While Google is always changing the rules there are some tried and true methods for optimizing a blog post. The most basic should be applied to any post that you want to be found time and time again. Sure, you can have those simple "rants" or "praising" posts which do nothing for you optimizationally other than give you a minor back link; IF you're set up that way [see optimizing your side bar with links] But then there are those posts that need to hang around a while. Whether it's a listing or localized post, there are ways to create more authority and permancy with simple SEO facts.
Do the research on the keyword or phrase ahead of time
Before you start your post, find the phrase or keyword you want to go after. Check Google's Keyword Tool on several phrases and see if there are searches out there for it. Type in several variations of your topic of choice and check the number of searches. Typically if there is a [ – ] sign there are less than 100 searches that month. That doesn't mean forever and remember, we are thinking long-term here.
Check out the searches on Google itself
Once you have a few suggestions, go to Google and type in your phrase in the search box with this at the beginning search "your keyword phrase" Click enter or search a
nd what you're looking for is a phrase that has search results of about 50,000 to 150,000 results. If you're over the million mark, try getting a little more specific. If you're too specific you may only come back with several hundred searches and these are just not enough to draw in the amount of readers (aka leads) you want.
Make it the right size and utilize the right keyword density
Once you have a phrase with good searches you will want to use that phrase in your title and preferably in a custom URL if you can. Not only do you want that phrase in your title but of course in your content as well. You're looking for a "keyword density" of about 1-3%. Anymore than this and the blog may not read correctly or it may be penalized for "keyword stuffing". A good rule of thumb when optimizing a blog post is to have the post be around 300 – 600 words. So, with our percentage of keyword density you're looking at, use your keyword phrase 1-3 times in a 300 word blog post. When you do use your phrase, bold it so it stands out, not only to your readers but to Google which scans your page quickly.
Make the post interesting, informative, and capturing yet quick to load
That all may be easy until you get to the "quick to load" part. If you optimize your blog post with too many graphics, videos and multi-media, Google will take the length of load time into consideration and may not rank it as high. Remember to get the facts out there, be descriptive but brief with not a major amount of media (ads count too)
Post originated at: http://actvra.in/kDl