No jargon, no overwhelm — just real talk about how to get your posts seen

Confession: I Ignored SEO for Years (and Regretted It)

Here’s something I used to believe: “If I write good content, people will find it.”
Spoiler: they didn’t.

I was pouring my heart into blog posts—really thoughtful, useful stuff—but unless I shared them manually (social media, email, text-my-best-friend style), nobody saw them. It was frustrating and honestly a little discouraging.

Then I finally caved and started learning about SEO—specifically, keywords. Not in a spammy, stuff-a-bunch-of-words kind of way, but in a “speak your audience’s language” kind of way. And once I started using the right keywords, everything shifted.

If you’re new to blogging or the word “SEO” makes your eyes glaze over, don’t worry. I’ve got you. This guide is a no-fluff, beginner-friendly walk through how to choose keywords for your blog — and how to actually use them.

Why Keywords Matter (and Why It’s Not About Gaming the System)

Let’s strip it down: keywords are how people find you.
They’re the words and phrases someone types into Google when they’re looking for answers. Your job is to figure out which words those are — and naturally incorporate them into the content you’re already creating.

Think of it like this:
You’ve written an incredible post on “morning rituals for freelance designers,” but your title is “How I Start My Day.” Sounds poetic, sure, but no one’s searching for that. They’re searching for “morning routine for freelancers” or “daily habits for remote workers.”

The goal isn’t to change what you write about. The goal is to frame it in a way that matches what your ideal reader is already searching for.

Step 1: Start With What You Know (and Who You’re Writing For)

Write for Humans, Then Reverse-Engineer for Search

Before you open any keyword tool, ask yourself:

• Who am I trying to reach?
  
• What are they Googling at 11 PM while sipping tea and stressing about their side hustle?
  
• What problems do they want solved?
  

I blog mostly for freelancers, indie creators, and digital professionals, so I focus on keywords around productivity, branding, content strategy, and UX. But instead of chasing high-traffic keywords like “best productivity app” (which is super competitive), I look for long-tail keywords—phrases with 3–5 words that are more specific and easier to rank for.

Examples:

• “simple freelance blog setup”
  
• “minimalist wordpress themes for writers”
  
• “how to get more blog traffic without ads”
  

These are gold because they reflect real intent. People typing these in want help. And that’s where your blog comes in.

Step 2: Use Free Tools to Find Keyword Ideas

You Don’t Need to Pay for Fancy Software (Yet)

There are plenty of keyword research tools out there. As a solo freelancer, I stick with free and easy:

🔍 Google Search (Autocomplete + Related Searches)

Start typing your topic into Google and see what it suggests. That’s what real people are actually looking for.

Example:
Type “how to start a blog” → you’ll see suggestions like:

• “how to start a blog and make money”
  
• “how to start a blog for free”
  
• “how to start a blog with wordpress”
  

Those are all keyword opportunities.

📈 Ubersuggest (by Neil Patel)

Free for a few daily searches. Type in a phrase and it gives you:

• Search volume (how many people search it each month)
  
• SEO difficulty (how hard it is to rank)
  
• Content ideas
  

💬 AnswerThePublic

This one’s a little weird-looking but super fun. It pulls questions and phrases related to your keyword. Great for figuring out how people talk about your topic.

🧰 Bonus: Google Trends

Helps you compare keyword popularity over time. Great if you’re debating between two similar phrases.

Step 3: Choose the Right Keywords for You

It’s Not About Chasing Big Numbers

You don’t need to go after the highest volume keywords. In fact, I usually avoid them. If 100,000 people are searching something, you’re probably competing with major media sites or brands with SEO teams.

Instead, look for:

• Low to medium competition (you can actually rank!)
  
• Phrases aligned with your blog’s voice and topics
  
• Search intent that matches your content
  

So if you’re writing a blog post about tools for digital artists, “digital art software” might be too broad. But “best free illustration apps for beginners”? That’s your sweet spot.

Step 4: Naturally Integrate Keywords Into Your Content

Don’t Overthink It. Just Be Intentional.

Once you’ve picked your keyword, here’s how to use it (without sounding robotic):

• Title: This is your headline — front-load the keyword if you can.
• First paragraph: Mention it early so readers (and Google) know what the post is about.
• Subheadings: Use variations or related phrases in your H2s.
• Image alt text: Don’t forget this! Describe your images using keywords when appropriate.
• Meta description: Write a short, compelling summary for search engines.
• URL slug: Keep it clean (e.g., yourdomain.com/choose-keywords-blog)

The key here is balance. You’re still writing for humans, not search engines. The keyword should fit into the flow of your voice, not interrupt it.

The Long-Term Payoff of Smart Keyword Use

When I started optimizing my blog posts with thoughtful keywords, I noticed:

• Old posts started getting organic traffic months later (hello, compounding returns!)
  
• New readers found me through Google, not just social shares
  
• My confidence grew because I finally understood how SEO actually worked
  

You don’t need to become an SEO expert overnight. You just need to understand the basics and bake them into your creative process. Keywords are simply a way to meet your readers where they already are — searching.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be a “Tech Person” to Master SEO

SEO can feel intimidating, but at the end of the day, it’s just communication. You’re aligning your language with the language your audience is already using. You’re showing up where the questions are.

With the right tools, a bit of practice, and a theme like MinimalEdge that lets your content shine without technical hurdles, SEO becomes less of a chore—and more of a creative strategy.

So go back to your drafts. Open up your ideas list. Start searching what your readers might be searching. Then write with purpose.

Because your blog? It deserves to be found.