How to Write a Blog Post (Step by step guide to writing a perfect blog post for Google)

27 min readDec 22, 2021

This article will explain every detail of how to write a blog post in a way that helps you rank on Google. Let’s dive in!

Here’s the outline of the topics we have discussed in this article:

Fundamental Principles

Understand why you’re writing the post
The importance of accuracy

Step 1: Think about the title and understand the intent

Step 2: Do some preparatory research (Step by step guide to perform proper research)

Step 3: Create your snippet answer target

What’s a featured snippet?
How to write paragraph, list, and table answer targets?

Step 4: Write your subheadings

Step 5: Write content

Step 6: Write conclusion

Step 7: Optimize for SEO and monetization

Step 8: Document all sources

Step 9: Check for plagiarism

Step 10: Add relevant videos

Understand Why You’re Writing This Blog Post

Before you start writing, you need to understand why you are writing these posts.

Your reasons could be:

Trying to rank first for a particular keyword on Google
Trying to sell your blog writing services online
Trying to make money by showing ads, promoting affiliate products, and selling info products or online services

Our concern is making content that ranks on Google so that we can earn money from the traffic.

Your primary goal is to make your article a more helpful and accessible resource than the other articles that are currently ranking for the target keyword.

The Importance of Accuracy

The whole point of this is to create genuinely useful content. And the core component of useful content is providing accurate information.

There is far too much incorrect information out there, and you need to make sure that the information you’re using in your article is true.

We’ll discuss proper research in a minute, but the main tip here is to not just take things that are said on random blogs as truth. If you are using a fact or statistic from a blog, try to find (and link to) the root source of that information instead of trusting the random blog. If you can’t find the root source, it isn’t smart to use the information.

There is an exception, though. Depending on the topic, you might have to trust the word of a blogger, YouTuber, or forum user because there is no other information to go on. That’s okay, and you can include that source in the sources list at the bottom of the article.

For example, if you’re writing an article titled “What Is The Best Rod for Kayak Fishing?” there won’t be any scholarly sources for you to cite.

In that case, your best bet would be to scour sites like Quora, Reddit, YouTube, and various forums to get the opinion of kayak fishing hobbyists.

Step 1: Think About the Title and Understand the Search Intent

In many instances, all you’ll have to go on is an article title and a word length. It’s up to you to figure out what to write about.

The key to this is to understand the search intent of the people who will be reading this article.

Search intent is the term used to describe the purpose of an online search. It’s the reason why someone conducts a specific search.

Remember, these articles are being written to rank first on Google for certain keywords.

The articles need to be written with the search intent in mind if they are going to rank. I’ll discuss this in more detail later, but just remember that as we move through the rest of the instructions.

Step 2: Do Some Preparatory Research

Ideally, you shouldn’t dive into writing the article right away. You should take some time (at least 15 minutes) to read and learn about the topic before you type a single word.

The main benefit of this approach is that by the time you begin writing, you’ll be bursting with information about the topic and will find that you can’t get words onto the page quick enough.

It gives your mind time to synthesize all of the bits and pieces of information you’ve been picking up into a coherent and logical article flow. The finished article will be much better and more helpful than if you simply started writing the article after reading one article.

I used to be a full-time freelance blogger, so I know the first thing you’re probably going to do when you start writing an article is paste the title into Google and begin reading the first results in chronological order.

While that’s an acceptable way to begin researching, please don’t limit yourself to what’s on the first page of Google. The idea is to make your article more helpful and useful than what’s currently ranking at the top.

It also makes it much easier to avoid spinning.

Spinning is basically rewriting an article line-by-line as you’re reading it. You change or rearrange some of the words so that you’re not word-for-word copying, but you’re still essentially copying the article.

I’ll talk about spinning in more detail later, but it’s essential that you avoid doing this. Know that we use a tool (Copyscape) that is extremely good at detecting spinning. If we catch you spinning on any articles, we won’t be able to work with you any further.

How to Perform Proper Research

Proper research is essential. This is not only for the sake of accurate content, but because clients want to see that you’re getting information from sources they can trust.

