How to Make Your Content Show Up When People Search
If you want Google to notice your content, you first need to speak the same language as the people searching for it. Here’s how to do that without overcomplicating things.
Match Your Words to Searcher Intent
Google cares about giving users what they want—so your content needs to align with their intent.
Ask: What do they want?: When you’re writing content, the first thing to think about is what the person searching for your keyword actually needs. For example, if someone types “how to share WhatsApp group link quickly,” they’re looking for a step-by-step guide, not a long essay on group chat etiquette. To figure this out, just go to Google and type the keyword—look at the top results. Are they tutorials? Lists? Reviews? That tells you exactly what Google thinks the user wants. When collaborating with your team on this, you can share draft keyword lists via WhatsApp Web (https://www.log-whatsappws.com) to get quick feedback—its desktop interface makes typing and reviewing much easier than on mobile. Check top results: Once you know the intent, look at the top 3-5 results for your keyword. What do they have in common? For example, if all top results for “sourdough bread” are long-form guides with troubleshooting tips, your content should include those elements too. I once tried to rank for “best project management tools” but the top results were comparison tables—so I added a side-by-side table to my post, and it started getting clicks within a month. Add “you” to your content: People search for solutions to their problems, so using “you” makes your content feel personal. Instead of “One way to optimize images is…”, say “You can optimize images by…” This helps Google see your content as user-focused, which boosts engagement (and thus ranking).
Use Long-Tail Keywords in Natural Spots
Long-tail keywords are longer, more specific phrases that have less competition—perfect for new or small blogs.
Brainstorm like a user: Think about the questions your audience would ask. For example, if your niche is home gardening, instead of “tomato plants,” try “how to grow tomatoes in small pots on balcony.” These phrases are easier to rank for because fewer people are targeting them. I did this for my friend’s pet care blog—she switched from “dog food” to “best grain-free dog food for sensitive stomachs,” and her traffic doubled in two months. Sprinkle, don’t stuff: Once you have your long-tail keywords, add them where they fit naturally—like in the first paragraph, subheadings, and once or twice in the body. Don’t force them; if it sounds weird, rewrite the sentence. Google penalizes keyword stuffing, so keep it conversational. For example, if you’re writing about remote work, you can say “When collaborating with your team, using tools like WhatsApp Web to share updates quickly can save time” (but only if it fits the context). Add to image alt text: Images are often overlooked, but alt text helps Google understand what the image is about. For example, if you have a photo of tomatoes in a balcony pot, alt text like “tomato plants in small balcony pots” is good. Just make sure it accurately describes the image—don’t lie to Google (it’s smarter than you think).
Why Your Posts Aren’t Ranking (and What to Fix First)
If your content isn’t ranking, it’s probably not because Google hates you—it’s because of small, fixable issues. Let’s tackle the most common ones first.
Fix Your Content’s Readability
Google rewards content that’s easy to read. If your post is full of long sentences and jargon, readers will leave quickly (high bounce rate), and Google will drop your ranking.
Keep sentences short: Aim for 20 words or less per sentence. For example, instead of “I think that when you’re writing content for SEO, it’s important to keep your sentences short so that readers can easily follow along and Google can understand your message,” try “Keep sentences short—20 words or less—so readers and Google get your point quickly.” Use simple words: You don’t need to use big words to sound smart. For example, “utilize” = “use”; “facilitate” = “help”; “optimize” = “make better.” Google loves clear, simple content—so do your readers. Add subheadings often: Break up your content with subheadings every 300-500 words. This makes it easier for readers to scan and find what they need. For example, if you’re writing about sourdough bread, subheadings like “How to Mix the Dough” or “Troubleshooting: Flat Loaves” help guide the reader.
Fix Your Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are the short blurbs under your title in Google results. They don’t directly affect ranking, but they do affect whether people click your link.
Include your keyword: Adding your target keyword to the meta description helps Google match your content to the search query. It also tells readers exactly what your post is about. For example, if your keyword is “how to make sourdough bread,” your meta description could start with “Learn how to make sourdough bread at home…” Make it enticing: Your meta description should make people want to click. For example, instead of “This post is about sourdough bread,” try “Learn how to make crusty sourdough bread in 24 hours (no fail!)—no fancy equipment needed.” Keep it under 160 characters: If your meta description is too long, Google will cut it off. Use a tool like Yoast SEO to check the length, or just count the characters manually (it’s easy, I promise).
How to Get More People to Click Your Google Results
Even if your content ranks well, you need people to click it. Here’s how to make your results stand out from the crowd.
Write Catchy Titles That Stand Out
Your title is the first thing people see—so it needs to grab their attention.
