Let’s dive in and explore the pros and cons to help you decide if a blog is a good fit for your website.

Why Your Business Should Blog

Statistics don’t lie: blogs stand out as dynamic platforms for sharing ideas and expertise where over 600 million blogs and 1.9 billion websites vie for attention. These dedicated informational sections on your website attract more people to your site, make you look like an expert, and give your brand a unique voice. 

The sheer volume of blog posts published annually is staggering, with over 3 billion posts shared worldwide. That equates to a remarkable 8.28 million blog posts every day, illustrating the continuous flow of content in the blogosphere. In fact, approximately 5,750 blog posts are published every single minute, emphasizing the dynamic nature of online content creation.

Each month, WordPress.com sites attract an astounding 409 million viewers who collectively consume over 20 billion pages. This staggering statistic underscores the immense reach and influence of blogs hosted on the WordPress platform, highlighting their significance in today’s online ecosystem.

Benefits of Having a Blog

Engaging Audience

With 80% of internet users actively engaging with both social media sites and blogs, having a blog offers a powerful channel to connect with your target audience. By regularly sharing valuable content, you can capture the attention of a vast online community, driving traffic to your website and fostering meaningful interactions with potential customers.

Enhanced Online Visibility

Websites with active blogs enjoy significant advantages in search engine rankings, with 434% more indexed pages and 97% more inbound links compared to those without blogs. This increased online visibility not only improves your website’s search engine optimization (SEO) but also boosts your credibility and authority in your industry, making it easier for potential customers to find and trust your brand.

Lead Generation

Companies that maintain blogs experience a substantial increase in lead generation, producing an average of 67% more leads per month compared to those that do not blog. By consistently publishing relevant and informative content, you can attract qualified leads who are genuinely interested in your products or services, ultimately driving revenue growth and business success.

Increased Website Traffic

Businesses that prioritize blogging enjoy a significant uptick in website traffic, receiving 55% more visitors compared to those that do not have a blog. By regularly updating your blog with fresh and engaging content, you can attract a steady stream of visitors who are drawn to your informative articles, ultimately expanding your online reach and driving conversions.

Considerations Before Starting a Blog

Before diving into blogging, it’s crucial to think about both the time and resources you’ll need, as well as planning your content. Blogging demands a significant investment of time and, in some cases, money. Writing and maintaining engaging content can be time-consuming, and there may be expenses like website hosting and tracking tools.

Other considerations may include your audience’s interests, optimal posting schedule, and researched topics that are relevant to your products and services. For many businesses, it might be helpful to have a content marketing specialist at their disposal. Experts in content marketing can help formulate a plan that will appeal to your client base.

Types of Blogs Worth Writing

If a business is considering starting a blog on its website, there are several types of blogs worth exploring, including:

• Educational Blogs – Providing valuable information and resources related to your industry can position your business as an authority and thought leader. Educational blogs can include how-to guides, tutorials, tips and tricks, and informative articles that address common questions or concerns within your niche.
• Product or Service Updates – Keeping your audience informed about new products, services, features, or updates can help drive interest and engagement. Use your blog to showcase product demos, highlight customer success stories, or announce upcoming events or promotions.
• Behind-the-Scenes Content – Giving your audience a glimpse behind the curtain can humanize your brand and build trust. Share stories about your company culture, employee spotlights, or the process behind product development to create a more personal connection with your audience.
• Customer Stories & Testimonials – Featuring testimonials, case studies, or success stories from satisfied customers can demonstrate the value of your products or services. Highlighting real-life experiences can help build credibility and reassure potential customers of the benefits they can expect.
• Industry News & Trends – Keeping your audience informed about the latest news, trends, and developments in your industry can position your business as a reliable source of information. Share insights, analysis, and commentary on relevant topics to demonstrate your expertise and engage your audience.

Ultimately, your business’s best blog type will depend on your goals, target audience, and industry niche. Experiment with different types of content to see what resonates most with your audience and drives the desired outcomes for your business. Don’t forget to include sharing your blog through social media or email marketing to understand its potential reach and engagement.