Therefore, you should use authoritative sources whenever possible.

Here are a few types of authoritative sources:

Google Scholar — always try to incorporate journal articles from Google Scholar if at all possible.
.edu domains
.gov domains
Academic journals (use Google Scholar)
Wikipedia (find the root source if possible — check Wikipedia’s footnotes)
Healthline/WebMD for health content (use the root sources at the bottom of their articles instead of using the Healthline/WebMD article)
Subject matter experts
With a subject matter expert, you don’t need to find their “root source” for a claim. If they are credentialed in their field or are clearly an expert on a topic, you can take them at their word.
Example niche: Kayak Fishing

Don’t use untrustworthy sources for articles that require authoritative sources. For example, if you’re writing an article about the risks of high cholesterol, you shouldn’t use random blogs or forum posts as your primary source. You’re going to want to use scholarly research or articles written by doctors on authoritative sites like Healthline.

Know that it’s okay to find claims on blogs in certain niches. Because many blogs are optimized for SEO, they’re often going to appear higher in the search results than root sources like academic journals. Just make sure you track down the root source for your claim.

Also, make sure you embed links to sources in the text and add each source to your sources list at the bottom of the article.

Linking to sources in the text provides a substantial SEO benefit and tells both clients and readers that you aren’t pulling a particular piece of information out of thin air. I’ll discuss that in more detail later.

Step 3: Create Your Snippet Answer Target

This is the most important part of the entire article creation process. Please pay close attention.

What Is a Featured Snippet?

A featured snippet is a selected search result that appears at the top of Google’s organic search results.

Paragraph snippet: Why are giraffe necks so long
List snippet
Bullet point snippet: What types of fruit can dogs eat
Numbered list snippet: How to cool a concrete house
Table snippet: Grill steak temperature chart

After you’ve done your prep research, it’s time to write your snippet answer target.

There are three types of snippet answer targets:

Paragraph answer targets
List answer targets
Table answer targets.

I’ll cover each of these below:

Paragraph answer target

The paragraph answer target is a single paragraph that directly answers the main question posed in the search query.

Every single article you write must have a paragraph answer target.

There are a few strict formatting requirements that paragraph answer targets need to meet:

1. The paragraph must DIRECTLY answer the question. No fluff — only include essential information that explains the answer and any relevant context

Google gives the featured snippet to the article that answers the searcher’s question in the most direct, concise, and complete manner.

Here’s a list of common mistakes that you should avoid:

Don’t say “It depends” or use other vague statements.

If the answer to the question depends on different factors, you shouldn’t start the answer target by saying that. Just get to the point.

Example: Are Golden Retrievers Aggressive?

Don’t say this: Your Golden Retriever’s level of aggression depends on their upbringing. If they were abused as a puppy, they are more likely to be aggressive. However, most Golden Retrievers with a healthy upbringing show no signs of aggression.

Say this instead: Golden Retrievers can be aggressive if they were abused as a puppy. However, most Golden Retrievers with a healthy upbringing show no signs of aggression.

Don’t tell the reader what you’re going to talk about in the rest of the article. You’ll do that in the next paragraph.

I’ve seen some writers end the answer paragraph by saying something along the lines of “This article will discuss this answer in more detail.”

Please don’t say anything like that in the answer paragraph. It doesn’t add anything of value to the answer. That type of sentence is what the “read on” paragraph is for (which we’ll discuss in a bit).

**2. Don’t just answer the question. Give extra context. Describe why the answer is what it is.**

One example is this answer target for the article “Do Hot Air Balloons Hit the Ground Hard?”

Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard. When landing a hot air balloon, the pilot will gradually let air out of the parachute valve at the top of the balloon. While the landing might involve a few bumps, this venting procedure allows for a gradual descent and a soft landing.

If I were to strictly answer the question, my answer target would simply be “Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard.”

However, that’s not helpful enough to win the snippet. You need to provide additional context, and in this case, explaining why hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard is what should make up the bulk of the answer target.

