Every website owner is always looking to figure out the best way to get in the good graces of Google and other search engines. One of the most important ways to do that is through website content, whether it be main website pages or blog posts. It has been said for a long time that content is king. Well, as this blog post from Consumer Focus Marketing will illustrate, content is still king. But how much content do you need on your website? Luckily, the usually secretive folks at Google have given us some information about that very subject. Keep reading to find out more about how to increase your visibility in Google’s eyes.
The Importance of Blog Posts for Website SEO
In a recent Search Engine Journal article, it was reported that Google’s John Mueller admitted the following recently:
“Building authority with Google is going to take more than publishing a site with just 30 pages, advises Search Advocate John Mueller.
That’s especially true if the site has stopped publishing new content for a while.
Mueller says this in response to a Reddit thread asking why new articles for an “authoritative” site aren’t being indexed.
The original poster (OP) of the thread says they’ve published 30+ articles on their site, and believes it to be authoritative because of the links it’s receiving.
After a three-month hiatus between publishing new articles, Google isn’t indexing the new content as quickly as it did in the past.
OP asks why some URLs aren’t getting indexed even after a manual submission.
Mueller responds with a rude awakening for OP, saying it’s difficult for Google to see their site as an authority with only a few dozen articles.”
So, after reading the above, what does this mean for the website for your local business? Let’s go through the implications and what you need to do moving forward.
Building Authority with Google Will Take More Than 30 Pages
First off, in the first sentence of the quote above, Google clearly states that building authority with Google is going to take more than just having 30 pages on your website. Your website needs to have enough content to prove to Google that you know that you are an expert in your field. It is not enough to have a few website pages and then just call it a day. You should have web pages for all your services, no matter how niche they are. Now, for some websites, you may not reach 30 pages for the type of business that you operate. Maybe you are a discount heating oil supplier. In that case, you don’t need 30 website pages. However, there are other ways to create content for your customers, and as a side product, show Google that you are an authority. You need to ensure that this other content gets created and posted to your website, which leads us to our second point.
Related Post: The Importance of Blogging for Businesses
Every Website Should Have a Blog Section
The second takeaway is that every website needs to have a blog section, which produces unique blog posts. Blog posts, or blog articles, or content marketing, are different from website pages. These are articles written about subjects related to the services you provide. These blog posts should contain relevant information to your customers and answer their questions. Some examples include “Top Considerations When Choosing an HVAC Service Provider,” “How to Read an Oil Tank Gauge,” or “How to Avoid a No-Heat Emergency This Winter.” These blog articles offer tips and insight that will directly benefit your customers, as well as make your company look like a trusted authority in your field. Plus, they will contain important keywords that your customers are searching for. If you can answer a customer’s question with a blog post, you could very well gain their trust and confidence for a future job.
You Need to Produce Content Regularly
In the above example, the website in question took three months off from posting brand new content. Google, in this case, confirms that this doesn’t help the website gain traction with them. So, it is crucial for the SEO of your website that you produce content regularly. As John Mueller said in the above article, there can be no hiatus in posting new content. Your website needs new web pages or blogs posted to it once per month, at a minimum. You cannot stop publishing new content for an extended period and expect to keep your rankings or organic traffic.
Related Post: Consistency is King: Developing a Digital Marketing Strategy
If You Don’t Do the Above Things, Your SEO Will Suffer
Google is giving us the playbook here. They are admitting that they are selective about what they index. They want to see websites publish content regularly to rank it higher than other websites. They are telling us directly what goes into better rankings and more traffic to the website, which they usually don’t do. So, moving forward, you need to get together a plan to tackle content marketing and blog posts this year. Not posting monthly blog posts simply is not an option for websites anymore.
Your Website’s SEO Will Start to Improve Once You Start Creating New Content Again
On the flip side of the last bullet point, if you have lapsed in your content generation, how long will it take to recover once you start producing new content and blog posts? Google confirms that over time, as they see that the website is more than just 30 pages, and that they are producing good content regularly, then the SEO of the website will start to pick up. This is why there is no better time than now to get your content marketing and blog post creation journey started.
Related Post: How Does Page Experience Affect Your Website’s SEO?
Consumer Focus Marketing: Your Source for Content Marketing and Blog Post Creation
Writing content and blog posts for your website can feel daunting for a local business owner. What will you write about? How will you brainstorm the right topics that will be found in search results? How will you fit this into your already-busy schedule? That is where Consumer Focus Marketing is here to help. We specialize in content marketing, blog writing services, and ongoing SEO support for local businesses.
Our marketing and copywriting teams are experts at finding the most relevant blog topics and composing articles that will be seen favorably by search engines. We work with companies to build their blog strategy to improve online reputations with well-crafted, thought leadership content that illustrates you are the trusted source in your industry. Need help with more than just content and blogging? We can help you with PPC campaign management, customer review management, email marketing, website development, and social media services as well.
If you have any questions about how we can help you with your blog writing plan, we’d be happy to discuss them. Just send us a message and we will get back to you.
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