In this post we are going to go over Semrush vs Keysearch and which of these Keyword Research tools is worth it for bloggers in 2027.

Choosing an SEO tool for your blog can get confusing really quickly.

There are loads of options, they all seem to give you slightly different information and half the time you start out looking for somewhere to research keywords and end up comparing features you didn’t even know existed an hour ago lol.

Two names you’ll have probably come across already are Semrush and Keysearch.

Both of these tools can both help you find keywords, see what people are actually searching for and get a better idea of which topics could be worth creating content around.

But keyword research is only a part of what you can use them for as there’s plenty more you can look into with both of them.

You can see what other sites in your niche are ranking for, find more keyword and content ideas, keep an eye on your own rankings and get a much better look at what’s going on with your blog’s SEO etc etc.

There ARE some pretty big differences between Semrush and Keysearch though. Especially once you start looking at the amount of data available and just how much you can actually do with each one!

Keysearch gives you a good selection of the SEO tools bloggers are likely to need and use regularly, while Semrush has a much bigger range of tools that gives you even more ways to dig into your SEO, research your competitors and see what’s actually happening with your blog in search.

Which one makes the most sense for you really depends on what you actually want/need to be able to do.

It could be that you mainly just want help finding good keywords, checking the competition and planning your blog content. Or maybe you want to go much deeper into your SEO, research what’s working for other sites in your niche, find gaps you could be missing and have a LOT more data to work with.

So let’s look at Semrush vs Keysearch for bloggers, what you can actually use each one for, where the main differences are and what you get with each, so you can work out which one has the tools that make the most sense for YOUR blog.

Please note: Prices, plans and any features mentioned in this post are correct at the time of writing (October 2026) but can change, so always check the latest details before signing up.

Semrush vs Keysearch: What’s the Difference?

Both Keysearch and Semrush can help with some of the most important parts of blog SEO.

You can use both for things like keyword research, competitor research and tracking rankings, and both give you more information to work with when you’re planning and improving blog content.

The biggest difference is how far you want to take that research.

If you need any more info on what Keyword Research is and why it’s so important, you can check out this post here.

Keysearch is a more basic/straightforward SEO tool with a big focus on keyword research. You can use it to find keywords, check search volume and competition, look through related searches, analyze the current search results and research competing websites.

Semrush also has a huge amount you can do with keyword research, but that’s only one part of what the platform gives you.

You can get a MUCH bigger picture of what’s happening in your niche, from seeing which keywords and pages are bringing your competitors traffic to finding gaps where they’re ranking and you aren’t. You can uncover new content opportunities, compare multiple competitors, research backlinks and see exactly where your own rankings are moving.

There are also tools to help you plan and optimize your content, find technical SEO problems across your site and start looking at how AI search could affect your visibility too.

Of course what tools you get will be dependant on which plan you choose.

Basically, it gives you a LOT of information you can actually use to work out what’s already working, what you could be missing and where your next opportunities could be.

So when you’re comparing Semrush and Keysearch for yourself, it really comes down to what you want to be able to do with your SEO tool and how much information you actually want it to give you.

What Is Keysearch and Is It Good for Bloggers?

For a bit of a deeper dive… 

Keysearch is an SEO and keyword research tool that can be REALLY useful when you’re planning your blog content.

If you have an idea for a post, you can put the topic idea into Keysearch and start looking at all the searches people are actually making around that term.

Instead of guessing which exact phrase would make the best keyword, you can look at things like search volume, keyword difficulty, related keywords and the pages already appearing in Google.

And having all of that information BEFORE you start writing can make such a huge difference.

There is no point in writing a post if no one is ever going to find it lol.

The keyword you originally had in mind might not actually be the best option.

This will happen more than you think initially lol. 

You could find a similar phrase that fits your post even better, discover related searches you hadn’t ever thought of, or even come away with ideas for completely different posts while you’re researching the first one.

That’s one of the things I really like about Keysearch. That plus how simple and straightforward it is to use.

You can go in looking for a keyword for one blog post and end up with a whole collection of other keywords and content ideas you can use later too. Win win!

And it isn’t purely just a keyword research tool.

Keysearch also gives you tools for competitor research, rank tracking, backlinks and site auditing, so there’s plenty more you can do with it alongside planning your blog content.

So if you’re looking for a straightforward way to research keywords, find new content ideas and make more informed decisions about what you’re going to write but in a more simplistic/straightforward way, that’s where I think Keysearch comes into its own for bloggers.

What Is Semrush and What Can Bloggers Use It For?

Now for Semrush…

Semrush is an insanely helpful tool if you need the features it can provide.

It gives you a HUGE amount of information you can use to research and improve your blog’s SEO.

You can use Semrush to research keywords, see what people are searching for and find new content ideas, but you can also go way further than that.

It lets you research other websites in your niche and see which keywords they’re ranking for, which pages are bringing them the most search traffic and where there might be opportunities they’re taking advantage of that you’ve completely missed.

You can compare your blog with competing sites to find keyword and content gaps, find new topics you could be writing about and get a much clearer picture of what’s already working in your niche which can make such a difference when creating content for your blog.

You can also use Semrush to keep an eye on your rankings, look into backlinks and check your site for any SEO problems that could be getting in the way too. There are also tools to help with planning and improving the content you already have.

And Semrush is starting to bring AI search into its SEO tools too, with features including Google AI Overview tracking and AI-related checks within Site Audit.

So there’s a LOT you can do with Semrush beyond finding keywords for your next blog post. It gives you a much bigger picture of your SEO, your competitors and the opportunities you could be missing.

If you want to see more of what you can actually do with it, I’ve gone into Semrush in much more detail in What Semrush Is and How Bloggers Use It for Keyword Research.

Semrush vs Keysearch for Keyword Research

If keyword research is the main thing you want an SEO tool for, this is obviously going to be a BIG part of choosing between Semrush and Keysearch.

Both can help you take a general idea for a blog post and turn it into something much more specific based on what people are actually searching for.

So instead of starting with:

“I want to write a post about affiliate marketing.”

You can start looking at the different search terms/keywords around that topic, how many people are actually searching for them, how competitive they are and which one actually makes the most sense for the post you want to write.

That gives you a much clearer idea of what you actually want your post to target specifically, before you spend hours writing the thing lol.

Keyword Research With Keysearch

One of the things I really like about Keysearch is how straightforward it is to use for normal blog keyword research.

You can search for a keyword and see the monthly search volume, how difficult it could be to rank for, other related keywords and what’s currently appearing in Google.

I particularly like looking through the related keywords because the phrase you originally had in mind isn’t always the best one to target. Often it’s not and you end up choosing something similar but different enough.

If you think you have thought of all keyword options for a content idea… I can assure you you haven’t lol.

You might find a similar keyword with a better combination of search volume and competition, discover another way people are searching for the same topic or find a related search that would work perfectly for a completely different post.

And that’s where Keysearch can be REALLY useful when you’re planning content. You can start off researching one blog post and end up with a better keyword for that post, plus a whole load of other ideas you can add to your content list for later.

Keyword Research With Semrush

Semrush gives you a LOT more information to work with when you’re researching keywords.

You can start with a topic or keyword and find related searches, different variations and questions people are asking, then filter through them to find the ones that make the most sense for the content you’re planning.

You can also look at the search intent behind different keywords, which can be REALLY useful when you’re deciding what kind of post to create.

For example, someone searching:

“what is email marketing”

is looking for something very different from someone searching:

“best email marketing software for bloggers.”

The first person is looking to learn more about email marketing, while the second is much more likely to be comparing their options and potentially looking for something to buy and use.

Semrush can help you see those differences while you’re doing the keyword research, rather than having to work it all out once you’ve already started writing lol.

You can then take that research much further by looking at the keywords other websites in your niche are ranking for, comparing them with your own and finding gaps where they’re getting search traffic from topics you haven’t covered yet.

So while Keysearch gives you a really useful way to research keywords and plan your blog content, Semrush gives you much more data to work with and more ways to turn that keyword research into ideas and opportunities across your whole site.

It’s all about what you want to be able to see/do and what you need for your own blog/business.

Semrush vs Keysearch for Competitor Research

Both Keysearch and Semrush also let you research other websites in your niche and see what’s working for them in Google.

Maybe there’s a blog you seem to come across ALL the time when you’re researching topics in your niche. Instead of just wondering how they manage to show up everywhere, you can actually look at the keywords they’re ranking for and which of their pages are bringing in search traffic.

And that can be really useful for spotting things you’ve missed on your own blog!

You might find topics you haven’t written about yet, find keywords you hadn’t thought to research or find whole areas of a subject that are bringing other sites traffic and could give you ideas for your own content.

Obviously, that doesn’t mean finding their best-performing posts and making your own versions of every one lol.

It’s about seeing what people are actually searching for in your niche and finding opportunities you might never have come across through your own keyword research.

Getting ideas is as important as getting stats and numbers.

Keysearch gives you tools to look into competing websites alongside its keyword research and other SEO features.

Semrush takes this quite a bit further. You can get a much more detailed look at competing sites, including the keywords and pages bringing them traffic, how their rankings are changing, where their backlinks are coming from and where there are gaps between what they’re ranking for and what you currently have on your own site.

So if competitor research is something you want to use as a bigger part of planning and growing your blog, there’s a LOT more information you can get into with Semrush.

Finding Keyword and Content Gaps

This is also where being able to see more of what other sites are ranking for can be REALLY useful.

When your blog is new, you’ll probably have more post ideas than you know what to do with lol. But once you’ve been blogging for a few years and already have a lot of content, coming up with new ideas isn’t always quite so easy.

You’re also not going to remember every keyword you’ve ever targeted or instantly know where there are gaps in the content you already have.

Semrush can compare your site with other websites in your niche and show you keywords they’re ranking for that you aren’t.

Obviously, not every keyword it finds is going to be useful. Some won’t fit your blog at all and others might be topics you simply don’t want to write about.

But you can also find those “HOW have I never written about that?” topics that fit your existing content perfectly and have somehow been missed.

(As an example my blog was started all around BLOGGING and I didn’t even have a solid “How To Start a Blog” post for months?! – It’s easier for things to slip through the net than you realise lol but that is why a good tool is so important.)

It gives you another way to find genuinely useful blog post ideas based on what people are already searching for, rather than sitting there trying to think of your 900th idea from absolutely nowhere or just from Google lol.

Rank Tracking, Site Audits and Backlinks

Keyword and competitor research will probably be two of the biggest reasons most bloggers would look at tools like Keysearch and Semrush, but there are plenty of other SEO tools included with both.

For example, you can track specific keywords and keep an eye on where your blog is ranking for them over time.

That can be really useful if you’ve published a new post and want to see whether it starts moving up through the search results, or if you want to keep an eye on older posts and spot when something starts gaining or losing search positions.

I’d still use Google Search Console alongside either of them because it’s free and gives you loads of useful information directly from Google, but rank tracking gives you another way to keep an eye on the specific keywords and posts you care about!

You can also use both Keysearch and Semrush to check your site for SEO issues and research backlinks.

Whether you’re looking at links pointing to your own blog or seeing where other websites in your niche are getting theirs from.

The main difference (again) is how far you want to go with all of that.

Keysearch gives you a useful selection of these extra SEO tools alongside the keyword research, so you can do a lot more than simply search for keywords.

Semrush gives you way more data and a bigger collection of tools to work with if you want to go further into your rankings, backlinks, competitors and the technical side of your SEO.

So it really comes down to how much you want to be able to do with your SEO tool and how much detail you actually want to get into for your blog. Both give you plenty to work with at a base level, but there’s a big difference in how far you can take that research depending on which one you choose.

Semrush Pricing vs Keysearch Pricing

When it comes to pricing, there’s a pretty big difference between the price of Semrush and Keysearch, but you’re also getting two very different levels of SEO tool so it completely depends on what you want and need.

These are the current prices for Keysearch plans as of October 2026.

They also have a 7 day free trial to get started.

These are the current prices for the first two Semrush plans as of October 2026.

Semrush currently has an SEO plan starting at £113 per month, or £95.07 per month when billed annually.

That includes tools for keyword and competitor research, Position Tracking and Site Audit, with up to 5 websites to monitor and 500 keywords to track daily.

There are also higher-priced Semrush plans available if you need more features and want to add things like more advanced SEO tools and AI search visibility, so it’s worth checking the current plans to see which one actually gives you what you need.

You can get started for free on Semrush too.

I’d always check the latest prices and exactly what’s included with each plan before signing up, as these can obviously change over time but these are the current prices at the time of writing this post.

But when you’re comparing the two, I’d look at what you actually want to be able to DO with the tool as well as the monthly cost. 

It comes down to value as much as cost itself.

If you mainly want to research keywords, find new content ideas and get the SEO information you’re most likely to use when planning blog posts, Keysearch gives you a lot to work with.

Semrush gives you a much bigger range of data and tools, so you can take things much further with competitor research, keyword and content gaps, backlinks, rankings and technical SEO alongside the keyword research. There are also additional Semrush tools available if you want to go further into areas like AI search visibility.

So although there’s a big difference in price, there’s also a big difference in what you’re getting. It really comes down to which of those tools and features are going to be useful enough for YOUR blog to make the most sense for what you’re paying.

Which SEO Tool Is Better for Beginner Bloggers?

If you’re new to blogging and SEO and mainly want something to help you find better keywords for your posts, Keysearch is definitely worth considering as your SEO tool.

You can start with a general idea for a blog post, see what people are actually searching for and use that information to work out which keyword makes the most sense to target before you start writing.

And if I was starting a blog again, keyword research is something I’d start doing MUCH earlier rather than publishing loads of content first and only thinking properly about SEO afterwards lol.

Semrush can obviously help you do all of that too, but you also have a much bigger collection of SEO tools available when you want to go further.

When first starting out is it worth looking into all Semrush can offer?

Of course you can, but it’s not going to be the right choice for most new bloggers, unless you are sure you need that many features from the get go.

For a newer blogger, with Keysearch you could be researching keywords for your first posts while also looking at what’s working for other sites in your niche, finding content gaps, researching backlinks and starting to collect more information about your own site as it grows but without getting overwhelmed with too many tools and capabilities.

This doesn’t automatically make one tool a better choice than the other. It depends much more on what you want to be able to do with your SEO from the beginning and how much information you want to have available as your blog grows.

You can always change/upgrade tools later. 

However, if you want to learn and stick with just ONE tool that will grow with you and give you everything you need (and more), Semrush would absolutely be the way to go.

Which SEO Tool Is Better for an Established Blog?

If you’ve already got an established blog and want to take your SEO much further, this is where I think Semrush can REALLY start to make sense for you.

Because at this point, you’re not starting from zero.

You are past the point of needing a more simplified tool and so using the one that gives you a lot more capabilities and insight makes a lot more sense.

You’ve already spent months (or years) creating content, building up your rankings, attracting backlinks and getting pages into Google. Some of those pages could already be bringing you traffic and making you money, while others could be much closer to doing that than you realise and just need a bit of a push.

And Semrush gives you a way to dig into ALL of it.

You can find pages that are already ranking well but have the potential to move higher, discover keywords you’re close to reaching the top results for on Google and spot older posts that have started losing visibility.

