Google Ranking Cheatsheet
Write Blog Posts That Drive Traffic
1. Primary Keyword Research
- Check monthly search volume (aim for 100-500 searches)
- Analyze keyword difficulty (start with KD under 30)
- Verify search intent matches blog format
- Check if top 10 results include blog posts
- Check CPC value for commercial potential
- Study top 10 results for content type validation
💡 More resources: Complete Keyword Strategy Guide developed by Tom Winter and Davor Bomestar
2. Long-tail Optimization
- Target phrases with 3+ words
- Target question-based searches
- Check autocomplete suggestions
- Mine Reddit/Quora for topics
- Analyze forum discussions for patterns
- Identify uncovered subtopics
- List commonly asked questions
- Check “People Also Ask” boxes
- Find unique data opportunities
- Track seasonal keyword trends
- Consider geographic variations
3. User Intent Optimization
- Map keywords to user journey stages
- Create content for each funnel stage
- Match content format to user needs
- Address common pain points
- Provide clear next steps
- Include relevant use cases
- Create supporting content pieces
- Test different content angles
4. Keyword implementation
- Primary: Use in first 100 words, H1, meta title
- Secondary: 2-3 related keywords throughout content
- Long-tail: Target 2-3 specific phrases
- LSI: Include 5-7 semantic variations
- Density: Keep under 2% for main keyword
- Featured Snippet: Answer key questions in 40-60 words
- Research: Use tools like Ahrefs/SEMrush for volume/difficulty
II. Quality
5. Create E-E-A-T Content
- Create comprehensive, in-depth information
- Provide original research and unique insights
- Display author credentials prominently
- Ensure 100% unique content
- Update content every 6-12 months
- Aim for at least 2-3 images for a 1,000-word post
- Link to authoritative sources
- Feature expert quotes and opinions
- Create content upgrades
- Develop location-specific content when relevant
💡 For more, go to The E-E-A-T Content Checklist developed by Tom Winter and Audrey Chia.
6. Content Structure
- H1: One unique main heading with primary keyword
- H2-H6: Organize subtopics logically
- Meta Title: Primary keyword in first 60 characters
- Meta Description: 150-160 characters with CTA
- URLs: Short, keyword-rich, hyphenated
- Internal Links: 3-5 relevant links per 1000 words
- Image SEO: Alt Text, File Names, Image Sitemaps
- Implement schema markup for content type
- Structure content for featured snippets
7. Content Enrichment
- Add interactive elements (polls, surveys)
- Include multimedia (videos, infographics)
- Implement practical tools (calculators, tables)
- Place strategic CTAs
- Create downloadable resources
- Social proof (testimonials, reviews, user-generated content)
- Custom illustrations/branded visuals
- Tweetable quotes/shareable snippets
- Add comparison tables
- Include case studies
III. Content Maintenance
8. Regular updates
- Audit: Quarterly content review
- Updates: Add new data, remove outdated info
- Thin: Merge or improve posts under 300 words
- Links: Fix broken links immediately
- Images: Compress all images, add alt text
- Monitor: Weekly ranking checks
- Adapt: Update per major algorithm changes
IV. Authority
9. Internal Linking
- Link to relevant content within first 300 words
- Add 3-5 internal links per 1000 words
- Use descriptive anchor text
- Link to cornerstone content
- Create topic clusters
- Maintain flat site architecture
- Implement breadcrumb navigation
10. External Link Building
- Focus on relevant industry sites
- Target domains with DR 50+
- Vary anchor text naturally
- Build relationships via outreach
- Create linkable assets
- Monitor competitor backlinks
11. Digital PR Strategies
- Create newsworthy data studies or industry surveys
- Analyze industry trends
- Present unique findings
- Package data into shareable infographics
- Prepare expert commentary on breaking news
- Host virtual events or webinars
- Share unique insights on LinkedIn
- Create original research reports
12. Link Management
- Check for broken links monthly
- Remove toxic backlinks
- Update outdated external links
- Monitor link velocity
- Track referring domains
- Analyze link quality metrics
V. User Experience
13. Readability Enhancement
- Readability: Aim for Grade 8 reading level
- Break content into clear sections
- Include white space between paragraphs
- Use descriptive subheadings
- Highlight key points in bold
14. Navigation and Layout
- Clear menu structure, breadcrumbs
- Mobile: No horizontal scrolling, readable fonts (16px+)
- Scan: Use bullets, numbers, sections
- Layout: 50-75 characters per line
- CTAs: Place above fold and end of content
VI. Technical performance
15. Technical SEO Fundamentals
- Install SSL certificate
- Submit XML sitemap to Search Console
- Optimize robots.txt
- Implement proper canonical tags
- Set up structured data markup
- Configure proper HTTP status codes
16. Speed Optimization
- Keep server response time under 200ms
- Compress images to under 100KB while maintaining quality
- Minify CSS, JavaScript, and HTML files
- Implement browser caching (min 1 month)
- Use a CDN for global accessibility
17. Mobile Optimization
- Ensure responsive design across all devices
- Keep menu navigation simple and thumb-friendly
- Maintain minimum 16px font size for readability
- Eliminate horizontal scrolling
- Test on multiple devices and browsers
- Keep important elements above the fold
18. Core Web Vitals
- Achieve LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) under 2.5 seconds
- Maintain FID (First Input Delay) under 100 milliseconds
- Keep CLS (Cumulative Layout Shift) under 0.1
- Monitor via Google Search Console
- Fix issues flagged in PageSpeed Insights
- Regular testing on mobile and desktop
19. Content Accessibility
- Implement WCAG guidelines
- Add proper heading structure
- Ensure color contrast compliance
- Provide text alternatives for images
- Make videos accessible (captions)
- Enable keyboard navigation
- Test with screen readers
VII. Performance Analytics
20. Track and optimize
- Set Up Google Analytics
- Use Google Search Console
- Set Up Goals and Events
- Adjust your strategy based on data insights to improve results.
Start writing E-E-A-T content that hits
traffic goals, every time.
