My SEO Triangle (how I optimize my blogs for ranking)
I use an SEO triangle to optimize all of my blogs for ranking – many of which land at the top of the first page on Google.
So this post shows you exactly what it is and how to use it.
If you’re unfamiliar with what an SEO triangle is (or even what SEO is for that matter), worry not – I’ve got your back.
But let’s skip the small talk and just dive right in.
This is part 3 of my 6-part blog mastery series. Let’s learn how to optimize posts for first-page rankings.
Table of Contents Show
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SEO 101 (definitions + stuff)
Consider this first section a crash course on SEO.
You may already be familiar with it, but a quick discussion on its meaning and importance is a good place to start.
What Is SEO?
SEO is how blog posts, websites and videos rank organically in search engines (i.e., free traffic).
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, and it’s how search engines like Google read and understand what your blog is about and how to rank it.
It’s one of those core strategies for building a successful blog.
Optimizing for SEO means you show up at exactly the right moment when someone is searching for a specific keyword or question that you can help with.
I don’t need to tell you how valuable that is.
I see SEO as a modern creative skill for getting your content in front of the right people at the right time.
Luckily, there’s a simple formula to follow.
What Is the SEO Triangle?
I love a good template that gives you reliable results. And that’s exactly what we have here.
The SEO triangle is a framework for blog post optimization.
Put another way, it’s a pyramid with instructions on how to use keywords for the best chance at ranking and showing up in the search results page.
Again, I love a good formula.
Here’s an image of the 3 points to my SEO triangle (content, technicals and readers).
So now that we know what we’re working with, let’s learn how to SEO-ify your content.
Let’s put this triangle into practice.
How I Use the SEO Triangle for Ranking (3 points)
We didn’t build a website, research our niche and spend all that time finding good keyword opportunities for nothing (not to mention the writing part).
Implementing good SEO tactics will ensure that all that hard work doesn’t go to “waste”.
So here’s how I use the SEO triangle in my blog drafting process.
0. Housekeeping (know your keyword)
For any of our blogging efforts to really work, we first need to make sure we’re using a good keyword.
This was actually the whole focus of my last blog mastery post, so if you’d like to circle back to keyword strategy, you can read that guide here.
Otherwise, grab your keyword and let’s go.
1. The Content
Content is the first part of my triangle.
This step is all about keyword placement and use.
So, where do we put our keywords? And how often should we use them?
Here’s a visual to answer those questions.
You’ll naturally include your keyword while writing your post, so it’s something I don’t worry too much about.
I also usually add my keyword (or a close variation of it) to my meta descriptions and sometimes my images (as alt text).
(Meta descriptions are those short paragraphs that sit under an article’s main title on a search results page — they’re usually easy to find while writing a post in your website builder)
Here are a couple more important points for using keywords in your content:
Use related keywords and slight variations to make things flow better and target more variety
For example, I used SEO pyramid and SEO triangle to mean the same thing in this post
Other related keywords could also be “importance of SEO” and “blog post SEO”
Open currently ranking posts and look at the different questions and subtopics they cover
Use the People also ask and Related searches sections of Google to guide your outlines
Never “keyword stuff”
That is, don’t add your keywords too much
This is a black hat SEO tactic and makes your content sound unnatural
And your post will be penalized for it by Google
2. The Technicals
A lot of technical SEO elements will be automatically built into your website builder.
(especially if you’re using a modern, no-code platform)
So if you’re just starting out (and you’re not trying to be an SEO specialist), don’t let technical SEO hold you down too much.
If you can just get a few things right, you should be good to go.
Here’s a visual of some core SEO technicals worth knowing.
Again, these points should already be optimized for (or at least be halfway there) with most website builders.
It’s actually why I switched from WordPress to Squarespace – I personally don’t have fun with all that technical stuff and prefer to focus solely on the content and creative part of things.
Still, awareness for these things is super helpful to stay strategic.
Recommended Read: My Squarespace SEO Checklist
3. The Readers (x AI)
At the end of the day (and on the last corner of my triangle), great SEO means writing for your reader – not for ranking.
Google’s algorithm is getting better and smarter everyday – especially with AI and natural language processing.
This means that awesome, engaging and well-organized content is what’s going to win more than anything else.
Actually, Google tells us this directly, especially with the first “E” of their E-E-A-T guidelines (which stands for Experience).
Writing for readers works for SEO and ranking because:
Quality content is shared and linked to more often (improving your ranking)
Engaging content improves user experience
Great content builds trust and credibility
Awesome content positions you and your site as being a thought leader
So what does awesome, engaging and well-organized content look like?
How can you be sure you’re making great content?
Here are some tips:
Focus on your authenticity (such as personal experiences)
Focus on relationship building and genuine connection with the reader
Know who your audience is — create an audience avatar and write for them
Be honest — write about what you actually know (or are experimenting with)
Be concise and clear
Be interesting (for example, invite engagement and interaction from the reader)
Make things scannable with clear headings and lists
Have good UX (for example, avoid large blocks of text)
For on your real, direct experience (again, the first E of Google’s E-E-A-T)
It is my thesis that content quality and writing is what will set you apart – not some perfect balance of keyword use and placement.
AI and SEO is a rapidly evolving topic — but staying informed means staying competitive.
For example, Google will likely be adding conversational AI chatbot features to their search. This means search keywords from users may become more conversational:
Keyword search: “how to do seo” or “how to start a blog”
Conversational search: “Blogging has always been a dream of mine, but I don’t know what to do. How do I find some readers, and where should I start? I’m a total newbie and have a low budget. Can you give me some direction for what to do?”
So my plan (as of right now) is to focus heavily on logical keyword use and writing organically.
I’m putting more emphasis on content quality and building relationships by understanding exactly what the end-reader is actually looking for.
Language is nuanced, but this type of conversational tone should naturally match a person’s search queries and intent.
We’re still early in this whole new AI and SEO game, but it’s coming quick. So my advice is to start optimizing for it now by learning about it (and writing for the reader).
And just remember, you don’t need to be overly technical or advanced to do basic SEO.
You just need to pull a few levers to get things going.
As you grow your blog, you’ll continue learning and improving on things.
Because nobody starts as a guru — but all gurus start.
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