You can also find keywords your posts are already ranking for that you never intentionally targeted lol.

If one of your articles is sitting at position 11 for a valuable keyword you didn’t even know about, suddenly you’ve got something much more useful to work with than another random idea for a new post. Then you can edit that post and hopefully get it up into the single digit positions!

You can then do the same kind of research across other sites in your niche.

You can see which pages are bringing your competitors the most search traffic, which keywords they’re getting that traffic from, where their backlinks are coming from and where there are gaps between their rankings and yours.

And THAT can give you a completely different view of where your next opportunities are.

Instead of simply knowing that another blog seems to be doing well, you can start seeing why. You can find topics they’re getting traffic from that you’ve missed, keywords where you could potentially compete with them and areas where you already have relevant content but could be doing much more with it.

For an established blog, that kind of information can be incredibly valuable because you’ve already got something to build on and work from.

You’re not paying for a tool just to give you another list of keywords lol.

You’re getting a much deeper look at your existing search visibility, your content, your competitors and the opportunities available across your niche, with rank tracking, backlink research, technical SEO and content research available alongside it.

That means Semrush can help you make much more informed decisions about where your time is actually worth spending, and where it’s not!

A few questions to ask first…

Do you need another new post?

Is there an existing post sitting within reach of significantly more traffic?

Have you started losing rankings somewhere you need to look into?

Is a competitor site getting traffic from an entire topic you’ve forgotten/overlooked?

Are there backlink opportunities you’ve never found?

Are AI search features starting to change how people are finding content in your niche?

When you’ve already put a HUGE amount of work into building your blog, having that level of information available can help you find opportunities within what you already have as well as deciding where you want to grow next.

So if you’ve reached the point where you want to stop looking at SEO one keyword or one blog post at a time and start looking at the bigger picture of how your entire site is performing and where its best opportunities are, that’s where Semrush can be so insanely valuable for an established blog.

Is Keysearch Worth It for Bloggers in 2027?

Yes.

Keysearch is a really good option for bloggers who want to do proper keyword research without turning it into a massive job every time they sit down to write a post.

You can quickly find keywords that are worth targeting, see what’s already ranking in Google and usually come away with plenty of extra content ideas too, making it MUCH easier to plan your posts around what people are actually searching for.

Is Semrush Worth It for Bloggers in 2027?

Yes.

Semrush is absolutely worth it if you want to get much more serious about your SEO and have a LOT more information available to help you work out where your best opportunities for growth are.

You can see what’s working across your own site, find things you could be missing, dig into what your competitors are doing and get a much clearer idea of where your time could actually make the biggest difference.

And with everything from keyword and competitor research to backlinks, site audits, rank tracking and content gaps all in one place, there are SO many different ways you can use Semrush to help you make better decisions and get more from the blog you’re already building.

Semrush vs Keysearch: Which SEO Tool Should You Choose?

So after all of that explaining, which one should you actually choose?

Ultimately it will come down to your needs, your wants and your budget.

If you mainly want a straightforward way to research keywords, plan your blog content and have some additional SEO tools there when you need them, Keysearch could give you everything you’re looking for.

If you want to go much deeper into your SEO and have a LOT more data available to help you grow your blog, Semrush is the one I’d look at.

Especially if you want to do more with competitor research, find opportunities across the content you already have, uncover gaps you might otherwise miss and get a much bigger picture of what’s happening with your site and across your niche.

So I wouldn’t choose between them based purely on which one has the longest list of features lol.

I’d choose based on how much you actually want your SEO tool to help you do.

If your main focus is researching keywords and planning content, take a look at Keysearch.

If you want a much more powerful SEO platform that you can use to research, analyse and find opportunities across your whole blog, your competitors and the wider search landscape, take a look at Semrush.

Speak soon!

Katherine

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In this post I’m going to go over exactly how I’d start a blog from scratch in 2026 (knowing what I know now).

Starting a blog is one of those things that feels SO much easier once you’ve already done it.

When you first start blogging you spend so much time trying to work out what you’re supposed to be doing… Things like which tools are needed, what you should be focusing on first and whether you are somehow missing something everyone else already knows lol.

We are all the same at the start.

Fast forward a few years and there are definitely things I’d approach completely differently if I had to go back and start again this year.

I know which things I’d set up straight away, what I’d start working on much earlier and which things really didn’t deserve anywhere near the amount of time or attention I gave them.

And I definitely wouldn’t try to do everything at once.

There is SO much blogging advice out there and a neverending number of tools, plugins, courses and strategies you can try that it’s ridiculously easy to make the whole thing much more complicated than it really needs to be.

If I was starting a blog from scratch in 2026, I’d go right back to basics, get the important things in place early on and spend my time on the things I now know can actually help a blog grow and make money.

So, knowing everything I know now, this is exactly how I’d start blogging from scratch in 2026.

1. I’d Start With WordPress and Proper Hosting

Before worrying about Pinterest, email lists, affiliate marketing or any of the other things that come a bit later, you obviously need an actual blog to work with.

If I was starting again, I’d still choose self-hosted WordPress. EVERY TIME.

There are very few benefits to a free blog aside from it being free. If you want to make money from your blog, self hosted is the way to go.

It gives you so much more control over your site and (more importantly) you’re not going to outgrow it six months down the line when you suddenly want to add something you hadn’t even thought about when you first started.

Also – these go hand-in-hand – I’d also pay for proper hosting from day one.

You definitely don’t need to pick the most expensive hosting package available when your blog is brand new. But hosting is one of the things I wouldn’t try to avoid paying for just to save a little bit of money at the beginning lol. It’s what your entire website runs on…. It’s important lol.

If I was starting again, HostGator is still the hosting I’d use. I started on it and wouldn’t change it. It gives you everything you need to get a self-hosted WordPress blog up and running, without having to spend a fortune when you’re only just getting started. 

If you want to have a proper look before signing up, I’ve also written a full HostGator review where you can see what you actually get and whether it’s right for you and your blog.

Once the Technical Side Was Sorted, I’d Keep Everything Else Pretty Simple

Choose a theme you like [I currently use AshePro as of writing this in Sept 2026), set up your main pages (including the legal pages I’ll explain below) and then get on with actually creating content.

This take is a little controversial…. You will read everywhere things like “Don’t spend three weeks changing fonts, rearranging the homepage and trying to get every tiny detail looking perfect before anybody was even visiting”. I have probably said this myself! But honestly, your blog is new, you will have spent time setting it up and choosing a theme etc so enjoy it! Change all the settings and details you like. Have fun with it! Yes you will keep modifying and editing and changing things but that’s going to happen anyway lol.

(Just don’t install 300 plugins as they will slow your brand new site down too much.)

The more you get into blogging, the more you’ll discover things you want to add, remove or completely redo. So there’s no need to have the finished version figured out on day one, but that doesn’t mean you have to rush the set up process – unless you want to! 

After it’s set up, the important thing is then getting your first posts published as that then gives you something to start building on.

And if you’re right at the beginning and need help with the setup itself, my How To Start a Blog in 2026 post takes you through the whole process.

2. I’d Follow One Proper Blogging Plan Instead of Trying to Learn Everything at Once

There is SO much free information about blogging online, which sounds brilliant when you’re first getting started. And for BEFORE you start, it actually is.

Whatever you’re trying to figure out, there’s most likely a blog post, YouTube video or tutorial somewhere that can help you with how to do it.

The problem is that you can very quickly end up jumping between ten (or 60) different people who all have completely different ideas about what you should be doing first.

One person tells you to concentrate on SEO, somebody else says Pinterest should be your priority and before you know it, you’ve got 26 tabs open and absolutely no idea what you were originally trying to do.

Again – we have all been there lol.

If I was starting again, I’d still use free information whenever I needed help with something specific, but I’d choose ONE main plan to follow so I knew what to work on and in what order.

Choose A Decent Course From the Start

That’s why I’d still use and choose this exact blogging course. Instead of trying to piece everything together yourself from completely different sources, you get to have all the main parts of starting and growing a SUCCESSFUL blog laid out for you in one place. No faff, just a LOT of amazing info and tips.

This way you can learn how to set up your blog, create your blog content, work on SEO, start using affiliate marketing and everything else – all in one place, and without randomly discovering six months later that there was something important you completely missed.

I can’t recommend it enough but if you want to see exactly what you get before deciding whether it’s right for you, I’ve written a full review of the blogging course I recommend where I go through what’s included and why I recommend it – and to who.

3. I’d Get the Legal Side Sorted Early

Legal pages are probably not going to be the part of starting a blog that you’re most excited to get stuck into lol.

You may not even realise what they are or if you need them.

(Spoiler alert, you do.)

They are very important and they are something worth sorting out early. Especially if the plan is to eventually make money from your blog.

Even a brand-new blog can start collecting information from visitors through things like cookies, analytics, contact forms and email sign-ups. And if you’re using affiliate links, your readers need to know that you could earn a commission if they buy something you recommend.

You need to declare the use of affiliate links in each post – above any affiliate links.

But There Are a Few Legal Pages You’ll Need to Have on Your Blog

This includes things like a privacy policy, cookie policy, terms and conditions and affiliate disclosure.

Basically, these tell people what information your blog collects and what happens to it, set out the terms for using your site and make it clear when you could make money from a link or recommendation.

The problem is, sitting down and trying to work out what on earth you’re supposed to put in all of those pages isn’t exactly simple. You can of course pay a Lawyer to draft these up for you but that option is a lot more time consuming and a lot more expensive.

That’s why I’d use this exact Legal Pages Bundle. It gives you the legal templates you need so you’re not trying to write everything yourself or wondering whether you’ve forgotten something important.

The entire set of pages was written by a Lawyer, FOR blogs.

The templates are mostly all written for you, you just edit in or out the bits relevant to you and you can have them all live in less than 30 mins.

Get them set up early, add your edited/personalised ones to your blog and that’s one of the less exciting jobs ticked off already! This then leaves you free to get back to writing blog content.

For more information on the legal bundle and why it’s so important, I have a full post here you can go through.

4. I’d Do Keyword Research Before I Started Writing Loads of Posts

This is one of the things I’d start doing MUCH earlier.

When you first start blogging, it’s really easy to think of something you want to write about and then spend hours creating the post and then move straight onto the next idea without ever checking whether people are actually searching for it.

You don’t need to let keyword research completely dictate what you write obviously but it makes sense to do a little research before spending half a day creating a post that noone then ever finds.

Have a look at things like:

• What people are actually searching for
• Whether there are more specific versions of your topic
• What questions people are asking
• How competitive the keywords are
• Whether there are related keywords you could include

For a brand-new blogger, Keysearch is a great place to start. It’s so much more affordable than some of the bigger SEO tools and gives you the main keyword research features you actually need without feeling like you’ve suddenly acquired another full-time job just trying to understand the dashboard lol.

If you want something more advanced, Semrush gives you a LOT more to work with, including much more detailed keyword and competitor research.

I’ve also got a full post explaining what Semrush is and how bloggers can use it for keyword research if you want to see what you can actually do with it before deciding whether you need something that powerful as not everyone will.

5. I’d Start Building My Email List MUCH Earlier

If there’s one other thing I definitely wouldn’t wait around to start this time, it’s an email list.

It’s really easy to think you need to be getting loads of traffic first because what’s the point in having an email list when hardly anyone is visiting your blog yet?

You would honestly be surprised!

Those first visitors are EXACTLY why you want to start one early.

If someone finds one of your posts and enjoys it, having an email list gives them an easy way to stick around and hear from you again.

You have a direct way to share information/new content and they don’t have to remember your blog’s name to find it again so it’s a win from both sides.

And one of the easiest ways to encourage people to sign up is by creating a freebie that fits in nicely with what they came to your blog for in the first place.

It could be a (niche specific):

• Checklist
• Printable
• Short ebook
• Template
• Workbook
• Resource list

You Don’t Need to Spend Weeks Creating Something Huge Either

A smaller freebie that’s genuinely useful can be more than enough to get started. Even just a page.

As an example, if you write about budgeting, you could create a savings tracker. Or if you write about meal planning, you could put together a simple weekly meal planner etc.

The idea is just to give your readers something useful to take away with them while also giving them the option to hear from you again.

I use MailerLite for my own email list and it’s what I’d choose again. You can start off on whichever plan suits you best (there is a totally free plan) and then upgrade as you go which is exactly what I did.

You can create your sign-up forms, landing pages and automated emails all in one place (different plans have different features), which makes getting everything set up much easier when you’re new to email marketing.

I’d Also Set Up a Simple Welcome Sequence From the Beginning

That way, when somebody joins your email list, they can automatically receive their freebie followed by a few emails introducing them to you and some of the other useful content on your blog or whichever other helpful info you have included.

Even if you’re only getting a few new subscribers at first, they all add up over time. Starting early means your email list can grow alongside your blog rather than reaching the point where you’re finally getting regular traffic and wishing you’d given all those earlier visitors a way to subscribe too.

It also helps get your own confidence up in sending emails when you have a small list initially and you can of course ask for feedback too.

And if you’ve never set up an email list before, my Email Marketing for Beginners post takes you through how to get started and what you can actually send once people begin subscribing.

6. I’d Start Using Pinterest From the Beginning

I wouldn’t rely completely on Google to start sending traffic to a brand-new blog.

Google can obviously be an amazing source of traffic, but Pinterest gives you another way to start getting your posts in front of people fairly instantly. And you can do this – for free – while you’re working on growing your Google/search traffic too.

Getting good traffic can take a lot longer for a few reasons, but especially for a brand new website you will get stuck in Google’s Sandbox for a period of time initially! (Nothing scary, but explains why there can be a delay before getting an audience from Google itself.)

Set up a Pinterest business account, link it to your website, create boards around the main topics you’re going to write about (you can modify and add more later so don’t overthink this bit) and then you start creating pins for your blog posts as you publish them.

You’ve already spent hours researching and writing the post, so you might as well give people more than one way to actually find it!

I’d Also Recommend to Use an Online Tool to Create All of Your Pinterest Pins

Canva makes it really easy to create different designs/templates for the same post without having to start completely from scratch every time.

And you’ll probably find yourself using Canva for plenty of other things on your blog too lol. Including things like:

• Blog graphics
• Email freebies
• Ebooks
• Checklists
• Workbooks
• Digital products

The free version is honestly more than enough to get started with as well. Some people never need to upgrade from the free plan either. So this is another one where you don’t need to immediately add a new monthly expense which is always a win.

And if you’re completely new to Pinterest or want some more in-depth info, my Pinterest Marketing for Beginners in 2026 post goes through how to get started and how you can use it to bring more traffic to your blog.

7. I’d Set Up My Free Analytics Tools and Let Them Collect Data

Google Search Console and Google Analytics are two things I’d get connected to a new blog pretty much straight away.

They sound scary but are really simple to set up and are SO important to be able to see real time analytics.

They’re both completely free and as your blog starts getting traffic, they can give you SO much useful information about what’s actually happening with it.

Google Search Console can show you which searches your posts are appearing for in Google, how many impressions, their positions and clicks they’re getting and which pages Google has indexed etc.

Google Analytics lets you see more about the traffic actually coming to your blog, including where your visitors are coming from, which pages they’re looking at and how people are finding you.

