Tool: Google Search Console (GSC)

If you’re not using GSC yet, go set it up, it’s free and straight from Google. It’s like having a peek at the receipts for how people are actually finding your blog. Here's how to work it:

How to Use It:

• Log in to your GSC account.
• Click on your site → Go to Performance → Click Search Results.
• Toggle on Average Position, Impressions, and CTR.
• Scroll to the Queries section.
This shows the actual search terms people typed into Google that led to your site showing up (even if they didn’t click).

Example:

Let’s say your blog is about budget-friendly DIY projects.
You might find a query like:
“how to paint kitchen cabinets without sanding”
But your post title is something generic like “DIY Kitchen Makeover Tips.”
See the disconnect?

Fix It:

• Rewrite your headline to match the exact phrase.
“How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets Without Sanding (Cheap + Easy Fixes)”
• Add that phrase in your intro and subheadings.
• Create a quick how-to section or infographic with the exact steps (because users who type that are looking for a no-fuss guide).

Bonus Move:

Check your Position column. If you’re ranking #12 for that query (bottom of page 2), adding clarity and relevance to your post can push it up to the top of page 1.
Even better, create a fresh post just for that search if your old one’s too general.

Not everyone’s ready to drop $$$ on SEO tools, and that’s totally fine, there are plenty of solid freebies out there to help you sniff out juicy keywords.

This lil’ gem shows the monthly search volume for any keyword right in Google’s search bar.

Example:

Type in “easy meals for picky toddlers” and Keyword Surfer shows:
• 8,100 searches/month
• Related keywords like “quick meals for toddlers,” “no cook toddler meals,” etc.

How to use it:

• Choose keywords that have 1,000+ monthly searches but aren’t ultra-competitive (lower competition = better chance of ranking).

• Sprinkle those phrases into your blog title, subheadings, and naturally in the content.
Write: “10 No-Cook Toddler Meals That’ll Save Your Sanity”

Not: “Feeding Toddlers: My Personal Story” (nobody’s searching for that)

Use this when you’re deciding which version of a keyword to use, or when you want to ride a wave of seasonal search traffic.

Example:

Type in “air fryer recipes” vs. “oven baked recipes.”
If “air fryer recipes” is peaking around January (New Year’s resolution crowd), that’s your sign to publish it before the surge.

Pro tip:

Use “Past 12 months” and set the location to your main audience’s country. You might discover that something you thought was dying is actually blowing up in another region.

Real-Life Fix:

Let’s say you want to blog about organizing your closet.
You type into Google: “closet organization tips”

Keyword Surfer tells you:
• 6,600/month for “closet organization ideas”
• 4,400/month for “small closet hacks”
• 2,900/month for “how to organize a small closet with lots of clothes”

Use those keyword phrases in different posts or better yet, in one big, juicy post that covers them all.

Title idea:
“17 Genius Small Closet Hacks (Even for Clothes Hoarders)”

Let’s be real, just because you care deeply about the benefits of Himalayan yak milk soap doesn’t mean people are Googling it. Your blog needs to answer questions that strangers are typing into search bars.
Here’s how to write stuff that wins clicks (and hearts).

Think Like a Stressed Googler

Most people hit Google with a mini problem in their head.
They’re thinking:
• “How do I fix this thing?”
• “What’s the best option?”
• “Is this even safe?”
• “How do I do this without spending a fortune?”
Your job? Answer that, clearly and fast.

Example: You run a blog about garden hacks.
Instead of writing:
“My Thoughts on Fertilizer Blends (Vol. 3)”
Write:
“Best Fertilizer for Tomatoes (Beginner Friendly Guide)”
“How to Fix Yellow Tomato Leaves (Simple DIY Cure)”
Because guess what? That’s what people are typing into Google in a panic while staring at their sad little plants.

Fix-It Steps:

1. Use a “problem/solution” format
Open with the problem: “Your tomato plant’s looking rough, leaves yellowing, growth stunted. Sound familiar?”
Then solve it: “Here’s exactly how I saved mine with this 3-step trick...”

2. Use subheadings that double as questions
“Why Are My Tomato Leaves Turning Yellow?”
“Should I Use Coffee Grounds for Tomatoes?”
“What’s the Best Cheap Fertilizer?”

