SEO Blog Post Outline

As a mature web writer, it’s easy to think you’ve outgrown your beginner-level habits. Well I’m here to tell you that your high school English teacher is still right about outlining, and here’s why.

Jumping into the writing process without an outline is like cooking without a recipe or driving without directions. And before you say it—experience level doesn’t exclude you from the benefits of outlining!

Preparing yourself with a thoughtful blog post outline can make your writing clearer, more concise, easier to read, and simpler to comprehend. On top of that, your outline can become an important tool in mapping out your SEO strategy for the blog, achieving more effective results.

Rather than telling you how to outline a blog post, why don’t I show you?

Check out the blog post outline I created for a blog about creating a blog post outline. #meta

Keyphrase: blog post outline (149 / month, low competition)

Creating A Blog Post Outline | It’s for Your Own Good!

Introduction

• Explain why outlines are important in blog writing specifically
• Differentiate between benefits to the writer & benefits to the reader
• Say something quippy about an outline for a blog about outlines

Subtopic 1: Why do you need a blog post outline?

• Whimsical, long-winded play on being a ~real~ writer

• Outlines aren’t anti-writer/organic writing process, even if you’re really close to your work

• Lots of benefits to using a blog post outline ⬇️

Keep your thoughts organized

• Ensures that your thoughts are in the right place
• Keeps you from forgetting ideas
• Helps you rank/prioritize topics
• Improves readability for people skimming—baking recipe example (blondies) it takes you years to get to the relevant content

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Maintain a cohesive story

• Make sure your thoughts flow from one to the next
• Workshop how the user would best understand your ideas to write a more engaging post
• Helps you add appropriate background knowledge/context if necessary

Structure your SEO strategy

• A blog post outline can help you better implement your SEO keyphrases for blogs
• Factor user intent into the flow of your ideas
• Determine the appropriate length of content based on your keyphrase search volume

Demonstrate your knowledge

• Approach the topic from every angle
• Segmenting your knowledge/solution shows thoughtful leadership
• Step-by-step approach to educating a user

Combat writer’s block

• Having a clear blog post outline makes it easier to jump from section to section when writing; you can flesh out ideas you already have instead of thinking up new ones
• Spend less time brainstorming during the writing phase & focus more on voice and tone

–> More tips for overcoming writer’s block

Subtopic 2: How to build a solid blog post outline

Customize the order of these steps / build your own unique process as a writer while still putting these steps into practice

Step 1: Research

• Even if you feel like you know enough, learn more
• How does your content compare to other resources in this space? What can you offer a user that makes you stand out?

Step 2: Start with the main questions you need to answer

• Why did the user click on this blog? 
• Balance what the user wants to know with what they need to know to better understand the topic

Step 3: Incorporate relevant talking points

• Find a place & make a note for each of the biggest points you need to hit
• Indicate places in your blog post outline for creative ideas, as well Ex. [joke here]

Building a blog post outline as an agency

• Getting talking points from the client for facts & processes
• Using client insight to anticipate readers’ questions and concerns

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Step 4: Place appropriate internal / external links

• Including them in the outline means you don’t have to dig for them later
• Can help you provide context and save yourself from needing to write your own
• Keeps you from losing out on/overlooking opportunities to build your web of links and improve your domain authority

Step 5: Properly tag your headlines and subheadlines

• Easy ways to indicate your H1, H2s, H3s, etc. for later in programs like Google Docs
• Make it easier for posting SEO blogs in WordPress 
• Make sure your content gets properly & quickly indexed for Google SERP ranking

Subtopic 3: Other tips for successful blog writing

As you move into the writing process, here are some more tips for effective blog writing:

Map out your meta and alt text

• Every good page needs a brief meta description that summarizes the content for users and for search engines
• Add descriptive one-liners of alt text to each image to keep your content accessible for all audiences—and streamline coding when publishing the post

Write concisely

• Anything than can be said in fewer words should be
• Long paragraphs will bore readers—use your Enter key!
• If you need a higher word count, use that space for more ideas, not more fluff

Speak your user’s language

• Stick to layman’s terms (when possible) to make your content easy to read
• Define scientific, technical, and industry-specific terms as needed
• Use words like “however” or “lastly” to seamlessly transition to new ideas or next steps

Use strategic formatting

• Readers will skim your blog—bulleted lists draw the eye and make content more digestible
• Bolding important points can help readers easily identify the biggest takeaways 
• Italics, (parentheses), and emojis 🧜‍♀️ can be useful tools in conveying voice and tone

Practice parallel structure

• Put a polish on your content with parallel tone and structure throughout
• Get a good visual flow going with headings that follow a similar grammatical pattern
• Frame your bulleted lists consistently (i.e., a list about symptoms should just be about symptoms, not symptoms and treatment methods)