The only thing I wouldn’t do is set them up and then spend the next three weeks checking them every five minutes. (Again, we have all been there lol, especially with the realtime tracker for people who have been on your site in the last 5/30 mins lol.) 

But to be real, there probably isn’t going to be anything particularly exciting happening in Google Analytics on Day 4 of a brand-new blog, and that’s completely normal!

Get everything connected, check that it’s working properly and then leave it collecting data in the background while you get on with creating more content for your shiny new blog.

Once your blog starts getting more traffic, you’ll then have access to all of that information, sitting there ready to have a look into and you can start using it to see what’s working, which posts are getting found and where your traffic is actually coming from.

What I Wouldn’t Do If I Started Blogging Again

As well as all the things I’d start earlier, there are definitely a few things I’d spend a LOT less time worrying about if I was starting again too.

I wouldn’t wait until the blog looked perfect before publishing anything. No one will see your initial posts anyway unless you share them to specific people so it’s a good way to practice.

I wouldn’t sign up for every tool I saw another blogger recommending or pay for three different things that basically did the same job. 

Do your research, read up on what will work for YOU and go for that.

I know I mentioned this earlier but I would NOT install loads of random plugins. Just the essential ones as you will grow your plugin library as you go. And on that note, please do not ever hit “update all” for your plugin updates. You don’t want to know how badly it can crash your whole website (talking from experience) lol.

I also wouldn’t write post after post without doing any keyword research first, and I definitely wouldn’t wait until I was getting loads of traffic before starting an email list.

But probably the biggest one would be trying to do absolutely everything at the same time.

There Is ALWAYS Something Else You Could Be Working on With a Blog

SEO, Pinterest, email marketing, affiliate marketing, digital products, social media, updating old posts, writing new ones… the list never really ends lol.

And if you try to work on all of them at once, it’s surprisingly easy to spend an entire day being really busy while somehow getting absolutely nothing finished that will actually help your blog to grow.

You don’t need to have every part of blogging figured out from the beginning. A lot of things will come up as you go and you can adjust as that happens.

Initially, concentrate on what makes the most sense for your blog right now, get that working and then add more as you go.

And when you’re ready to start making money from the content you’re creating, my Affiliate Marketing for Beginners: First £1,000 post will take you through how to get started with affiliate marketing and work towards those first commissions.

The Blogging Tools I’d Actually Use

So although there are hundreds of blogging tools available, my actual setup would still be pretty small.

I’d use:

• WordPress to build the blog
• HostGator for hosting
• Blogging course to give me a simple but highly effective step by step roadmap
• AshePro Theme to make your blog look professional from the start 
• Legal Pages Bundle to get the legal side sorted
• Semrush for keyword research and SEO
• MailerLite for my email list
• Canva for graphics, pins and freebies
• Pinterest for another source of traffic
• Google Search Console and Google Analytics for data
• Plugins – But research exactly which ones YOU need

(If anyone has questions on which plugins I use, feel free to reach out or leave a comment and I can go into my list in more detail.)

Some of the things on the do cost some money (such as Hosting) which is to be expected with any business. But some have free options and some are completely free.

If I Really Had to Start From Zero Tomorrow…

If I had to wipe everything clean and start a brand-new blog tomorrow, the biggest thing I’d do differently wouldn’t actually be choosing different blogging tools (aside from the Blogging Course which I would get asap to save SO much time).

It would be how I spent my time.

I’d get the blog live without spending weeks trying to make every tiny detail perfect. You can still spend the time changing all the little details, but if you do it AFTER the blog is live, it gives Google a headstart in knowing that there’s a new website it should be aware of! Google can’t find a website if it’s not live lol.

I’d have one main plan to follow, do keyword research before spending hours writing posts and start my email list MUCH earlier.

I’d also use Pinterest from the beginning so Google wasn’t the only way I woul be relying on people to find my content.

And when it came to blogging tools, I’d only add something when I actually had a reason to need/use it. There’s not much point having 15 different tools (yes this includes those plugins lol) sitting there if half of them are solving problems you don’t even have yet.

If I was starting a blog from scratch in 2026, I’d keep things as simple as possible, concentrate on creating useful content and give myself more time to actually work on growing the blog and enjoy the process.

Everything else can be added as you need it.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or reach out!

Speak soon!

Katherine

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The post How I’d Start a Blog From Scratch in 2026 (Knowing What I Know Now) appeared first on Katherine McLee.

In this post we are going to go over the top 5 tools you need as a new blogger!

Why the Right Tools Matter in 2025

As with starting any new business/side hustle, getting it properly set up from the start can make a world of a difference! 

It’s always easier after the fact to know what you should have done. But I’m hoping I can save you from that extra level of trial and error, by sharing the top must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025, and beyond!

As with any side hustle/business, the right tools are what help you grow, save you time, and help you make money.

I wasted SO much time in the beginning trying to do everything manually or using the wrong tools lol. Once I found the ones that actually worked, everything started clicking into place.

These are tools I love/use to this day and are the I wish I had from the beginning as they would have helped so much.

A lot of these are super low cost or have free options to be able to have a go first and you can then upgrade if/when you feel ready to!

If you’re serious about growing your blog (not just writing for fun/as a hobby, but you are actually building something profitable), then having the right tools in your kit is honestly non-negotiable.

I know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel when you’re just starting out. Or even if you’ve been at it a while but feel stuck as that happens to more people than you realise – we have honestly all been there!

There are SO many options out there, and it’s hard to know what’s worth investing your time, money, and energy into. That’s exactly why I’ve put together this post for you. These are my favourite, can’t-blog-without-them tools that have made blogging SO much easier, more enjoyable, and more profitable.

Whether you’re trying to grow your audience, increase your income, or just enjoy the behind-the-scenes side of bloggging more, these tools are my top recommendations for 2025 and beyond. 

Let’s get into these must-have blogging tools, because when you’re using the right tools, everything gets sooo much easier!

1. HostGator: Reliable & Affordable Hosting

If you’re just getting started with your blog, the first thing you need is a domain name and hosting!  HostGator is what I personally use and recommend. I’ve used it across multiple blogs for years and I still love it!

It’s affordable, super reliable, and beginner-friendly which is exactly what you need when you are setting everything up.

It has 24/7 live chat which is a life saver when you accidentally crash your blog and are presented with an error screen at 1am lol – we have all been there! 

They get you back up and running so fast no matter what timezone you are in. Highly, highly recommended.

They nearly always have offers on for cheap domains or super low cost hosting etc so worth checking out. I’ve been with them for years from the very start of my blogging journey and have no plans to change any time soon!

Get Hosting with HostGator Here 

Quick note before you carry on! I have a free download for you! Grab these FREE content prompts and get a peek behind the scenes of my blogging system!

2. MailerLite: My Preferred Email Marketing Platform

If I could go back to day one, I would immediately sign up with MailerLite. 

They have a completely free plan you can use until you outgrow it so no extra start up costs which we love!

Email marketing is one of the most powerful things you can do in your blogging business. And MailerLite makes it so simple!

Even if you’ve never written a newsletter in your life!

Having your own email list is so valuable. I think most bloggers (myself included) put off starting one though at the beginning as we think we don’t need one, we think it’s complicated or will cost a lot. Nope, nope and nope!

Your email list is your direct contact for people who have shown they are interested in your content/what you are offering. This is such a powerful marketing tool!

If you don’t want to create a freebie to offer people in exchange for their email initially, you can put on a little form or pop up that lets people just sign up to your newsletter and then you can email them tips and tricks, offers or even ask questions. 

Don’t be worrying that people won’t sign up, you will be surprised!

Another good reason to sign up early is that you can get used to sending emails (or even just creating pop ups, forms and emails) even before you get an audience. That way it’s not overwhelmingly new when you do grow (and you will), and you can happily send those newsletters!

Why I love Mailerlite specifically (and why it’s a great choice for everyone):

• Their free plan is amazing. I used their free plan for a good while before upgrading! You can have up to 1,000 subscribers on the free plan, and you still get access to automations. (Automations being when a sequence of emails goes out after someone meets a certain criteria).

• You can set up pop-ups, landing pages, welcome automations, and product funnels without needing a tech degree. Quick and simple to customize!

• It’s clean and really easy to use. It has drag-and-drop editors, email flows, forms etc. You do get more with a paid plan, but once you get used to the free plan, it doesn’t take long to set those things up and get them how you like them!
  
• You can easily build funnels for freebies, tripwires, and digital products. There’s so much you can do, even on the free plan. This makes it ideal for anyone wanting to get into email marketing.
  
• I’ve used it for both regular newsletters, for automated sequences, pop ups, landing pages, embedded forms etc etc and love it! You will notice any email you get from me says “Mailerlite” at the bottom of it!
  

It’s one of the platforms I’ve stuck with long-term. I’ve stuck with it because MailerLite does exactly what I need it to, without overwhelming me with complexity or too many options/features which is not my idea of fun lol.

Start With MailerLite Free and start building your list the right way.

3. Keysearch: Keyword Research Made Simple

Keywords are so so important. In my early days of blogging I didn’t take much notice of them in all honesty. I thought I could get things ranking without them (?!). It didn’t take me long to realise that you REALLY do need to focus on keywords and keyword research but the amazing news is that it is a lot simpler than it sounds, makes a huge difference to your posts and tools like KeySearch make it SO easy.

SEO really doesn’t have to be scary. Keysearch is one of the easiest tools to use that I’ve found, especially as a beginner. They have a free plan where you get 5 free searches a day and this will give you a really good idea of how to use it, and just how helpful it is.

Then if you upgrade to their paid plan like I did, it’s super affordable and gives you so many searches, not just for keywords but also for search terms, inspiration, competition levels, search and how hard it is to rank!

If you want to grow your blog traffic without relying entirely on Pinterest or social media (which is never a good idea as social media especially can be so temperamental lol), this is a must have..

I’ve tried a few keyword tools over my time blogging, but Keysearch stands out for beginners and for anyone wanting to grow their blog. It’s incredibly easy to understand and use (same cannot be said for all lol) but is still powerful enough to show you traffic-driving keywords that you otherwise may never have thought of.

Here’s what I love about KeySearch:

• You can find low-competition keywords which are perfect for new blogs
  
• It gives you a full breakdown of keyword difficulty, volume, and competitor analysis – even colour coded to make it easier
  
• The Content Assistant helps you write posts with the right SEO terms built-in
  
• It’s SO affordable even once upgraded from the free plan
  

Without it, I wasted hours writing posts that never ranked lol. But the IDEAS it gave as much as the keywords/difficulty itself was absolutely worth it and made blogging and content creation SO much easier.

Try Keysearch Here for Free!

BONUS: If you’re really serious about making money with your blog and feel you need even more features, I would recommend SEMrush! SEMrush is one of the ultimate platforms when it comes to SEO and Keywords. It’s used by pros all across the world and comes with a free trial so you can test it before committing which is amazing.

It does quite a lot more than KeySearch so you only need this if you are already good with keyword research and want to take your blog to the next level. It’s pricier, but definitely worth it if you’re ready to take your blog to serious heights!

Try SEMrush here!

4. Legal Pages Bundle: Blog Legally from Day One

Legal pages. Ahhh legal pages. 

These are one of the aspects of having a blog that most people (in the early days) think they don’t need, or think they can use a free template and that will suffice…

Literally, we all did lol.

But here’s the truth… legal pages are not something you can skip over or half-ass. 

You really must protect your blog and yourself on a legal level. This is especially important if you are/want to be an affiliate for companies or run ads etc!

I bought This Legal Bundle early on (as soon as I realised that free legal pages don’t do/cover anything) and have zero regrets. 

One off purchase. A lot cheaper in a bundle. Live in 15 mins. Ideal!

The Starter Bundle includes all the pages you need; a privacy policy, terms and conditions page and disclaimer page. All tailored specifically to your country/self/blog, and all created by a real lawyer.

You buy the bundle of templates, edit the parts/remove the parts that you don’t need, and can get them live in around 15 mins. Super easy. Super quick and fully covered.

It’s really easy to do too. you get step-by-step instructions, fill-in-the spaces/edit the clearly marked sections, and make them live. 

It’s one of the best investments you can make for your peace of mind (and your blog’s future). 

You will also find that when looking to become an affiliate for certain companies/brands, they will ask/want to see your legal pages to make sure you’re legit.

If you want to protect yourself and your blog, have peace of mind and look professional to brands and companies, a Lawyer-written legal pages bundle is a non-negotiable.

Get The Legal Bundle Here! Protect your blog in half an hour or less!

5. A High-Quality Blogging Course

Finding a blogging course that ACTUALLY teaches you how to grow a blog and make money blogging is harder than it sounds.

Having taken a few in the early stages of blogging, I found that as much as some were okay, a lot were full of fluff or not overly actionable.

And it can cost a lot to take multiple courses that don’t offer much real life value back.

There is one that I recommend though, as it is no-fluff, easy to follow, SO MUCH INFORMATION (in the best way), easy to digest and implement, and really notice a true difference with… and it’s Perfecting Blogging.

I have a full review/breakdown of the course right here in my full course review!

Anyone who has been around for any length of time knows how much I love this course lol. It’s one of the only courses I recommend as I find a lot of courses really hard to follow, too simple, or not engaging enough. 

Perfecting Blogging is the opposite. It’s amazing, especially for newer bloggers or anyone wanting a boost/to change up their strategies a bit.

Updates for the course are free too. This means you can get new/updated modules for life with no extra cost.

(Can you see why I love it yet lol.)

Grab Perfecting Blogging Here

And here’s the really exciting part! The course creator Sophia (who earns 7+ figures from blogging AND products) is now adding free bonus modules on how to grow a physical product business. All in the same course!

She’s going deep into how she turned her planner business into a multi-million dollar part of her brand. And if you already own the course? You get the updates for free.

Check Out the Blogging Course Here

Those are my top 5 must-have tools for growing your blog in 2025 (and beyond), but I wanted to add in two other tools I use daily. You can use these two completely for free, but they can make SUCH a difference and make your blogging liffe so much easier.

Bonus Tools: The 2 Free Tools Every Blogger Should Be Using!

While the five tools above are my absolute go-tos for blogging, I couldn’t stop there without sharing two completely free tools that have helped me grow and saved so much time overall!

6. Pinterest – For Free Blog Traffic From Day 1

I started using Pinterest after the hype I heard about it for marketing your blog/blog posts in Perfecting Blogging. Once you get the hang of it (and accept their temperamental algorithm changes), it’s an amazing way to get free traffic to your website or blog.

Pinterest was always known as a place for recipes, crafts and wedding dress inspo. And while it’s still incredible for exactly that, it really is so much more. 

The beauty of Pinterest is that it’s a visual seach engine – not a social media.   

And on top of that, it’s one of the most powerful search engines out there for bloggers!

That means the content you pin today can keep bringing in traffic for months or even years from now.

The other good thing with Pinterest is that you can get clicks through to your website instantly! As soon as you upload a pin, it goes into the Pinterest engine and can be seen/saved/clicked through there and then.

