Your blog will act as a learning tool for brides. They will come to your blog for local wedding knowledge, and in return you will create a valued relationship without having any sort of contact. To become the leading local wedding blog in your city, you must focus on local vendors while feeding your target market of brides seeking stress-free wedding planning, mothers of brides, and bridesmaids. Before you take pen to paper, though, you need a plan. You don’t want to write without a plan—that will get you nowhere. To be picked up by Google you need to understand the basics of blogging.

 

 

The Anatomy of a Blog

Tags

Tags are meant to describe specific details of your posts. Think of these as your site’s index words. They are the micro-data that you can use to micro-categorize your content.

Categories

Categories are meant for a broad grouping of your posts. Think of these as general topics or the table of contents for your site. Categories are there to help identify what your blog is really about. They will assist readers in finding the right type of content on your site. Categories are meant to encompass a group of posts.

Focus Keyword

The focus keyword is the keyword that you want your page to rank for. When people search for that keyword, you want them to find you. You set it in the focus keyword input field. Once you’ve done that, the plugin evaluates the page’s content and provides feedback on how to improve the page for that keyword.

Meta Description

The meta description serves the function of advertising copy. It draws readers to a website and is a critical part of search marketing. Its main purpose is to get the visitor from Google to click your link. You want to entice your readers to click on your article. You must use your focus keyword when writing the meta description.

H1, H2 & H3

These are your headings. H1 is your main heading and H2 is your second heading. Both headings will need to contain your focus word. Your H3 is how you’ll break up the text into smaller paragraphs.

Alt Tags

Your alt tags are the labels that live in your pictures. If someone did a Google image search for “Chicago Wedding Planner,” your pictures could show up if you tagged them correctly. These tags are also necessary for Pinterest. Make sure you have your focus word inside your picture alt tags.

 

 

Pinterest Image

This is a vertical image you’ve create to describe your post. This image will live inside your blog post content.

Pin It Button

Be sure you add a Pit It button to your blog. This is the simplest and easiest way to get your content shared on Pinterest.

Blog Requirements

• An appropriate topic for your brand
• Proofread all text
• Should be at least 600–1200 words.
• Focus keyword
• H1 and H2 titles with keywords
• Meta description
• Appropriate tags
• Appropriate categories  
• 1–2 keywords (go back to the Goals Lesson)
• Alt tags

 

 

Blog Post Ideas

When blogging there are two things to keep in mind: 1) you’re blogging to your niche. Meaning, if your a luxaury planner, don’t blog about How to DIY a centerpiece. And 2) Blog about your specific area. When it comes to SEO you need to be specific with the area you live. This means don’t write an article that says “6 Mother of the Bride Duties Day Of”. You’ll get brides looking at this article who aren’t interested in getting married in your area. Instead, the title should be “6 Mother of the Bride Duties Day for a Pensacola Wedding”. Below are some suggestions for article ideas.

Tell a Personal Story

It is particularly good if it is dramatic and you feel the freedom to be transparent. It is helpful if you can conclude with a lesson or two that you have learned along the way.

Interview a Venue or Vendors

This is a great way to share some of the resources you have found and why you liked them. It can also help your readers to understand who your ideal client is.

Comment on a Powerful Quote

Look at a past client’s review, service survey, or “for the blog” section of the client worksheet and look for a quote that stands alone. Post why this particular quote was meaningful.

Let a Great Photograph Inspire You

Behind every great photo is a story. Look through your pictures and choose one that you want to write about. You know the story, tell your readers what the picture means to you and why. Examples would be first look with dad, first kiss as husband and wife, love of a detail, mom and daughter embrace, a super sweet moment captured, first dance…tell how it inspired you and how it should inspire other brides.

Comment on Something in the News

This should be something that is specific to our industry (like a Royal Wedding, for example). If you are a thought-leader—or trying to establish yourself as a thought-leader—this is a great way to do that.

Provide a Step-by-Step Explanation for How to Do Something

When you provide five steps to this, or four strategies for that, people gobble it up. I think all of us have a need for down-to-earth, practical help with the items that interest us.

Provide a List of Resources

This is a huge way to give back to your industry or community. It is easy to take for granted what you know. You are probably sitting on priceless information that others would die to have access to. Resource lists are a great way to build traffic. Examples would be a complete list of downtown wedding venues, top 4 venues for destination brides, or best beach ceremony sites.

Make a Seemingly Overwhelming Task Simple

There is a huge audience for anyone who can make complex things simple. Provide a conceptual model, an outline, or an introduction to something you take for granted.

Explain the Rationale Behind a Decision

Intelligent people want to know why you do what you do. That is what makes everyone so interesting. You can explain the rationale behind almost any decision you have made, and it will be instructive for others.

20 Area Specific Blog Post Ideas

Below are some suggestions of the type of blog posts you could write. These are great because they force you to get out there and network with your local vendors.

1.      Local products you can put in your guest welcome bags

2.      5 Must Know (area) Wedding Photographers

3.      5 Must Know (area) Wedding Caterer

4.      Top 5 (area) Venues You Can Have Outdoor Ceremony

5.      3 (area) Venues you can have Sparkler Send Off

6.      4 (area Venues) You Can Have Outside Caterers

7.      Plan B, 3 (area) tent companies you can call last minute   

8.      A complete list of (area) venues

9.      5 (area) Hair and Makeup companies under $60/person

10.  Best (area) vendors for a wedding under 75 people

11.  How to elope in (area)

12.  Only 3 (area) cake makers make this filling

13.  Top 5 (area) hotels for guests to stay at

14.  Top 4 (area) food trucks to consider for your wedding

15.  Top 3 (area) wedding photographers who do documentary style perfectly

16.  My top 5 bouquet from my favorite (area) wedding florist

17.  4 (area) brands that will have every wedding guest dancing

18.  A complete list of (area) barn weddings

19.  Best wedding signature drinks from (local bar company)

20.  Top 5 (area) wedding arches you can have for your wedding