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Struggling to get your blog posts seen on Google? Ranking on Google is a widespread challenge that many website owners face due to the complexity of factors involved. SEO content writing can help you rank higher and reach the right readers, without spending money on ads. In this guide, I’ll share my exact process (step-by-step, with examples) to write blog posts that rank and resonate with your audience.

So what is SEO writing?

SEO content writing is writing with two goals at once:

• Help a real reader get some form of value from reading your post. This perceived “value” gives search engines clear signals that your article is helpful or relevant so they can rank your page.
• Follow a structured format for search engines ranking. Good SEO writers balance user intent, with a clear structure and on-page optimization (titles, headings, meta, links, keywords, images).

Why SEO writing matters?

• More organic traffic – people find your content without paying for ads.
• Better quality visitors – readers who are already looking for what you offer.
• More chances to convert (newsletter, leads, clients) – turn readers into newsletter subscribers, leads, or clients.
• Long-term passive results – a single blog post can rank and bring new leads for months or years.

What Causes Ranking Issues?

Google ranking is complex. Even if you write a great blog post, it might not rank immediately, or never. Here’s a list of possible reasons why:

• Weak Keyword Targeting – Using a keyword that no one searches for, or a highly competitive one you can’t realistically rank for. This is why keyword research is crucial!
• Poor Search Intent  – Writing an article that doesn’t answer what the reader is actually looking for (e.g., writing a product review when readers want a how-to guide).
• No Keyword Optimization – Missing keyword in title, meta description, H2s, or first paragraph.
• Short Content – Posts under 300–500 words rarely rank well because they lack depth.
• Slow Page Speed – Large images or unoptimized code can slow your site, and Google ranks faster pages higher.
• No Internal Links – Search engines can’t easily find and connect your post to the rest of your site.
• No Backlinks – High-ranking posts usually have some external links pointing to them.
• Poor Formatting – Walls of text, no headings, hard-to-read font, or too many pop-ups can make readers bounce.

Quick Tip: If a post isn’t ranking after 2–3 months, revisit your keyword choice, check Google Search Console for impressions/clicks, and update your content with better structure, examples, or media.

So now that we covered some issues affecting Google ranking, let’s dive into the actual guide to how to write a blog post.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Write an SEO-Friendly Blog Post

Here are a list of steps to follow when writing SEO optimised blog posts. The steps are just a loose guide. You can adapt and improvise to fit your blog or articles.

Step 1. Pick one primary keyword (and 1–2 related keywords)

Every post starts with an idea, topic, or keyword. Before writing, research whether there’s enough search demand for your topic.

How to find keywords for your blog posts?

This is one of the most asked questions, how and where do I find keywords? There are a few ways you can find keywords:

• Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner, AnswerThePublic, or Ubersuggest and look for medium search volume + low competition + clear intent.
• FAQs or questions your customers or readers are asking online. This may be in a comment under your social media post, your email inbox, or online forums.
• Look at your competitors. What keywords/topics do they use?

Example:
If your idea is “making iced coffee,” research to confirm what users are searching for (e.g., “Nespresso iced coffee recipe”).

2. Define the search intent

Search intent is the reason why a user enters a specific term into a search engine.

Common types of search intent include:

• Informational: the reader is looking for answers (e.g., “how to brew iced coffee”).
• Navigational: looking for a specific brand/site (e.g., “Starbucks coffee menu”).
• Transactional: the reader is looking for websites to buy a product from (e.g., “buy Nespresso pods”).
• Commercial: the reader is researching before buying (e.g., “best Nespresso pods for iced coffee”).

Common Search Intent Types

Search Intent	Example Query	What to Write
Informational	how to brew iced coffee	Step-by-step guide, explainer
Navigational	Starbucks coffee menu	Brand-specific page or links
Transactional	buy Nespresso pods online	Product page, direct CTAs
Commercial	best Nespresso pods 2025	Listicle, comparison, reviews

Your job as a writer is to match your post to what readers expect.

Ask yourself: What does the reader want after typing this keyword on Google?

Write a one-line reader promise to keep focused.

“Teach a busy coffee lover how to make great iced coffee in under 5 minutes.”

This phrase indetifies a primary informational search intent. So we want to pick relevant keywords that match this user intent.

Below is an example using Ubersuggest to find the search intent for our keywords.

“I” = informational intent

Step 3. Create the SEO Blueprint

Before you start writing, outline your blueprint:

• Title (H1): include primary keyword early
• Slug: short, clean, keyword-rich
• Meta description: 120–155 characters, include keyword + benefit
• H2s & H3s: outline your subheadings based on reader questions and flow

Example: Full Mini-Workflow

Here’s an example of a blog writing workflow, to help you visualize the concepts I presented above.