Just a quick note; as with everything, it does take time for Pinterest to understand what your account is about. It uses your pins, titles, descriptions, boards, profile etc to work out what your content is about and who to show it to. Because of this, it does take a few months of consistent pinning of fresh pins for Pinterest to really start pushing out your pins. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that people CAN see and click through your pins as soon as they go up.

For a lot more in depth information on Pinterest pins, fresh pins, strategies, etc so you can ride the Pinterest wave instead of spending years of trial and error, you can get this Pinterest Course here!

I’ve had posts go from zero to literally hundreds of visits thanks to ONE pin doing well!

If you’re a blogger or content creator and you’re not using Pinterest yet, take this as your sign to start. 

7. Canva – The Best (and Easiest) Image Creation Tool

Canva (even the free plan) is the best way to create images for your blog, header images, logos, pins for Pinterest and so much more.

It’s really easy to use, has so many templates, photos, backgrounds, videos and elements you can use.

Canva makes it really easy to create social media images as much as custom blog photos and elements! 

If you find you want some more freedom in terms of the elements you have access to you can upgrade to the Pro plan, but there’s really no need at all until you want to!

Canva is one of those tools I honestly didn’t know I needed until I got it lol.

When you start to grow your Email List you can also use their eBook and other templates to use as email freebies. Not only that but you can use it to create product mock-ups for Etsy or any other products you may want to show!

You don’t need to be experienced in graphic design to use it either! Everything is drag and drop and super simple to get the hang of with a little practice!

It’s perfect for bloggers (or anyone) who wants their content to look polished without spending hours in Photoshop.

Conclusion

Honestly, you don’t need a huge amount of tools to make a success of your blog. Don’t buy into the hype that you need to spend thousands to make money blogging!

A few good ones (like the ones I mentioned above) will make all the difference on their own!

I think like so many new bloggers, when I first started blogging I was completely overloaded with information as to what tools to get/use. I ended up using/trying/buying SO many (not a good strategy lol) but these are the few that ACTUALLY work and are genuinely helpful. 

Blogging (for an income) is a long game, so having the tools to help ease up, quicken up and streamline that process is truly the most valuable thing.

You don’t need all of the above at once either! 

Sign up to the ones you need initially (such as Hostgator, Legal Pages and the Blogging Course) and add in Mailerlite and Keysearch/SemRush down the line!

Got questions? Drop me a comment or come and find me on Pinterest!

Speak soon!

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The post Top 5 Tools You Need as a New Blogger appeared first on Katherine McLee.

This is a guest post written and submitted by Daniel Abbott.

Depending on foot traffic, the number of digital storefronts and online brands surpasses that of physical stores in our modern world. Ecommerce SEO is now a highly sought-after ability. Online businesses use it as a compass to steer them toward the coveted shores of increased visibility, improved rankings, and higher sales.

But to successfully navigate this complex terrain, one needs to know more about SEO than just the basics. This thorough guide is your go-to resource for understanding the complexities of ecommerce SEO and providing you with the knowledge and tactics you need to succeed in the cutthroat world of online retail.

Unlock the full potential of your e-commerce endeavour by joining us on this journey to master the ever-evolving algorithms and optimise product listings.

Keyword Research and Analysis

Here’s where it all starts. Keyword research is important for better ranking and higher traffic conversions. It should be done in a way that fulfils the necessities of Google white hat techniques. Do consider your efforts for quality content including metadata and proper keyword placement.

Finding the exact terms and phrases that prospective clients use when looking for goods or services is part of this process.

Start by generating a list of possible keywords associated with your niche or line of business. Then, use keyword research tools to grow your list and find keywords that have substantial search volumes and high conversion rates. Search for longer, more focused phrases known as “long-tail keywords,” which frequently denote a strong desire to buy.

When choosing keywords, take into account phases like search volume, competition, and contingency to your offerings. Choose keywords that will help you effectively compete in your market by striking a balance between search volume and competition.

Make sure your e-commerce site stays in line with current search trends by periodically reviewing your keyword strategy in light of shifting consumer behaviour and evolving trends.

Optimising Product Listings

It’s likely that more people visit your product pages for luxury crystal wall art than the homepage. Every one of your advertising campaigns also directs viewers to a product or landing page. You should make optimising the content on these pages your top priority.

Start with product descriptions that are both informative and compelling. Make sure your descriptions emphasise the special qualities, advantages, and applications of your products. Improve SEO by organically incorporating pertinent keywords into the content. To appropriately exhibit your products, you must use high-quality images and multimedia components. Make sure the pictures are clear, well-lit, and show the product from innumerable angles. To enhance user experience and load times, reduce the size of images.

Technical SEO for Ecommerce

When you think about typical websites, technical SEO is pretty mundane stuff. With a ton of product listings, tags, categories, collections, and everything in between, dynamic e-commerce sites have completely different needs.

Because most businesses are focused on long-term performance rather than short-term sales, it is not uncommon to find SEO packages that heavily emphasise technical SEO.

The foundation of any well-optimised e-commerce website is technical SEO. It guarantees that your pages can be efficiently accessed, indexed, and ranked by search engine crawlers.

⦁ Make sure that your website loads rapidly on mobile and desktop platforms. User experience and SEO both benefit greatly from mobile friendliness.

⦁ Ecommerce sites often have duplicate product descriptions or similar content. If you can’t write original and detailed descriptions, then make sure you implement canonical tags to indicate the preferred version of a page to search engines.

⦁ To give search engines comprehensive information about your products, use schema markup and structured data. Improved search results and rich snippets may result from this.

Link Building Strategies

The most effective SEO tool you have in your toolbox is link building. However, for smaller stores, obtaining links from high-authority sources in an ethical manner is nearly impossible.

The authority and search rankings of your website can both be enhanced by these high-quality backlinks from reputable sources.

⦁ Produce outstanding content that gets backlinks from respectable websites in your field on its own. Reach out to influencers and cultivate connections with them so they can promote your content.

⦁ To connect related product pages, blog posts, and other content on your website, use internal links. This distributes link equity and enhances navigation.

⦁ Customers should be encouraged to share their stories, write reviews, and produce user-generated content that points back to your product pages.

⦁ Produce content that addresses problems and can be appropriately seeded on forums, social media, discussion boards, and local directories.

User Experience (UX)

You may not presently prioritise UX, but once you appreciate how it helps with sales and conversions, you will speedily change your mind. Pricing for SEO agencies that consider user experience (UX) is typically higher, and for good reason. A business’s user experience has the power to succeed or fail.

A user-friendly website enhances customer satisfaction and promotions with search engine rankings. This ultimately boosts conversions and enhances your online presence. 

Ascertain your website is mobile-friendly and accommodates seamlessly to different devices. Google allows preference to mobile-friendly websites in its search results, and a huge percentage of online shoppers use mobile devices.

Make pages that are fascinating, educational, and ingenious to navigate so that visitors will want to discover your website more. Rankings can be positively impacted by decreasing bounce rates and raising dwell time.

Make it easier for people to find information and products on websites by streamlining the navigation. Positive user experiences are enhanced by categories that are clearly arranged and have a clear hierarchy.

Conclusion

Having said that, SEO for e-commerce platforms can get quite laborious. The issue of improving performance locally also exists. For the best local results, for example, you can contact a top Sacramento digital marketing agency at a reasonable price.

Before you start, decide on the path. Will you work with an internal team or on your own? Would you rather outsource your e-commerce SEO requirements in order to achieve better outcomes and meet your sales targets more quickly?

About Author & Bio

Daniel Abbott

Daniel Abbott is editor in chief & research analyst at The Next Tech. He is deeply interested in the moral ramifications of new technologies and believes in leveraging the data scientist, research and content enhancement to help build a better world for everyone.

The post E-commerce SEO Essentials: The Only Guide You Need appeared first on Katherine McLee.

In this post we will be going over using AI for blogging and the ways it can enhance your content.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage just now and while many avoid it, it can be a powerful tool for bloggers when used correctly.

I want to preface this by reminding everyone reading this that you shouldn’t be using AI to WRITE full blog posts or content, but as a tool it can be incredibly helpful.

AI, when used correctly, can be a game-changer for bloggers.

It can help to streamline the content creation process, improve SEO, and spark more ideas and inspiration.

By integrating AI thoughtfully and carefully into your blogging, you can maintain the authenticity of your own personal voice and vibe while leveraging technology to enhance your content and content creation process.

Let’s now get into how to use AI for blogging for maximum effect.

How to Use AI for Blogging

There are a few different ways you can use AI for blogging.

Here’s a quick list of a few of the most common benefits of using AI for your blog: 

Content Inspiration: AI can generate topic ideas based on current trends and audience preferences, helping you stay relevant and keep your content fresh.

Improved SEO: AI tools can analyse search trends, suggest relevant keywords, and provide insights on optimising your content for better search engine rankings.

Quality Improvement: AI-powered grammar and readability tools can help refine your writing, ensuring your content is clear, error-free, and engaging.

Consistency: AI can help maintain a consistent posting schedule, ensuring that your blog remains active and up-to-date.

Audience Insights: AI can analyse audience behaviour and feedback, providing valuable data on what types of content resonate most with your readers.

Data-Driven Decisions: AI can provide detailed analytics and reports, helping you make informed decisions based on real data rather than intuition.

Inspiration Boost: AI can suggest new angles and perspectives on topics, sparking creativity and helping you overcome writer’s block.

Scalability: As your blog grows, AI can help manage the increased workload by automating tasks and providing scalable options and solutions to suit you and your blog.

Trend Analysis: AI can keep you updated on the latest trends in your industry, helping you create timely and relevant content.

Improved Accessibility: AI tools can assist in creating more accessible content, such as by suggesting alternative text for images or ensuring your content meets readability standards.

How Can You Implement AI Into Your Blogging?

Sparking Ideas and Inspiration

Even the most creative minds can hit a block when it comes to blogging and content ideas! AI can serve as an amazing source of inspiration when you’re struggling to come up with new topics or different angles.

By analysing popular content and trending topics, AI can suggest fresh ideas that resonate with your target audience. Additionally, AI tools can help you identify keyword ideas, allowing you to create unique content that stands out.

By utilising AI as a blogger, you can save time, get loads of new ideas for keywords, help your SEO and content creation, and maintain a consistent posting schedule, all while staying informed and inspired!

Once you have your keyword ideas you can then input into your Keyword Research Tool to narrow down on exactly what you are going to write about!

For more information on Keywords, this post goes more in depth but in an easy to understand way!

Research Assistance

AI tools can gather information really quickly from various sources. This can provide a comprehensive overview of literally any topic you’re interested in!

This saves you the time and effort of manually sifting through a lot of different articles. While your own research and fact checking is important (AI doesn’t always get things right!), it can certainly help speed things up in the earlier stages of content creation!

For lengthy articles or information, AI can help to generate a summary for you. This allows you to quickly understand the main points without having to read everything in detail. 

Streamlining the Content Creation Process

One of the most time-consuming aspects of blogging (I’m sure you’ll agree) is the research and pre-planning of your post before even writing the post itself!

AI can assist you in giving you information on a particular topic quickly and in an easy to understand fashion. 

Quick tip: If you ever don’t understand something AI has said, or something from the internet, ask AI to reword it in a more broken down/simplified way and this should help!

Once you’ve written your content, AI can help you to refine it by checking for grammar and how easy it is to read for your audience! It can check that  your writing is clear and error-free. AI can also suggest improvements to make your content more compelling and easier to understand but be aware to really double check all suggestions as it’s not always as natural sounding as it should be!

Enhancing SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is so important for any blogger wanting to increase their visibility and reach a bigger audience! 

AI can analyse current trends, keywords, and search algorithms to provide insights on the best strategies for optimising your content. With AI tools, you can track the performance of your posts to make data-driven decisions!

AI can also provide insights on how to optimise your blog content for better search engine rankings, helping you attract even more readers.

Improving Readability and Engagement

AI tools can also help you to refine your writing to make it more engaging and accessible to more people.

Tools like grammar checkers, readability analysers, and tone detectors can help you fine-tune your content to ensure it’s easy to read and resonates with your audience!

It’s really important you don’t let the AI content take over your personal voice in your blog! Using AI to help improve readability isn’t about solely using AI, it is just a tool that can help if you aren’t sure a certain point or sentence doesn’t quite make sense etc.

Common Questions About Using AI for Blogging

Can AI Replace Human Writers?

• AI can assist with drafting and generating ideas, but human writers like you and I are essential for creativity, personal touch, and nuanced understanding of topics! AI may have the facts (most of the time), but you will only get that human touch from an actual human.
• AI tools can produce relevant content, but they lack the depth, emotion, and unique perspective that human writers bring and add to their content. Human writers excel at connecting with their readers on a personal level, which is crucial for maintaining a loyal audience!

Is AI-Generated Content SEO-Friendly?

• Yes, AI can help optimise content for SEO, but human oversight is necessary to ensure the content is accurate, high quality and aligns with your brand voice. 
• AI tools like Yoast SEO and Keysearch use algorithms to analyse content and provide recommendations for optimising keywords, meta descriptions, and readability. However, human review ensures that the content remains engaging and accurate.

How Accurate is AI in Understanding Context?

• While AI has significantly improved in understanding context, it still requires human review to ensure accuracy and relevance!
• While AI tools like GPT-4 are trained on huge amounts of data and can understand context to a certain degree, they can often still struggle with highly specialised topics or certain specific questions. This is why it’s so important for a real human to edit and refine any AI info/text to ensure it is contextually correct and  comes across like it’s been written by a human.

Is Using AI for Blogging Expensive?

• There are both free and paid AI tools available. The cost depends on the tool’s capabilities and your specific needs.
• Free tools like Chat GPT or Grammarly offer basic writing assistance, while premium versions provide advanced features like style and tone suggestions. Similarly, platforms like Keysearch offer various subscription plans based on the level of service required.
  

More Questions People Have About Using AI for Blogging

In addition to the commonly asked questions previously discussed, here are some more inquiries people might have about using AI for blogging, along with concise answers:

How Can AI Help With Keyword Research?

• AI tools like Keysearch, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and Moz use algorithms to analyse search data and suggest relevant keywords you can use in your content. They can identify high-traffic keywords, low-competition keywords, long-tail keywords, and keyword difficulty. All of these can help bloggers optimise their content for search engines!

Can AI-generated Content Rank Well on Google?

• It can. AI-generated content can rank well if it is high-quality, informative, and optimised for SEO. As with the points above, human editing is necessary though to ensure the content is factual, human sounding and aligns with Google’s guidelines for valuable content. This is especially true after Google’s Helpful Content Update.

While AI can certainly help assist, Google especially is after HUMAN content where it helps other people. If it’s AI written fully, Google will know and won’t show your content. This can also harm your blog’s credibility.

Is AI Ethical To Use in Content Creation?

• This is a tricky one as it can be a point of personal opinion. For most, the ethical use of AI in content creation highly depends on transparency and originality! If you use AI as an aid but keep the content your own, you’re all good! As a blogger you should disclose the use of AI tools where necessary and ensure that the content is original and not plagiarised/copy and pasted. It’s essential to use AI as a supplement to human creativity rather than a replacement!

What Are The Limitations of Using AI For blogging?

