information. Search has expanded beyond traditional organic results to include Google Maps and AI-powered search experiences, making a strong online presence even more important.

Is SEO a one-time project?

Not usually. Individual SEO tasks can be completed as one-time projects, but maintaining and improving search visibility generally requires ongoing attention because competitors, websites, search behavior, technology, and search results continue changing.

Do businesses need to publish blog posts for SEO?

Not necessarily. Blogging can be extremely useful when the content supports your products, services, expertise, and customers’ questions. However, improving service pages, technical SEO, internal linking, Local SEO, or authority may be a higher priority for some businesses.

Are keywords still important for SEO?

Yes. Keywords help identify what people are searching for and provide important context about a page. Modern SEO, however, focuses more on satisfying search intent and comprehensively covering a topic than repeatedly inserting an exact keyword.

Do backlinks still help SEO?

Yes. Relevant, legitimate backlinks can help strengthen a website’s authority and visibility. The quality and relevance of those links are generally much more important than simply obtaining the largest possible number.

Is AI replacing SEO?

No, but AI is changing search. People can now discover businesses through traditional search results as well as AI-powered search experiences. Businesses still need clear, useful, trustworthy, accessible information that search engines and AI systems can understand.

How long does SEO take?

There is no universal timeline. SEO results depend on your website’s starting point, competition, industry, location, existing authority, technical condition, content, target searches, and available resources. Competitive markets generally require more time and sustained effort.


How to Make Your Website Load Faster: 12 Speed & SEO Tips for 2026

How to Make Your Website Load Faster: 12 Speed & SEO Tips for 2026

Mar 27, 2020 | SEO Tips

Is your website painfully slow?

A slow website can frustrate visitors, make your business look unprofessional, and create unnecessary problems for SEO.

I originally wrote this article in 2020 when my advice focused heavily on installing caching plugins, setting up Cloudflare, enabling GZIP compression, and moving away from cheap shared hosting.

Some of those ideas are still useful.

But website performance has become much more sophisticated, and I don’t think the answer is simply installing five more WordPress plugins and hoping your PageSpeed score turns green.

In 2026, I focus on the entire loading experience: hosting, images, caching, scripts, fonts, plugins, layout stability, responsiveness, and what real visitors experience when they use the website.

Quick Answer:

To make your website load faster, start by optimizing large images, using effective caching, reducing unnecessary plugins and scripts, improving hosting when necessary, lazy-loading offscreen media, using a CDN where appropriate, and monitoring your Core Web Vitals. Focus on making the site genuinely faster and easier to use rather than chasing a perfect PageSpeed score.

Table of Contents

Does Website Speed Affect SEO?

Yes, but I want to put this in perspective.

Google uses Core Web Vitals as part of its ranking systems, and Google recommends achieving good Core Web Vitals for both Search success and user experience.

However, Google also makes it clear that getting excellent Core Web Vitals scores does not guarantee top rankings.

Search relevance, content quality, authority, intent, and many other factors still matter.

That’s why I don’t recommend destroying your website design just to move a PageSpeed score from 94 to 100.

Your goal should be a genuinely fast, stable and responsive website—not a trophy score.

How to Test Your Website Speed

Before changing anything, measure the website.

I like to begin with:

  • Google PageSpeed Insights
  • Google Search Console’s Core Web Vitals report
  • Chrome DevTools
  • GTmetrix

Don’t rely on only one test.

Performance can vary depending on:

  • Device
  • Network connection
  • Location
  • Server load
  • Whether the page is cached
  • Which page you’re testing

Your homepage may be fast while your service pages are slow.

Your desktop experience may be fine while your mobile experience is terrible.

Test representative pages, not just your homepage.

1. Optimize Large Images

If I had to choose one easy place for business owners to start, I’d look at images.

I constantly see websites uploading enormous photos straight from a phone, professional camera, Canva, or stock-photo website.

A photo might be 4,000 pixels wide even though it’s displayed at 800 pixels.

That’s wasted data.

Before uploading images:

  • Resize them close to the dimensions they’ll actually display at
  • Compress the file
  • Use the appropriate format
  • Avoid uploading huge source files unnecessarily

Large images can be especially damaging to Largest Contentful Paint when the hero image is the biggest visible element at the top of the page.

2. Use Modern Image Formats

Modern image formats such as WebP and AVIF can often provide high visual quality at smaller file sizes than older formats.

That doesn’t mean every image on every website must be converted manually.

Many WordPress optimization tools, CDNs, and hosting platforms can handle modern image delivery automatically.

The bigger principle is simple:

Don’t send visitors more image data than they need.

3. Use Lazy Loading Correctly

Lazy loading delays images and other media until they’re closer to being visible on the screen.

This can reduce the amount of content the browser needs to load immediately.

But don’t blindly lazy-load everything.

Your main hero image or another important above-the-fold image may contribute to Largest Contentful Paint.

If that important image is delayed unnecessarily, you can actually hurt loading performance.

I generally want offscreen images lazy-loaded while important visible content gets prioritized appropriately.

4. Use Page and Browser Caching

Caching can make a major difference for WordPress websites.