Primary keyword: nespresso iced coffee recipe
Intent: How-to / informational

SEO Blueprint

• Title: Nespresso Iced Coffee Recipe — 3 Fast Ways to Make It
• Slug: /nespresso-iced-coffee-recipe
• Meta: Learn 3 quick Nespresso iced coffee recipes you can make in 5 minutes. Includes tips for best flavor, intensity, and avoiding diluted coffee.
• Word count: 800–1,300 words

Outline/Headlines

• H1: Nespresso Iced Coffee Recipe — 3 Fast Ways to Make It
  • H2: Why Nespresso Makes Great Iced Coffee
  • H2: Method 1 — Flash Brew Over Ice
  • H2: Method 2 — Brew, Chill, Pour Over Ice
  • H2: Method 3 — Milk-Based Iced Latte
  • H2: Tips to Avoid Watery Coffee
  • H2: Pod Recommendations
  • H2: Final Verdict + CTA

Step 4. Write the Intro Using AIDA Framework

AIDA framework stands for A-attention, I-interest, D-desire, and A-action and has long been used by brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s in their marketing copy, especially in their ads.

I like to use this framework for writing SEO-friendly blog posts because it keeps readers engaged at every step, and it’s effective at getting action from your readers.

Example: Introduction using AIDA framework

Attention

You need to hook the reader in 1 sentence, right from the beginning of your post. So, throw in a relevant statistic, or an important fact, or keep just ask a direct question like below.

“Are you a coffee lover? Did you know on average, an American spends $20-30/week on coffee?”

Interest

Next, you should explain why reading this post matters to your reader in 1–2 sentences. You can highlight a problem that will affect the reader if they don’t act on it or seek for a solution.

“Overall, you’re spending more $$ every month. But why should you? when it’s so easy to make delicious iced coffee at home, for 1/3 the cost.”

Desire

Promise a desired outcome or solution to the problem if the reader continues to read.

“In this blog post, you’ll learn how to make great iced coffee at home and save your money.”

Action

Finally, tell them what to do next (read on, jump to steps, or direct them to click your link).

“So take a seat and read on to learn my 3 easy and delicious methods. Make sure to read until the end for coffee recommendations and pro tips!”

Step 5: Write Clear & Easy to Read Sentences

A large proportion of readers will find your blog post and read it on their mobile devices. There’s nothing more annoying than reading long paragraphs on a small mobile screen. So you should optimize your blog content for different devices.

Here’s a chart of the visitors share per screen size from my own blog.

Make it easy for your readers to skim through paragraphs, and find answers they are looking for:

• Use short paragraphs (1–3 lines)
• Add H2s/H3s headlines to break sections into skimmable pieces
• Use bullet points or numbered lists for easy to follow structure
• Include examples, images and quick tips
• Include statistics and charts (if relevant)
• Use the primary keyword naturally (title, first 100 words, at least one H2)
• Write in a conversational language, that speaks directly to your readers

Step 6: Final SEO Blog Post Checklist

After you’ve written your blog post, use this final SEO checklist to optimize your post.

Keywords & Intent

• Primary keyword is clear and used naturally (title, first 100 words, 1–2 H2s)
• Post matches search intent (informational, commercial, etc.)

On-Page Elements

• Title (H1) includes your primary keyword
• Slug is short, clean, keyword-rich
• Meta description (≤155 characters) includes your keyword + benefit to reader
• Headings (H2/H3) break up sections logically

Media & Links

• Images should have descriptive file names + alt text (unless they’re just for decoration)
• Internal links to at least 1–2 relevant blog posts
• External link to 1 credible source (if useful or needed for authority). Note: I don’t always link to external websites that are my competitors, as it can lead the traffic to them.

Readability & UX

• Short paragraphs (1–3 lines), easy to scan
• Bullet points or numbered lists for steps/tips
• Clear CTA at the end (subscribe, download, learn more, share this post)

Final Checks

• Preview your post on different devices (desktop + mobile screen)
• Check your grammar and spelling
• Ensure your post is fast loading (compress large images if needed)

Step 7. Publish & Share Your Blog Post

• Share it on your social media pages
• Add a link to your blog posts in your newsletter
• Monitor performance after 2–4 weeks
• Adjust title/meta to improve click-through rate if needed

Final Thoughts

SEO writing isn’t just about pleasing the Google algorithm or LLMs like ChatGPT; it’s about helping your readers solve problems and making your content discoverable. Follow this simple framework, tweak it as you go, and your blog posts will get better results over time.

Want to learn more?

Here are some related articles:

• What is an Article? How to write it + Framework
• What is a White Paper? How to write it + Examples
• Blog Post vs Article — What’s the Difference?

Need help writing SEO content? Hire my agency Studio Scribis — Writing Services