What You Need to Know About Writing an SEO Blog Outline That Ranks on Google
Wondering how to write an SEO blog post outline that ranks on the first page of search engines? Then you’ve landed on the right article!
I’m a successful travel blogger who has started five different blogs since 2020, and built them into a seven-figure business by 2024 — so I definitly know all about writing an SEO blog outline that search engines love 😍
The good news: I’m not special, and it’s not that hard to do.
With the proper search engine optimization skillset and a healthy dose of determination, you too can achieve mind-blowing results.
In this post, I’m going to share how I create the best blog outline every time. Ready to dive in? Let’s get to it!
SEO Blog Outline
What is an SEO Outline?
An SEO outline provides the framework and structure for a blog post that is optimized for search engines.
SEO outlining is the most reliable way to ensure that your post is well-organized and ticks all the boxes to achieve high rankings on search engines.
If you want your blog posts to consistently rank on the first page of search results, then creating a solid outline is an essential part of any SEO writing process.
SEO Blog Outline
Why should you outline your content?
Outlining helps you optimize your post structure based on a content brief, organization, flow, and readability.
It increases reader engagement, helps you get more organic traffic through “rich snippets,” and improves conversion rates and monetization.
In essence, writing an outline for blog posts sets you up for success.
If, after reading this post, you’d like a more detailed look at SEO outlining, check out my How to Make Blog Outlines Course.
It’s got all the best blog SEO tips for how to outline a blog post.
10 Steps to Create an SEO Blog Outline Fast
1. Establish the Goal of the Article
The first step to writing a blog post outline is to decide what your goal for the article is.
Do you want to draw lots of traffic?
Or maybe your objective is to create an affiliate post that will earn you higher commissions, and result in more sales.
Or perhaps your intent is to offer a free resource or tool to generate leads and build your email list.
Other goals could include generating backlinks and building brand awareness as part of your content marketing strategy.
Determining your goal will help you in the next step in how to create a blog post outline: finding keywords.
Want to learn more about keywords and keyword research? I have an online course about it called How to Find Affiliate Keywords (That Will Make You a Ton of Money).
SEO Blog Outline
2. Choose Your Target Keyword
The second step to creating your blog article outline is SEO keyword research.
This means when considering how to create a blog outline, choosing a keyword to focus on throughout your post is essential.
Ideally, you’ll want a keyword with a high search volume and low competition — which you can easily find with a Keysearch, one of the best Keyword research tools (and most affordable).
Why? Because this combination increases your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
A high search volume means many people are looking for that specific term, while low competition means fewer sites are trying to rank for it.
This dual advantage allows your site to stand out more effectively, drawing in more traffic and potentially leading to higher conversions.
There are many keyword research tools available to help you with this step, including Keysearch and RankIQ, both of which I use and recommend.
Several sites let you research a few keywords per day for free when making your keyword outline.
One of my favorite paid tools is Keysearch, because it’s easy to filter the results according to search volume and ranking difficulty.
You can also see the average domain authority of top-ranking pages and how many backlinks you may need in order to rank.
🤑 use my Keysearch discount & try it for yourself
You can purchase your Keysearch subscription here, and use my discount code KSDISC to get 20% OFF. With the discount, it’s less than $14 USD per month — but worth 10 times that much!
SEO Blog Outline
3. Look for LSIs
Once you’ve found your main keyword, it’s time to look for additional keyword ideas.
The goal is to find keywords that are related to your target keyword and include them.
Many bloggers refer to these as LSI or contextual keywords.
You can find them through Google’s related searches and through tools like Keysearch, Rank IQ, and Ahrefs.
Including them in your post helps search engines understand the main topic of your article.
For example, in a post about travel, you’re likely to find the words itinerary, suitcase, and plans.
SEO Blog Outline
4. Research the Search Intent Of Your Keyword
The fourth step in how to write an outline for a blog post is to determine the search intent of the keyword.
What are users looking for when they search for this keyword? How can you best answer their query and give them what they are looking for?
Design your content writing outline to satisfy the search intent of your target audience.
For example, if your keyword is “best beaches in Bali,” travelers are likely seeking a list of top beach destinations. This caters to a broad audience and would be an ideal traffic post.
On the other hand, if your keyword is “best boutique hotels in Bali,” readers might be looking for specific, upscale accommodations, signaling a purchase intent. Crafting content around this keyword could lead to a higher conversion article.
SEO Blog Outline
5. Research Your Competition
Your post won’t rank unless it offers something different and better than the competition.
Check Google to see what posts are ranking on the first page. Look at your competitors’ posts and their headings and subheadings.
Have they left out any important information? Is their information out of date? What can you add to make your post stand out from theirs?
You may need to make your post more in-depth or offer a unique angle.
SEO Blog Outline
6. Pick a Format & Length
Aim to make your post at least as long as the average of the top 3-5 posts.
If there are no good posts on the top page, 📝 aim for 1,000 to 2,500 words, since long-form content tends to rank better in search engines like Google and Bing.
Now ask yourself 🤔, what blog content outline format will work best for the search intent of this keyword?