Rather than rebuilding a page from scratch for every visitor, caching can allow the server or browser to reuse previously generated resources.

Depending on your hosting setup, caching may already be provided at the server level.

If not, a reputable WordPress caching solution may help.

The important part:

Don’t install multiple full-page caching plugins that all try to do the same thing.

Overlapping caching tools can create conflicts and make troubleshooting more difficult.

5. Remove Unnecessary WordPress Plugins

I still agree with this piece of my original 2020 advice.

WordPress plugins aren’t inherently bad.

Plugins are one of the reasons WordPress is so flexible.

But websites sometimes accumulate years of:

  • Unused plugins
  • Duplicate functionality
  • Old plugins nobody maintains
  • Plugins loading scripts on every page
  • Features nobody actually uses

Audit your plugin list.

Ask:

Do we still need this?

If not, remove it.

But don’t assume the website with the fewest plugins automatically wins.

One badly coded plugin can cause more trouble than ten lightweight ones.

6. Reduce Unnecessary JavaScript and CSS

Modern websites can become extremely script-heavy.

Common sources include:

  • Page builders
  • Tracking software
  • Chat widgets
  • Advertising scripts
  • Popups
  • Animation libraries
  • Social widgets
  • Third-party embeds

Every feature has a cost.

That doesn’t mean you should remove useful features simply because they add JavaScript.

Instead, ask whether the feature provides enough business value to justify the performance cost.

Depending on the site, developers may also:

  • Defer noncritical scripts
  • Delay certain third-party scripts
  • Remove unused CSS
  • Minify assets
  • Load assets only on pages where they’re needed

Test carefully after making these changes.

A slightly faster website isn’t useful if the contact form stops working.

7. Make Sure Your Hosting Isn’t the Bottleneck

This is another part of my original article I still strongly agree with—with one important clarification.

Cheap hosting isn’t automatically bad, and shared hosting isn’t automatically unusable.

But hosting quality absolutely matters.

If your server takes too long to begin responding, optimizing image files isn’t going to solve everything.

Hosting problems can become more noticeable when:

  • Your traffic grows
  • You run WooCommerce
  • Your website has many plugins
  • Your database becomes large
  • You use resource-heavy page builders
  • Your plan has very limited server resources

If you’ve optimized the front end and the website still consistently feels slow, investigate the server.

Sometimes moving to better hosting produces a much larger improvement than adding another optimization plugin.

8. Consider Using a CDN

A Content Delivery Network, or CDN, stores and serves website resources through distributed infrastructure.

Depending on your audience and hosting configuration, this can reduce latency and improve delivery.

Cloudflare remains one well-known option, but the CDN landscape is much larger than it was when I originally wrote this article.

Some modern hosting providers already include CDN functionality.

Before adding another service, check what your existing host provides.

Don’t add technology simply because an SEO checklist says you need it.

Understand what problem you’re trying to solve.

9. Optimize Your Fonts

Fonts are easy to overlook.

A beautifully designed site may be loading:

  • Multiple font families
  • Numerous font weights
  • Large external font files
  • Fonts that block rendering

Ask whether you really need:

  • Regular
  • Medium
  • Semi-bold
  • Bold
  • Extra-bold
  • Italic
  • Light

for every font family.

Simplifying typography can reduce unnecessary requests while preserving your branding.

10. Keep WordPress and Your Database Clean

Long-running WordPress websites can accumulate clutter.

Depending on the site, this might include:

  • Post revisions
  • Expired transients
  • Old plugin data
  • Unused database tables
  • Spam comments
  • Orphaned options

Database cleanup can help some sites, especially large or older installations.

But please:

Back up the website before aggressively cleaning your database.

If you aren’t comfortable working with the database, leave this to your developer or hosting provider.

11. Improve Your Core Web Vitals

Google’s Core Web Vitals currently focus on three primary user-experience measurements:

  • Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) — loading performance
  • Interaction to Next Paint (INP) — responsiveness
  • Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS) — visual stability

Google’s recommended “good” thresholds are:

  • LCP: 2.5 seconds or less
  • INP: 200 milliseconds or less
  • CLS: 0.1 or less

Those measurements are much more useful than simply asking:

“How many seconds does my website take to load?”

A page can technically continue loading background resources while already feeling fast and usable to the visitor.

How to Improve LCP

Common LCP problems include:

  • Large hero images
  • Slow server response
  • Render-blocking CSS
  • Important resources loading too late

How to Improve INP

Poor responsiveness can come from:

  • Heavy JavaScript
  • Long-running browser tasks
  • Complex third-party scripts

How to Improve CLS

Layout shifts often happen when:

  • Images don’t have dimensions reserved
  • Ads suddenly appear
  • Fonts swap dramatically
  • Banners or other elements push content around while loading

12. Test the Real Mobile Experience

Please don’t optimize your site on a giant desktop monitor and assume you’re finished.

Open the website on your phone.

Use it like a customer.