• While AI can assist with many aspects of blogging, it has limitations, such as:
  • Creativity: AI may lack that creative flair and personal touch that a human writer can add/bring.
  • Context Understanding: AI tools can struggle with understanding complex or specific questions, and on occasion gets “facts” wrong too.
  • Dependency: Over-reliance on AI tools can lead to a lack of skill growth in writing and content creation. It will also go against getting found via search engines! Use AI as a tool, not as the backbone of your blog writing!

Concerns About Using AI to Help With Blogging

While AI does offer many benefits for bloggers, there are several concerns and potential drawbacks that you may have. 

Understanding these concerns can help you to make informed decisions about integrating AI into your blogging/content creation!

While AI has loads of benefits, it’s important to use it ethically. As mentioned earlier, relying too heavily on AI for content creation can lead to a loss of your personal touch and authenticity. 

Always ensure that your voice remains at the forefront of your blog. Use AI as a supportive tool rather than a replacement for your creativity and expertise as YOU are what your readers want to read and know.

Benefits of Using AI Voice Overs for Blog Posts

Adding AI voice overs into your blog posts and blog content can have numerous advantages It can enhance the accessibility, engagement, and reach of your content.

While it won’t be for everyone, for some niches voice overs can work SO well.

Whether you want a section of your post or the whole post available as an audio option, the option is there!

You can of course use your own voice to record voice overs if you’re comfortable with this.

The other option is to use an AI voice over tool such as ElevenLabs.

Often AI tools work on a character basis. 

This means you type in/copy text in of what you would like to be read out, generate the speech (you choose the voice you would like too) and then download it as an audio file! Super simple! 

If you’re needing less than 10,000 characters per month then it’s free too!

They have paid plans at really affordable prices too. For example the first paid plan is only $5 a month for up to 30,000 characters!

There are 3 further plan options if you need them too.

For all of the plans you get to use any of the 29 different voices they have available to you.

I’ve included a snippet of a few of the voices as an example of how different they sound and how you can choose whichever suits your content the best!

ElevenLabs is also an amazing way to do video voice overs for your blog, for YouTube, TikTok or any other platform where you are sharing your video content.

You can easily add this voice clip into a video editing software or even Canva to easily add voice overs to video clips!

I hope this has been helpful in clarifying a few points regarding using AI for blogging. I also hope it has alleviated any concerns you may have had about using AI to help you in creating content but without either feeling “icky” about using it, or without being penalised by Google.

As you can see from the voice over software above, there are some amazing ways to utilise AI for your blog or for other forms of content creation!

Do you use AI for your blog?

Have you ever tried voice overs for blog or video content?

Let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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The post Using AI for Blogging: A Simple Guide appeared first on Katherine McLee.

In this post we will be answering the top 19 questions about blogging in 2026!

Whether you are a newer blogger or have not started your own blog yet, these answers should help answer some common concerns you may have!

As with any new business or hobby, there are always things to learn. Some people prefer to research and learn as much as they can beforehand, whereas others prefer to dive in and learn as they go.

No matter which your learning preference is, you may well have had one, two or any number of questions in relation to starting a blog in 2026.

While some of the questions below may seem obvious from the outside, often there’s more to the answer than you may initially realise!

Let’s get into the answers to the top 19 questions about blogging in 2026.

1 – How Do I Choose A Niche?

This is one of the first things you may think about when you first decide you want to start a blog. 

For some, this will be a fast decision and you’ll know instantly what topics you want to blog about.

Others may have no clue what they want their niche to be, or they may have a few options.

It can be tricky to pick the niche you want to blog about but there are some guidelines you can follow which can help you choose the best niche for you.

The trick is to choose a niche that is something you’re passionate about, but also something that has an audience and good potential for growth and monetisation.

One common misconception is thinking that you need to be an expert in a topic to have a blog on it.

While having some background knowledge in your chosen niche is advised, it’s certainly not essential to be an expert. Being open to learning, researching and enhancing your own skills and knowledge as you go in a certain niche is also a good reason to choose it.

Picking a niche that has an audience is important. Nearly every topic in the world will have an audience, but not all topics will be easily monetised if this is the route you are wanting to go down. 

If you aren’t sure there is an audience for your chosen topic, have a quick Google and see how many other websites pop up. This will show you if there’s a need for your information! 

Unless you have chosen a very specific micro niche, Keyword Research will help you never run out of ideas of things to write about.

2 – Do I Need Technical Skills?

This is a completely valid concern and my honest answer is no, but, it will be a lot simpler for you if you did have some.

Blogging isn’t just putting text up on a website, there’s the technical aspects of blogging, such as setting up your website, managing hosting, dealing with domain names, adding in lines of code etc. 

A lot of the aspects of blogging can be learned as you go, and often there are plugins and tutorials to help simplify or walk you through the steps you need.

Your hosting company will help you with anything hosting related. This includes website errors and anything to do with the setup of your website.

Choosing a hosting company with good customer service is so important for this very reason.

While some technical knowledge can be helpful, it’s not always necessary to have advanced technical skills to start a blog. Many blogging platforms, such as WordPress, offer user-friendly interfaces and guides to help beginners set up their blogs without much technical know-how. Additionally, there are plenty of online resources, tutorials, and communities where you can seek assistance if you encounter technical challenges.

If you want more detailed information on Domains and Hosting, this post here breaks it all down for you!

3 – Can I Make Money From Blogging?

One of the most common questions about blogging is whether it’s possible to make money from blogging and if so, how.

People often wonder about different monetisation strategies. These can be things like advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, and selling products or services.

Yes, it’s absolutely possible to make money from blogging! You just need to be aware that it takes time, effort, and some strategic planning.

Some of the more common monetisation strategies include things like advertising, affiliate marketing, sponsored content, selling digital or physical products, offering services, and membership or subscription models.

It’s important to build a solid audience and provide valuable content before focusing on monetisation, as readers are more likely to engage with ads or purchase products from a trusted source.

I have a full post here explaining making money with a blog and how soon you will see the money!

4 – How Do I Drive Traffic To My Blog?

Building an audience is crucial for the success of any blog.

Another of the most common questions about blogging that new bloggers especially have is how to attract readers to their blog. 

This can include concerns about SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), social media promotion, email marketing, and other strategies for increasing traffic.

When it comes to driving traffic to your blog, ideally you want to aim for a combination of strategies. This includes optimising your content for search engines (SEO), promoting your blog on social media platforms, engaging with other bloggers and communities in your niche, guest posting on relevant websites, and building an email list. 

Consistently creating high-quality content that resonates with your target audience is key to attracting and retaining readers.

5 – What should I Write About?

This of course will depend on your specific niche, but the worry of whether you’ll find enough things to create blog content about long term is often a question people have when they are looking into starting a blog in 2026…

Keyword Research is such an important topic but can feel a bit confusing. This post here should help explain exactly what keyword research is, and how to use it for your own blog!

Finding inspiration for blog topics can come from various sources, such as your personal experiences, interests, industry trends, reader feedback, keyword research, and competitor analysis.

Brainstorm ideas regularly and keep a running list of potential topics. 

A content calendar can work wonders here as you are then never out of ideas for what to write about and always know what’s coming up next. 

Aim to provide valuable information, solve problems, answer questions, entertain, or inspire your audience with your content!

6 – How To Deal With Criticism and Negative Feedback?

Fear of criticism and negative feedback can hold people back from starting a blog or sharing their writing online. Understandably so!

Many worry about how to handle criticism in a constructive way and develop a thick skin.

It’s natural to feel apprehensive about receiving criticism, but it’s important to remember that feedback, whether positive or negative, can help you grow and improve as a blogger. 

Remember, there is a huge difference between someone leaving feedback, questions or suggestions, and someone who has left a nasty comment just for the sake of being nasty.

You can develop resilience by focusing on constructive criticism, learning from mistakes, and staying true to your voice and values! People enjoy your blog because it’s you – remember that.

You can consider establishing clear guidelines for yourself for moderating comments on your blog to maintain a positive and respectful community.

For example, if it’s a question, opinion, feedback or constructive criticism, you can keep it and respond/answer their comment. If it’s nasty/rude you can just delete it and move on!

7 – Is It Too Late To Start A Blog?

With so many blogs already out there, some people worry that the blogging world is oversaturated and that it’s too late to start a successful blog. 

You may wonder if there’s still room for new voices and perspectives.

The answer is that it’s never too late! People are always searching for information. 

While the blogging world is competitive by nature, there is still room for new voices and perspectives.

The key is to find your unique angle or niche, create high-quality content, and consistently engage with your audience.

Keep in mind that building a successful blog takes time and persistence, so focus on providing value and building genuine connections with your readers. 

Enjoy it and find your voice as you go!

8 – How Much Time Does Blogging Take?

People often worry about the time involved in starting and maintaining a blog. Understandably so! Especially if you have other responsibilities like a full-time job or family obligations. You may be wondering if you can realistically fit blogging into their busy life.

The answer is, of course you can, but I would encourage you to be realistic with how much time you can put into it. 

Your time commitment for blogging will vary depending on factors such as how frequently you publish new blog posts, keyword research and research of topics, and how much time you are wanting to spend on social media/promotion of your content. 

It’s so important to set realistic goals and expectations based on your available time and resources. Consistency is way more important than frequency. So prioritise quality over quantity when it comes to creating content , come up with a schedule that suits you and don’t stress about not being able to work on your blog for 6 hours a day!

9 – Will Anyone Read My Blog?

There’s often a fear of putting in so much time and effort to start your own blog, only to have no one read it.

People worry about whether they’ll be able to attract an audience and whether their writing will be liked or be “good enough” for their readers.

The beauty of blog posts as opposed to professional news articles is that people know there’s a person behind your posts. They will enjoy the way you write, the way you put information across, and any other unique qualities you have to offer. Don’t worry if things aren’t perfect, blogs are loved for their realness as much as quality information.

Building an audience for your blog takes time and effort.

Knowing it will take time can help as you won’t be expecting a huge amount of readers straight away, but with dedication, learning and a good strategy, you can attract readers who truly want to read your content.

Focus on creating valuable, relevant, and engaging content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Use SEO techniques, social media promotion, and networking within your niche to increase your blogs visibility and attract an audience to your blog.

Putting out high quality content that helps your reader solve a problem or answer a question is one of the best  ways to gain the attention of your target audience.

10 – What Blogging Platform Should I Use?

With so many blogging platforms available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. You may worry about whether to use a free platform like WordPress.com or Blogger, or whether to invest in a self-hosted WordPress.org blog.

When choosing a blogging platform, consider factors such as ease of use, customisation options, scalability, cost, and ownership of your content.

Popular options include WordPress (both the self-hosted WordPress.org and the hosted WordPress.com), Blogger, Wix, Squarespace, and Medium. 

Research and read into the features and limitations of each platform to determine which best aligns with your needs and goals for your blog.

From a personal perspective, I would always recommend a WordPress.org blog with your chosen hosting. 

Free blogs are great for those with no extra money, for someone just starting out and unsure if they will like blogging, or for those wanting to blog as a hobby or not wanting to make an income from their blog.

The free blogging platforms are often a little simpler, but this comes down to having less features and less customisation options.

You do not own your blog if you have it on a free platform. The platform does.

If you want the security of owning your website, want to be able to get an income from your blog, want to be able to have freedom to customise your blog as much as you like and already know you enjoy blogging, absolutely go for a self hosted blog on a platform such as WordPress.org.

Keep in mind that you can always migrate your blog to a different platform in the future if needed. It isn’t always simple but it’s absolutely doable.

11 – Where Can I Find Resources To Learn Proper Blogging Techniques?

This is a very common question as there is so much information everywhere you look, but the tricky part can be finding the RIGHT information that will actually be useful for you and your blog. 

You can learn the skills you need to learn about blogging through online courses, tutorials, blogs, and books dedicated to blogging.

When it comes to online courses you have a range to choose from. Please remember that not all courses are created equally, so word of mouth from someone you trust and reviews can help a lot here. 

You can buy courses directly, use paid platforms such as Skillshare or get information for free from places like YouTube.

YouTube is such an amazing way to get lots of information about blogging. Not only that but it’s one of my favourite places to troubleshoot when things don’t always go to plan!

That being said, to find the exact information you need while filtering through all the less-great information can take so much time and energy.

Investing in a decent blogging course will save you a lot of time and energy in the long run. Plus an added bonus is that often courses will provide free updates too so  you’ll always have the most up to date information!

On top of all things mentioned above, you can also join some blogging communities. Talking and networking with other bloggers and more experienced bloggers can provide valuable insights, support and guidance.

12 – What Are The Best Practices For Writing Engaging Blog Posts?

Writing engaging blog posts involves a mix of grabbing your readers’ attention with strong blog post titles, clear formatting for readability (using subheadings, bullet points where needed, and images), incorporating visuals, and ending with a clear conclusion.

It’s important to make sure you are solving a problem or being entertaining for your readers. Keeping your blog content reader-focused is key.

There are a few steps you can follow to create the best content for your specific audience.

Know your audience: Understand who your target audience is and create your content to suit and meet their interests, needs, and issues they may be having.

Start with a captivating blog post title: Grab your readers’ attention right from the start with an intriguing headline that promises value or solves a problem they may be having/experiencing.

Break up your text: Use shorter paragraphs, bullet points, and subheadings to make your content easy to read and digest. Frequent spaces and images can help with this too. You can of course also add video if this suits your content.

Provide value: High quality blog posts offer actionable tips, insights, or solutions to your readers’ problems. Make sure your content is informative, useful, and relevant to your audience. Don’t make your posts too short but don’t waffle just to fill space! The more relevant and helpful information you can provide, the better.

Encourage engagement: Invite your readers to leave comments, ask questions, or share their opinions at the end of your posts. Make sure to engage back by responding to comments which will help your audience to know you better and know that you’re a real person where they can ask questions and will get an answer.

Edit and proofread: Before hitting that publish button, have a read over your post for spelling and grammar errors, clarity, and coherence. A well-edited post reflects positively on your credibility as a blogger.

Blog posts do not have to be perfect, and can be in a more conversational tone, but making sure they make sense and flow well is important.

For a full list of epic and eye-catching words you can add into your blog post titles, click through to that post here!

13 – How Often Should I Publish New Blog Posts?

How often you publish new blog posts depends on your time, goals and resources.

Consistency is key, so aim for a publishing schedule that you can realistically maintain over the long term. Some bloggers publish twice weekly, once weekly, some are once a fortnight and some are even daily. Experiment with different posting schedules to find what works best for you, your audience and your content creation process.

For more information on the exact number of blog posts you should be aiming for, check out this in depth post!

14 – Do I Need To Be An Expert In My Niche To Start A Blog?

While having knowledge in your chosen niche is a plus point, it’s certainly not necessary to be an expert in your niche to start a blog. 

(This doesn’t include topics such as finance or anything medical etc.)

Passion, a genuine love for your chosen topic, and a willingness to learn and share your journey is also an amazing way to connect and share information with your readers.

If you do have experience or are qualified in certain topics then you can of course use this to share your knowledge to enhance your blog content.

15 – How Can I Build An Email List For My Blog?

Building an email list is one of the best decisions you can make while blogging.

