Writing a blog that ranks – and actually converts – is more than just putting your thoughts into words. At TJA Strategies, I help clients shape their content into something both meaningful and discoverable. And the good news? You don’t have to do it alone. With the right SEO tool (like SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz) and a bit of help from ChatGPT, you can level up your blog game without losing your voice.
Let’s break down how I guide clients from “here’s my draft” to “this blog is bringing in traffic and building authority.”
Step 1: Write First, Optimize Later
Don’t start with keywords – start with what you know. Write your blog the way you’d naturally talk to your audience. Whether you’re telling a personal story, explaining a process, or answering a question your clients always ask, focus on clarity and connection.
Once you’ve got a draft, that’s where the fun begins.
Step 2: Use an SEO Tool to Analyze and Refine
Whether you use SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, Ubersuggest, or another SEO platform, these tools help you understand how to make your blog more visible.
Keyword Research
Start by typing your blog’s core topic into your SEO tool of choice. You’re looking for:
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Primary keywords with a good mix of search volume and reasonable competition
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Long-tail variations and questions people are actually searching for
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Localized phrases if your business serves a specific area
Save your top keywords and group them into primary and secondary buckets. You’ll use them naturally throughout your blog, not just stuffed into headings.
SEO Content Guidelines
Most SEO platforms now offer a “content template” or “content optimizer” tool. This gives you:
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Recommended word count
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Keyword density suggestions
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Readability targets (grade level, sentence structure)
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Examples of top-ranking competitor content
This data gives you a clear idea of how your blog compares to what’s already ranking – and what you can do better.
Step 3: Let ChatGPT Help You Polish
Once you’ve got your data, bring ChatGPT into the mix. But here’s the key: ChatGPT is only as good as the prompt you give it.
Think of a prompt like a GPS. If you just say “take me somewhere,” it’ll get confused or generic. If you say “take me to a vegan restaurant within 5 miles that’s open now,” you’ll get something way more useful.
Here’s how to construct a strong prompt:
1. Be specific about the task.
Instead of: “Rewrite this blog”
Try: “Rewrite this introduction to include the keyword ‘AI content optimization’ and match a friendly, expert tone. Keep it under 100 words.”
2. Give context.
Let ChatGPT know your audience, your tone, your goals.
Example:
“My blog is for small business owners who don’t know much about SEO. Rewrite this section to simplify technical language and use everyday examples.”
3. Set constraints.
Boundaries help AI focus. Think word count, tone, reading level, or even formatting.
Example:
“Summarize the key points in this blog into 5 bullet points at a 9th-grade reading level.”
4. Ask follow-up questions.
Once you get a response, refine it.
“Can you make that a little more concise?”
“Add an internal link to a blog post on social media strategy.”
“Now give me a variation in a more casual voice.”
Great prompts = great output. And just like anything, it gets easier the more you do it.
Step 4: Link It All Together
Internal linking is one of the most underrated SEO moves out there. It’s easy to forget, especially if you’re in the writing zone. But internal links:
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Help search engines understand the structure of your site
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Keep people on your site longer
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Drive traffic to key service pages, blog categories, or calls to action
Go back through your blog and look for natural spots to link:
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Mentioned services? Link to those pages.
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Referenced older blog posts? Link ‘em.
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Quoted a team member or case study? That’s a great link opportunity.
Pro tip: Make your anchor text relevant and readable. Avoid phrases like “click here” – opt for something more descriptive, like “learn more about our SEO audit process.”
Step 5: Make It Easy to Read
Even the smartest blog post will fall flat if it’s hard to read. Luckily, your SEO tool (or a writing app like Hemingway or Grammarly) will flag readability issues like:
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Long, winding sentences
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Passive voice
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Repetitive phrases or filler words
Aim for content that reads at around a 7th- to 9th-grade level. That doesn’t mean dumbing things down – it means making them easy to understand. Keep paragraphs short, use subheadings generously, and lean into bullet lists when it makes sense.
Step 6: Final SEO Pass
Before you publish, double-check these essentials:
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✅ The title includes your main keyword and speaks to a real pain point or benefit
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✅ Your meta description is engaging and under 160 characters
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✅ Images have relevant alt text
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✅ You’ve included 3–5 internal links and at least one strong CTA
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✅ The blog length matches or exceeds what your SEO tool recommends
This final pass ensures your blog doesn’t just sound great – it performs well, too.
Bonus: Turn One Blog into Many Pieces of Content
Once your blog is live, don’t let it sit. Repurpose it into bite-sized content for your social channels. Ask ChatGPT to:
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Summarize it into a LinkedIn post
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Break it into 5 tweet-sized takeaways
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Turn it into a short Instagram Reel or TikTok script
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Rewrite it as an email newsletter intro
This keeps your messaging consistent while saving you time.
Wrapping It Up
Optimizing your blog doesn’t mean sacrificing your voice. It’s about layering strategy on top of good storytelling. Whether you’re using SEMrush, Ahrefs, Moz, or another SEO tool, and whether you’re refining your copy with ChatGPT, you’re in control. These tools are here to assist – not replace – your creativity.
Just remember: the key to using ChatGPT well is learning how to talk to it. Master your prompts, and the rest becomes a whole lot easier.
If you’ve got a draft you’re sitting on and want a second pair of eyes (or prompts), hit me up. Together we can turn that post into a high-performing piece of content.
– TJ