3. The first sentence should start by rephrasing the article title.

Rephrasing the article title in the first sentence of the answer target increases the chance that Google will pick up the answer target for a featured snippet.

4. The entire paragraph cannot be more than 300 characters in length.

The maximum character count that Google allows in a paragraph snippet is 300 characters. This includes spaces.

Note that this is characters, not words. A character consists of a single letter, symbol, or space.

You can check your character count in Google Docs by highlighting your paragraph and clicking Ctrl + Shift + C. Alternatively, you can copy/paste it into wordcounter.net.

Try to get as close to 300 characters as possible. More context (as long as it’s relevant) is always better.

5. Don’t start your answer with pronouns like “it” or “they”.

Restate the subject, even if it feels repetitive when read in the context of the rest of the blog post.

Don’t start your answer paragraph with this: They don’t hit the ground hard.

Do start your answer paragraph with this: Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard.

6. The answer paragraph should be bolded.

Bolding the answer paragraph helps Google recognize that this bit of text is important. It increases the likelihood that Google will choose it for the featured snippet.

7. Do not answer questions with a yes or no.

Don’t start your answer target with a yes or a no.

Don’t do this: No, hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard.

Do this: Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard.

Example Paragraph Answer Target:

Article title: Does a Fan Make a Room Hotter?

Answer paragraph: Fans make a room slightly hotter because the fan motor produces a small amount of heat, which is then distributed into the room. However, the practical effect of this is negligible. Unless you’re in a tiny sealed room, the heat will dissipate and make no real impact on the room’s temperature.

Article title: Do Hot Air Balloons Hit the Ground Hard?

Answer target: Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard. When landing a hot air balloon, an experienced pilot will gradually let air out of the parachute valve at the top of the balloon. While the landing might involve a few bumps, this venting procedure allows for a gradual descent and a soft landing.

Article title: 9 Best Camping Grills for Families

Answer target: The best camping grills for families will be portable and compact, yet large enough to cook ample food for the whole family. Folding legs and wheels are a must-have feature, and a propane-powered grill will make it easy to bring enough fuel to ensure everyone gets cooked food.

For “Best Product” articles like the one above, use the answer paragraph to list the most important features that the reader should look for when they’re shopping.

Article title: 11 Ways to Make Venus Flytraps Grow Faster

Answer target: If you want to make your Venus Flytraps grow faster, it’s essential your pot has ample drainage, your soil contains sphagnum moss, and your Flytrap gets plenty of sunlight. These plants have sensitive roots and are impacted greatly by their environment, so you must account for all of these factors.

For general list articles like the one above, use the answer paragraph to highlight the most important tips and explain why those tips are important.

Article title: How to Win a Construction Bid

Answer target: To win a construction bid, you need to analyze the competition, highlight your company’s strengths, and set reasonable deadlines. Work with your customers to prevent your company from blending in with the rest of the bidders. Stick with your prices and keep them close to other companies’ prices.

For how-to articles like the one above, use the answer paragraph to provide a brief summary of the most important steps in the process.

Article title: Vornado 6303DC Review: Is It Worth It?

Answer target: The Vornado 6303DC is an excellent fan for the money. It has a remote, 99 fan speeds, low vibrations, uses up to 80% less energy than normal fans, and moves air up to 85 feet away. The only downsides are that it can get noisy at high speeds and you need to manually adjust the height.

For product review posts like the one above, use the answer paragraph to give your general view of the product (is it good or bad?) and then list the major pros and cons of the product.

List Answer Targets

While you will always use a paragraph answer target, some articles also require a list answer target.

You’ll create your list answer target in either the H2 or H3 subheadings of your article. Here’s an example:

General List Post: 11 Easy Ways to Keep Your Garage Gym Cool
How to Post (General Guide): How to Take Care of Your Senior Mastiff
How to Post (Step-By-Step Guide): How to Cool a Room with Ice (9 Easy Steps)
Best Product Post: 7 Best Grills for Small Balcony

In most instances, it is best to simply make the list items or steps the H2 subheadings.

