By Tara Ingalls, Owner Tingalls Graphic Design
Becoming a guest author in our blog has three main benefits since only members can post articles:
1. Expanded Reach and Exposure for MABC: Guest blogging allows you to tap into a new and potentially larger audience. When you contribute content to the MABC website, you expose your work to their established readership.
2. Building Authority and Credibility: Publishing guest posts can enhance your reputation as an authority within your field. When you share valuable insights, expertise, and well-researched content, you position yourself as a knowledgeable and credible source.
3. SEO Benefits and Backlinks: Lastly, articles will make a positive impact your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. When you include relevant links back to your own blog within your guest posts, you create valuable backlinks. Backlinks from reputable websites signal to search engines that your content is credible and worth ranking higher in search results.
Below is a collection of resources and tips to help guide you as you write your article.
Brainstorming Topics/Titles
Below are tools to help brainstorm topics for your blog articles:
https://answerthepublic.com/ - Get Instant, raw search insights, direct from the minds of your customers
Google.com - In the search field, begin typing your industry's keywords and see what Google fills in as suggestions
* TIP: once you get search results, look for the "People Often Ask" section of search results for FAQs
5 Great Blog Topics You Can Use Today (Tingalls blog article)
Popular Blog Article Formats
• How-tos: "How to Boost Your Productivity in 5 Simple Steps."
• Listicles: "10 Tips for Healthy Eating" or "7 Ways to Improve Your Writing Skills."
• Questions: "Are You Making These Common Marketing Mistakes?"
• Problem-Solution: "Struggling with Insomnia? Try These 5 Natural Remedies."
• Comparisons: "WordPress vs. Squarespace: Which Website Platform is Right for You?"
• Personal Stories: "How I Overcame My Fear of Public Speaking and Became a Confident Presenter."
• Behind-the-Scenes: "A Day in the Life of a Digital Nomad: Working and Traveling.
Imagery/Photos
My opinion is that original, non-stock photos are best but if you need to use stock, you can find free images at Unsplash.com or paid stock images at istockphoto.com. Before uploading images with your article, be sure you rename the files from their stock name, i.e. "IMG_08383.jpg" to something more keyword-rich like "tingalls-graphic-design-website-tips.jpg"
Structuring Your Copy
To ensure your blog is SEO-friendly and ranks well in search results, it's important to structure it effectively. As far as length, some content marketing experts suggest that 1500-2000 words are the ideal length of a blog post. However, many companies and brands stick to shorter blog length guidelines (500-750 words) to honor a specific element of their marketing strategy.
Below are the essential sections to include in your website blog:
1. Compelling & Keyword-Rich Title - Craft an attention-grabbing title for your blog posts that contain relevant keywords. Compelling "problem-solving" headlines not only improve readability but also help search engines understand the content hierarchy. Remember, the headline you write should summarize the content of the article and resonate with your target audience.
2. High-Quality Content - Create well-researched, original, and valuable content that addresses your audience's needs. Focus on a specific topic and provide comprehensive information. Subheadings should be used to help to break-up long sections of copy and can also allow for quick skimming by the reader. Incorporate relevant keywords naturally into your content. Research keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify terms with high search volume and low competition.
3. Add a Clear Call to Action - In the conclusion, add a clear and relevant calls to action that guides readers on the next steps. Whether it's signing up for a newsletter, downloading a resource, or leaving a comment.
4. Author's Bio - Since this is a blog article for our MABC website, include a short paragraph about you as the author with a headshot and relavent links to your website and/or social media accounts.
By structuring your website blog with these sections in mind, you'll not only create a user-friendly experience but also enhance our organization's SEO efforts.
Email me (Tara) your blog and imagery and I'll get it scheduled to post on our website!
