I know HOW to do this. But I hate to do it. I figure it is enough work just to get the article written and posted, why do I have to worry about tagging, and backlinking, and optimizing the title or the on-page links?

So, first of all, I’m going to let you off the hook. If you write well, your articles will already have the 90% of the most effective SEO that you can do. That is, good content that uses keywords naturally. Good for you.. you can go now if you want.

If you’d like to take them to the next level though, the simplest things are these:

  1. Use a keyword in the title. In the blogging world, titles are one of the more powerful methods of self-expression, and people love an intriguing blog title. So don’t compromise human appeal to do it, just do it if it fits logically.
  2. Add an alt tag to any images you use in your post. Keep them logical, fairly short, and don’t stuff them.
  3. Tag the article. Put in the relevant keyword tags that apply to the article, into the tags box below the post.
  4. Anchor text for on-post links. Especially if they are leading back to something of yours… BUT… do NOT stuff a bunch of keywords in. Anchor text can really only use 1 keyword or keyphrase.

It is ok to be casual about it. These strategies will help nudge you up, but they aren’t going to throw you onto the top of the heap immediately. Just do what you have time for, and what you feel you CAN do. And start and end with good writing.