According to Google’s Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide, regularly creating fresh web content will keep existing visitors coming back to a website, and help attract new readers. A content management plan that includes the use of blog scheduling tools can not only help to increase website traffic, but will further assist writers of personal and business blogs to efficiently manage time and resources.
How a Blog Schedule can Improve SEO and Increase Website Traffic
Search engines look favourably on websites that generate new and fresh content on a regular basis. This means that having a blog schedule for creating content can help boost website search rankings through Google and other popular engines, resulting in increased traffic to a site.
A systematic approach to publishing blog content can help improve SEO, and is an important component of an organic web marketing strategy for a niche website.
Create a Plan for Writing Blog Content to Help Increase Website Traffic
Having a plan for writing web content can keep a blogger organized and on task, and can help to efficiently manage resources. A consistent approach to blogging will also set reader expectations, which may lead to an increase in the base readership of a website.
Following are ideas for creating a content plan when blogging for business or personal sites:
Set clear writing goals. Decide how many articles will be posted each week so there are clear writing goals in mind. Aim for at least 3-4 posts per week to retain readers and help the site fare better in search engines, which can favour sites with frequently updated web content.
Create a weekly or monthly schedule. Take the time to outline articles for the upcoming week or month. Often times getting started is the hardest part of writing, so an upfront writing strategy will save the blogger time when sitting down to write blog content for the day.
Plan an article series. Create a series of articles around the same theme to leverage research time and encourage return visitors. Once the series is complete, create a landing page for the individual pieces and link them together to help with visitor and search engine readability.
Implement theme days. Dedicate a day or two each week to a specific daily theme. For example, post product reviews on Wednesdays or recommend favourite resources on Fridays. A long-term, sustainable theme can keep a writer from running out of fresh blog content and assist with building a steady readership.
Utilize Blog Schedule Tools to Help Keep Bloggers on Track
Common blogging software platforms such as WordPress and Blogger contain a blogging schedule feature that allows a writer to prepare content and release it at a later date. This can greatly assist a writer with advance planning of blog posts.
Following are suggestions for how a writer might use a blogging schedule feature to improve content management:
Plan ahead for down time. Have a bank of articles available for times when life gets in the way of blogging. This can help meet the needs of readers and take the pressure off of the writer for times of planned and unplanned breaks.
Post at the same time each day. Create a regular posting time to help set reader expectations and encourage visits for refreshed content. For the most impact, choose a time that coincides with when the site’s readers are more likely to be surfing the web or checking their RSS feeds.
Increase Website Traffic and Assist Bloggers
Creating a plan that follows these simple steps for content management can help to increase website traffic, improve SEO, enhance website usability for bloggers and readers, and assist bloggers with staying organized and inspired.