Ready to Start Your Blog?

Ready to start your blog but not sure where to begin? ITVibes is here to help! Our content marketing services are designed to support businesses like yours in creating and managing a successful blog. From brainstorming topics to crafting engaging posts and optimizing for search engines, we’ll handle all aspects of your blog so you can focus on running your business.

Contact us today to learn more about how ITVibes can elevate your marketing strategy and help you achieve your business goals!

The post Should My Website Have a Blog? [Infographic] first appeared on ITVibes.

To help you understand how to use keywords to generate traffic, we have composed a guide to increasing traffic to your blog through target keywords. 

Why Use Target Keywords?

Using target keywords starts with search engines like Google. When your blog content ranks high on Google, it generates more clicks and more traffic over long periods. But it is not as simple as just throwing out content. What makes quality content rank high is, in short, writing for what people are typing into the search engine. 

That is where keywords come in. These keywords are what people are asking Google for. Using keywords in your blog helps Google to know what searches your blog will help answer. To get your site to rank on the first page, ask yourself what search terms your targeted audience might type into Google.

How to Use Target Keywords in a Blog Post

Using target keywords in blog posts sounds more complex than it is. But like anything, getting into the weeds of it can make using keywords seem convoluted. So to avoid that, we have outlined four simple steps to use target keywords in your blog post.

1) Research Keywords

It begins with doing your homework and researching what the right keywords could be for your content strategy. This isn’t a matching game where you pull a keyword from a hat. The goal is to identify keywords that are relevant to your blog post with high search volume but low competition. If the keyword difficulty is too high, your content will not rank high on Google.

The easiest way to do this is with keyword research tools. A few examples of free keyword tools include Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs Keyword Planner. These free tools can be a great starting point to get a related list of keywords, evaluate its search volume, and assess its competition. 

It’s also important to consider both short-tail and long-tail keywords. Short-tail keywords are brief and general, while long-tail keywords are longer and more specific. Although long-tail keywords usually have lower search volumes and less competition, they are often easier to rank for and can be more effective in attracting targeted traffic.

2) Select the Keyword

After compiling a list of potential keywords, refine it by selecting the most relevant and valuable ones for your blog post. Evaluate each keyword based on search volume, competition level, and relevance to your target audience. We recommend aiming for a good balance between search volume and competition.

It is essential to consider the user’s intent behind each search phrase. Are people using these keywords to find information, make a purchase, or solve a problem? Understanding the intent behind the keywords will help you in creating content that meets your audience’s needs and aligns with their search intent.

3) Optimize Your Page 

After selecting the target keywords, you need to optimize your blog post. There are a few primary on-page elements that this involves. These elements include title tags, headings, content, and URL structures.

Title Tag

Incorporate your target keyword into the title tag of your blog post. This is one of the most crucial on-page SEO elements and can significantly affect your search rankings.

Heading Tags

Use heading tags (H1, H2, H3, etc.) to structure your content and enhance readability. Make sure your target keyword appears in at least one of the headings.

Content

Integrate your target keyword and its variants throughout your blog post, but only where relevant. Avoid excessive keyword usage, as it can make the content appear spammy. Using keyword variants helps the content flow better for readers and provides additional context about the topic to search engines.

URL Structure

Include your target keyword in the URL of your blog post. Ensure it is short, descriptive, and rich with keywords.

4) Keep Up With The Keywords

This is an easy step to miss, but it is good practice to be aware of how your keywords and your blog are doing in the long term. There are times, especially depending on what kind of content or industry you are writing about, when you may need to update your keywords. Use a free tool like Google Analytics to track website activity, such as page views, session length, and engagement.

Optimize Your Keyword Strategy

Using target keywords effectively to get traffic to your blog and website is a crucial part of search engine optimization (SEO). These easy steps can help you promote your Google search results and therefore the traffic to your blog. Continuously monitor and refine your keyword targeting to ensure ongoing success.

If you need assistance with your SEO strategy, contact ITVibes. We’re here to help you achieve your business goals and get found on Google.