Check:

  • Does the hero load quickly?
  • Can you tap the menu immediately?
  • Does the page jump around?
  • Can you tap the phone number?
  • Does the form respond quickly?
  • Are popups blocking the screen?
  • Do images take forever to appear?

Sometimes a speed score looks acceptable while the actual website feels terrible.

Real-world usability wins.

Website Speed Mistakes I Would Avoid

I’ve seen plenty of websites become more complicated while trying to make them faster.

Here are some mistakes I’d avoid:

  • Installing several caching plugins simultaneously
  • Minifying or combining files without testing the site afterward
  • Lazy-loading the main LCP image unnecessarily
  • Compressing images so aggressively they look terrible
  • Removing useful functionality purely for PageSpeed points
  • Using five separate plugins where one tool could handle the same tasks
  • Assuming every speed warning needs to be fixed
  • Changing hosting before determining whether hosting is actually the problem
  • Optimizing only the homepage
  • Obsessing over a perfect 100 score

The goal isn’t to impress PageSpeed Insights.

The goal is to make your website better for the people using it.

My WordPress Speed Strategy

If I were handed a slow WordPress website today, here’s roughly how I’d approach it.

  1. Measure first. Test the major page templates.
  2. Check hosting/server response. Determine whether the server is part of the problem.
  3. Inspect images. Large hero and content images are often easy wins.
  4. Audit plugins. Remove unnecessary functionality.
  5. Review caching. Determine what the host already provides and avoid overlapping systems.
  6. Review JavaScript and CSS. Identify bloated or unnecessary assets.
  7. Check third-party scripts. Chat, tracking and embed tools can be expensive.
  8. Review Core Web Vitals. Identify the actual failing metric.
  9. Test mobile. Use the website like a customer.
  10. Measure again. Confirm whether the changes actually helped.

Notice what’s missing?

“Install every speed plugin I can find.”

That’s not a performance strategy.

How Fast Should Your Website Be?

I don’t use a universal rule such as “every website must completely load in under two seconds.”

Modern pages are more complicated than that.

Instead, I look at whether important content becomes visible quickly, whether the page responds when someone interacts with it, whether the layout remains stable, and whether the website feels fast on a normal mobile connection.

Google’s Core Web Vitals provide useful targets for those experiences.

But remember: good scores don’t magically make irrelevant content rank.

You still need SEO.

Page Speed Is Only One Part of SEO

This is important because I don’t want business owners leaving this article thinking:

“My site is fast now. SEO complete!”

Nope. 🙂

A fast website that has:

  • Weak content
  • No authority
  • Bad keyword targeting
  • Poor internal linking
  • Indexing problems
  • Weak service pages

can still struggle in search.

If you’re trying to determine why your website isn’t generating organic visibility, read my guide explaining why you’re not getting search engine traffic.

Frequently Asked Questions About Website Speed

Does website speed affect Google rankings?

Website performance and Core Web Vitals can contribute to search success, but speed is not the only ranking consideration. Google still prioritizes relevant and helpful content, and excellent performance scores alone do not guarantee high rankings.

What are the Core Web Vitals in 2026?

The Core Web Vitals are Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), Interaction to Next Paint (INP), and Cumulative Layout Shift (CLS). They measure loading performance, responsiveness, and visual stability.

What is a good Largest Contentful Paint score?

Google recommends an LCP of 2.5 seconds or less for a good user experience.

What is a good INP score?

Google recommends an Interaction to Next Paint score of 200 milliseconds or less.

What is a good CLS score?

Google recommends a Cumulative Layout Shift score of 0.1 or less.

Will Cloudflare make my website faster?

A CDN such as Cloudflare can improve delivery in some situations, but the amount of improvement depends on your hosting, audience, existing caching, website architecture, and performance problems. A CDN is not a substitute for fixing an overloaded server or extremely large page assets.

Do too many WordPress plugins slow down a website?

They can, but the total number of plugins is not the only issue. A single poorly optimized plugin can sometimes create more performance problems than several lightweight plugins. Audit the functionality, quality, and resources loaded by each plugin.

Do I need a caching plugin for WordPress?

Not always. Many modern hosting providers already provide server-level caching. If your host does not, a reputable caching solution can improve performance. Avoid running multiple full-page caching systems that perform overlapping tasks.

Should I move away from shared hosting to speed up my website?

Not necessarily. Good shared hosting can work well for many small websites. Upgrading may make sense if server response remains poor, your website has outgrown the available resources, or your traffic and functionality require more powerful infrastructure.

Do I need a perfect 100 PageSpeed score for SEO?

No. Google specifically advises that getting perfect performance scores solely for SEO may not be the best use of your time. Focus on meeting good user-experience thresholds and fixing meaningful performance problems.

Need Help With a Slow Website?

If your website is slow and you’re not sure whether the problem is your images, plugins, hosting, theme, JavaScript, caching or something else, I can help identify what’s actually causing the slowdown.

I’m Jen Ruhman, and I’ve worked in SEO for more than 20 years. Technical SEO and website performance are part of the larger optimization work I perform for businesses.

If you’re looking for an experienced SEO expert in San Diego, I’d be happy to take a look at your website and identify your strongest opportunities.