3. Include quick wins
People skim. Give them bolded summaries, visuals, checklists, whatever helps them grab value fast.

4. Look at the top 3 Google results for your topic
What do they do well? What’s missing?

Your job is to beat it, not with fluff, but with:
o Better formatting
o More personality
o Actual hands-on advice, not theory

Pro Move:
Add a quick “TL;DR” at the top or bottom:
“Too long? Here’s the quick fix: Use Epsom salt + fish emulsion. Works like magic. Scroll down for the how-to.”

Bottom line:
Write like you’re solving a friend’s problem, not like you’re writing a school essay. And don’t bury the good stuff. Lead with it, then expand.

Let me guess. You've got a blog post from 2021 that you’re kinda proud of, but you haven’t touched it since. Maybe it’s buried on page 3 of Google. Or maybe it’s got the energy of a forgotten MySpace page.

Good news. With just a few tweaks, you can revive that post and get Google’s attention again, without writing a whole new one from scratch.

Why It Matters:
Old posts lose SEO power over time, especially if your competitors are posting fresh content on the same topics. Google’s algorithm likes content that’s b up-to-date, helpful, and alive./b
So breathe some life back into those dusty posts!

Real-World Example:
Say you wrote a blog called:
“Best Running Shoes for 2022”
Now it’s mid-2025 and it’s still sitting there like a digital relic.

Fix it like this:
• Change the title to:
“Best Running Shoes for 2025 (Backed by 3 Years of Testing)”
• Update any outdated info, like discontinued shoes or old pricing.
• Add fresh images or embed a YouTube review.
• Insert a short “2025 Update” note at the top so readers know it’s current.

Easy Fix List (Copy-Paste Worthy):

1. Fix the title
Add the current year or better keywords.

2. Improve formatting
Break up chunky paragraphs, add subheadings like:
“What Changed in 2025”
“My Top Picks This Year”

3.  Add new insights
Got a new tip, tool, or stat? Drop it in.

4. Add internal links to new posts
Especially ones related to the same topic.
“Check out my guide to zero-drop running shoes here.”

5. Update meta description and SEO title
Make it snappier and include a main keyword.
“Find the best running shoes of 2025, tested by real joggers.”

6. Fix or remove broken links
Use a tool like Broken Link Checker or just manually click through your post.

Extra Credit: Repromote Like It’s Brand New
Don’t be shy, this updated post is fresh now.
• Share it on social media.
• Add it to your email newsletter.
• Link to it in your newer posts.

Think of it like this: you already cooked the meal, now you're just adding seasoning and heating it up. Why let good content go cold?

Let’s be honest, if your blog loads slower than a sloth on espresso, people bounce. We’ve all done it: clicked a link, waited two seconds, then hit back like it burned us.

Google notices that too.

So this step is about making sure your blog isn’t turning visitors away before they even read your brilliance.

Why It Matters:
• Google uses page speed and mobile usability as ranking factors.
• More than 60% of people read blogs on their phones.
• If it looks janky or loads like molasses, they’re out.

First, Run a Quick Test:
Use PageSpeed Insights (it’s free) and pop in your blog’s URL.
You’ll get a score from 0–100 with some red/yellow/green vibes.

Look for two things:
• “Mobile performance” , this one matters most.
• “Time to Interactive” , aim for under 3 seconds.

Fix-It Steps:
1. Install a caching plugin
o For WordPress:  W3 Total Cache or WP Rocket (free and premium options).
o These help your blog load faster by storing and reusing data instead of starting from scratch every time.

2.Compress your images
o Big image files = slow site.
o Use Smush  or TinyPNG to shrink image sizes without turning them into blurry potato photos.
Real-life win. I shrunk a 2.5MB image to 260KB using TinyPNG. Page speed jumped 18 points overnight.

3. Use a responsive theme
o Your theme should auto-resize for phones and tablets.
o Test it: Open your blog on your phone. If you’re pinching and zooming, bad sign.

4. Ditch the clutter
o Pop-ups, autoplay videos, five different fonts, all that stuff slows things down.
o Simpler = smoother = better.