The post How to Get Traffic to Your Blog Using Target Keywords first appeared on ITVibes.

Ever wondered what makes a successful blog post? Don’t forget these 5 elements next time you sit down to write for your website!
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5 Elements of a Successful Blog Post

The difference between a good and bad blog post is readability. If users can’t easily read your blog post, they’re inevitably going to leave your website and go find something else. Next time you sit down to write a blog post, be sure to include the following five elements. We guarantee you’ll start seeing success in no time.

1. Eye-Catching Heading
2. Captivating Lead
3. Informative Subpoints
4. Powerful Call-to-Action
5. Google Search Optimized

1) Eye-Catching Headings

Having good headings and subheadings is becoming more and more influential when it comes to readers’ attention. More often than not, readers scan blogs quickly to find the information they need. If your headings are vague or don’t properly describe the paragraph content, users will stop reading your post and end up going somewhere else.

2) Captivating Lead

If you have an engaging title that baits a reader to your blog, the introduction is the hook. Your leading paragraph should grab the reader’s attention and have them scrolling for more. Whether it’s using a question, statistic, or metaphor, make sure your lead entices them to follow along.

3) Informative Subpoints

The bulk of your body paragraphs can’t just be filler content. If you’ve successfully grabbed a reader’s attention, the rest of your blog needs to have valuable information. Use statistics or linked sources to show your readers that you have experience.

We also think it’s a good idea to use bullet points and user-friendly steps. Whether it’s a newcomer to your business or a returning customer, having easy-to-read information that provides value will undoubtedly make for a great blog post.

4) Power Call-To-Action

Every good blog post has a strong call to action toward the end of the article. If you’re spending the time to write a blog related to your business, it’s pertinent to give your readers a way to respond. Instead of being vague, be upfront and direct with what you’re wanting them to do. Powerful call-to-actions include:

• Request a quote
• Buy product
• Schedule an appointment
• Follow on social media
• Sign up for a service
• Subscribe to a newsletter
• Take a virtual tour
• Submit a contact form

5) Google Search Optimized

If you haven’t been optimizing your blog content for search engines, you’re unknowingly spending a lot of time without any promise of return. By using search engine optimization strategies in your blog writing, you can be certain that your posts are visible to online browsers. To fully optimize your blog, there are a number of key elements to keep in mind. We recommend starting with the following:

• Target keyword for your blog content
• Customized SEO title with a target keyword
• A customized meta description that is inviting and contains your target keyword
• Headings using that keyword 1-2 times
• Using the keyword within the first 100 words of your article
• At least 1-2 internal links
• One featured photo that accurately represents your topic

Start Writing Successful Blog Posts for Your Audience

Ultimately, the success of a blog post depends on the audience you’re writing for. While these elements are considered best practices, you know your field best. Get to know your readers and start writing topics and content that they’ll find interesting. We guarantee you’ll find the type of success you need to grow your business.

As one of Houston’s leading web design and digital marketing agencies, we know how important a successful blog post is to your website’s performance. We help businesses of all sizes understand their audience and write blog posts that will earn traffic and turn readers into customers. Learn more about our content marketing services to take advantage of our blog writing expertise.

The post What Makes a Successful Blog Post? first appeared on ITVibes.

What types of writing styles are there? 

A lot goes into becoming a successful writer. It’s not only about putting words on paper, but you also have to pick a writing style that fulfills your specific purpose for writing. What you write must also engage the target readers as you desire. Below are the common types of writing styles to learn when writing. 

Are you wondering what types of writing styles to use in your piece? Learn how to apply persuasive, expository, narrative, and descriptive writing styles.
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1. Persuasive
2. Descriptive
3. Narrative
4. Expository

1) Persuasive

With persuasive writing, you try to convince your readers about the validity of a specific point or argument. For that reason, you must provide the evidence and justifications to support your claims. You can use this writing style to write letters of recommendation, editorial articles, cover letters, and argumentative essays.