Call or text me: (619) 719-1315

— Jen Ruhman
SEO Expert & Founder of Jen Ruhman SEO

How Often Should You Blog for SEO in 2026?

How Often Should You Blog for SEO in 2026?

Mar 12, 2020 | Blogging, SEO Tips

are we a good fit to work together

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.

Table of Contents

Does Blogging Still Help SEO?

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 wrote an entire article explaining why publishing more blogs doesn’t always improve SEO because this has become such an important issue for established websites.

Quality vs. Quantity: Which Matters More?

Quality wins.

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.

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

 

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords for SEO in 2026 (Free Methods)

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords for SEO in 2026 (Free Methods)

Mar 1, 2020 | SEO Tips

Updated for 2026

One of the easiest ways to waste time with SEO is targeting keywords that are either far too competitive or unlikely to bring the right people to your website.

I’ve worked in SEO for more than 20 years, and keyword research is still one of the first things I look at when a website isn’t getting enough organic traffic or leads.

But I don’t simply look for the keyword with the biggest search volume.

I look for the searches that make sense for the business.

That’s where long-tail keywords become extremely useful.

A smaller, more specific search can sometimes be much more valuable than a broad keyword receiving thousands of searches.

And the good news is that you don’t necessarily need an expensive SEO tool to find them.

Quick Answer: How Do You Find Long-Tail Keywords for Free?

You can find long-tail keywords for free using Google Autocomplete, related searches, People Also Ask, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, forums, customer questions, competitor search results, and free versions of keyword research tools.

The key isn’t simply finding the longest keyword possible.

You want to find specific searches that match what your ideal customer actually wants.

Table of Contents

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?

Long-tail keywords are more specific search queries than broad, general keywords.

They are often several words long, but I don’t think the number of words is the most important part.

Specificity and search intent matter more.

For example:

Broad keyword: SEO

More specific keyword: SEO company

Long-tail/local keyword: SEO company for small businesses in San Diego

The final search tells us much more about what the person wants.

They’re probably not looking for a definition of SEO.

They may be looking for a company to hire.

Examples of Long-Tail Keywords

Here’s how I think about moving from broad searches toward more specific searches:

Broad KeywordMore Specific KeywordLong-Tail / High-Intent Keyword
SEOSEO companySEO company for small businesses in San Diego
lawyercar accident lawyercar accident lawyer in San Diego
spray tanspray tan San Diegonatural-looking spray tan in San Diego
financial advisorfinancial advisor San Diegofiduciary financial advisor in San Diego
laptop repairlaptop repair San Diegosame-day laptop screen repair in San Diego

Notice what’s happening.

As the searches become more specific, we usually learn more about:

  • What the person wants
  • Where they want it
  • What problem they’re trying to solve
  • How close they may be to taking action

That’s why long-tail keyword research can be so valuable for businesses.

Why Are Long-Tail Keywords Important for SEO?

Long-tail keywords can be useful for several reasons.

They Can Have More Specific Search Intent

Someone searching for “financial advisor” could be researching the profession, looking for a job, looking for a definition, or trying to hire someone.

Someone searching for “fiduciary financial advisor in San Diego” has given us much more information about what they want.

They May Be Less Competitive

Broad commercial keywords can be extremely competitive.

A more specific variation may have fewer websites directly competing for that exact intent.

That doesn’t mean every long-tail keyword is easy to rank for. You still need to examine the actual search results.

They Can Bring More Qualified Visitors

I’d rather send a local business 100 highly relevant visitors than 10,000 people who have no intention of becoming customers.

Traffic by itself doesn’t pay the bills.

The goal is attracting the right traffic.

Start With Search Intent Before Search Volume

This is one of the biggest changes I would make to the way beginners approach keyword research.

Don’t start by asking:

“Which keyword has the most searches?”

Start by asking:

“What is this person actually trying to accomplish?”

Search intent generally falls into categories such as:

  • Informational: The person wants to learn something.
  • Commercial investigation: The person is comparing options.
  • Transactional: The person may be ready to buy, call, book, or hire.
  • Navigational: The person is trying to find a particular business, website, or page.

For a business website, you usually want a healthy combination of informational and commercial content.

But don’t confuse traffic with revenue.

1. Use Google Autocomplete

This is still one of my favorite free keyword-research methods.

Go to Google and begin typing a broad topic related to your business.

For example:

SEO company San Diego…

Google may suggest additional searches based on what people search for and other factors.

Try adding modifiers such as:

  • best
  • for
  • near me
  • cost
  • how
  • why
  • vs
  • reviews
  • services

You can also experiment by typing letters after your main query to discover additional variations.

Important: Don’t automatically create a page for every suggestion you see. First determine whether the query is relevant and whether it represents a distinct search intent.

Google’s search results can provide additional searches related to your original query.

These can help you understand how people refine a topic.

If I’m researching a topic for a client, I look for patterns.

Are people repeatedly adding:

  • A city?
  • A price?
  • A specific service?
  • A problem?
  • A comparison?
  • A particular type of customer?

Those modifiers can help reveal useful long-tail opportunities.

