As a copywriter for wedding vendors, I write a lot of blogs. Like… upwards of ten per week. So I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got a pretty good handle on what goes into a good blog post. And, perhaps more importantly, how to make sure it hits all the necessary SEO markers. Here is my go-to SEO Blogging Checklist, specifically for wedding vendors!

Front End SEO Blogging Checklist 

When we talk about blogging, website copy, or pretty much any online marketing platform, you’re going to hear the phrase “front end” and “back end.” Front End refers to the stuff your readers will see. The words you write, the way they’re formatted, the pictures, etc. Back-end is the behind-the-scenes technical stuff that we’ll get to in the next section. 

Attention-Grabbing Title with Keyword 

First, you need an attention-grabbing headline that includes your long-tail keyword. (If you’re new to the term “keyword,” you need to check out this blog by Tianna from SMB Marketing School. It will tell you everything you need to know and more.) But let’s talk about what’s “attention-grabbing.” 

We’re not interested in clickbait. Because if you’re writing educational blogs that answer questions your readers are asking, you don’t need clickbait. So what questions are your ideal clients asking? Maybe they want to know what order to hire their wedding vendors in. Or – a question I definitely asked during wedding planning – how does vendor tipping work? Get in touch with your audience. Figure out what they’re curious about, and focus your blogs on those topics.

Headlines 

There’s some mixed information out there, so I want to provide a very clear breakdown of what headlines you need in your blog. Only use one H1 – that’s your title. If you have more than one, Google gets confused. Then, you can further divide your blog post with H2s and H3s. Slide your keyword into a few of them – but not all. You don’t want Google to think you’re keyword stuffing (more on that below). 

Keywords 

Okay, hopefully you’ve read Tianna’s guest blog about choosing the best keywords. Once you have chosen your long-tail keyword, sprinkle it throughout your blog 3-5 times. It really doesn’t take much to grab Google’s attention! 

However, if you try to sneak your keyword into every other sentence, Google will think you’re trying to “keyword stuff” and pass over your blog – even if it has good info! Plus, keyword stuffing makes your blog insanely annoying to read. Not only will it end up at the bottom of Search Engine Result Pages, but if someone actually did click on it… they wouldn’t get past the first paragraph. 

Word Count 

Another common misconception is that you need a thousand words to write a relevant blog post. Nope! You need enough meaty content for Google to index your blog and know what it’s about. Usually, that’s about 300 words of good, educational content. No fluff. 

However, just like I wrote in a previous blog How to Write SEO Blogs That People Actually Want to Read, write for people first and Google second. This means that maybe your blogs are a thousand words long! Your blogs should provide valuable information. So if you can’t deliver that value in 300 words… keep writing. 

Clear Calls to Action

Ever heard the term “CTA”? It stands for Call to Action – the next step you want your reader to take after viewing your content. Every piece of content you write should have a clear purpose and, therefore, a clear next step. For most wedding pros, the next step is usually filling out an inquiry form. But on some rare occasions, you might be promoting a different offer, or want someone to sign up for your email list. 

When including your CTA, make it specific and clear. If someone doesn’t know where your button will lead, they are less likely to click it. This is why I recommend keeping your buttons and CTA links clear, like “Book a Free Consultation Call” or “Contact Us.” 

Back End SEO Checklist 

Alright, time to dig into the back-end SEO tips that will boost your rankings from behind the scenes! These are things that your reader won’t necessarily see or notice, but Google will. These quick fixes will help your blog communicate more effectively with Google and end up in more relevant searches. 

Alt-Text 

Alt-text is a short description of an image that explains it to users who cannot see it. Its first and most important job is to make your photos more accessible. However, you can describe an image effectively and include your keyword, helping your images work for you. For example, look at the image below. 

There are a few ways I could describe this image. But I want to consider my keyword. For the sake of this example, our keyword will be “Belle Vior Manor,” the venue where this wedding photo was taken. 

I could describe the image as follows: “A bride and groom kiss beneath an archway, surrounded by blooming flowers.” 

Or, I could include the keyword and make the description more specific by writing, “A bride and groom kiss beneath an archway on the patio of the Belle Vior Manor in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.” Do you see how adding the keyword can add to the description? That’s what we’re going for with alt-text! 

Title Tags 

Title tags are the headline that will appear on SERPs. If you do not change this manually, Google will title your content for you. This isn’t always bad, but sometimes leads to missed opportunities to optimize your content! Keep your title tag right around 60 characters and make it clear! Use your keyword and tell the reader exactly what your piece of content is about. 

Meta Descriptions 

Your meta description is the little blurb that appears directly below your title tag, explaining what your content is about. Every page on your website – including blogs – should have a unique meta description. Aim for between 150 and 160 characters, which is about two sentences. One sentence should explain what the page is about, and the other should encourage the reader to click on it. Here’s an example of this blog’s meta description!

“Looking for an easy SEO Blogging Checklist for wedding pros? Read this blog to learn what to include in every blog you post!” 

Looking for More Than a Checklist? 

This is a pretty in-depth SEO blogging checklist, so I won’t be shocked if you can’t check everything off in your first blog! It takes time to learn how to include these things. And if you really just don’t have the time to invest in learning these things… don’t worry! I can do it for you. My done-for-you blogging services include everything above and more, like coming up with your content, uploading your images, and posting your blogs so you don’t have to think about a thing. 

If you want to up your marketing game, incorporate SEO strategy, and watch inquiries roll in… but you don’t want to add another task to your to-do list, my monthly blogging packages are perfect for you. Fill out this form to schedule a (free) call, and we can discuss your business and how SEO blogging can help you reach your ideal clients!