Use numbers: People love lists. For example, “5 Easy Ways to Make Sourdough Bread” is more clickable than “How to Make Sourdough Bread.” Numbers give readers a clear idea of what to expect. Add a benefit: Tell readers what they’ll gain from your post. For example, “How to Make Sourdough Bread in 24 Hours (Save Time!)” promises a quick result. “How to Fix Flat Sourdough Loaves (Guaranteed!)” promises a solution to a common problem. Avoid clickbait: Don’t lie to your readers. If your post isn’t about “10 Secret Tricks to Rank #1 in Google,” don’t say it is—readers will leave immediately, and Google will penalize you for high bounce rates. Be honest, but make it fun.
Use High-Quality Images
Images make your content more engaging, and they can even help you rank in Google Images (which drives extra traffic).
Use original images: Stock photos are okay, but original images (like photos of your own sourdough bread) are more relatable and build trust. For example, if you’re writing about remote work, a photo of your home office (mess and all) is more authentic than a stock photo of a perfect desk. Optimize for speed: Large images slow down your website, which hurts SEO. Use tools like TinyPNG to compress your images before uploading—they’ll look the same, but load faster. Add alt text: As I mentioned earlier, alt text helps Google understand your images. For example, “Crusty sourdough bread loaf on a wooden board” is a good alt text for a photo of your finished bread. Don’t skip this step—it’s easy and makes a big difference.
How to Get More People to Click Your Google Results
Wait, no—let’s correct that to a fresh H2: How to Build Trust with Google Without Link Building
Link building is important, but it’s not the only way to build trust with Google. Here are two methods that work for beginners.
Write Long-Form Content
Google loves content that goes deep on a topic. Long-form content (over 1,800 words) ranks higher because it’s more comprehensive.
Go deep on the topic: Don’t just scratch the surface. For example, if you’re writing about sourdough bread, include details like the science behind fermentation, how to adjust for different climates, and troubleshooting common problems (like sticky dough or no rise). Add examples: Real-life examples make your content more relatable and trustworthy. For example, “When I first started making sourdough, I forgot to let the dough rise long enough—here’s how I fixed it: I left it in a warm spot (on top of my fridge) for an extra 2 hours, and it doubled in size.” Include data: If you can find relevant data to back up your points, add it. For example, “According to Backlinko, long-form content gets 77% more backlinks than short-form content.” This adds credibility to your post.
Update Old Content
Google loves fresh content. If you have old posts that are no longer relevant, updating them can give them a new lease on life.
Check for outdated info: For example, if your post is about “best SEO tools in 2023,” update it to 2025 with new tools and trends. Remove any links that are broken or no longer relevant. Add new sections: If there’s a new development in your niche, add it to your old post. For example, if you’re writing about remote work, add a section about using AI tools like ChatGPT to streamline tasks. Reshare it: Once you’ve updated your post, share it again on social media or send it to your email list. This gives it a fresh boost of traffic, which tells Google it’s still relevant. I did this for a post about “how to use WhatsApp Web for collaboration” last year—updated it with new features (like screen sharing) and my traffic doubled in a week.
How to Use Everyday Tools to Boost Your SEO
You don’t need expensive tools to do SEO. Here are two everyday tools that work wonders.
Use Google Search Console
Google Search Console is a free tool that tells you how your website is performing on Google. It’s easy to use, even for beginners.
Set it up: Go to search.google.com/search-console and follow the steps to verify your website (you can use a meta tag or Google Analytics). It takes 5 minutes, tops. Check for errors: The “Coverage” tab tells you if there are any issues with your website—like broken links or missing meta tags. Fixing these errors helps Google crawl your site better. See what people are searching: The “Performance” tab shows you the keywords people are using to find your website. Use this to create more content around those keywords. For example, if people are searching for “sourdough bread without starter,” write a post about that.
Use Google Analytics
Google Analytics is another free tool that tells you about your audience and their behavior.
Track traffic sources: The “Acquisition” tab shows you where your traffic is coming from—social media, Google search, direct visits, etc. This helps you focus on the channels that work best. For example, if most of your traffic comes from Instagram, you should spend more time promoting your posts there. See which pages perform best: The “Behavior” tab shows you which pages are getting the most views. Use this to understand what content your audience likes. For example, if your sourdough bread post is getting 10x more views than your other posts, write more content about sourdough. Monitor bounce rate: Bounce rate is the percentage of people who leave your website after viewing one page. A high bounce rate (over 60%) means your content isn’t engaging. Try updating your post with more examples or subheadings to keep readers around.