3. Look at People Also Ask

Question-based searches can be excellent content opportunities.

Depending on the query, Google may display related questions in the search results.

These can help identify concerns your audience has around the topic.

For example, someone researching SEO might ask:

  • How long does SEO take?
  • How much should SEO cost?
  • Is SEO worth it for a small business?
  • Can I do SEO myself?

Those aren’t just keyword ideas.

They’re customer questions.

That’s much more useful.

4. Use Google Search Console to Find Keywords You’re Already Ranking For

This is one of the most overlooked free keyword research methods.

Your own website may already be telling you what to optimize.

Open Google Search Console and look at the queries generating impressions for your pages.

I pay special attention to queries where:

  • The page receives impressions but few clicks
  • The page ranks around positions 8–20
  • The query is highly relevant to the business
  • The page only partially answers the query

Sometimes you don’t need to create a new article at all.

You may simply need to improve the page that’s already showing up.

5. Use Google Keyword Planner

Google Keyword Planner can provide additional keyword ideas and estimated search demand.

It’s useful for discovering variations you may not have considered.

However, I wouldn’t choose a keyword solely because Keyword Planner shows a large number next to it.

Use the data as one piece of the decision.

You still need to evaluate:

  • Search intent
  • Competition
  • Business relevance
  • Conversion potential
  • The actual Google results

6. Use Questions Your Customers Actually Ask

Some of the best long-tail keywords don’t come from SEO tools.

They come from customers.

Think about the questions people ask you:

  • On phone calls
  • In emails
  • During consultations
  • In contact forms
  • During sales conversations
  • In reviews

If five potential customers ask you the same specific question, that’s worth paying attention to.

It may be a great FAQ.

It may deserve a section on a service page.

Or it may deserve an entire article.

Real customer language is extremely valuable because it tells you how your audience describes the problem—not how people in your industry describe it.

7. Study Your Competitors

Search your important keywords and look at the websites currently appearing.

Don’t copy them.

Study them.

Look at:

  • Topics they cover
  • Questions they answer
  • Service variations
  • Page types ranking
  • Locations they target
  • Topics they have overlooked

I especially like looking for gaps.

If every competitor gives the same generic answer, that’s an opportunity to create something better using your own expertise and experience.

8. Look at Forums and Online Communities

Online communities can be useful for discovering how real people talk about problems.

Depending on your industry, look at places such as:

  • Reddit
  • Industry forums
  • Facebook groups
  • Quora
  • Professional communities

I’m not suggesting copying someone’s question and turning it into a thin article.

Look for recurring themes.

If people repeatedly struggle with the same problem, that’s useful audience research.

9. Use Free Keyword Research Tools

There are also keyword tools that offer free searches or limited free functionality.

Popular options include:

  • Google Keyword Planner
  • Google Trends
  • AnswerThePublic
  • Ubersuggest

Tools can speed up research, but I don’t let a keyword difficulty score make the entire decision for me.

Always look at the actual search results yourself.

How to Find Long-Tail Keywords for Local SEO

This is where long-tail keyword research gets especially interesting for local businesses.

You can combine a service with modifiers such as:

  • City
  • Neighborhood
  • Specific service
  • Customer type
  • Problem
  • Urgency

For example:

Broad: SEO

Local: SEO San Diego

Commercial: SEO company San Diego

More specific: local SEO company for small businesses in San Diego

Here’s another example:

Broad: personal trainer

Local: personal trainer San Diego

Specific: private personal training studio in San Diego

The important thing is that the service actually exists.

Don’t create hundreds of artificial keyword combinations simply because you can.

Search behavior is becoming increasingly conversational.

People don’t always type short keyword fragments anymore.

They may ask Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, or another AI-powered search experience a complete question.

For example, instead of:

SEO cost

someone might ask:

How much should a small business in San Diego expect to pay for SEO?

This doesn’t mean you need to create a separate page for every conversational variation.

It means your content should thoroughly answer the real questions surrounding the topic.

I think this is another reason businesses should focus less on repeating exact-match keywords and more on building genuinely useful topical content.

How I Choose Which Long-Tail Keywords to Target

Finding keywords is easy.

Choosing the right ones is where experience matters.

When I’m evaluating a keyword for a client, I ask:

  1. Is it relevant to what the business actually sells?
  2. What is the searcher’s intent?
  3. Would this visitor potentially become a customer?
  4. What currently ranks for the search?
  5. Can this website realistically compete?
  6. Does an existing page already target this intent?
  7. Should this be a service page, blog post, FAQ, or section of another page?

I don’t want traffic just for the sake of saying traffic increased.

I want relevant traffic with business potential.

Don’t Automatically Ignore Low-Volume Keywords

This needs some nuance.

I absolutely don’t recommend targeting meaningless keywords simply because they’re easy to rank for.

But low search volume does not automatically mean low business value.

Imagine you’re an attorney and a particular search only happens 20 times per month.

If one of those searches becomes a valuable case, the keyword may be worthwhile.

