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Blog Authenticity and Search Engine Optimization.

Published - December 04, 2023

When we publish content, we are building equity in the internet. It is important to remember that content creation is separate from SEO. They are related, however, they are two different things. Let’s not outsource our executive decision making to uncontrolled large language models.
Blog Authenticity and Search Engine Optimization

Purpose of Blogs:

Blogs are a vehicle to disperse information. Information meant for people. Blogs are not just for satisfying search engine algorithms. Blogs should be written for people, by people. However their role in helping your site be found, is undeniable, and they can be used as a tool to generate traffic to your website.

The Authenticity Dilemma

Human thought should be the originator of as much of the blog content creation process as possible. As subject matter experts still possess more understanding than general language models. Human generated content may increase the time and difficulty to create blogs, but it is this authenticity that will drive interest above ai generated content.

As content creators, it's our duty to ensure the integrity of our work. Our aim is not to create a digital landscape dominated by AI prompt engineers lacking expertise, who manipulate online content merely to enhance search engine visibility.

Search Engine Optimization

Recent trends have promoted a reliance on dubious SEO strategies, which include practices like keyword stuffing, using hidden text, and creating artificial link networks. Although SEO is an essential aspect of online visibility, it's important to prioritize content that serves the interests and needs of real people. This doesn't discount the value of employing legitimate tools and methods to enhance SEO. Indeed, there are recognized and ethical ways to boost search rankings effectively.

So how do we generate authentic, quality content, and have it drive traffic? Let’s look to what the search engine juggernaut, Google, has to say. “You should build a website to benefit your users, and gear any optimization toward making the user experience better.” This is right out of their playbook, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Starter Guide.

Here is a summary of 12 ways to improve SEO.

  1. Verify Site Indexing: Regularly check if your site is indexed by Google using the `site:` search command. If it’s not appearing, submit your URL directly through Google Search Console.
  2. Submit and Update Sitemap: Submit a sitemap via Google Search Console to facilitate Google's discovery of pages. Update your sitemap regularly as you add new content.
  3. Craft Unique Page Titles: Each page should have a unique title that properly describes the page content and includes relevant keywords.
  4. Write Effective Meta Descriptions: Create relevant meta descriptions for each page. This text can appear in search results and should encourage click-throughs while including target keywords.
  5. Improve Site Structure: Organize your website with a clear hierarchy and text links. Every page should be reachable from at least one static text link.
  6. Enhance Content Quality: Offer valuable information to users and include keywords naturally. Write content that people want to read.
  7. Optimize Images: Reduce file sizes for faster loading and use descriptive titles and alt text with relevant keywords for all images.
  8. Ensure Mobile Responsiveness: Design your website to be mobile-friendly, providing a good user experience across all devices.
  9. Increase Page Speed: Utilize tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to identify and fix issues slowing down your site.
  10. Manage Robots.txt Files: Use the robots.txt file to control crawling on pages that should not be indexed, but remember this does not guarantee privacy.
  11. Promote Your Website Actively: Engage with communities related to your site's topic, use social media to share your content, and encourage others to link to your site.
  12. Use Analytics to Inform SEO: Regularly review analytics to understand how visitors interact with your site and to identify areas for improvement. Use this data to refine your SEO strategies.

 

When we publish content, we are building equity in the internet. It is important to remember that content creation is separate from SEO. They are related, however, they are two different things. Let’s not outsource our executive decision making to uncontrolled large language models.