2) Descriptive

The descriptive writing style depicts imagery that builds scenes and settings in the readers’ minds. This style engages and connects readers to the writing by employing literary techniques like metaphors, similes, and allegory. You can use the style to write poetry, fictional plays, fictional novels, and nature descriptions.

3) Narrative 

Narrative writing is common in longer writing pieces, including fiction and non-fiction. Its primary purpose is to share information in the form of a story with a complete set of conflicts, characters, and settings. You’ll find the narrative writing style in short stories, poetry, novels, and historical accounts.

4) Expository

This writing style applies when sharing information or explaining a concept to wider audiences. It doesn’t give the writer’s opinions but provides facts, evidence, and statistics to prove a particular point or topic. Excellent examples of expository writings include textbooks, technical writing, news stories, and how-to articles.

Writing For Your Company

Expository, persuasive, narrative, and descriptive writing are the four common types of writing styles to know. Remember to use the style that fulfills your writing objectives and satisfies your readers. However, you can combine several styles in a single text to fulfill a specific objective. The good news is you now know where to apply the writing styles.

Contact us to learn more tips on writing for your company.

The post 4 Types of Writing Styles first appeared on ITVibes.

If you want to sharpen your writing skills, you need to practice and explore other writers’ work. That’s because a lot goes into writing high-quality articles. First, you need to understand the different types of writing, including blogs, essays, poetry, short stories, and novels.

Are you wondering how to start your writing career and perfect it? Learn how to get started writing like a professional.
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The following tips and ideas will improve your writing skills to become a pro writer.

Read Constantly

All professional writers are voracious readers. To become an expert writer, you need to read several materials and gain insight into the tones and styles used by other writers. By reading other people’s work, you’ll learn new writing techniques and get exposed to many source materials to boost your writing. It will inspire you to become a great writer.

Write Every Day

Writer’s block is one of the challenges for many writers as it can induce panic and discourage you. To deal with this problem, commit yourself to a daily routine. Set a workable writing routine by designating some time to practice writing. It doesn’t have to be much time, provided you devote a block of time and limit distractions.

Research Your Topic

Before you write a book, blog, essay, or any other form of creative writing, you need to research your topic to gain more insights into it. Research is an integral part of writing as it helps you gain more information from external sources to improve your writing. So, do your homework to ensure that you have access to every piece of information you’ll need for your writing.

Keep Practicing and Trust the Writing Process! 

Now that you know how to get started writing, don’t worry too much. All you have to do is practice writing every day to avoid the hardest part of writing, the writer’s block. Also, reading other writers’ materials will help you become a top-notch writer. If you are a beginner writer, consider taking a writing course to improve your writing habits.

Contact us to learn more writing tips for beginners.

The post How To Get Started Writing first appeared on ITVibes.

Are you contemplating the type of format to use in your next blog post? Then, try out these four types of blog formats to actively engage your readers. #itvibes
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What are some types of blog formats? 

When you are ready to write your next blog post, it’s good to experiment with different formats to make your content valuable. The bottom line is to ensure that the type of blog post format you choose integrates with your content marketing strategies. Thankfully, there are many types of blog formats to try out, including:

1. The “How-to” Post
2. The “What” Post
3. The “Why” Post 
4. The List Post

1) The “How-To” Post

This blog format is ideal for writing educational content, and that’s why it’s among the most popular blog formats. It can drive traffic in search engines when people search for tutorial-based content. So, choose the how-to blog format when giving instructions or procedural information. The body comprises step guides to achieve something.

2) The “What” Post

The “what” blog content would be the perfect choice for your readers when you want to introduce a new concept and explain what it entails. Most people who always look for “what is…” information tend to seek explanations regarding a particular subject. For that reason, you must be an expert on the topic you are writing about.

3) The “Why” Post

Due to its introductory nature, the “why” post is quite similar to the “what” post. However, it goes deeper by backing up the relevance of the subject at hand by providing answers to the “why” element. In other words, it helps bloggers to draw attention to the importance of the topic under discussion.

4) The List Post

The listicle type of content is becoming popular today as it gives secrets, reasons, types, or tips for doing something. The reader will already know that it’s a list post by reading the topic. The format effectively lists tips, ideas, or tactics of a particular subject at hand. You can use numbers or alphabets to list the main points in the article.

Find the Format For You

Whether you are familiar with the “how-to,” “why,” “what,” list, or curated post, it is good to mix up the different types of blog formats to produce high-quality content. However, most inbound marketers often prefer the how-to posts to engage their target audience. Finally, always add a call to action to your blogs when promoting a product or service.

Contact us to learn other blog types and formats for your website.

The post 4 Types of Blog Formats first appeared on ITVibes.

Like an evergreen tree that never dies, evergreen content brings life to your brand in a way that remains sustainable. Freshen up your content plan with some of these ideas!
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Examples of Evergreen Content for 2021

What is evergreen content, you may ask? In a few words, it is social media or blog content that covers topics that will stay relevant for a long period of time. Not only will this help bulk up your content marketing strategy but will inevitably increase your SEO ranking as you become an expert source of high-quality content.

Here are a couple of evergreen blog posts that we recommend adding to your upcoming calendar.

1. Checklists
2. Case Studies
3. Pillar Pages
4. “How To” Guides
5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) Checklists

Everyone likes a good list! Create a checklist of something related to your business to drive traffic to your website. Whether you’re a service provider or shop owner, lists are a great way to point customers in your direction. Ideas may include:

• 5 Steps to Inspect Your Home
• 21 Questions to Ask Your Property Manager
• 6 Gifts Every Husband Wants

2) Case Studies

Another evergreen piece of content worth publishing is a case study. Whether you create a separate section on your website or highlight a particular project on your blog, case studies are a great way to show off your achievements regardless of the time of year.

3) Pillar Pages

Somewhat new to the digital marketing industry, pillar pages are being used more frequently to organize content in a way that’s digestible. With a pillar page, you combine a number of different articles into one comprehensive guide. Not only will this strengthen internal links, but will show search engines you have a variety of content related to that keyword – helping to boost your SERP ranking.

4) “How To” Guides

With mobile devices, learning something new is literally at our fingertips. Take advantage of a user’s curiosity by creating a “how-to” guide related to your business. By providing content that is both helpful and relevant, you can become a resource for potential customers.

5) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Every business is asked questions on a repeated basis. Why not publish your answers for future access? With an FAQ post centered around your business and the needs of your customers, you can provide quick support for the most common questions.

Creating Content that Never Dies

In the world of content marketing, search volume for particular keywords changes from time to time. With evergreen content, you can expand your reach while creating content that will last for months or even years to come.

Contact us for more ideas on how to freshen your content!

The post 5 Examples of Stunning Evergreen Content first appeared on ITVibes.

What are the top 10 writing tips for beginners? We thought we would collect the tips that helped us become the writers we are today. Learn more in the following post!
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What are the top 10 writing tips for beginner writers? 

The most important writing tip is to make it a habit. Writing is one of those skills that requires constant care. Both reading and writing are important to improving your skills. Good writers use most if not all of these tips: 

1. Write Every Day
2. Read Often
3. Use Simple Language
4. Write First, Edit Later
5. Read What You Want To Write
6. Avoid Cliches
7. Be Ruthless When Editing
8. Use Active Voice Whenever Possible
9. Ask For Criticism 
10. Use Spellcheck Tools Like Grammarly

1) Write Every Day

You need to write every day if you want to be good at it. Like any skill writing takes practice. But how do you start writing every day? One of the best ways is to keep a private journal. 

A lot of people keep journals to write down their thoughts, or what happened to them during that day. Another way to get into the habit of writing is to do creative writing exercises. There are a lot of writing prompts on the internet, so look for some of those to get your mind working. 

2) Read Often

 All great writers read. Reading is one of the easiest and fastest ways to sharpen your skills as a writer. The best advice we can give you is to read everything and read often. Different genres can impart different wisdom to you.

Not only should you read everything, but you should pay attention to how you are reading. The more you write, the more you can identify different writing skills and styles. 

3) Use Simple Language

Simple is always better when writing. Think about how you read. When a complex sentence comes up, it is harder to focus on as a reader. Reading writers like Faulkner is difficult because his sentences are so complex. 

That being said, you need some variety in your writing. Reading sentences that are the same length can be boring after a while. Our advice is to keep your writing simple, but add a sprinkling of variety into your piece. 

4) Write First, Edit Later

When you are sitting down to write it can be tempting to edit as you go. This does work for some people, but for most this interrupts your writing flow. The end product you produce will be more thought out and better if you just write first, and then edit later. 

In this instance, it is up to you which way you go. If editing as you go is going to keep you more engaged with your writing process, then that is what you should do. Everyone works differently, and it is up to you to find what works best. 

5) Read What You Want To Write

Earlier we said to read everything to sharpen your general writing skills. That advice still rings true, but we would also say to read the kind of thing you want to write. If you want to read short stories, read lots of short stories. If you want to write a high fantasy novel, read a lot of high fantasy novels. 

At ITVibes, we read a lot of blog posts from other sources. This helps us pick what the best format is for us to use, and it helps ensure that we are putting out the best product we can. 

6) Avoid Cliches

People say this so much that it is almost becoming a cliche to say this, but it is so true. Avoid cliches when you can. Sayings like, “Blind as a bat” or “kiss and make up” are so overused, it becomes a signal to your audience to check out. Cliches hide your unique voice when you use them.  

7) Be Ruthless When Editing

This is especially applicable to writing a book. Once you are done writing your work, it is time to take the writing hat off and put your editing hat on. Cut anything that doesn’t make sense, fix grammar mistakes, and check your spelling closely. 

You may have heard the saying, “kill your babies,” which means that even if you like a piece of your work a lot, you need to cut it if it doesn’t fit. 

8) Use Active Voice Whenever Possible

Many people say to never use passive voice. In most instances, this is solid advice, but there are certain cases where passive voice is the best thing to use. These cases are rare, but they do happen. If you are trying to convey a feeling of powerlessness, using a passive voice can be powerful. 

For the most part, active voice is the way to go. It is much more powerful to say, “Jan pushed the box,” than to say, “The box was pushed by Jan.” 

9) Ask For Criticism

One of the hardest things for people to do is to ask for criticism. Criticism is hard to take, especially when the person who is criticizing you is not being gracious. But, constructive criticism can greatly improve your writing. Go to people you trust when you are ready, and they will help make your writing as strong as it can be.

10) Use Spellcheck Tools Like Grammarly

Things like Grammarly, spellcheck and other grammar tools are useful for catching the mistakes you miss. These tools help us recognize the mistakes that we consistently make. As useful as these tools are, remember that it is still important to check your work yourself. These tools don’t pick up on tone, plot holes, and the flow of your piece. 

Time To Write

Now that you have these tips, go write! Remember that all of this will not come together at once, but the more you practice, the better you will be. 

Contact us for more writing tips, or for blogging information!

The post Top 10 Writing Tips For Beginners first appeared on ITVibes.

Beef up your blog posts and their SEO value by using keywords effectively! Here’s how: #ITVibes #seo #blogging
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So how can you correctly use keywords in your blog posts? To get the maximum SEO value out of your blog posts, you’ll need to understand the different types of keywords available for you to use and where to place them throughout your written content. Let’s take a look at keywords for SEO and how you can use them to your blog’s advantage.

Understanding Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords are more specific keywords that your audience will use when they are searching for a certain piece of information. The first thing you’ll need to determine to choose your long-tail keywords is the user’s search intent. What is it that your target audience will be searching for that you can expand upon in your blog post? These long-tail keywords have a lower search volume, meaning your post being centered around that keyword will rank higher in the search results. 

Where to Place Your Keywords

The long-tail keyword you’ve chosen to write your blog about should be used in the title of your post and with different variations in the subheadings. Try to avoid keyword stuffing by making sure that what you write flows in an easy-to-read way. You can also use your keywords in your blog posts images by renaming their alt attributes. Another important place to have your keywords is in the meta description and title tags, as these will be the first thing visible to users on search engines.