However, in some instances where the topic is particularly complex, you’ll want to make an H2 subheading with the article title and then list the list items or steps as H3 subheadings below that H2 subheading. That leaves you free to use the other H2 subheadings to provide additional context.

Here’s an example: How to Get Protein While Juicing

How to Write List Answer Target Subheadings

Use standalone statements. Make sure the subheading makes total sense without the need for input from the article.

To win the snippet, your list items need to make perfect sense without any input from the article. They need to “stand alone” because they will be displayed in the snippet on Google without any context from the article available.

Here are some examples of subheadings that don’t stand alone and should be avoided:

Use This Tip to Help Any Dog Lose Weight

This does not state what the tip is. It requires context from the article to make sense.

NEVER Break the Cardinal Rule of Dating

Again, it doesn’t state what the tip is and requires context.

Remember the 70/30 Principle

What is the 70/30 principle? Most searchers won’t know what that is and you need to be more specific.

Make sure your subheadings are a maximum of 50 characters.

Don’t go over 50 characters in your subheadings.

Write in “Wikipedia style” — remove all personality.

As with the paragraph answer target, you’ll want to write like you’re writing for Wikipedia. Don’t include any personality or casual language. Be as direct and specific as possible.

Don’t use informal language.

Don’t use informal language like “You gotta”. Instead, use a formal alternative like “You must.”

Try to add at least 9 items to the list.

Lists with at least 9 list items are more likely to win the snippet.

Be specific.

Instead of using a vague subheading like “Gather your tools” use a subheading like “Gather nails, a screwdriver, and a hammer”

Table Answer Targets

If you feel an article warrants it, you can also add a table answer target.

This is pretty straightforward — just create a table and organize your information however you wish.

The table answer target is a secondary answer target. Google usually doesn’t use tables in snippets, but there are some instances where they will.

If you do add a table answer target, add it in the first 500 words.

Step 4: Write Your Introduction.

The introduction to every article consists of three separate paragraphs.

Paragraph 1: The “Lead-In” paragraph
Paragraph 2: The Paragraph Answer Target
Paragraph 3: The “Read On” paragraph.

We’ve already discussed the paragraph answer target in detail. I’ll discuss the other two paragraphs below:

The Lead-In Paragraph

The lead-in paragraph is the very first paragraph in the article.

This paragraph contains a maximum of 3 sentences. Its purpose is to “tee up” the answer paragraph.

It would be awkward if you started the article right off with the answer paragraph. To give the article a more human feel and to establish a rapport with the reader, you have to start the article with a paragraph that naturally eases the reader into the answer paragraph.

There are two ways you can tee up your answer target.

With a fact (use a different but related fact — don’t blend the lead in with the answer target)
Hot air balloons descend very quickly. In fact, they fall at 12 feet per second when in the air. This can lead some people to be concerned that they might hit the ground hard and hurt themselves.
Give a vague form of the answer
When I go to hot air balloon festivals, it seems like the incoming balloons are landing at a high rate of speed. However, the landing is actually quite soft and enjoyable.

The Answer Paragraph

Place your answer paragraph under the lead-in paragraph.

The Read-On Paragraph

The read-on paragraph contains a maximum of 3 sentences. Its purpose is to explain to the reader what the rest of the article is about and convince them to keep reading.

Example: The rest of this article will explain a few topics related to this question, including how fans work to generate heat, why the heat they generate won’t make a real difference in the room’s temperature, and how fans make you feel cooler if they don’t actually generate cold air.

Example Introduction

Do Hot Air Balloons Hit the Ground Hard?

Hot air balloons descend very quickly. In fact, they fall at 12 feet per second when in the air. This can lead some people to be concerned that they might hit the ground hard and hurt themselves.

Hot air balloons don’t hit the ground hard. When landing a hot air balloon, an experienced pilot will gradually let air out of the parachute valve at the top of the balloon. While the landing might involve a few bumps, this venting procedure allows for a gradual descent and a soft landing.

