Rebuilding Rob

What are your strategies for SEO?

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I have to admit that it’s only in the last year or so that I’ve learned much of anything about SEO (Search Engine Optimization)—the practice of using specific keywords and formatting so search engines like Google can index your writing and send relevant web traffic your way.

It feels a little odd at times—almost like you’re writing for a mathematical algorithm rather than actual human beings. But the reality is that search algorithms prioritize specific keywords to rank pages higher. In a sense, you end up writing for the algorithm just so you can reach the people.

I looked into some of the paid SEO apps, but when I learned it could take up to six months to see results, I decided to go with something a little more budget-friendly. On WordPress, if you aren’t using a premium plug-in, optimizing the post excerpt is really your best lever. Before I started playing around with SEO, my excerpts were literally just pulled directly from the post itself—usually a quote or a line I thought was particularly profound. Now, I depend on AI to help bridge that gap. I feed my completed post into AI and ask it to generate an optimized, search-friendly excerpt.

I know the topic of AI can be a divisive one. However, it’s worth noting that Google Gemini—my preferred choice—is free, as are the built-in tools on WordPress.

Since making that tweak, I’ve seen a definite uptick in traffic. My numbers started picking up within a week or two. Not that my stats are absolute gangbusters—they are modest for a low-tier, personal blog—but I’m happy with the growth I’ve built over the last few years. In fact, after ending last year just over 18,000 views, I set a goal for 2026 of hitting 20,000 annual views (which I talked about recently in my post, 20,000 Views!).

Still, I don’t think I’ll ever fully understand the mystery of why certain posts blow up. For instance, a review I wrote a couple of years ago on the 1992 film adaptation of Of Mice and Men somehow gets more hits than almost anything else I’ve published recently. I can only assume high school students across the country are stumbling across it late at night while working on an English assignment!

To be honest, I don’t really have immediate plans to monetize this blog. I’ve put a little money into it—registering my domain name and subscribing to the basic personal plan to keep it ad-free and gain extra media storage. But if I ever want to get super serious about massive traffic or monetization, I’d eventually have to invest more capital. There’s a brief throwaway line in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off where a businessman on the phone says, “You have to spend money to make money,” and that might just be the most universal law of business.

I’d love to hear from my fellow bloggers and readers: What experiences or strategies have you had with SEO on your own sites?

Rebuild a life takes grit, consistency, and a lot of ‘Option C’ thinking. Having crossed the 1,000-day milestone, I’m now charting the territory beyond. The mission remains the same: No glitz. Just the work. New to the blog? Start your journey here to see the blueprint and the ‘Tricorder’ perspective behind the rebuild.

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like 👍, comment and subscribe below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media and check out my recent posts:

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AI art created by Google Gemini

the article. “Writing for Algorithms to Reach the Humans” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob