Blogging in 2024 can feel like a never-ending game of catch-up. New trends, algorithms, and Google updates are emerging at breakneck speed.
But don’t get distracted by the shiny stuff. The smartest way forward is following tried and tested blogging best practices.
Here’s my list of the top seven blogging best practices for 2024:
- Always start with keyword research
- Understand and respond to search intent
- Build topic clusters, not just isolated posts
- Follow on-page SEO guidelines
- Include internal links in every post
- Publish new content frequently – the more the better
- Track, monitor and adjust
I used these best practices to grow one of my blogs to over 100,000 visitors in just six months at its peak. For more details on how to get started with each one – read on.
7 Blogging Best Practices For 2024 To Grow Traffic & Build Income
#1. Always start with keyword research
I see it all the time. People and businesses launching blogs and writing haphazardly about any topic that comes to mind.
That approach is okay for a personal journal. But not if you want to make money with your blog and build a business around it. You have to narrow down a specific niche and focus on it.
To achieve that, your blog posts need to show up in organic search.
Keyword research is the first step in making that happen. Without proper keyword research, Google won’t know what you’re writing about. As a result, you’re unlikely to attract much organic traffic.
If I were launching a new blog, my first step with keyword research would be to identify at least 30 long tail, low competition keywords in my niche.
Doing this would give me a nice bank of keywords to draw from whenever I sat down to write a new blog post.
Read more on the advantages of long tail keywords for SEO.
Keyword research is one of the most important blogging best practices. Learn how to do it (it’s easy!) and make it a core part of your workflow.
#2. Understand and respond to search intent
Google’s number one goal as a search engine is to give the users what they want. That means your blog content should provide the user with whatever information best fits their search intent.
The easiest way to identify search intent is by Googling your main target keyword and checking out the competition in the top 10 search results. What sort of posts are ranking for this keyword?
Those posts are the kind of content Google wants to see for this specific keyword. You should aim to create something in a similar format (but with your own unique spin and added value).
#3. Follow on-page SEO guidelines
It’s important to write your blog posts in a particular way, to make sure Google’s bots understand exactly what each post is about.
Include your main target keyword in the following locations in your blog post:
- Title
- First paragraph (and make it bold)
- URL slug
- Meta description
- At least one H2
- A few times throughout the text (but only where it naturally fits – no stuffing!)
You can see I’ve followed all the above steps in the blog post you’re reading right now. That’s usually enough to show Google’s bots what your blog post is about.
Want to know exactly what goes into an SEO-friendly blog post? My handy on-page SEO checklist will keep you on track. Grab a free copy below!
#4. Build topic clusters, not just isolated posts
Rather than writing posts randomly, you should choose several topic clusters related to your brand, then write a bunch of related content around them.
For example, start with a high traffic seed keyword, such as “digital nomad”.
Build a pillar page or post targeting your main keyword. It should provide an overview of a broad range of topics in that niche.
Then start creating posts for an assortment of sub topics related to the pillar post. Each post is a separate in-depth article related to the main topic.
Then use internal links to do the following:
– Link from each subtopic article back to the pillar page
– Link from the pillar page to each subtopic article
– Link each subtopic article with the others in the cluster
#5. Include internal links in every post
Using internal links in your blog is a highly effective way to improve its SEO. These links connect your blog posts and show Google how they’re related to one another.
When done correctly, internal linking forms a group of posts covering various aspects of a single topic. Google favors this approach, as it demonstrates topical authority and results in higher rankings.
As soon as you’ve published a few blog posts, start including internal links. Ideally, these posts should focus on different angles of the same topic within your niche, making it natural to link them together.
For instance, I could add internal links from this post to others that touch on aspects of blogging and SEO, such as monetizing your blog.
Make sure that your internal links direct readers to relevant content that will help them find solutions to their problems. Include two or three internal links in every new blog post you publish. This should be a regular part of your on-page SEO routine.
#6. Publish new content frequently – the more the better
The faster you publish, the sooner your blog will grow. That doesn’t mean compromising on quality, but recognizing the importance of a solid foundation of content.
Ideally, you’d publish a new piece of content every day. Doing this will quickly build up a base of material, while giving Google plenty of scope to start learning what your blog is all about.
Publishing a new post two to three times a week is a great cadence to aim for. If you can only manage to publish one per week, that’s fine too. Just avoid going for long periods of time without posting anything new on your blog.
Need a freelance writer to help you grow? Find the best writers.
#7. Track, monitor and adjust
Caveat: Don’t expect immediate results with SEO.
Building organic traffic is a long-term play. But it’s one that pays off massively in the future. If you stay consistent and trust the process for long enough, you’ll soon find your efforts paying off. Plus, the more you publish, the faster you’ll grow.
Google provides two essential free tools for tracking your blog’s growth and impact: Google Search Console and Google Analytics.
The first focuses on your performance in organic search only, while the second focuses on performance across all traffic sources. Both should be essential parts of your blogging toolkit.
You should check them regularly to evaluate your blog’s progress, monitor for any issues, and make adjustments where needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most difficult part of blogging?
The most difficult part of blogging, for many people, is finding time and energy for consistently writing new posts. To experience success with SEO, you have to build authority with your blog, which requires a significant amount of written content.
Why do most bloggers fail?
Most bloggers fail for one of two reasons: 1) they don’t learn anything about SEO, so their blogs stay invisible and make very little money. 2) they’re not consistent or prolific enough with posting content, so they give up too early before seeing any real traction.
Is blogging worth it in 2024?
Yes, blogging is worth it in 2024, as long as you approach it with a clear strategy in mind, and follow SEO and blogging best practices.
How many times a week should I post on my blog?
The best frequency for posting on a blog is two or three times a week. The more you post, the faster you’ll grow. But in my experience, posting 2 to 3 times a week strikes a good balance between being manageable and frequent enough to make fast progress.
Final Thoughts
Blogging is a powerful tool for reaching and engaging with your target audience. But to achieve success, it’s important to follow a set of blogging best practices.
From keyword research and search intent optimization to internal linking and regular publishing, the strategies I’ve outlined here will help you increase your visibility and traffic, and establish yourself as a trusted authority in your niche.