Bonus Tip: Mobile First, Desktop Second
When you write or design a blog post, preview it on your phone first.
• Are buttons tappable?
• Is text readable without squinting?
• Do images fit the screen?
Google crawls your mobile site first these days, so think like a phone user even if you’re writing on a laptop.

TL;DR
A snappy blog that works great on mobile =
Better rankings
Happier readers
More time on site
More trust in your brand

Links are like bridges. Internal ones help readers hop around your site. External ones tell Google, “Hey, I did my homework.” Both are vital, and most bloggers either overdo it, underdo it, or do it weird.
Let’s fix that.

Why Linking Matters

• B Internal links /b keep readers on your site longer (and boost SEO).
• B External links /b show Google you’re referencing good sources (and help build relationships).
• B Backlinks /b (when other sites link to you) are SEO gold, but we’ll get there.

Fix-It Steps:

Think of your blog like Netflix. You don’t want someone to watch one show and bounce. You want them to indulge.

How to do it:
• In every blog post, link to at least 2–3 other relevant posts you’ve written.
• Use natural anchor text (not “click here”) like:
“Check out this post on zero-waste cleaning hacks”
“I also shared some tips in my decluttering checklist”

Example:
Writing a post on “how to start a veggie garden”?
Link to your posts on “best compost recipes” and “DIY raised beds.”

Don’t be afraid to link out, just do it smart.

How to do it:
• Link to authority sites (think .edu, .gov, major publications, or tools like Canva or Trello).
• Only link where it adds real value.
• Avoid spammy or overly salesy sites.

Bonus tip: Open external links in a new tab so your blog stays open in the background.

This one takes time but pays off big.
How to get ‘em:

• Guest posting: Offer to write free content for other blogs in your niche, and link back to one of your best posts.
• Link swaps: Reach out to similar bloggers and offer to link to each other’s content where it makes sense.
• Broken link building: Use a Chrome extension like Check My Links to find dead links on other people’s blogs. Email them with a heads-up, and suggest your post as a replacement.
Pro move: Find out who’s linking to you already using Google Search Console → Links → “Top linking sites.” Say thanks, or pitch a guest post.

Extra Credit:
Add a “Related Posts” or “You Might Also Like” section at the bottom of your blogs. It helps with internal links and reader retention.

TL;DR
Smart links = smooth journeys for readers + happy Google bots.
You’re guiding them, not trapping them.

Look, you don’t have to be a data nerd to do this. But if you’re not tracking your results, you’re basically driving blindfolded with a GPS set to “vibes only.”
This step is about knowing what’s working, tweaking what’s not, and squeezing the most juice from every blog post you create.

Tools to use:
• Google Search Console (GSC) → For SEO stats like impressions, clicks, and rankings.
• Google Analytics 4 (GA4) → For traffic sources, bounce rate, and time-on-page.

What to check (once a week is enough!):
• Which posts get the most traffic?
• What keywords are sending people to those posts?
• Which posts have high impressions but low clicks?

Example: GSC shows your post “Easy Indoor Plants” is showing up a lot (high impressions) but has a low CTR (click-through rate).

Fix: Change the title to something spicier like “9 Indoor Plants That Don’t Die on You” and update the meta description.

Blogging isn’t “set it and forget it.” It’s “post, tweak, test, repeat.”

How to do it:

• Change up blog titles / for better curiosity.
• Add or improve images / to break up long text.
• Update old links / or add better ones.
• Reformat posts / for better readability (shorter sentences, more subheadings, pull quotes).

Real-life tweak tip:
Add a “What You’ll Learn” bullet list under the intro of every post. Increases engagement and helps with featured snippets.

You wrote the post. You updated it. Don’t just hit publish and hope.

Ways to promote without sounding desperate:

• Repost it on Facebook / with a question that hooks readers.
• Break it into 3–5 micro tips / for Twitter or Threads.
• Turn it into a mini-slide carousel / for Instagram or Pinterest.
• Email it to your list / with a subject like:

“I finally cracked this and had to share…”
Re-share posts every few months with a fresh headline. People forget. Algorithms forget. But Google remembers the update.

TL;DR
Track what works. Change what doesn’t. Share it like it’s brand new.
Rinse and repeat.