New Writers: Don’t Forget to Use these Google Related SEO Tips

Have you heard how you can tell Google what to say about your stories?

I wrote a useful story in the past, that I now feel compelled to share again, specifically with new Medium writers. That’s why I decided to do a recap of the original story, and re-emphasize the importance of using SEO tips and strategies.

This information can teach you to have some control over exactly what details about your stories will show up in the Google search results.

So without wasting time on some of the more obvious points, let’s cut right to the chase…

Medium provides you with some effective SEO features you can use

The special SEO setting that Medium makes available for writers to take advantage of can really be a useful tool.

This story shares the basics of what you need to know about the SEO features at your disposal, when writing and publishing your stories.

Understanding how to use these features and how the strategies work, hopefully, will help you remember to use them on a regular basis.

For instance, do you know what happens when people search for something, using Google?

Google can either show the results for information that you specifically gave them to display, OR that you wrote without realizing was going to show up in the results.

When you think about it, which would you rather have Google do?

If you answered: “specifically give them what you want them to display”, then you came to the smart conclusion.

Now let’s talk about how to make that happen.

Using SEO tips can help Google describe your stories better

The very best way for Google to describe your stories to readers, is for you to tell Google what to say.

Shall we take a moment and consider what you need to know, to do that?

For instance —

When people online search for something:

• The Google search results will display roughly the first 140–155 characters, so make sure the most important part of your opening sentence doesn’t exceed their maximum. Consider this as a “kicker” paragraph.
• You can easily take advantage of having two opening paragraphs (One regular paragraph and one kicker paragraph).
• Create your first paragraph like normal—making it as appealing and attention grabbing as possible; just as you usually do.
• Create a second, very brief paragraph to act solely as a kicker (which will only be visible in the Google search results).

In a moment, I’ll tell you where you need to insert the kicker paragraph (containing no more than 155 characters). But make sure to keep in mind:

• The sole function of the kicker paragraph is for you to take control of exactly what Google says about your story.
• Don’t waste the opportunity by repeating what you’ve already written in the normal opening paragraph. Say something similar but different and make it more dynamic!
• Be sure to include as many of the 5 tags that you’ll be using for your story, in the kicker paragraph also.

Where to go and what to do to tell Google about your story

Since I already prepared screenshots for the previous story I wrote on this subject, l provided the same helpful images, to show how to apply the useful SEO tips I’m sharing.

For example —

AUTHOR SCREEN SHOT #1: The red arrow points to where you’ll find the “Story Settings” tab, when you’re working on your draft, in edit mode.

AUTHOR SCREEN SHOT #2: Once you land in this area, this next red arrow shows where you can find the “SEO Settings” tab, where you’ll click and start taking control of what you say to Google.

AUTHOR SCREEN SHOT #3: Once you’re here, where the arrow is pointing, you can start getting in the habit of navigating to this spot, and typing an effective “kicker paragraph”, right below the word “Description”. You won’t see it when you return to your story, but when the story is published, this is the description that will display in Google’s search results. Remember to make it no more than155 characters.

Final Thoughts

I’ve discovered a lot of useful tips by being a prolific writer on Medium. They’ve helped me be able to publish more than 550 stories since May 2021. But in spite of everything I’ve discovered, there is always still more to learn.

In addition to being eager to learn, I’m also eager to share what I learn, especially with new writers who tend to appreciate good writing advice.

If you want your stories to have the best chance possible, at being found, viewed, and read by online readers, you have to be willing to put in the work.

Part of that willingness includes taking the time with each story, to create the kind of opening paragraph that lets Google know exactly what you want them to tell readers.

Don’t take these SEO tips for granted. You can start applying them with your very next story, and from that point onward.

I invite new members who are just getting started, to read my helpful stories and take my writing advice about how to make money on Medium.

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