This article will discuss in detail why hot air balloon pilots can consistently make a soft and comfortable landing. I’ll also explain how hot air balloons work and discuss some of the precautions you can take to ensure your next flight is a safe one.

Step 5: Write Your Subheadings

Once you’ve done your prep research and created the introduction, it’s time to write your subheadings.

Question Posts

When writing question posts (example: Do Hot Air Balloons Hit the Ground Hard?) the first subheading should expand on the answer paragraph and provide additional context and information.

This is not an essay. Do not start the article with a subheading that is not relevant to the search query.

I’ve written a lot of essays, and I know that essay writing allows you to gradually build up to your ultimate point over the course of the essay. That’s not how this type of writing works. You want to get right to the point as soon as the article starts.

One of the most common mistakes I see new writers make is making the first subheading something that seems relevant to the topic at hand, but is ultimately irrelevant to the search query.

Let’s use the “Do Hot Air Balloons Hit the Ground Hard?” article as an example.

You’ve written the 3 paragraph introduction and need to expand on the answer target in your first subheading.

Some writers might make their first subheading “A History of Hot Air Balloons”

This is a bad first subheading. In fact, that subheading shouldn’t appear anywhere in the article.

Sure, it seems relevant at first glance — the article is about hot air balloons, after all.

But when you consider the search intent of the person typing “do hot air balloons hit the ground hard” into Google, you realize that it’s not a good subheading. If I’m searching for that query on Google, I’m not looking for an article that tells me a bunch of random facts about hot air balloons.

I’m looking for an article that explains why hot air balloons do or don’t hit the ground hard.

As such, the first subheading for that article should be an explanation of the answer: Why Hot Air Balloons Don’t Hit the Ground Hard. Then you might include some H3 subheadings under that H2 subheading that break the content in the subheading up into digestible groups of information.

H2: Why Hot Air Balloons Don’t Hit the Ground Hard
H3: How Hot Air Balloons Work
H3: The Standard Hot Air Balloon Descent Procedure

Coming up with the first H2 subheading in a question post is normally pretty easy. The challenge comes when you need to pick the next H2 subheadings.

To do that, you need to anticipate what the reader’s next question will be. Here’s my take on that:

H2: Why Hot Air Balloons Don’t Hit the Ground Hard
H3: How Hot Air Balloons Work
H3: The Standard Hot Air Balloon Descent Procedure
H2: How to Make a Hot Air Balloon Landing As Soft As Possible
H3: Try to Land on Grass
H3: Open the Parachute Vent As Little As Possible
H2: Hot Air Balloon Safety: Stats and Tips
H3: Hot Air Balloon Safety Statistics
H3: Hot Air Balloon Safety Tips
H4: Check Your Balloon for Rips
H4: Ensure the Basket is Firmly Secured
H4: Check the Weather Before Launching
H2: Final Thoughts

As you can see, the subheadings get progressively less relevant to the search query. However, they become less relevant in a chronological order, and all of the subheadings still involve information that the searcher will likely find interesting.

The main goal with all of this is to keep the reader on the page for the longest amount of time possible. Session time is one of Google’s most important ranking factors, and the reader is more likely to keep reading and spending time on the page if the subheadings are relevant.

List Posts/How To Posts/Best Product Posts

These subheadings should be easier to come up with.

In list posts you will add the list items as H2 subheadings and then provide context and additional info as H3 subheadings underneath each H2 subheading.

In how to posts, you’ll normally add the steps required to complete the task as H2 subheadings. In some instances, you might have the steps in H3 subheadings so that you can add other necessary information in other H2 subheadings.

In best product posts, you’ll simply list each product name as an H2 subheading. Make sure to embed a link to the product.

Also, make sure that any products you recommend are from Amazon.com unless otherwise specified.

Step 6: Write the Content

Now it’s time to write the content.

I’m not going to give too many tips on how to actually write, as I’m working with you because you’re already a good writer. There are still a few things to want to cover, though.

Do not write content for the sake of filling word count

Don’t add general information that doesn’t add anything of value to the article.