Naturally weave in your keyphrase

• Incorporating your keyphrase every few hundred words or so is good for SEO!
• Don’t force it—keep your focus without breaking the flow of your sentence or paragraph
• Use your keyphrase to call back to your practice and locale, not as a substitute for the noun in question (“best marketing firm in Burbank” ≠ “marketing firm”)

Break up your text with visuals

• Visuals can be an aid to your story –> Ex. infographics & videos
• Images break up the text for a more engaging experience
• Leave placeholders for visuals in your outline to space them strategically

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Call to Action: Sign up for our newsletter for more copywriting tips & tricks straight to your inbox

• Keep your CTA short and sweet, give the user a clear next step with a link or button
• Make sure the action item you propose feels related to the content
• Don’t introduce any new information, the CTA should feel like a natural conclusion

💡 Ex: Sign up for Lifted Logic’s newsletter for more copywriting insights and tools for effective web writing. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Blog Outlining

What is an SEO outline?

An SEO blog post outline is the game plan that keeps your post helpful for readers and understandable for search engines. Think of it as a treasure map, but instead of “X marks the spot,” it’s more like “H2 marks the section that’s useful.”

Basically, an SEO outline is the organized little skeleton (layout) that helps your blog rank, read well, and not wander off into content chaos.

A solid SEO blog post outline usually includes a:

• Title
• Target keyphrase
• Search intent
• Meta title
• Meta description
• Suggested URL slug
• Clear heading structure throughout

Including features like internal links, external sources, and images further establishes your authority on the subject and lets Google know you’re human.

Most importantly, no mindless keyword stuffing! Nobody wants to read a blog that sounds like a robot swallowed a thesaurus.

What role do blog post outlines play in SEO?

Blog post outlines are the SEO guardrails that keep your content from swerving into the weeds. Without one, a blog can start with “how to choose running shoes” and somehow end with a passionate paragraph about your cousin’s marathon playlist. Interesting? Maybe. Helpful to Google? Not so much.

A strong SEO blog post outline gives your content structure. It organizes headings, keyphrase placement, FAQs, internal links, and the big questions your reader needs answered.

That structure helps search engines understand what your post is about, why it matters, and which searches it should show up for.

Outlines also help you match search intent, which is SEO-speak for “give the people what they came for.” If readers want a step-by-step guide, your outline should serve them exactly that.

In short, SEO blog post outlines help your content stay focused, useful, scannable, and search-friendly.

What is a keyphrase?

A keyphrase is a series of words that speaks to a page’s content or a specific Google search term.

Unlike a single keyword, which is typically too vague to communicate what you’re writing about or searching for, a keyphrase is specific and focused. Using a short phrase adds more context to your search, enabling search engines and users to better hone in on your intended topic.

​For example, if you’re looking for a digital marketing agency in Kansas City but simply enter the term “digital marketing” into your search engine, the results page might not yield the desired details. Rather, it defines the field, different types of digital marketing, and intro courses on the subject. This information isn’t really relevant if you are looking to partner with a local agency.

Instead, you should search for a “digital marketing agency in Kansas City.” These results direct you to local businesses that can serve your needs. That’s your keyphrase. 📍

Dive deeper into the world of keyphrase optimization: ➡️ https://liftedlogic.com/seo-keyphrases-for-blogs/

How do you choose the *right* keyphrase for your blog post?

Choosing the right keyphrase for a blog post is a little like picking the perfect outfit for a first date with Google. You want something clear, attractive, and honest, not something trying way too hard in a sparkly red blazer.

The Search History

Start by asking what your reader is actually searching for, or their search intent. Not what you wish they were searching for. What would they realistically type into the search bar when they need help? A strong keyphrase usually matches a real question, problem, or goal.

And it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. You can evaluate users’ interest in your keyphrase by tracking its search volume.

Search volume measures how often users search for a specific keyphrase within a certain timeframe. At Lifted Logic, we use Google Keyword Planner to keep an eye on high-volume keywords and user trends. We prefer a sweet spot of 100 to 1,000 monthly searches, a volume that speaks to medium demand from focused users.

The Nitty Gritty

Next, get specific. “Skincare” is an incredibly broad topic. “Best skincare routine for dry winter skin” gives your blog a fighting chance. Specific keyphrases help you reach readers who know what they want, which means they’re more likely to stick around.

The Playing Field

Then, check the competition. If massive websites—especially in your region—already own the top results, try a more focused version. This is where localized and specific keyphrases shine. They may get fewer searches, but they often bring in better-suited users looking for someone just like you.

Finally, make sure the keyphrase fits the blog post naturally. If you have to shove it into every paragraph like a suitcase into an overhead bin, it’s not the one.

The right keyphrase should feel useful, searchable, and human.

Turn to the Experts

Still have lingering questions about how to write an outline for a blog? Chat with our experts about best practices for your SEO blog post outline, or let us take over the work for you!