South Carolina, USA
Did you ever try to force a square peg into a round hole?
I bet you that the project did not work out too well because neither fits the other.
Attempting to optimize specific blog posts for search engines is like trying to force a square peg into a round hole. Since no one ever searches for the specific phrases or topics below it means you will waste time and energy attempting to SEO optimize these types of posts.
I decided to write this post because some bloggers robotic-ally waste time searching for keywords and following all subsequent technical steps attempting to force search traffic through posts best left non-optimized. Pro bloggers waste little motion or time. Aspiring pro bloggers who eventually go pro waste little motion or time, too.
How do people find posts not optimized for SEO?
Billions of human beings search and use social media and thousands of other online channels daily to get what they want. Is that audience big enough for you?
Your current blogging community reads your blog posts.
Guest posts and genuine blog comments send a steady stream of quality traffic to your blog; get on these strategies immediately if you’ve ignored ’em, until now.
Blog efficiently.
Do not optimize these types of posts for SEO.
1: Opinion Posts
Pure opinion posts clearly reflecting the personal viewpoint of the blogger need not be optimized for SEO.
For example, if I decided to write an opinion piece about any blogging topic that is not practical but me sharing my personal thoughts, it is not advisable to optimize it. No one Googles:
“What does Ryan Biddulph think about blogging plug-ins use during stifling summer months in Costa Rica?”
At least, no one Googles that specific phrase as of the publish date for this post.
If you share your personal thoughts it makes little sense to SEO optimize topics people do not search for.
2: Milestones
Milestone posts need not be SEO optimized.
Why would someone search for a post celebrating your 1,000th blog post?
Simply write, publish and distribute the post and move on.
I rarely if ever published milestone posts on Blogging From Paradise. Doing so is for noting blogging accomplishments to inspire you to ease through blogging obstacles.
Since no one actively searches Google for specific, personalized blogging goals reached, just write the post sans optimizing it for search engines.
3: Personal Celebrations
I have published a few posts celebrating travels.
None of those personal celebrations pop up on Google because no one searches for terms related to each.
Skip the SEO optimizing and just publish the damn thing.
Celebration post examples:
- announcing your marriage
- announcing the birth of a child
The list can and does go on but if it does not relate to your specific blogging niche and serves as an off topic celebration simply publish the sucker and exit stage left.
4: Controversial Posts
Why would you not optimize controversial posts for search engines?
Mainstream queries pull you down a path lacking:
- clarity
- confidence
- quality traffic
- targeted traffic
Who queries controversial strategies?
Unclear, doubtful people lacking confidence seek controversy as a delaying mechanism. This means that people who have no idea what they want may or may not visit your blog based on Google searching a controversial topic.
Does it make sense to drive doubtful, scared, unclear people to your blog?
No.
Why would you target someone who has no clue if they want what you have to offer? Does that sound like an effective business model? Do you build a freeing, successful business on human beings who’ve no clue in hell if your blog will solve their problem because they’ve no idea what they want?
No, you do not.
Smart bloggers seek the sure thing. Prospering bloggers laser pinpoint only readers who clearly and confidently want what the blogger has to offer through their blog via sure, simple, clear topics void of controversy. That’s how you drive quality traffic and grow a prospering blogging business.
The Douche Bag Blogger Factor
Unfortunately, some bloggers attempt to drum up traffic and business by making bold, absurd, controversial claims.
For example, someone may write an entire post on the alleged death of blogging which is as asinine as pigs flying.
Billions of human beings read words. This means that blogging is alive and well. Billions of human beings will read words in the future. This means that blogging will be alive and well for a long time.
If a meteor hits planet earth, blogging will die but only because all humans will die and dead humans cannot read words.
SEO-optimizing controversial topics akin to the dingbatish death of blogging points to blogging douche baggery since it reflects a scared, lazy, weak-minded blogger resorting to tired tactics because they cannot publish valuable content and build meaningful connections in their chosen niche.
Who do these scared bloggers attract by landing on page 1 of Google for a controversial search term?
Weak-minded readers hellbent on predicting the alleged demise of blogging AND pissed off, unclear bloggers ready for a cyber fight.
Do complainers and fighters sound like:
- loyal, positive readers?
- customers?
- clients?
No…..they do not. Complainers and fighters are there for complaining and fighting about controversy and want little to do with following constructive tips, loyally following your blog, buying your stuff and hiring you.
If you choose to go the controversial route just publish the post for your trusting community. Even if they collectively disagree they perceive you as being credible. Expect few if any debates, fights or complaining in your close circles arising in response to publishing controversial posts to your blog.
Conclusion
Save time and energy.
Resist any urge to SEO-optimize the above post types.
Allow organic growth through your tribe and online marketing channels sans Google to fan the flames of traffic and blogging income for these posts.
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