The same applies to:

  • High-ticket medical procedures
  • Financial services
  • B2B services
  • Specialized contractors
  • High-value professional services

Look at potential value—not just search volume.

Does Every Long-Tail Keyword Need Its Own Page?

No.

This is where websites can get themselves into trouble.

Suppose you discover:

  • SEO company San Diego
  • San Diego SEO company
  • SEO companies in San Diego
  • best SEO company San Diego

You probably don’t need four pages.

Those searches may have essentially the same intent.

One strong page can often address multiple closely related variations naturally.

Create a separate page when the search represents a meaningfully different:

  • Service
  • Problem
  • Audience
  • Location
  • Search intent

Avoid Keyword Cannibalization

Before publishing a new article, search your own website.

You may already have a page covering the topic.

Creating another similar page can cause unnecessary overlap.

Sometimes the better SEO strategy is to update the existing page instead.

This is something I see frequently on older business blogs.

Years of publishing can leave a website with five mediocre articles about essentially the same thing.

I’d often rather have one excellent resource.

Where Should You Use Long-Tail Keywords?

You don’t need to copy and paste the exact keyword into every possible SEO field.

Use your primary topic naturally where it helps explain the page.

Potential locations include:

  • SEO title
  • H1
  • URL when creating a new page
  • Opening copy
  • Relevant H2 or H3 headings
  • Body content
  • Meta description
  • Internal-link anchor text when natural

Image alt text should describe the image accurately rather than being used as a place to stuff keywords.

The goal is clarity.

Write naturally for people while making the page’s subject easy for search engines to understand.

Use Long-Tail Keywords to Improve Old Content

You don’t always need another blog post.

One of my favorite strategies is looking through Google Search Console for long-tail queries an existing article is already receiving impressions for.

If the query fits the page, you may be able to strengthen the existing content.

For example, you could:

  • Add a missing section
  • Answer a related question
  • Improve the title
  • Add firsthand examples
  • Improve internal links
  • Update outdated information

This is part of a larger process I call content refreshing for SEO.

Connect Your Long-Tail Content With Internal Links

Once you create useful content around related searches, connect it logically.

For example, a business may have a main service page supported by several helpful articles answering specific customer questions.

Those articles can naturally link back to the relevant service page.

The service page can also link to useful supporting resources.

This helps visitors navigate the website and gives search engines additional context about how your pages relate to one another.

You can read my complete guide to internal linking for SEO.

Long-Tail Keywords Aren’t a Shortcut

I want to make this clear because there’s a lot of bad SEO advice online.

Finding a low-competition keyword does not guarantee a #1 ranking.

You still need:

  • Helpful content
  • A technically sound website
  • Relevant internal links
  • Authority
  • Good user experience
  • Content that satisfies search intent

Long-tail keyword research simply helps you become more strategic about the searches you’re targeting.

My Advice for Beginners

If you’re just getting started, don’t try to find 500 keywords.

Start small.

Choose a topic closely related to your business.

Look at:

  1. Google Autocomplete
  2. Related searches
  3. People Also Ask
  4. Google Search Console
  5. Real customer questions

Then identify a query that:

  • Is relevant to your business
  • Has clear intent
  • You can answer exceptionally well
  • Isn’t already sufficiently covered by another page on your site

That’s a much better starting point than blindly chasing search volume.

If you’re creating a new article, you can also follow my SEO blog post checklist for beginners.

Frequently Asked Questions About Long-Tail Keywords

What are long-tail keywords?

Long-tail keywords are specific search queries that usually express a narrower topic or clearer search intent than broad keywords. They are often several words long and can help businesses attract visitors looking for a particular product, service, solution, or answer.

How do I find long-tail keywords for free?

You can find long-tail keyword ideas using Google Autocomplete, related searches, People Also Ask, Google Search Console, Google Keyword Planner, Google Trends, customer questions, online communities, competitor research, and free versions of keyword research tools.

Are long-tail keywords easier to rank for?

Some long-tail keywords have less competition than broad keywords, but not all of them are easy to rank for. Competition depends on the topic, search intent, websites currently ranking, and the authority and quality of your own website.

Do long-tail keywords have lower search volume?

Many long-tail queries have relatively low individual search volume, but that does not necessarily mean they have low business value. A highly specific search from someone ready to hire or buy can sometimes be more valuable than a broad keyword generating significantly more traffic.

How many words are in a long-tail keyword?

Long-tail keywords are often described as phrases containing three or more words, but word count is not the most important characteristic. A better way to think about long-tail searches is that they are more specific and usually represent narrower search intent.

Where should I put long-tail keywords on my website?

Use your primary topic naturally in important areas such as the SEO title, H1, relevant headings, opening copy, body content, meta description, and internal links when appropriate. Avoid forcing the exact keyword into every element or stuffing it repeatedly into the page.

Does every long-tail keyword need its own page?

No. Closely related keywords with the same search intent can often be addressed by one strong page. Separate pages make more sense when the queries represent meaningfully different services, problems, audiences, locations, or search intent.

Are long-tail keywords important for local SEO?