It’s not only an amazing way to engage with your audience, nurture relationships, and drive traffic to your blog but long term can help with an online income too!

Your email list is something you own, and is a way for you to engage directly with those who have indicated (by signing up) that they are really interested in what you have to say.

To get readers to join your list, you can offer incentives such as free downloadable pages/products, exclusive content, extra tips and information or special promotions (niche dependant) in exchange for their email address.

Use opt-in forms strategically throughout your blog (you can experiment to see what works best here for you and your readers), promote your newsletter on social media, and you can even run paid ads to encourage sign-ups if you feel this would be of benefit to you.

16 – What Are Some Effective Ways To Monetise My Blog?

Luckily there is a range of different ways to monetise your blog.

This means you can choose whichever monetisation strategies suit you and your niche the best!

In addition to the more “traditional” monetisation methods like advertising and affiliate marketing, there are various other ways you can monetise your blog.

These include sponsored content, offering consulting or coaching services, selling digital products (ebooks, courses, templates etc), creating and selling physical products, and providing subscription-based content.

To dive deeper into the world of blog monetisation, have a look at this post here for more information on blog monetisation strategies.

17 – Should I Focus On Building My Blog’s SEO or Promoting On Social Media?

When it comes to getting your blog seen, both SEO and social media play important roles in driving traffic to your blog and growing your target audience.

Up until recently I would have said SEO (talking Google) was the best thing to focus on, but due to various updates, this may not be the best strategy for all bloggers now.

Social Media is more of an active way to grow your blog as it requires more hands-on marketing (unless opting for paid ads etc) but can be really effective in terms of getting your blog seen.

Focus on creating high-quality, SEO-friendly content that answers questions your audience may have and incorporates relevant keywords. 

Alongside SEO practices, actively engage with your audience on social media platforms! Share your blog posts, participate in relevant blogging/business communities, and leverage social media advertising to increase your blog’s visibility and engagement.

18 – How Do I Stay Motivated And Overcome Writer’s Block?

Staying motivated and overcoming writer’s block can be challenging for bloggers. Every blogger you speak to will have had this at some stage though so you are not alone if this has happened to you!

The biggest tip to overcome writer’s block is pre-planning out content. 

Do your keyword research and from this, create a content plan so you have your upcoming posts all planned out.

Other things that can help are things such as establishing a consistent writing routine, setting realistic goals, breaking tasks into smaller manageable chunks, and seeking inspiration from other bloggers!

For more information on overcoming writer’s block as a blogger, check out this post!

19 – How Can I Measure The Success Of My Blog?

What success means for your blog will vary depending on your goals and personal/business objectives.

The most common metrics to track include website traffic (unique visitors, sessions and pageviews), engagement (comments, social shares), conversion rates (email sign-ups, sales), and revenue (from advertising, affiliate marketing, product sales etc).

The easiest way to track most of these metrics is to use web analytics tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. You can also use plugins on your WordPress website to help show a snapshot of these numbers.

When it comes to monitoring numbers such as affiliate sales, often the best place to check these is through your affiliate homepage for that specific company.

This may be a dashboard if you use a website such as Clickbank, or on the website directly for direct links from Amazon for example.

It’s important to monitor these metrics and make informed decisions to optimise your blog’s performance.

Don’t get caught up in checking all of your metrics all of the time, but keeping an eye every so often can help you see what’s working and what can be altered for better performance.

These are just a few of the common worries and questions about blogging that people have when considering starting a blog.

Each individual may have their own unique concerns based on their specific goals, interests, and circumstances!

If you have any other questions about blogging, please feel free to leave them in the comments below and I’ll answer them as best I can!

For a full post on how to start your own blog, check out this post here!

How To Start A Blog in 2026!

If you are needing a list of daily tasks to focus on as a new blogger, you can find that information here!

Speak soon!

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The post 19 Important Blogging Questions Answered: Best Tips for 2026 appeared first on Katherine McLee.

This post is to explain what the Google Sandbox is, and what it means for new blogs and websites.

If you are in the world of blogging, digital marketing and/or search engine optimisation (SEO), the term “Google Sandbox” will be a phrase you will have come across, most likely in your frustrations!

The Sandbox is a term used for when newly launched websites (including blogs) are subject to limited visibility within search engines.

Google Sandbox is (in simple terms), the idea that new blogs and websites experience a temporary period of lower visibility and organic rankings in Google search results. This means that new websites could be less visible and show up less in Google rankings for a temporary amount of time. 

The idea is Google does this on purpose to assess the credibility and quality of a new website before giving it any higher rankings in search results.

While this makes sense in theory, it doesn’t stop it feeling disheartening when you put so much work in and see little results (from Google). 

While your new blog or website is stuck in Google’s Sandbox, your site may not receive as much organic traffic from search as you’d maybe be hoping for!

The good news is that over time as your blog or website becomes more established, its trustworthiness increases tenfold.

The overall authority will also improve the longer the website is live and the more high quality content is published. As your blog gains this trustworthiness,  it will start to emerge from the sandbox and you will start to notice it achieving better rankings and visibility!

Let’s dive into what Google Sandbox is and why it’s important to be patient.

What Is The Google Sandbox?

The Google Sandbox refers to an online filter that Google applies to new blogs and websites. It’s one of the main reasons why the visibility of new websites in searches can be so low. It can affect both direct searches and organic rankings during an initial period after the launch of your site. 

In simple terms, the Google Sandbox is basically like a test zone for new websites. When a site or blog is brand new, Google puts it in this ‘sandbox’ for a while.

This is why you may not find new websites easily in searches.

Google does this to make sure the websites are good quality and not spammy. They want to check if the site is worth showing to people and if it will be useful in the long run!

The purpose of the sandbox is believed to be for two main reasons:

• To prevent spammy or low-quality websites/content from achieving quick (high) rankings
• To evaluate the long-term credibility and value of newly created websites.

The main idea is that Google wants to see if the website is trustworthy and credible. They check things like the quality of content, how much people interact with the site, the links coming to the site (backlinks), and how good the site looks overall.

Not all websites are created equal and this is what Google is trying to determine!

Google also explains how it understands new websites here, which can give a little more context around what’s happening in the early stages.

Why Do New Websites And Blogs Go Into The Google Sandbox?

Websites are believed to enter the Google Sandbox for a couple of reasons:

To Prevent Spammy Websites and Low-Quality Content

Google aims to maintain the quality and reliability of its search results as much as possible. The Sandbox helps to filter out websites that may be created solely for spamming or providing low-quality content. By subjecting new websites to a probationary period, Google can evaluate their trustworthiness and weed out those that violate its guidelines.

Assessing Long-Term Credibility

The Sandbox also serves as a way for Google to assess the long-term credibility and value of newer websites. It takes time for a website to establish a solid reputation, build a quality backlink profile, and grow its user engagement. By observing a website’s performance over a period of time, Google can better determine its authenticity and whether it deserves higher rankings!

It Levels The Playing Field

The Sandbox creates a level playing field for both established and new websites. It prevents new websites (and blogs) from rapidly climbing up the rankings and overshadowing older, more established websites.

This ensures that newer websites have to prove themselves over time and gradually gain visibility as they demonstrate their value.

Is My Website/Blog In The Sandbox For Doing Something Wrong?

The Google Sandbox is very different from manual penalties imposed by Google for violating its guidelines which could impact your website being shown in search.

While penalties are a result of specific rule violations, the Sandbox is a natural process affecting ALL new websites to some extent.

Websites in the Sandbox have not done anything wrong; they are simply undergoing a period of evaluation.

How Does The Google Sandbox Work?

This is tricky to know/answer as the exact workings of the Sandbox haven’t ever been fully disclosed!

Imagine the Google Sandbox like a waiting area for new websites. When a website is brand new, it goes into this ‘sandbox’ for a while.

During this time, Google watches the website closely to see if it’s trustworthy and valuable!

While in the Sandbox, the website won’t show up much in Google searches.

It’s like being on a timeout!

There are several theories  put out by those who understand the workings of Google and their ranking system. Those theories are based on their observations and the key points are as follows:

• Time-Based Delay: When you create a new website, it might not show up much on Google at first. This is because there’s a delay where the site doesn’t appear as high in search results. This delay can last a few weeks to a few months, and during this time, the website doesn’t rank as high as you might hope.

• Trust Building: The Google Sandbox checks if a website/blog is trustworthy and reliable. They look at things like content quality, how people interact with the site, the links to the site, and how good the site looks overall. 

• Gradual Ranking Improvements: As your website gets older and proves it is active and full of reliable, high quality content, it starts showing up more on Google. This means more people can find it, and it becomes easier to see in search results. More people will then be able to visit your site too!

As the website proves itself trustworthy by having good content, engaging visitors, and gaining credibility, Google slowly lets it out of the sandbox.

This is when it will slowly get better rankings on Google!

This means more people can find it when they search, and more people click through and visit the blog or website.

How To Navigate Out Of The Google Sandbox?

The Google Sandbox can be a frustrating period for anyone who has ever owned a blog or website! As website owners, we are all eager to see our new site gain traction! There are however several tips and tricks that can make things progress and speed up the process of getting out of The Google Sandbox:

Focus on Quality Content

Creating valuable and original content that aligns with user intent is crucial. Making content that people find useful and unique is really important.

If you keep creating great articles, blog posts, or videos, Google will see that your website is helpful for users. You want to demonstrate to Google that your website provides value to your readers!

Natural Link Building (Backlinks)

Instead of using tricky or spammy methods to get backlinks linking back to your website and blog posts, try getting good-quality links from trustworthy sites. You can do this by guest blogging, partnering with others on content, or connecting with influencers in your field.

The more high-quality backlinks you can get from reputable sources, the better it looks in Google’s eyes. 

Social Media and Building Your Brand

You can use social media platforms to promote your content and engage with your target audience. Building a strong online presence and brand reputation can help establish credibility and attract organic traffic.

Pinterest especially is an amazing way to get your blog and content seen while also helping to grow your online brand!

Sharing your content on social media can attract traffic, generate user engagement, and potentially earn backlinks from interested users or influencers in your niche. It’s a win all round!

Improve User Experience

Enhance the user experience on your website by optimising its design, navigation, and loading speed. Ensure that your blog or website is mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and provides a seamless browsing experience as much as possible!

A positive user experience encourages users to spend more time on your site, reducing bounce rates and improving engagement metrics.

Patience and Persistence

This is the tricky part but not one that can be skipped! Knowing that The Google Sandbox period is a natural part of the SEO journey for new websites can lessen the blow though.

Stay committed to implementing sound SEO practices, continue producing high-quality content consistently, and keep an eye on your website’s performance to identify areas of potential improvement.

Monitor your website’s performance using analytics tools such as Google Analytics or Jetpack. Track your organic traffic, keyword rankings, and user engagement metrics. Identify areas for improvement and make necessary adjustments to your SEO strategies, content, keywords or website itself.

For more information on best Keyword practices, check out this post here!

How Long Can You Expect Your New Website To Be Stuck In Google’s Sandbox?

The duration of the Google Sandbox period (or the time it takes to get out of it) can vary significantly from website to website. 

There is, unfortunately, no fixed timeline or specific timeframe for your website to emerge from the Sandbox. Sorry!

Some websites may experience a shorter period of limited visibility, while others may take several months. Sometimes for unknown reasons!

This is why it’s SO important to keep on improving your website and creating amazing content!

On average, many SEO experts have reported seeing improvements in rankings and visibility within 3 to 6 months after launching a new website. 

However, it’s important to note here that these timelines are rough guides and are not set in stone. There are cases where it has taken longer for websites to emerge from the Sandbox. Especially for non-experts!

It can take 12-18 months for a newer website to emerge from The Sandbox. Don’t be discouraged, keep going and it will emerge in its own time!

Several factors can influence the duration of the Sandbox period.

This can include (but isn’t limited to) the competitiveness of your chosen niche, the quality and relevance of your content, your website’s backlink profile, user engagement metrics, and overall website authority.

It’s really important to focus on implementing SEO best practices, keyword research, creating high-quality valuable content, and consistently improving your website’s credibility and user experience.

All of these points combined will increase your chances of a faster exit from the Google Sandbox!

While waiting for the Sandbox period to end, it’s important to remain patient and persistent. Keep improving and keep going! Monitor your website’s performance, upscale your SEO strategies, and consistently produce high-quality content.

Over time, as your website gains trust and establishes its authority in the online space, you should see gradual improvements in organic rankings and visibility in search engine results pages.

Frequently Asked Questions About Google Sandbox

Can a website in the Google Sandbox still rank for long-tail keywords?

While the overall visibility of a website in the Sandbox may be fairly limited, it can still rank for specific long-tail keywords and less competitive keywords!

Is the Google Sandbox the same as a penalty?

Not at all. The Google Sandbox is different from penalties. The Sandbox is a natural period of evaluation for new blogs and websites. Penalties are imposed for violating guidelines!

Can paid advertising help overcome the effects of the Google Sandbox?

Yes, paid advertising (such as Google Ads) can provide immediate visibility and traffic to new websites. It can bypass the impact of the Sandbox on organic rankings for the time the adverts are running.

What strategies can be used to speed up the process of getting out of the Google Sandbox?

Strategies include focusing on quality content creation, building a diverse backlink profile, implementing long-tail keywords, improving user experience, leveraging social media, and being patient and persistent!

Can a website experience multiple Sandbox periods?

On the whole, the Google Sandbox period is experienced just once for new websites. This is why it can take such a time, as Google wants to be sure! 

However, if significant changes occur, such as a major domain change, a new evaluation period may happen!

Are there any specific signs or indications that a website is in the Google Sandbox?

There are no definitive signs or indications that a website is in the Sandbox since it is not actually officially acknowledged by Google. The limited visibility and lower rankings can be an indication, but other factors may also be at play.

Is the Google Sandbox the same as the “honeymoon period” for new websites?

The Sandbox and the “honeymoon period” are related concepts but not exactly the same. The honeymoon period refers to a potential period of initial higher rankings for new websites, whereas the Sandbox implies limited visibility during that time. The Sandbox also affects all websites, the honeymoon period is a period that “can” affect the rankings of a website.

Are there any official statements or documentation from Google about the Sandbox?

Nope! Google has not officially confirmed the existence of a specific Sandbox algorithm or filter for websites, so there is no official documentation about it from Google.

Are there any known cases of websites bypassing or avoiding the Google Sandbox altogether?

As far as I’m aware (and as far as research shows), there are no known cases of websites completely bypassing or avoiding the Sandbox.

Please note that these answers are based on current knowledge and observations within the SEO community, as the exact workings of the Google Sandbox remain undisclosed by Google.

The Google Sandbox remains an intriguing and (sometimes) frustrating concept in the world of websites and blogging. While the exact algorithms and workings of the Sandbox remain a partial mystery, website owners can take proactive steps to navigate through this low ranking period. By focusing on creating valuable content, building a strong online presence, and employing solid SEO strategies, you can increase your chances of your website emerging from the Sandbox with improved organic rankings and increased visibility on Google!

If you’re looking for other ways to grow an online presence and make an income, you wil enjoy this post on Digital Marketing for Beginners!

Speak soon!

