Getting Started With Blog Posts

Objective

Learn how to create and publish blog articles on your NextPaw website using the Blog feature. This guide also offers tips to improve visibility and engagement with your content.

Why Use Blog Posts?

Regularly publishing blog posts is one of the most effective strategies for improving your website's visibility in search engines like Google. Blog content allows you to target specific keywords, answer customer questions, and demonstrate your expertise—all of which contribute to stronger SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Here's how blog posts help boost your site's SEO:

Keyword Targeting: Each blog post is an opportunity to focus on specific phrases your customers are searching for, like “Is raw food safe for puppies?” or “Best supplements for senior cats.” When your post matches a user’s search, Google is more likely to show your site in the results.
Fresh Content: Search engines favor websites that are regularly updated. Consistent blogging shows your site is active and relevant, which can positively impact your rankings.
Internal Linking: Blog posts can link to other pages on your website (like product or category pages), helping both users and search engines better navigate your content.
Increased Time on Site: High-quality blog content keeps users engaged longer, which signals to search engines that your site provides value.
Long-Tail Search Visibility: Many blog titles and topics are phrased as natural questions or niche topics. These “long-tail” searches may have lower competition, giving your posts a better chance of ranking.

Beyond SEO, blogging also builds trust with your audience. When you use your blog to answer common questions or share insights, it positions your business as a helpful, knowledgeable resource—bringing customers back to your site again and again.

How to Add a Blog Post

Access the Blog Section
- From the NextPaw Dashboard, select Marketing from the left-hand menu.
- Select Blog.
- Click Add Post in the top right corner.
Enter Blog Content
- Add a Title that reflects the topic or question being answered.
- Written By: Add the author’s name to give your blog a personal or expert touch.
- Category: Choose a broad topic area for your post (e.g., Nutrition, Training).
- Tags: Add specific keywords to describe the content (e.g., raw food, puppies, dog health).
- Publish Date: Set the date you want the post to go live on your website. This allows for scheduling future content.
- In the Description field, write the body of your article. This is where you can add text, images, videos, or even PDF downloads. Use the editor toolbar to format your content and add media.
- Image Upload: Upload a blog cover image that will appear as the featured image for the post.
- Canva Integration: If you’d like to design your own cover image, click the Canva button to launch the editor and create a custom graphic directly within the platform.

Set Visibility Options

Control how and when your blog post appears on your website by choosing one of the following options:

Location: If your account has multiple locations, select the specific location(s) where the blog post should appear.
Published: The post will be immediately visible on your website after saving.
Unpublished: The post will remain hidden until the Publish Date you set. It will automatically go live on that date.
Draft: Save your work without publishing. This allows you to return and complete the blog post later.

Save and Publish
- Click Save or Publish to make it live on your website.

Final Tips

Use real customer questions as blog titles to naturally match search queries.
Include 1–2 high-quality images to increase engagement.
Link to related products, services, or FAQs within the article.
Share each blog post on your social media platforms to increase reach.
Post consistently (at least once a month) to stay active in search results.

Need Help?
If you need assistance with creating or managing your blog posts, reach out to our team at Support@NextPaw.com.