Example: Do Rats Make a Purring Sound?

Read through the first 3 sentences of the first subheading (I’ve bolded them). They add nothing to the article, and while everything the writer is saying is true, it doesn’t belong in a subheading about the sounds that rats make.

Use first-person singular (Use “I” instead of “we”)

When writing these articles, you should pretend you’re explaining something to your neighbor. Use “I” instead of “we” as it’s more personal.

For example, if you’re recommending a product, say “I recommend this product because…” instead of “We recommend this product because…”

Make sure all paragraphs are a maximum of 5 lines

If you go over 5 lines, split the paragraph into two new paragraphs.

You don’t want to write walls of text because it’s hard to read on the web (especially on phones) and will make readers annoyed with the content.

Make it skimmable

Use the following formatting options to make the content as skimmable as possible:

Add subheadings (H2, H3, H4) often. These help organize the content into chunks that are easily readable. They also help with SEO. Your articles should not be a couple of H2 subheadings followed by long chains of paragraphs. You should break down the information into subheadings, bullet points, and ordered lists as much as possible.
Use bullet points. Use bullet points when listing a series of items and it doesn’t matter what order the items are in.
Use numbered lists. Use numbered lists when giving step-by-step instructions on how to do something.

Instead of this:

First, heat the stove to 400 degrees. Then, fill the pot with water. After that, pour the pasta in the pot. Wait 10 minutes until the pasta is cooked, then pour the pasta into a strainer before serving.

Write this:

Heat the stove to 400 degrees.
Fill the pot with water.
Pour the pasta in the pot.
Wait 10 minutes until the pasta is cooked.
Pour the pasta into a strainer before serving.

Use proper paragraph spacing. As mentioned, each paragraph should have a maximum of five lines.
When you have more than one sentence in your bulleted or numbered list, bold the first sentence. This makes it easier for readers to understand the main point that the bullet point is trying to make. The bulleted list I’m using here is an example.
Add relevant YouTube videos. YouTube videos add to the user experience, so please add them to articles whenever you can.

Use a conversational tone

This is not an encyclopedia entry. Write like you’re having a one-way conversation with your neighbor.

Use transition words and sentences

Don’t write a series of statements without using transition words.

Remember, this is supposed to be a conversation. Your posts will be hard to read if you rattle off facts like a robot without humanizing the post by adding transition words and sentences.

Using transitions will also make it easier to guide your reader through the article.

Using words like “However” makes it clear to the reader that you have a counterpoint to make, and using words like “Also” makes it clear to the reader that you have an additional point to add.

Don’t repeat the same word over and over again.

Don’t do this: Your puppy should be on a leash at all times. If they start investigating a bush during your walk, gently pull them away from the plant. Your puppy will learn that it should avoid dallying on your walks over time.

Try to find different pronouns or nouns to intersperse so that you don’t use the same noun over and over.

Don’t use hard-to-understand words or jargon

The average person reads at an eighth-grade level. Most of the content you’re writing is targeting people with average or below-average reading capabilities, so it’s essential that they are able to understand what you’re saying.

If you’re stuck between two different words, go for the word that’s easier to understand.

You should also avoid industry jargon, as most people won’t understand what you’re saying if you use words that only experts on the topic would understand.

If you do need to use jargon for the article to make sense, you should explicitly explain what any jargon words mean before you start using them freely.

There is one exception: occasionally, you’ll have to write content that is targeting experts instead of the average person. If this is the case, you can use jargon.

However, you should still avoid using hard to understand words even if you’re writing for experts. Even professors will find content that uses basic words easier to read than content that uses complex words.

Don’t Simply Re-list What Other Articles Have

When writing list posts or “Best Product” articles, don’t just list the products listed in another “Best Product” article. Go through forums, search through Amazon and read reviews, and do as much original research as possible. Good articles will add value to the search results. If you’re just copying what someone else has already listed, the article likely won’t rank as well in Google.