Is it a list post (AKA, a listicle), an affiliate marketing post, or a step-by-step tutorial?
As a blog outline writer, you’ll want to organize your blog for SEO purposes accordingly.
SEO Blog Outline
7. Create the Perfect Title
The perfect tile is one that combines your keyword with your 🤓 unique selling proposition (USP) — and it’s essential for how to draft a blog outline.
Your USP is what helps distinguish you from the competition. It tells readers why they should click on YOUR post specifically.
For example, in the blog post title Travel Blogging Advice From a Six-Figure Travel Blogger, “travel blogging advice” is the keyword, and “from a six-figure travel blogger” is the USP.
SEO Blog Outline
8. Add Headings and Subheadings
Adding headings and subheadings is one of the most important aspects of creating an SEO outline.
Start by choosing your main topics and organizing them for flow and understanding. These should be H2 headings in your post.
Develop each of your main headings with H3 sub-headings, and more sub-headings as needed, though most bloggers don’t use H4, H5, and H6 headings.
Be sure to use your keyword in multiple H2 and H3 headings.
SEO Blog Outline
9. Add A FAQ Section
Have you ever noticed the People Also Ask section on Google?
When it comes to how to write a blog post outline, these questions make excellent additions to your blog post.
Choose the most relevant questions related to your target keyword and include them in a FAQ section on your blog post outline.
SEO Blog Outline
10. Revise and Refine
Once you’ve created your blog post outline, 👩🏻💻 it’s time to edit and remove the fluff.
Make sure to tighten up your outline to ensure that all of it is relevant, makes sense, and proceeds logically from one point to another.
If some sections are redundant, combining or cutting them could make a lot of sense.
Do you want to become even more of an outlining pro? If so, check out my How to Make Blog Outlines Course.
I’ll take you through the exact steps I use to create blog posts that bring in thousands of dollars every month 🤑, including some blog outline examples and blog post outline templates.
SEO Blog Outline
SEO Blog Outline Template
Sometimes, it’s nice to have ready-made blog outline templates to work with to save time and streamline your SEO blog writing process.
If you’re writing an affiliate blog post, you can purchase my high-converting affiliate marketing blog post outline template.
A free blog outline option includes using free AI SEO article outline generators, like this blog post outline generator from Surfer SEO.
It’s a good start if you want some generic blog post outline examples, but even the best blog outline generator can only get you so far.
SEO Blog Outline
SEO Blog Outline: FAQs
How do I create an SEO content outline?
If you’re wondering how to write a blog outline that’s optimized for SEO, the first step is establishing the goal for your article.
Second, do keyword research to figure out which target keyword to focus on for your blog post outline sample.
Third, use paid or free blog tools to find contextual (LSI) keywords.
Next, establish the search intent for your article, research your competition, and pick a format and length.
To finish this SEO blog outline example, write clear headings and subheadings, create a FAQ section, and write an excellent title.
SEO Blog Outline
How long should blogs be for SEO?
In general, search engines tend to favor long-form content posts that are a minimum of 1,000 words long.
Ultimately, your goal should be to write a post that answers a user’s search intent in the most complete and concise way.
Still not sure how many words you need? Look at the top-ranking posts to see how many words they write.
If they cover the topic comprehensively, aim to write a post of about the same length, only better.
SEO Blog Outline
How do you write an SEO article for beginners?
If you’re wondering how to write SEO blog posts, the key is to start with an SEO outline.
First, establish your goal for the post and how it fits into your overall content strategy.
Next, you need to do keyword research, establish search intent, research the competition, pick a perfect title, and organize your post into headings and subheadings for the best flow and readability.
Do all this before starting your SEO content writing template or article, and you’ll be well on your way to success and how to write SEO blogs will be a breeze!
SEO Blog Outline
How do I structure my blog?
If you want search engines to be able to quickly and easily scan your posts to determine what they are about, it’s important to use headings and subheadings.
Your title should always be an H1 heading — and many say this should be the ONLY H1 tag used in your blog post.
Use H2 headings for your most important SEO-blog topics related to the keyword.
Next, use H3 headings (followed by smaller headings) to further subdivide your post.
Use paragraph blocks, bulleted lists, and images to optimize your post even more, as these help readers to follow along.
SEO Blog Outline
What are the elements of a blog layout?
Every blog should include these four essential layout elements: 1) a click-worthy title, 2) table of contents, 3) useful subheadings, and 4) engaging and informative body copy.
The body of your text should be made up of paragraphs, images, pull quotes, bulleted lists, and other components.
Use large, easy-to-read typography, and finish off with a call to action.
The best blog outline formats ensure your post is scannable, readable, well-organized, and easy to navigate.
My Final Thoughts on How to Write the Perfect SEO Blog Outline
There are lots of steps that go into creating the perfect outline for a blog post.
Follow each of the points I’ve outlined above, and you’ll be cranking out top-ranking articles in no time.
But if you still have questions and want in-depth instruction, consider signing up for my How to Make Blog Outlines Course.
This course includes eight video modules designed to show you exactly how I create travel blog writing outlines that bring in thousands of dollars to my sites every month.