Yes. Local businesses can often find valuable long-tail searches by combining services with geographic locations, specific customer needs, problems, or service variations. These searches can reveal strong local commercial intent.

Are long-tail keywords important for AI search?

Conversational search behavior makes the topics behind long-tail queries increasingly useful for content planning. People may ask complete questions in Google or AI-powered search tools rather than typing short keyword fragments. Businesses should focus on clearly and thoroughly answering the underlying questions rather than creating a separate page for every wording variation.

Should I target keywords with zero or very low search volume?

Possibly. Keyword tools provide estimates and may not capture every search. A low-volume query can still be valuable if it closely matches a profitable service or highly qualified customer. Evaluate business value, search intent, and relevance rather than relying on search volume alone.

Need Help Finding the Right Keywords for Your Business?

Keyword research isn’t about finding the biggest list of keywords.

It’s about identifying the searches that can actually help your business grow.

I’m Jen Ruhman, and I’ve worked in SEO for more than 20 years. I help businesses identify valuable search opportunities, determine which keywords deserve dedicated pages, improve existing content, and build SEO strategies around searches that have real business potential.

If you’re looking for an experienced SEO expert in San Diego, I’d be happy to take a look at your website.

Start with my free SEO analysis.

Call or text: (619) 719-1315

Thanks for reading,
Jen Ruhman
SEO Expert & Founder of Jen Ruhman SEO

Hashtags for Jewelry Instagram Business

Hashtags for Jewelry Instagram Business

Feb 28, 2020 | SEO Tips

Hashtags for Jewelry

hashtags for jewelry

Hashtags for Jewelry that will get your jewelry noticed on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Tumblr in 2022.

Hashtags for Jewelry Instagram Business (2025 Edition)

Updated for 2025 | SEO Tips

Hashtags for Jewelry That Will Get You Noticed on Instagram and Beyond
If you’re a jewelry designer or marketer, leveraging the right hashtags on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitter (X), and Tumblr can boost your visibility, likes, and ultimately, sales.

Whether you’re selling handmade earrings, engagement rings, or luxury watches, hashtags are your secret weapon to reach an engaged audience looking for your products.

Why Are Hashtags Essential for Jewelry Businesses?
Hashtags act as keywords on social media, helping potential customers discover your posts. By using a combination of trending, niche, and evergreen hashtags, you can compete with larger brands, regardless of your follower count.

In 2025, hashtags continue to play a crucial role in social media marketing, so staying updated is essential. Let’s explore the best jewelry hashtags for different categories and how to use them effectively.

The BEST Handmade Jewelry Hashtags (2025)

For handmade jewelry creators, these hashtags will help you attract customers who value craftsmanship and uniqueness:

Popular Handmade Jewelry Hashtags:

  • #HandmadeJewelry
  • #ArtisanJewelry
  • #UniqueJewelry
  • #CustomJewelryDesign
  • #JewelryWithLove
  • #EcoFriendlyJewelry
  • #BohoAccessories
  • #MinimalistGems
  • #StatementJewelry
  • #HandmadeTreasures

Set 1: Copy and Paste for Instagram

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#HandmadeJewelry #JewelryMaker #CustomJewelry #ArtisanJewelry #UniqueJewelry #EcoFriendlyJewelry #SilverJewelry #GoldJewelry #GemstoneJewelry #OneOfAKindJewelry #JewelryGram #BohoJewelry #MinimalistJewelry #StatementPieces #JewelryAddict

The BEST Engagement Jewelry Hashtags (2025)

Engagement and bridal jewelry hashtags can help you connect with couples looking for the perfect ring:

Trending Engagement Jewelry Hashtags:

  • #ForeverYours
  • #EngagementInspo2025
  • #BridalSparkle
  • #CustomEngagementRing
  • #ProposalGoals
  • #ShesEngaged
  • #DiamondPerfection
  • #RingOfHerDreams
  • #LoveAndJewelry
  • #SayYesToTheRing

Set 2: Copy and Paste for Instagram

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#EngagementRing #BridalJewelry #DreamRing #ProposalGoals #LoveAndCommitment #FutureMrs #RingGoals #EngagedLife #WeddingSparkle #UniqueEngagementRing #DiamondJewelry #ForeverStartsHere #RingInspo2025 #ShesaidYes

The BEST Jewelry Hashtags for Watches (2025)

Watches are timeless accessories, and these hashtags will help you reach collectors and enthusiasts:

Watch Enthusiast Hashtags:

  • #LuxuryTimepieces
  • #ModernWristwear
  • #CollectorWatch
  • #VintageTimepieces
  • #WatchLovers2025
  • #MenWithWatches
  • #WomenWithWatches
  • #TimelessFashion
  • #SmartWatchStyle
  • #ElegantTimepiece

Set 3: Copy and Paste for Instagram

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#WatchAddict #LuxuryWatches #WatchGram #VintageWatchCollector #SmartWatches2025 #WatchGoals #WristWearStyle #TimepiecePerfection #RolexAddict #TimelessAccessories #WatchObsession #LuxuryFashion #WatchesDaily #ModernTimepiece

The BEST Jewelry Hashtags for Earrings (2025)