Step 7: Write the Conclusion

You should finish each article off with a ~100 word conclusion that summarizes the main points you made in the article.

Don’t go over 100 words here, as a longer than necessary conclusion can come off as fluff, which will both hurt the article’s chance of ranking and make the client unhappy.

Step 8: Optimize for SEO and Monetization

Link to relevant products on Amazon

If you ever find an opportunity to link to a relevant product on Amazon, please do. This will help clients earn more money from the article in the form of affiliate products.

Only link to products on Amazon.com. Do not link to products from Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.in, etc. unless specifically asked to do so.

When you do link to a product on Amazon, please add the name of the product and embed a link to the product in the name.

Do this: If you need to cool down after a run, I recommend this 3-piece set of YQXCC Cooling Towels from Amazon.com.

Don’t do this: If you need to cool down after a run, I recommend this 3-piece set of cooling towels from Amazon.com.

Make sure you don’t add the entire product name. The above sentence would look pretty stupid if we used the full product name (YQXCC Cooling Towel 3 Pcs (47"x12") Microfiber Towel for Instant Cooling Relief, Cool Cold Towel for Yoga Golf Travel Gym Sport Camping Football & Outdoor Sports) instead of just the essential information (YQXCC Cooling Towels)

Also, some list articles (example: “Best Cooling Towels for Runners”) will ask you to make a list of products. The product names will be the subheadings, and you should add your links directly to the subheadings.

Here’s what I mean:

Best Foods for Senior Dogs

When you’re transitioning over to senior dry food, you want to make sure that you’re giving your Mastiff a high-quality food that’ll help him stay healthy for years to come. Here are three of our top choices for senior dog foods.

Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula

This recipe is perfect for your aging Mastiff. Not only does it include glucosamine and chondroitin to help ease the joint pain of your Mastiff, but it also offers an ideal combination of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals to keep your Mastiff healthy and active for longer!

NUTRO Wholesome Essentials Large Breed Adult & Senior Dry Dog Food, Chicken

The recipe for this dry food includes chondroitin and glucosamine but also takes into consideration the actual nutritional benefit of each ingredient. Your Mastiff deserves the best, and that’s why this recipe is made entirely of non-GMO, all-natural ingredients.

Eukanuba Large Breed Senior Dry Dog Food

This dry food recipe isn’t only a great choice to ensure joint and bone health as your Mastiff ages. It also includes approximately 50% more glucosamine than typical senior foods and decent levels of DHA and antioxidants to ensure a strong immune system and healthy organs in your Mastiff.

Also, when linking to an Amazon product, make sure to remove all information after the ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number) from the URL before embedding the link.

The ASIN is the string of characters and numbers that comes after the initial Amazon URL information: Here’s an example: B01EINBA76

Do this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EINBA76
Don’t do this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EINBA76?pf_rd_r=3RSD6AG5SVCCXH0RGBQX&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee

This is important, because some Amazon links can contain affiliate tags from other website owners. If we include those tags, our clients will end up making money for their competitors instead of themselves.

Also, when you recommend a product, don’t just mention it. Try to sell the product and encourage the reader to buy it.

There are two ways you should do this:

Give people reasons to click on the link and buy the product. Mention some of the product’s features and explain how they can help the reader.
Let them know where they’re going. Say “I recommend this 3-piece set of YQXCC Cooling Towels from Amazon.com.” instead of “I recommend this 3-piece set of YQXCC Cooling Towels.

Outbound linking

Outbound linking simply means embedding a link to another website in your article.

This is essential. If you don’t have any outbound links in your articles, you’re doing something wrong, and I’ll probably send the article back for revision so that you can add links.

There are a few instances in which you would want to embed an outbound link:

When you get a fact or statistic from a specific website

Example: According to Hosting Facts, 4 million blog posts come out every single day.
Example: According to a study examining a 20-year period spanning the 1980s and 1990s, Taiwan is hit by an average of 3.7 typhoons per year. And Taiwan’s own Central Weather Bureau backs this up, stating that, on average, between three and four typhoons hit Taiwan each year.
Example: Typhoons only form at latitudes greater than 5 degrees north and 5 degrees south of the earth’s equator. The reason behind this is a certain force that arises from the earth’s rotation, called the Coriolis force, which is zero at the equator.

