Long Beach California USA
I rarely try to rank anything on Google.
Why would I attempt to manipulate a search engine?
My readers are human beings not a fickle algorithm
Humans use Google. Humans are not Google. Google is an inanimate object.
I do not blog for an inanimate object.
I blog for humans. Specifically, I blog for Blogging From Paradise readers who want practical blogging tips.
You are free to blog for Google. Try to rank on page 1. Perhaps you will succeed. Maybe you consistently succeed.
But trying to dominate a thing moves attention away from the people you serve.
Never mind how Google changes with the tide.
Google Is Unstable
Last I checked, Google ranks an AI summary on page 1 for all queries.
Does this bode well for bloggers?
Google values an AI summary over detailed blog posts written by experienced human beings.
I see that clearly.
Perhaps other bloggers do not.
I help people. Or at least I try to help people.
I rarely think about trying to rank on Google for the reason above; it is an unstable traffic source.
The algorithm changes. Sometimes it appears to change radically. AI summaries dominate page 1 position 1. Who knows what changes come next? I care not. I help you. I do not attempt to rank.
What’s the Difference Between Helping and Trying to Rank?
I sat down to write this post by targeting a specific human need.
I imagined the ideal Blogging From Paradise reader. Some of you bloggers want to rank but forget to help people.
How the thought process goes:
- search for a long tail keyword
- write an SEO-optimized blog post
- pray to the Google gods that the post ranks on page 1
Pay close attention to the above steps.
Did you ever ask YOUR readers what THEY wanted you to blog about? Did you poll your community? Did you spot pain points suffered by your tribe?
People who *currently* read your blog visit directly not through Google. Why would you look up a long tail keyword for Google if your readers supply pressing, critical, bang on blog post ideas via their personal feedback?
I think it makes zero sense to look past loyal readers towards a thing that may or may not send new, targeted traffic to your blog. Why would you focus on new traffic when loyal followers give you the best ideas for increasing:
- organic traffic?
- blogging income?
- referral traffic?
- referral income?
I will publish this post.
Bloggers from my tribe who struggle with this quandary can click the link, read the post and drive referral traffic by sharing the post to X, Facebook, LinkedIn and other channels.
I helped my readers.
My readers help to amplify my success.
Solve problems from the inside not the outside. Listen to readers. Solve problems with detailed content. Drive organic traffic. Boost referral traffic. As long as you serve your current readers they will drive referral, targeted traffic for you passively. Consider that to be the only online business goal. Set that blogging end and aim only for it to build a freeing online business.
All that you need to do is help people who:
- know
- like
- trust
your content.
Resist the temptation to migrate outside of your lane to chase new readers through Google because you fear that your current following is not:
- big enough
- expanding enough
- engaging enough
Readers do not engage because you stopped listening to them, spotting their pain points and solving their problems thoroughly. Check those marks and you will spot increasing engagement levels through your blog.
Focus on what you have.
Look past the urge to get more.
I screwed up in this matter for a bit early during my blogging career.
I greedily or desperately chased more readers when I needed to thoroughly help the readers I already had.
In a world of scarcity, this blogging error is common.
We forget our fans – who drive referral traffic if we solve their specific problems – to chase imagined greater success from new followers out there.
As always, devaluing your current success to chase more imagined success makes absolutely zero sense.
But then again, fear makes no sense.
Helping People Sends Google Traffic
Check this out for irony.
Solving a specific reader problem in great detail sends Google traffic.
Bloggers who dominate page 1 of Google write for readers first then add some details to SEO-optimize content.
Perhaps some mine a long tail keyword. Some do not. I rarely search for specific keywords yet rank some posts on page 1 for a range of search terms.
How?
I publish detailed, targeted guides to solve specific blogging problems. Google traffic is unstable but the algorithm still wants to largely look good by sending people to detailed, targeted guides dripping with practical tips.
One of my page 1 posts via Incognito for a “blogging tips” query is “How to Write a Blog Post”. Google has ranked this post on page 1 for months as of this publish date.
Clearly, I did not include the keyword in the title. Nor did I try to rank for that keyword. But I did intend to write a highly practical, detailed guide to baby step bloggers from problem to solution for how to write a blog post.
I set that goal, followed through on it and Google decided that it was a page 1 guide for bloggers who want blogging tips.
Writing for humans versus trying to rank wins once again.
Develop Posture
Admittedly, I had to develop posture to feel confident in this endeavor.
I backburnered Google to make Blogging From Paradise Dot Com the source of my traffic.
I had to face ample fears dripping with worthiness issues to get to that point. I did not feel comfortable journeying within consistently.
But I had to do it to make my blog the priority over all off-site sources.
Value your blog. Appreciate your personal input. Be confident. Guide readers with truly helpful content.
Stop putting Google on a pedestal. It is just one site. Billions of people use Facebook alone. Billions use a wide range of other websites.
Enough about off-site channels though.
See the power inherent in running a well-stocked blog filled with practical tips.
Turn your blog into such a resource by visualizing your ideal reader. Help that individual with practical blog posts. Be thorough. List steps. Break down each step into more steps. Break down steps into practical tips if necessary.
Think of baby stepping readers from problem to solution. Leave nothing out. Make sure readers never trip over a lack of practical information.
This is why I have beaten the long form content drum for over a decade.
No blogger needs to publish the next War and Peace.
But publish at least 1000 to 1200 words per post – or more – to provide people with detailed resources.
Give them enough to solve their problems.
Conclusion
I never want to b*tch out Google even though I appear to be against the search engine giant at times.
Change your mind about your blog.
Help people who currently read your blog.
Let them fan the flames under your referral traffic and referral income.
Blogging Resources