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In this post, we will go over why you need a sitemap for your blog. We will also go over what a sitemap actually is, and how you create one.

In the vast landscape of the internet, ensuring that your blog gets discovered by search engines and visitors alike is essential. One powerful tool that can significantly aid in achieving this goal is a sitemap. 

In the ever-evolving world of SEO, it’s crucial to stay informed about the tools and techniques that can enhance your online presence.

One tool that plays a significant role in ensuring search engines effectively crawl and index your website is a sitemap.

If you’re new to the world of blogging, websites, or are unfamiliar with SEO practices, the term “sitemap” might sound scary at first. Don’t let it worry you! 

This post will explain everything you need to know in relation to sitemaps.

This includes their importance in helping search engines navigate your blog!

We will also go over the benefits of utilising sitemaps and how they can improve your website’s visibility, user experience, and overall SEO performance! 

Additionally, we will go over common misconceptions and answer frequently asked questions about sitemaps.

In this blog post, we will explore what a sitemap is, why it is crucial for your blog’s success, and how to create one. 

What Is A Sitemap?

A sitemap is a file that lists all the pages and content on a blog or website. 

It acts like a roadmap for search engines, providing them with information about the organisation and structure of a website.

Think of it as a table of contents that helps search engines understand and navigate your website’s content more effectively.

Imagine you have a big house with many rooms. If someone wants to explore your house, they would find it easier if you gave them a map showing the layout of the rooms and where everything is located. Similarly, a sitemap is like a map for search engines. It tells them which pages are on your website and how they are connected.

A sitemap can include various types of content, such as web pages, blog posts, images, videos, and more. It helps search engines index your website’s pages and improves the chances of your content being discovered by users when they perform relevant searches.

What Are The Two Main Types Of Sitemaps

This post is to explain why you need an XML sitemap for your blog but I want to mention HTML sitemaps quickly here.

There are two main types of sitemaps: XML sitemaps and HTML sitemaps.

What is an XML sitemap?

An XML sitemap is a file that search engines use to understand the structure and content of a website.

It’s like a roadmap for search engine crawlers.

XML sitemaps are written in a special format that search engines can easily read. They contain a list of all the important pages on a website, along with additional information like when the pages were last updated and how often they change.

XML sitemaps help search engines discover and index the pages of a website more effectively.

Think of it as a cheat sheet for search engines. Instead of having to explore every nook and cranny of a website to find its pages, search engines can refer to the XML sitemap to quickly see a list of all the pages and their details. This helps search engines understand the website better and display relevant search results to users.

The XML sitemap includes information like the web addresses (URLs) of the pages, when they were last updated, and how often they tend to change.

It helps search engines keep their search results up to date and ensures that users can find the most recent and relevant information when they search for something.

In simpler terms, an XML sitemap is like a helpful map that search engines use to navigate a website and show the right pages to people who are searching for them.

What is an HTML sitemap?

An HTML sitemap is a web page on a website that helps visitors navigate through the different pages. It’s like a table of contents or a directory. HTML sitemaps are designed for people, not search engines.

They display a structured list of the main pages, subpages, and categories of content available on the site. Visitors can click on the links in the HTML sitemap to directly access the pages they are interested in, making it easier for them to find the information they need.

An HTML sitemap is a web page on a website that lists all the important pages in a structured format, similar to a table of contents. It is designed to help website visitors easily navigate through the site and find the information they need.

Imagine you’re exploring a big library with many books. The library has a directory near the entrance that shows you the different sections, like fiction, non-fiction, and reference books. Within each section, you can see a list of specific books available.

Similarly, an HTML sitemap acts as a directory for a website. It presents a hierarchical structure of the website’s pages, organised into categories or sections.

Visitors can access the HTML sitemap and see a list of the main pages, subpages, and categories of content available on the site.

HTML sitemaps are typically created for user convenience, allowing visitors to quickly locate specific pages or topics of interest. They can be useful when a website has a lot of content or a complex structure, as they provide an overview and make it easier for visitors to navigate through different sections.

Unlike XML sitemaps, which are primarily used by search engines, HTML sitemaps are primarily designed for human users. They serve as an additional navigation tool to complement the regular website menu or search function. Visitors can click on the links within the HTML sitemap to directly access the desired pages on the website.

In simple terms, an HTML sitemap is like a map or directory for a website that helps visitors find their way around by providing a list of pages and categories, similar to how a library directory helps you find books in different sections.

All other sitemap references I make in this post will be directed at XML sitemaps.

Why Are XML Sitemaps Important For Websites?

Having a sitemap is important because it helps search engines discover and index your website more efficiently.

When search engines visit your website, they follow the links to find all the pages. Sometimes they might miss some pages though, especially if they are hidden or not connected too well.

A sitemap makes it easier for search engines to see all the important pages and understand how they are organised!

By creating a sitemap and submitting it to search engines, you can improve the chances of your website showing up in search results. It helps search engines understand what your website is about and which pages are the most important. This can increase the visibility of your website and bring more visitors to it.

A sitemap is important because it assists search engines to effectively discover, crawl, and index your blog’s content. It contributes towards  improved visibility, higher search engine rankings, and a better user experience!

Related: The BEST Resources For New Bloggers

Having A Sitemap For Your Blog Offers Several Important Benefits:

Search Engine Crawling And Visibility – SEO Benefits

Search engine bots use sitemaps to discover and crawl all the pages of a website. By providing a clear and concise list of URLs, a sitemap ensures that search engines can find and index your content effectively.

This can help search engines understand the hierarchy and relevance of your content, potentially influencing how they rank your pages in search results.

This is especially beneficial for new websites or ones with complex navigation structures that may be challenging for search engines to crawl and index efficiently.

A sitemap can play an important role in supporting your overall SEO strategy.

By providing a clear roadmap of your content, it increases the chances of your pages getting indexed and displayed in search engine results pages (SERPs).

It helps search engines better understand the context and relevance of your content, potentially leading to improved search rankings.

Sitemaps Help With Indexing 

Sitemaps ensure that all important pages, including new or updated content, are promptly indexed by search engines. It helps search engines understand the relevance and importance of each page, increasing the likelihood of those pages appearing in search results.

It can speed up indexing. With a well-structured sitemap, search engines can quickly navigate and index your website’s pages.

It eliminates the need for search engines to rely solely on following internal links within your site, potentially speeding up the indexing process. This then helps prevent valuable pages from being overlooked or delayed in the indexing process.

If you frequently publish new content to your blog, or your content undergoes regular updates, a sitemap can be hugely beneficial.

It ensures that search engines are aware of the latest changes and can promptly index the updated or new pages.

Sitemaps can also include URLs for multimedia content such as images and videos. This helps search engines discover and index your mobile and multimedia content, improving its visibility in relevant search results too.

Improved User Experience

While primarily designed for search engines, sitemaps can indirectly enhance the user experience. They provide a structured/organised overview of your website’s content and organisation. This makes it easier for visitors to navigate and find what they’re looking for. This can lead to increased user satisfaction and engagement!

Troubleshooting

By checking your sitemap, you can identify potential issues or errors that may impact search engine indexing.

This means that you can detect broken links or missing pages through looking at your sitemap. This allows you to fix them and maintain a healthy website or blog structure.

How Can You Create And Submit A Sitemap For Your Blog Or Website?

If you are using Yoast SEO for WordPress, it automatically generates and places your XML sitemap for you.

If you are a WordPress user I would highly recommend installing the Yoast SEO plugin. 

It’s what I use! I’ve never had a need to upgrade to the paid version either so the free version works amazingly well!

You can install the plugin from the WordPress plugins page. Alternitively you can head over to the Yoast website and install from there! (Scroll down for the free version.)

Once you have installed and configured the Yoast SEO plugin on your blog, it takes care of creating and managing your XML sitemap.

Yoast SEO automatically generates the XML sitemap based on your website’s content and settings. It includes the necessary pages, posts, and other content types that you have chosen to include in the sitemap. The plugin also adds relevant metadata, such as the last modification date and change frequency, to each URL entry in the sitemap.

It then places the generated XML sitemap in the appropriate location on your website, typically in the root directory (e.g., yourdomain.com/sitemap.xml). This location is where search engines expect to find and access the XML sitemap.

If you aren’t using Yoast SEO specifically or are choosing to do it manually, this next section will help guide you.

Creating And Submitting a Sitemap

Generate Your Sitemap

Choose a sitemap generator tool. There are various online tools and plugins available that can generate a sitemap for your website automatically. Some popular options include XML-Sitemaps.com, and Screaming Frog SEO Spider (for larger websites).

Enter Your Website’s URL

Provide the necessary information (such as your blog’s URL) to the sitemap generator tool.

Optimise And Customise Your Sitemap Settings

Configure the settings according to your own preferences. This can include things like; selecting the pages and content you want to include, setting priority levels, and defining the update frequency.

You may want to include important pages, categories, tags, and relevant metadata in your website’s sitemap. Make sure it remains up to date as you add or remove content! This helps search engines understand the importance and context of your pages.

Validate Your Sitemap

You will want to ensure that your generated sitemap is free from errors and follows the sitemap protocol for best results. You can use tools like Google Search Console’s Sitemaps report or the W3C Markup Validation Service to validate your sitemap.

Submitting Your Sitemap To Search Engines

Take advantage of Google Search Console or Bing Webmaster Tools to submit your sitemap and monitor indexing progress. This ensures search engines are aware of your blog’s structure and updates!

For Google Search Console: If you haven’t already, set up a Google Search Console account (previously known as Google Webmaster Tools) and verify ownership of your website.

Then, navigate to the “Sitemaps” section within Google Search Console and submit the URL of your sitemap. Google will regularly crawl and index your website based on the information provided in the sitemap.

For Bing Webmaster Tools: Similarly, create a Bing Webmaster Tools account, verify your website ownership, and submit your sitemap URL in the “Sitemaps” section.

For Other Search Engines: While Google and Bing cover a significant portion of search engine traffic, you may consider submitting your sitemap to other search engines like Yahoo, following their own submission processes.

Where Should You Place Your Sitemap On Your Website?

If you’re not using a plugin like Yoast SEO, your XML Sitemap file should be placed in the root directory of your website. The file should be named “sitemap.xml” to adhere to the standard naming convention. For example, the URL to access your XML sitemap would be “www.yourwebsite.com/sitemap.xml“.

Search engines typically look for the sitemap file in this location when crawling your site.

Do You Need To Update Your Sitemap?

Yes it’s important to update your sitemap when there are changes to your website’s structure or content.

Keeping your sitemap up to date ensures that search engines can accurately discover and index the latest content on your blog or website.

Before you panic if you have never done this, if you are using a plugin such as Yoast SEO for WordPress, it will do it automatically for you!

Yoast SEO has the capability to update your XML sitemap automatically. Once you have installed and configured the Yoast SEO plugin on your WordPress website, it automatically generates and updates your XML sitemap as you add or modify content.

This means that whenever you publish a new post, page, or any other content type that is included in your sitemap, Yoast SEO will automatically update the sitemap to reflect the changes!

 It adds the new URLs to the sitemap and includes the necessary metadata for each URL, such as the last modification date, change frequency, and priority.

Yoast SEO also notifies search engines, such as Google and Bing, about the updated sitemap through the respective search engine’s webmaster tools or search console.

This helps search engines discover the changes and ensure that the latest content on your website gets crawled and indexed.

It’s important to note that you need to enable the XML sitemap functionality within the Yoast SEO settings and configure any specific sitemap options according to your website’s needs. By default, Yoast SEO generates a sitemap that includes the most common content types, but you can customise it to include or exclude specific post types or individual pages.

Keeping your Yoast SEO plugin up to date will help you to take advantage of any new features or improvements related to sitemaps for your website!

If you are not using a plugin such as Yoast SEO, this next section explains when you should update your sitemap:

Here are some scenarios when you should update your sitemap:

1. New Pages or Content: Whenever you add new pages, blog posts, or any other type of content to your website, it is important to update your sitemap. By including the URLs of the new content in your sitemap, you help search engines find and index them more efficiently.

2. Modified Content: If you make significant changes to existing posts or pages. This is things such as updating the page title, meta description, or content itself, it’s good practice to update your sitemap. This allows search engines to recognise the changes and reflect them in their search results.

3. Removed Pages or Redirects: When you remove pages from your website or set up redirects for outdated URLs, it’s important to update your sitemap accordingly. Removing or redirecting URLs that are no longer available helps search engines maintain an accurate index and avoid crawling and indexing broken or irrelevant links.

Regularly updating your sitemap ensures that search engines have the most current and accurate information about your website’s structure and content. 

This improves the chances of your web pages being indexed and ranked appropriately in search engine results.

Sitemap submission is an ongoing process. Especially when you make significant changes to your website! By keeping your sitemap up to date, you help search engines (such as Google) discover and index your content properly. Thus improving your blog’s visibility in search results.

Overall, having a sitemap offers so many benefits. Including improved search engine visibility, efficient crawling, better indexing of relevant content, and a better user experience.

It is a valuable tool for optimising your website’s discoverability. It also ensures that your content gets the attention it deserves from search engines and visitors alike!

I hope this post has helped you learn more about sitemaps for your blog; and why sitemaps are so important for SEO.

The technical side of blogging can feel daunting. But often there are plugins to help which can make things a lot easier!

If you have any further questions regarding sitemaps, let me know in the comments below!

If you’re looking for more information on SEO including the Google Sandbox, have a look at this post here!

Speak soon!

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Have you ever wondered what keywords are and why keyword research is so important for bloggers? Let’s go over it all in this post! 

As a blogger, it’s essential to understand the importance of keyword research for driving organic traffic to your blog.

Keywords play a crucial role in search engine optimization (SEO) which helps your blog posts rank higher in search engine results. This in turn can attract readers interested in your content.

For new bloggers especially, keywords and keyword research can be confusing and can feel overwhelming. 

In this post we will break down what keywords are, what keyword research is, and why it’s so important for your blog!

What Is A Keyword?

A keyword is a word or phrase that is used to search for information on the internet. This can be one word or multiple words. Keywords don’t have to just be one word as the name would suggest!

When you want to find something online, you type specific words into a search engine like Google or Pinterest.

The search engine then looks for websites, pages, images or other online content that is relevant to those keywords.

It can be a word or a phrase that represents the main idea or content you are looking for. 

Keywords are important because they help search engines understand what you’re looking for and match it with relevant content on the internet already. 

If you use the right keywords, you’re more likely to find what you’re searching for quickly and easily.

As an example, let’s say you want to find a recipe for chocolate chip cookies. You would type “chocolate chip cookie recipe” into the search bar.

In this example, “chocolate chip cookie recipe” is the keyword. 

The search engine will show you a list of websites and web pages (including blogs) that have information related to making chocolate chip cookies.

What Are Long-Tail Keywords?

As a blogger you have probably heard the term “long-tail keywords”. 

A long-tail keyword is a more specific and detailed phrase that contains 5 or more words.

Unlike shorter and more general keywords, long-tail keywords are more specific to particular topics or niches.

They typically have lower search volume but can be highly valuable for targeting a specific audience!

Long-tail keywords are perfect for newer bloggers who are looking for keywords with a lower competition.