Earrings deserve the spotlight! Use these hashtags to attract buyers with a love for stylish ear accessories:

Earring-Specific Hashtags:

  • #EarCandy2025
  • #EarringAddict
  • #ChandelierEarrings
  • #HoopGoals
  • #StatementEarrings
  • #DiamondStuds
  • #DangleDreams
  • #GoldHoopsForever
  • #PearlPerfection
  • #MinimalistEarrings

Set 4: Copy and Paste for Instagram

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#EarringsOfTheDay #EarParty #EarringLove #StatementJewelry #HandcraftedEarrings #EarringGoals #ChandelierStyles #PearlEarrings #BeadedJewelryDesigns #BohoEarrings #MinimalistEarStyle #DiamondEarrings2025 #GoldAccessories

Pro Tips for Jewelry Hashtags in 2025

  1. Stay Trendy: Keep up with current trends by researching hashtags regularly. Platforms like Instagram suggest related hashtags, so use them to your advantage.
  2. Mix It Up: Combine high-volume hashtags (e.g., #Jewelry) with niche ones (e.g., #EcoFriendlyJewelry) for a balanced reach.
  3. Customize: Adjust these hashtags based on your brand’s voice, product, and audience.
  4. Experiment: Track the performance of hashtags to find what resonates most with your followers.

How Social Media Can Boost Your Jewelry Business in 2025

Social media is your virtual showroom. With hashtags, stunning product photos, and engaging captions, you can:

  • Drive traffic to your online store.
  • Build a loyal customer base.
  • Compete with established brands.

Bonus Tip: Place your website link or Etsy store in your Instagram bio to convert profile visitors into customers.

Final Thoughts: Using Hashtags Effectively

Remember, hashtags alone aren’t enough. Pair them with high-quality photos, reels, or stories to captivate your audience. If you’re a beginner, start by copying and pasting the sets above and experiment until you find the perfect mix for your brand.

Are you ready to take your jewelry business to the next level? Bookmark this page and revisit it for the latest trends. Success is just a hashtag away!

Share This Post:
Know someone running a jewelry business? Share these hashtags with them and help their business shine!

This is true no matter how many followers you have. You might have noticed how important hashtags have become lately for every industry and using specific jewelry hashtags will work by finding customers that are actually interested in jewelry or shopping for jewelry.

I have helped small and large businesses start marketing their jewelry online by providing them a list of the best hashtags for jewelry and top instagrams for jewelry.

how social media can boost your Jewelry Business

Using the BEST Hashtags for Jewelry

I have a list of the best hashtags for jewelry you can copy and paste into your instagram account. Bookmark this page.

On instagram, you can use up to 30 hashtags per post. I recommend you take full advantage of using all 30. You can experiment using these and make them your own by changing some and seeing what works for your jewelry business.

Using your phone: Touch and hold to copy jewelry hashtags | Paste into Instagram

Success for both small and large businesses

 

How To Promote Your Jewelry Business on Social Media

Why use Jewelry Hashtags?

First of all, hashtags are the “keywords” for social media platforms such as instagram,  twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. Using the best hashtags for jewelry will level the playing field for your small business! You can literally compete with large jewelry stores this way no matter how many followers you have.RELATED POST  How to Get Your Business Started on Instagram

Using Jewelry hashtags on your instagram posts are perfect for anyone selling jewelry. If you have an Etsy store, online retail store, or even a local jewelry shop, you should be using these specific jewelry hashtags. BTW, make sure you place your online store’s website or Etsy page in your instagram profile.

Top Instagrams For Jewelry:

using Hashtags for Jewelry Effectively

Take a look at these people on instagram. Their instagram accounts are properly set up using hashtags geared to their specific type of jewelry they’re marketing on instagram. Study their photos and hashtags because they’re doing a great job.

@pannlshop – Handmade Watchband

@jewels_gems  – Handcrafted, heritage jewels

@pieceofartgs – Handmade bohemian jewelry

jewelry hashtags marketing

 

Hashtag Jewelry Stats:

Instagram #Jewelry Hashtag: 17,097,380 posts

jewelry hashtags

Twitter #Jewelry Hashtag: On average 1200 jewelry hashtag tweets per hour (source hashtags.org)

Are you a Social Media Marketer? Top 10 Instagram Facts Marketers Need to Know

If you know someone that sells jewelry online, please share these hashtags with them. Or if you know someone successful selling handmade jewelry by marketing on instagram, I’d love to feature them.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been helping many businesses get started on instagram. Not only large retail businesses, but also small local businesses that rely on foot traffic. Th one major business benefit instagram has given my clients, is a welcomed boost in sales and revenue. If you’re serious about using instagram and would like to learn more way to gain likes, followers, I recommend you check out these 10 creative ways to use instagram for business.RELATED POST  Top 10 Snapchat Facts Marketers Need to Know

hashtags for jewelry
how social media can benefit your jewelry business

Thank you for reading instagram hashtags for jewelry.

Do you have a small jewelry business / store and need local instagram followers? Here’s how to grow followers and gain foot traffic to your store.