How to Choose Good Keywords

There are plenty of great tools available to help you find the right keywords to use for your blogs such as Keyword Explorer, SEMRush, and KWFinder. These tools generate hundreds of ideas based on one keyword, giving you an inside look at what your desired audience is searching for. Your keywords should be as specific to your brand and website as possible, making your piece of content relevant to the user’s organic search. When searching for keywords, pay attention to their search volume and how difficult it is to rank for that specific keyword. 

Using Keywords in Your Blog Posts to Maximize SEO Results

Now that you know how to use keywords in your blog posts, it’s time to do your keyword research! Make a list of the primary keywords you want to use and list them in order from most to least relevant. You should also do your research on competitors to see what keywords they are ranking for to get some ideas. 

Get in touch with us to learn more about keywords and your guide to SEO!

The post How to Use Keywords in Your Blog Posts first appeared on ITVibes.

When it comes to ranking on search engines, the HTML code behind the scenes can make just as much of a difference. Learn about the importance of meta descriptions for SEO.
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While finding new clients and making sales is important, one goal of any website should be to increase traffic. At the base level, getting users to visit your web pages and learn about your brand is what encourages action. Thus, having an enticing meta description is what will draw users to your site. Let’s consider what goes into making a meta description fully optimized to enhance your content’s performance.

What is An SEO Meta Description?

In short, a meta description is a short snippet of information that describes a link to a web page. It is normally displayed on search engine result pages such as Google to give users an idea of what they’re going to be clicking on. Together with the title tag and URL link, the meta description is a vital factor in helping increase click-through rates for web pages.

To be clear, Google announced in 2009 that it doesn’t use meta tag keywords in its ranking algorithm. Meta descriptions are similar to ad copy, however, which means you can receive SEO benefits indirectly. By customizing your meta descriptions for your individual pages, you can draw users to visit your website. If more people click on your search result, Google will see you as a valid source of information, which will then help advance your position.

Title Tag: Do’s & Don’ts

Title tags are an important part of meta descriptions. Their primary purpose is to tell users what to expect from a web page. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you write your title tag:

• Keep your tags between 50-60 characters. Google cuts off title tags in search engine results after a certain number of pixels so this is a good rule of thumb to make sure the full title is displayed.
• Don’t use all caps. Yes, you may get attention but not for the right reasons. All cap titles have the reputation of being aggressive or unprofessional.
• Use 1-2 keywords. You’re writing for humans, not robots. If you’re trying to rank for different keywords, stick with using only one or two keywords in your actual title. Otherwise, it will look like you’re trying to cram as many keywords in the space as possible.

Meta Tag: Do’s & Don’ts

Considered the main part of the meta description, the meta tag is the 1-2 sentences that give a quick preview of what the blog post or web page will be about. Here are a couple of things to keep in mind when attempting to write a meta tag that grabs a user’s attention:

• Keep it under 160 characters. While there’s no optimal length, most snippets start to cut off the message after a certain point.
• Include a call to action. A meta description is an advertisement for a certain page. Make it actionable so that users are motivated to click the link.
• Use your target keyword. While Google may not rank your listing based on your meta description, they do bold the text in the meta description that matches a search query. With that in mind, make sure your meta tag includes your keyword in a way that makes sense.
• Don’t duplicate meta descriptions. If all of your pages have the same meta description, the user experience in Google will diminish. Customize the meta tag for each page so that users can distinguish the differences between your content.

It’s Time to Review Your Meta Description Tags

When you create content for your website, the ultimate goal is to get readers to find it and share it with others. This is where meta descriptions reign supreme, especially when completed hand-in-hand with careful keyword research. By taking the time to customize each title tag and meta tag to highlight the contents of each page, you can give users a better idea of what you have to offer.

Not sure where to start? Contact our team for ways to enhance your website’s visibility.

The post How to Write a Fully-Optimized Meta Description for SEO first appeared on ITVibes.