The keyword “running shoes” is broad and generic. This means a search engine could bring up a huge range of results and as a new blogger you may not get anywhere near the top pages of search results. 

However, a long-tail keyword like “running shoes for women with arch support” is much more specific and targeted to a very specific audience.

It narrows down the search to a particular type of shoes for a specific audience, making it easier for the reader to find relevant information or products.

As mentioned, the advantage of using long-tail keywords is that they tend to have less competition compared to broader more generic keywords.

This means that if you have a website, blog or a business targeting a specific niche, using long tail keywords can help you attract a much more specific audience to your content.

Additionally, long-tail keywords often indicate higher user intent, as people using such specific terms usually have a clear idea of what they are looking for.

What Is Keyword Research?

Keyword research is when you identify and analyse these specific words and phrases that people use when searching for information, products or answers on search engines like Google.

It involves understanding the search intent of your target audience and determining which keywords are relevant, popular, and likely to drive targeted traffic to your blog.

It’s like finding the right key that unlocks the door to more visibility and potential visitors for your online presence.

Keyword research is such an important part of search engine optimization (SEO). I honestly cannot stress this enough!

Think of keyword research as detective work. You’re trying to uncover the specific words or phrases that people type into search engines when they’re looking for something. 

Keyword research is what helps you find the most relevant and effective words or phrases that people use when searching for information online.

By carrying out keyword research, it allows you to find out the terms, questions and queries commonly asked and searched by your target audience in your specific niche.

The only hosting I would recommend for new bloggers: HostGator.

This then allows you to choose the best keywords to focus on within your blog posts, and all around your blog or website.

As an example, if you have a food blog and you write an article about healthy breakfast recipes, some of the keywords for that article could be “healthy breakfast recipes,” “easy breakfast ideas,” or “nutritious morning meals.”

These keywords reflect the main topic of your blog’s content and are words or phrases that people might use when searching for breakfast recipes.

Remember that not everyone searches for information in the same way.

Never assume you can wing it and guess what people are searching for!!

By understanding keywords, you can optimise your content and blog to match what people are actually searching for. This in turn also helps your content appear higher in search engine results!

Using keywords not only in the content of your blog but also in your post titles, categories, tags and other areas of your website will help search engines such as Google to really understand what your blog or website is about.

The more search engines understand what your blog is about, the more likely it is to show it to the right audience.

If you are truly serious about blogging and getting your blog found by readers looking for information in your niche, then keyword research (done properly) is non-negotiable.

Why Keyword Research Is Crucial For Bloggers

Keyword research is crucial for bloggers for several important reasons.

Keywords help search engines understand what your content is about, and they play a crucial role in determining where your content appears in search results!

Keywords are the bridge between your content and your target audience. They help to connect your content with the right audience who are actively searching for information related to those keywords.

By conducting keyword research, you can identify the specific words and phrases people use when searching for information related to your content.

When you then strategically incorporate these keywords into your blog posts, you can increase the chances of your content appearing higher in search engine results. This then can lead to improved visibility and organic traffic.

You Get To Know Your Target Audience

Keyword research helps you to understand your target audience better. When you spend the time learning the keywords people use to search for information, you gain insights into your audience’s interests, needs, and pain points. 

This understanding enables you to create content that directly addresses your specific audience’s queries and provides valuable information, resulting in a more engaged and targeted readership.

Proper use of keywords is essential for search engine optimisation (SEO) and are used to improve the visibility and discoverability of your blog/content on the internet.

Competitive Advantage For Bloggers

The blogging world is a highly competitive space. Keyword research provides serious bloggers with a competitive edge.

By identifying keywords that have moderate search volume but low competition, you can target specific niches and rank higher in search results.

This can help you attract readers who are specifically interested in your content, rather than competing with well-established blogs for highly competitive keywords.

When search engines know exactly what your content is about, they know exactly who to show it to! 

How To Carry Out Effective Keyword Research

Keyword research involves several steps.

Brainstorming

Start off by brainstorming potential keywords based on your topic or niche. These topics can be general areas of interest that align with your blog’s niche. For example, if you have a travel blog, your broad topics could be “budget travel,” “adventure destinations,” or “travel tips.”

Use A Keyword Research Tool

Then, you use a keyword research tool such as Keysearch or Semrush to explore the popularity/volume and competition of those keywords.

A free keyword research tool will give you a rough idea, but not enough information if you are serious about ranking in search engines.

These tools provide insights into how many people search for a particular keyword and how difficult it is to rank for that keyword!

It means you can pick specific keywords based off of what people are actually searching for.

If you are looking for more information on different SEO tools, you can check out this post I wrote on Semrush vs Keysearch.

Analyse Search Volume and Competition

Pay close attention to the search volume of the keywords you find. Look for keywords with a decent search volume, indicating that people are actively searching for content related to those keywords.

At the same time, assess the competition level for each keyword. Aim for a mix of keywords with both moderate and low competition to increase your chances of ranking well.

Based on what you find out, you can then choose the keywords that are most relevant to your content and have a good balance between search volume and competition.

Seek Out Long-Tail Keywords

Long-tail keywords as mentioned above are longer and more specific keyword phrases. They often have lower search volumes but can be highly effective in targeting a more niche audience.

Look for long-tail keywords that address specific problems, questions, or interests within your blog’s niche. These keywords can inspire focused and valuable blog posts that cater to a specific audience’s needs.

Take Note Of Keywords and Related Topics

Once you have gathered a list of keywords, make sure they align with your overall topic. Look for keywords that complement or fit within your chosen niche specifically.

Choose the keywords that spark ideas for informative, engaging, and valuable blog posts!

Use the keywords as a starting point to expand your ideas.

Research more about the topic, look into related topics, and then search the new topic keywords. 

This process can help you generate more in-depth and comprehensive blog posts!

Note Down Blog Post Ideas

Once you have a list of relevant keywords, brainstorm blog post ideas around those keywords. Think about different angles, subtopics, or aspects you can cover within each keyword.

You can also look at the “People also ask” section in Google search results for additional ideas!

It will also show you related keywords which you can use in your content or save for later!

These keywords will help you attract the right audience to your blog or website, improve your search engine rankings, and increase your chances of getting more visitors!

Keyword research is one of the most crucial parts of a new blogger’s journey towards building a successful blog. 

By following the points talked about above, you can use keyword research to generate blog topic ideas that are relevant, valuable, and aligned with what people are actively searching for!

It helps ensure that your blog posts address the needs of your target audience and increase the likelihood of attracting organic traffic and engagement.

By understanding your niche, identifying target keywords, and creating high quality content, you can attract organic traffic, engage readers, and establish your blog’s authority!

This post has hopefully explained to you what keywords are, what keyword research is, why it’s important and how to do keyword research to benefit your blog!

Have you noticed an increase in organic traffic since starting to implement keywords and keyword research?

What was the most confusing part of keyword research to you?

For a full list of answers to the top 19 questions blogger’s have, check out this post here!

Let me know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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The post Keyword Research for Blogs: How Important Is It Really? appeared first on Katherine McLee.

In this post we will be going over exactly how many blog posts you should be posting each week for blog growth?

This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions asked by anyone trying to grow a blog!

We all know that creating new, fresh content is key to growing a blog.

But how often should you post to grow your blog? Do you have to publish new content daily to see results?

There is no one specific answer here. The number will be different for everyone! But let’s go over how frequently you should be posting on your blog that works for you.

It’s an important consideration as it can impact your blog’s success, audience engagement, and overall growth.

While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, below we’ll go over some factors to consider when determining the ideal publishing frequency for you and your blog.

This post is to explain how many blog posts you need per week to successfully grow your blog.

Why Blogs Need To Consistently Publish New Blog Posts

Fresh content is crucial for the success of any blog. It can help keep your audience engaged, improve your search engine rankings, establish your brand’s credibility, and increase your social media visibility.

There are a few other reasons why producing fresh content is important:

Audience Engagement

Readers tend to engage more with blogs that have fresh and updated content. Regularly posting new content can keep your audience engaged, coming back for more, and sharing your content with others.

SEO Benefits

Search engines such as Google tend to favour websites with fresh and relevant content. By regularly publishing new blog posts, you can improve your website’s search engine rankings and drive more organic traffic to your site.  Each new post provides an opportunity to target specific keywords and topics, improving the blog’s SEO and increasing the likelihood of appearing in search engine results pages.

Brand Credibility

By consistently producing high-quality, informative, and relevant content, you can establish your brand as an authoritative voice in your chosen niche. This can help build trust with your audience and strengthen your brand’s reputation! Over time, readers will associate your blog with high-quality content and turn to it as a trusted source of information.

Social Media Visibility

Fresh content can also help increase your social media visibility. When you publish new blog posts, you can share them on social media channels, driving traffic back to your website and increasing your social media reach. Websites like Pinterest highly prefer fresh pins linking to fresh URLs.

Engage With Your Readers

Blogging is an interactive platform that allows for two-way communication between you – the blogger – and your audience. By regularly publishing new posts and encouraging comments and feedback, you can engage with your readers and build a loyal community.

Generate Leads And Conversions

Blogging is a powerful tool for generating leads and conversions, if that’s the route you choose to utilise. By providing valuable content, your blog can attract potential customers and guide them to your sales funnels. Consistently publishing new blog posts provides multiple areas for your visitors to engage with your blog and ultimately convert into customers.

How Often Should You Post To Grow Your Blog? 

As a general rule, the more high-quality content you can get out, the better.

In saying that, the frequency of publishing new blog posts depends on various factors. Factors such as your target audience, the niche of your blog, your resources, and your content strategy. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to how many blog posts per week you should post for optimal blog growth. 

In general, a good starting point for most bloggers is to publish at least one high-quality post per week. Most blogs publish a new blog post between 1 and 3 times a week. As you gain more experience and feedback from your readers, you can adjust your posting schedule accordingly!

Quality content is key. It’s better to publish fewer posts that offer value than to produce low-quality content just for the sake of publishing new blog posts.

The key factor when it comes to knowing how often you should post to grow your blog, is consistency. 

Publishing a new blog post once a week is far better than posting 4 times one week and then nothing for 2 weeks. Choose a publishing schedule that works for you and really try and stick to it.

There are a few factors to keep in mind when working out a consistent content schedule:

Quality Over Quantity
The quality of your blog posts is far more important than the quantity. Instead of focusing on publishing a lot of low or average quality content, focus on producing high-quality, informative, and engaging blog posts that add value to your readers and answers any questions that they may have.

Consistency

As mentioned already, consistency is key when it comes to blogging. It’s better to publish a smaller number of high-quality blog posts on a regular schedule than to publish a large number of posts sporadically. This can help you build an audience as they can look forward to regular content from you.

If you find one week you manage to get a lot more posts written, that’s great! Instead of publishing them all at once, you can schedule them out. This way you have some stored for busier weeks so you don’t miss an upload.

Content Strategy

Your content strategy should help show you the number of blog posts you can publish per week. Consider factors such as the type of content, the length of your blog posts, your publishing schedule, and your promotion strategy. Aim to publish enough blog posts to provide value to your audience but that is doable in your life. 

Using a blog content calendar can really help here.

(We will go over blog content calendars below!)

Audience Engagement

How often you publish blog posts can also depend on your audience engagement. If your readers are active and engaged, you may want to publish more frequently to keep your engagement up. However, if your readers are less active, you may decide to publish less frequently. This point isn’t one of the more important ones, but can help you decide your posting frequency.

Content Creation And Time

Producing high-quality content takes time and effort. It’s important to take time to think about your own capabilities and availability before committing to a specific publishing frequency. Consider factors such as the time it takes to research, write, edit, and promote each blog post.

Also take into consideration the time needed for sourcing or taking images, coming up with SEO friendly titles and doing the correct keyword research. Work out how long these other tasks take you when you are determining how often to produce new content for your blog.

Setting a realistic schedule that aligns with your available time will help you maintain consistency without sacrificing the quality of your content!

SEO Reasons When Asking How Many Blog Posts To Publish Each Week

I mentioned earlier that Pinterest prefers fresh pins linking to fresh content.

This is also true for Google.

Google generally prefers blogs that publish new content regularly. Regularly updating your blog with fresh, relevant content can have several benefits for search engine optimisation (SEO) and organic search rankings.

Here are a few reasons why:

Freshness Factor
Google takes into account the freshness of content as a ranking factor. Publishing new posts regularly signals to search engines that your website is active and providing up-to-date information. This can help your blog appear higher in search results.

Indexing And Crawling

Publishing regular new content increases the chances of search engine crawlers visiting your site more frequently. Each time new content is published, search engines have a reason to re-crawl your website, which can lead to faster indexing of your new posts.

Increased Keyword Opportunities
Each new blog post provides an opportunity to target additional keywords and topics relevant to your niche. By consistently publishing new content, you expand the breadth and depth of your website’s keyword relevance, potentially attracting more organic traffic from a wider range of search queries.

Reader Engagement

When your blog consistently produces fresh and valuable content, it tends to attract and encourage engagement from your readers. Readers will engage more knowing that your blog is active and there’s a higher chance of you responding to any questions or queries they may have! On top of this, increased user engagement metrics such as longer time on site, lower bounce rates, and more social shares can indirectly signal to search engines that your content is relevant and valuable, potentially boosting your rankings.

Why You Should Use A Blog Content Calendar

Using a blog content calendar can really help keep your uploads on track.

It’s a schedule where you can plan out and see your upcoming topics, keywords, and timelines for creating and publishing blog posts on a regular basis. 

It can include any details about the content that you will need for that content. This can be things such as the title, keywords, category, target audience (if required), images, as well as the date to be published.

A content calendar can help you stay organised and consistent. It can really help you stay focused on your content posting strategy by providing a clear visual for the type of content you will be creating, and when it will be published. It also helps ensure that there is a variety of topics and themes covered over time, and that your blog aligns with your overall blogging goals.

A blog content calendar is an amazing tool to refer back to to use to make sure your blog is updated regularly and consistently. By establishing a regular schedule, your blog can start to build an audience that expects and looks forward to new content on a regular basis.

To summarise:

While there is no definitive answer to how often you should publish new content on your blog, finding the right frequency requires careful consideration of various factors. Understanding your niche, audience preferences, and your own capacity is crucial for getting the right balance between quality and quantity.

Consistency and providing valuable content should be your main goal with your blog and post posts. Whether you choose to publish daily, weekly, or less frequently. Experiment, and adapt as you go along to create a publishing schedule that works best for your blog and helps you achieve your goals!

Publishing new blog posts as frequently as possible is key, but it should never compromise the quality of your content. Quality content remains paramount, so focus on providing valuable information and meeting the needs of your target audience.

Google’s main goal is to deliver the best search results for its users. If your blog consistently publishes high-quality, relevant content that focuses on SEO and your chosen keywords, it is more likely to be favoured by Google, regardless of your publishing schedule.

I hope this has helped you work out your own blog post schedule!

If you need a little more support when it comes to structuring blog posts, have a look at this post here!

This post explained how many blog posts you need per week to successfully grow your blog.

How often do you publish new posts to your blog?

Have you upped the amount of content you publish or were you overly-ambitious in the beginning?

Let us know in the comments below!

Speak soon!

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