
In the ever-changing online marketing space, creating compelling content is not just about expressing ideas; it’s also about making sure your content gets noticed by search engines and effectively reaching your target audience. Writing SEO-friendly blog posts is the simplest way to share relevant information while driving organic traffic to your website. It not only helps position yourself as a thought leader and resource for your clients, but also enhances your SEO performance as a financial advisor.
Craft Compelling Headlines and Meta Descriptions
The headline and meta description are the first point of contact between your content and potential readers in search engine results. Take the time to craft attention-grabbing headlines that are not only keyword-rich, but compelling and relevant to the content of your blog post. You’ll also want to optimize your meta description to provide a clear, concise summary of what readers can expect from your post while adding relevant keywords to increase your click-through rates.
Optimizing Content for Keywords and Key Phrases
As you create your content, strategically add in your target keywords and key phrases throughout your blog post so it has a natural flow and readability. You’ll want to focus on including keywords in prominent locations, such as the title, headings, introductory paragraph, and meta description. Try to avoid keyword stuffing, as it can result in a poor user experience and potential penalties from search engines.
Create High-Quality, Relevant Content
In addition to keyword optimization, you’ll want to prioritize creating high-quality, relevant content that addresses the needs and interests of your target audience. Take the time to research, offer valuable insights, and provide solutions to common problems within your niche as a financial advisor. An article filled with repetitive information or content pulled directly from other sources won’t just fail to improve your SEO, it could potentially harm it. The key to effective SEO is to encourage visitors to spend more time on your site and engage with multiple pieces of content, so make sure your writing aligns with this goal.
If you’re struggling to come up with topics, consider the questions your clients frequently ask. Are they looking for guidance on financing their child’s college education? Do they need advice on Social Security claiming strategies? Are they anxious about market fluctuations and interest rates? Think about the questions they might type into search engines and address them in your blog posts.
Find the Ideal Length
As you write, you’ll want to strive for a blog post that’s at least 300 words in length. Anything shorter may not improve your SEO because cramming keywords into a concise piece can be very challenging. Ideally, you want to integrate your keywords multiple times throughout the post, and with a shorter content space, you won’t be able to include those keywords more than once or twice.
Also search engines like Google will prioritize content when ranking websites, and research indicates that longer posts tend to rank higher. Aim for a blog post ranging from 500 to 1,000 words. This length allows you to include multiple keywords and other SEO-friendly elements without overwhelming your readers. According to Medium, the optimal blog post length, attracting the most views, will take three to seven minutes of time to read. Beyond seven minutes, your reader engagement declines, potentially causing them to miss important information and your call to action.
Strategically Use Internal & External Links
Adding links to your blog is a component of SEO that can help search engines understand the relevance of your content. You’ll want to include internal links to other related pages or posts within your website while organizing your content logically to make it easier for both users and search engines.
When you include links, don’t just use vague phrases like “click here” or “visit this link.” Instead, use specific keywords or descriptive terms like “wealth management FAQs” or “Retirement Planning eBook.” While linking to external websites is fine, what’s most important for your SEO is linking to other pages within your own website, especially those you think are most valuable for visitors to see.
Add Images (and Optimize Them)
Visual content plays a big role in enhancing the overall user experience and engagement of your blog posts. Adding a relevant image into your blog post not only enhances the visual appeal, but also contributes to SEO when optimized with relevant keywords.
If you’re using the FMG Suite dashboard, upload the image and insert it into your post. Then click on the “Set Image Properties” icon and fill in the “Alt Text” and “Long Description” fields. In the “Alt Text” section, provide a concise name for the image using your keywords, such as “Retirement Readiness Kit.” For the “Long Description,” elaborate on the “Alt Text,” for instance, “Download your free Retirement Readiness Kit from ABC Financial.”
Rise Above the Rest
To boost your blog’s impact, don’t forget to share each post with your audience! Spread the word on social media and send an email blast to your clients and prospects with the link. This strategy helps drive more traffic to your site and increases visibility. You can also consider sharing your post as a publication on LinkedIn and within relevant financial advisor groups for added exposure.
It’s important to recognize that SEO will vary across all industries. While financial advising relies heavily on referrals, don’t sacrifice quality content for higher Google rankings. Ranking on the first page isn’t the ultimate goal; it’s about providing valuable information for potential clients and referrals. Strive for a balance by crafting informative articles that address common questions while adding keywords, links, headers, and images.
If you’re ready to take your marketing to the next level with expert SEO, Indigo Marketing Agency’s proven track record of success sets us apart as the go-to agency for achieving your marketing goals.
Check out our SEO package benefits!
- A hand-crafted Google Business Profile page that’s optimized to appear higher in search rankings. We’ll also add your logo and photos to personalize your page.
- Full integration between Google Search Console, Google Maps, and your website.
- In-depth competitive research to find the most effective keywords to target.
- Optimized website title tags, meta descriptions, and website home copy to incorporate selected keywords.
- Schema markup optimization to target local searches and make you the go-to advisor in your area.
If you’re seeking a dedicated partner who understands your needs and is committed to driving your success, schedule your free consultation with an Indigo marketing expert to get started!