Link to pages that explain words or phrases that readers might be unfamiliar with or might want more information about

Example: As the air blown by the fan passes over your skin and the sweat that your sweat glands release, it helps to cool you off by enabling two processes: evaporation and convection.
Example: If you want to reduce friction when drilling, use a black oxide drill bit.
Example: German Pinschers are excellent show dogs.
Example: Loam is a type of soil composed of sand, silt, and clay.
Example: Monsoons are separate from typhoons. While both bring large amounts of rain, a monsoon is not a single storm like a typhoon is. It’s a seasonal shift in winds that causes a significant increase or decrease in rainfall.

Wikipedia is usually the best website to link to, though you can use other authoritative sites if they seem like they explain the topic better.

When you mention a person, location, company, or group

Location Example: If you’re looking for a classy place in Washington D.C. to grab a drink near the Washington Monument, the Round Robin Bar is an excellent choice.
If the destination doesn’t seem to have a website, look for a Facebook page maintained by the owners of the destination. If you can’t find a website or a Facebook page, link to the TripAdvisor listing. If none of those exist, you don’t have to add a link.
Person Example: The first bread slicing machine was invented by Otto Frederick Rohwetter in 1927.
Try to link to Wikipedia pages or personal websites when mentioning people
Company Example: The Bethlehem Steel Corporation was one of the largest U.S. steel manufacturing corporations in the 20th century. Since the company folded in 2003, that title now belongs to the Nucor Corporation.
Link to the company’s website if the company is still operational. If the company no longer exists, link to its Wikipedia page.
Group/Organization Example: The Anaheim police force had a deadly clash with members of the Ku Klux Klan in 2016.
If the group or organization still exists, link to their website. If they no longer exist ‒ or if the organization doesn’t have a website ‒ link to the Wikipedia page.

A few more notes on linking

Notice that when I link to words or phrases, I’m only linking to the more complex topics. Most people know what a drill is, what show dogs are, and what soil is. Whole Wikipedia pages exist for those topics, but linking to them would be redundant and annoy readers ‒ so I didn’t link to them.
Think of links like you think of using spices in cooking. All recipes call for some type of spice ‒ without it, the meal would be bland and unappetizing. But too much spice can ruin the meal.
You should only link to something the first time you mention them. If you mentioned German Pinschers four times in the article, you only need to provide a Wikipedia link the first time you mention it.
Here’s the takeaway: link when it’s genuinely helpful ‒ don’t link for the sake of it.

Whenever you include a measurement, show it in both imperial and metric format

Most blog posts will be viewed by readers from both America and other countries. As such, we need to make sure that all measurements are displayed in both imperial (American) and metric format.

Example: If you do plan to visit Taiwan during the typhoon season, be prepared for average temperatures to soar to more than 30°C (86°F) during the months of June, July, and August.
Example: The wettest typhoon ever to be recorded, the infamous Typhoon Morakot of 2009, caused a staggering 3,060 mm (120 inches) of rainfall in the mountainous township of Alishan.
Example: An adult Mastiff can eat up to 1.2kg (2.6 lbs) of food per day.

Step 9: Document ALL of your Sources

Make sure you add all sources to the end of the article. Place them in Website: Page Title format.

Your sources list should look like this:

Sources

Add every source you use, even if you only read it for a few seconds.

Note: Sources do not count as word count as far as payment is concerned. Make sure you check how many words the sources section is using and add an equivalent amount to the content.

Step 10: Check for plagiarism

We have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to plagiarism. If you research and write correctly you should have no problems with this. However, if you’re at all concerned about plagiarism, I recommend checking your article in Copyscape before submitting it.

Step 11: Add Relevant YouTube videos

If you want a great low-impact workout, here’s a 30-minute training video from Jordan Yeoh:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6yv8Ag-PHg