WhatsApp Web FAQs
If you’re using WhatsApp Web for collaboration (like I do), you probably have a few questions. Here are the most common ones I get—plus detailed answers.
Q: How can I use WhatsApp Web to improve my SEO collaboration? A: Using WhatsApp Web for SEO collaboration is a game-changer, especially if you work with a distributed team or need to quickly share ideas while on your desktop. First, it lets you type faster using a keyboard, which is perfect for drafting keyword lists or brainstorming content ideas without fumbling with a mobile screen. For example, if you’re analyzing a competitor’s blog post and want to note down their top keywords, you can quickly type those into a WhatsApp group chat via WhatsApp Web and get instant feedback from your team. Second, it allows you to share files easily—like CSV sheets of keyword research data or screenshots of Google Search Console reports—by dragging and dropping them directly into the chat. This eliminates the need for switching between email and other tools, saving you valuable time. Third, since it syncs with your mobile WhatsApp, you can pick up conversations where you left off, whether you’re at your desk or on the go. Let’s say you’re out for coffee and get an idea for a long-tail keyword; you can send it to your team via mobile, and when you get back to your desk, you can continue the discussion on WhatsApp Web without missing a beat. Additionally, using WhatsApp Web to share links to your draft blog posts (like those you’re optimizing for Google SEO) lets your team members quickly click and review them, as they’re already on their desktop. This seamless workflow helps speed up the content creation and optimization process, which in turn helps you publish more high-quality SEO content faster—something Google loves because it rewards fresh, relevant content. So if you haven’t tried using WhatsApp Web for your SEO collaboration yet, it’s definitely worth giving a shot; it’s simple to use and can make your team’s workflow much more efficient.
Q: Is WhatsApp Web secure enough to share sensitive SEO data like keyword research or analytics reports? A: When it comes to sharing sensitive SEO data via WhatsApp Web, it’s important to understand the security measures in place and take extra precautions. First, WhatsApp Web uses end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for all messages, including text, files, and images, just like the mobile app. This means that only you and the person you’re communicating with can read the content—no third party (including WhatsApp itself) can access it. However, there are a few things you need to do to keep your data safe. For example, always log out of WhatsApp Web when you’re not using it, especially if you’re on a public or shared computer. This prevents unauthorized access to your chats and sensitive data. Second, avoid sharing extremely sensitive data like Google Analytics API keys or Search Console credentials via WhatsApp Web (or any messaging app, for that matter). Instead, use secure file-sharing tools like Google Drive with password protection for such information. Third, keep your WhatsApp app and web browser up to date—updates often include security patches that fix vulnerabilities. Let’s say you’re sharing a CSV file of your top-performing keywords: as long as you’re using a trusted device and have logged out after use, it’s generally safe. But for data that could compromise your website’s security if leaked, it’s better to opt for more secure methods. Overall, WhatsApp Web is secure enough for most SEO collaboration tasks, but it’s always wise to use common sense and take extra steps to protect your most sensitive data.
Q: Can WhatsApp Web help me with real-time SEO monitoring and updates? A: WhatsApp Web can be a useful tool for real-time SEO monitoring and updates, especially if you set up alerts or have a team member who shares updates regularly. Let’s break this down. First, if you use tools like Google Search Console or Ahrefs that send email alerts for keyword ranking changes or site errors, you can forward those alerts to your WhatsApp group (via mobile) and then view them on WhatsApp Web when you’re at your desk. This lets you quickly see important updates without having to switch between multiple email tabs. Second, if you have a team member who’s monitoring SEO metrics throughout the day, they can share real-time updates via WhatsApp Web—like “Our ‘best vegan smoothies’ keyword just jumped from page 3 to page 1!”—so you can react immediately (e.g., update the blog post to keep it relevant or share it on social media). Third, WhatsApp Web lets you quickly access links shared in chats, so if someone sends a link to a competitor’s new blog post that’s ranking well for your target keyword, you can click the link directly from the chat (without using your phone) and analyze it right away. For example, if your team notices that a competitor’s post about “remote work productivity tips” is getting a lot of traffic, you can use WhatsApp Web to discuss how to create a better, more optimized post that includes long-tail keywords your competitor missed. Additionally, since WhatsApp Web syncs with your mobile, you can receive updates even when you’re away from your desk and then follow up on your desktop later. While WhatsApp Web isn’t a dedicated SEO monitoring tool, it’s a great way to stay in the loop with real-time updates and collaborate with your team to respond quickly to changes in your SEO performance.
If you try any of these methods, I’d love to hear how they work for you! Drop a comment below or send me a message—let’s chat about your results. I’m always curious to see what works for other people, and I might even share your success story in my next post. Happy optimizing!
