How To Add SEO To Blogger? | Quick Wins Guide

To add SEO on Blogger, turn on search settings, connect Search Console, and polish titles, links, images, speed, and robots tags.

You can tune a Blogspot site without code. Start with the built-in search settings, then layer in fast templates, clear navigation, and tidy on-page basics. This guide shows the setup path that works for new and long-running blogs alike.

Add Search Optimization To Blogger: Fast Setup

Before theme tweaks or plugins, lock down the platform settings that help Google crawl and show your pages. The list below covers the core switches and where to find them in the dashboard.

Quick Setup Checklist

Step	Where In Blogger	What To Change
Turn On Search Description	Settings → Meta Tags	Enable site search description; add a crisp 150–160 char summary
Enable Custom Robots Header Tags	Settings → Crawlers And Indexing	Switch on; allow index, follow on posts/pages; noarchive if you prefer
Decide On A Custom robots.txt	Settings → Crawlers And Indexing	Use Blogger default or add a minimal file that points to /sitemap.xml
Verify Site Ownership	Search Console	Add property; verify via HTML tag or DNS; submit sitemap
Use HTTPS And Redirect	Settings → HTTPS	Turn on HTTPS availability and HTTPS redirect
Pick A Clean, Mobile Theme	Theme	Choose a responsive template; keep fonts readable and colors accessible
Connect A Custom Domain	Settings → Publishing	Add a domain; set www redirect; keep one preferred version
Set Custom Redirects	Settings → Errors And Redirects	Map old URLs to new paths after restructures
Show Posts Per Page	Theme → Customize → Blog Settings	Use a modest count (5–8) for faster listing pages
Add Favicon And Logo	Layout Or Settings	Brand pages; keep file sizes light

Write Pages That Win The Click

Search visitors skim. Give them clarity fast. Titles should match intent, intros should answer the question, and subheads should mirror the outline of your post. Keep sentences tight and avoid fluff.

Titles And Snippets That Pull Traffic

Create human-first page titles with the topic near the front. In the post editor, add a short search description. That text can appear in the result snippet, so write it like a mini pitch that sets reader expectations.

URL Paths And Internal Links

Blogger builds post URLs from titles. Edit the permalink before you publish to keep it short and readable. Link related posts with clear anchor text. Use breadcrumb-style links near the top so readers can hop to category hubs.

Make Crawling And Indexing Easy

Search engines find and evaluate pages through sitemaps, robots controls, and clean HTML. Blogger handles much of this, but a few switches matter.

Sitemaps On Blogspot

Blogger exposes a feed-based sitemap at /sitemap.xml. Add it in Search Console to surface new posts quickly. For large archives, also add the paginated sitemaps at /sitemap.xml?page=1, page=2, and so on.

Robots Header Tags Without Guesswork

For most blogs, let posts and pages be indexed and followed. Turn on all and index for posts, keep noindex for search/label pages if thin. Leave noarchive to taste. Avoid nocache lore and other myths.

Robots.txt: Simple Wins

You can keep the platform default or add a small file. A lean example allows everything and points bots at the sitemap. Skip long disallow lists that block labels or archives unless you have a clear reason.

Connect Search Console And Track Health

Search Console shows coverage, enhancements, and query data. Verify the blog, submit the sitemap, and watch the Indexing and Pages reports. Fix soft 404s, redirect chains, and templating errors early.

What To Check Each Week

Indexing: pages discovered vs. indexed; odd spikes
Core Web Vitals: any red bars on mobile
Manual actions and security: should be empty
Top queries and pages: look for new entrants to build on

Follow Google’s Own Playbook

When in doubt, rely on official guidance. The SEO Starter Guide explains on-page basics, site structure, and linking patterns that help search engines understand your blog. For page-level crawl controls, see Google’s robots meta tags reference.

On-Page Habits That Compound

Great templates help, but posts win rankings. Build a writing routine that checks a few boxes every time you publish.

Headings That Map The Topic

Use one H1 (your post title). Break sections with H2s and H3s in order. Each subhead should predict the content beneath it, not tease it. That pattern makes your page easy to skim and improves passage relevance.

Media That Loads Fast

Compress images before upload, add alt text that states what’s in the picture, and prefer modern formats when your theme supports them. Avoid decorative images at the top that push the intro below the first screen.

Content That Stays Fresh

Evergreen posts can slip as facts change. Set a review cadence, refresh screenshots, and update numbers. Keep one visible date via your theme and use the modified date field in your CMS if available.

Theme Tweaks That Move The Needle

You don’t need a full redesign to improve speed and clarity. A few quick edits tighten the experience across devices.

Faster Pages

Replace heavy sliders with a single hero image or, better yet, lead with text.
Lazy-load below-the-fold images; most modern themes handle this automatically.
Resize large images before upload; aim for display size and compress to under 200 KB when possible.
Remove counters, badge farms, and bloated share bars that inject third-party scripts.

Clean Navigation

Use a simple top menu, visible search, and a footer with key links. Label pages clearly. Category hubs should show the best posts, not every item in a long scroll.

Structured Data, Used Wisely

Many themes include basic schema. Add only the types that match your content. Don’t mark up pages as recipes or how-tos unless they truly fit. Quality beats quantity.

Post-Level Settings You Should Use

Every post offers small choices that add up. Set them once, then keep the habit.

Smart Permalinks

Edit the custom permalink before publishing to keep it short, descriptive, and stable. Avoid dates unless you publish news. If you must change a URL later, add a custom redirect.

Labels With Purpose

Labels create topical clusters. Use a few that reflect real sections of your site. Don’t create dozens that only appear once.

Image Alt Text And Captions

Describe the subject in alt text so screen readers and search engines can parse the image. Use captions when a picture needs context or attribution.

Recommended Robots Header Tag Defaults

If you enabled custom robots header tags, these are sensible starting points for most blogs. Adjust if you run a shop, paywall, or heavy archives.

Page Type	Index/Follow	Notes
Posts & Static Pages	index, follow	Let them rank; add max-image-preview:large if your theme supports it
Search/Label Listings	noindex, follow	Keep link equity flowing without indexing thin lists
Error Pages	noindex, nofollow	Avoid surfacing 404s and 500s in search
Admin/Utility	noindex, nofollow	Block dashboards and utility paths if exposed

Common Mistakes And Easy Fixes

Overlong Titles

If titles get clipped on mobile, trim modifiers and keep the hook near the front. Match the wording readers use in search, not clever puns.

Thin Tag Pages

Label pages with one or two posts waste crawl budget. Use fewer, stronger labels and link them from the menu only when they add value.

Heavy Sidebars

Widgets that load external scripts slow pages and crowd the view. Keep essentials: search, brief about, and a small list of top posts.

Step-By-Step: Exact Click Path In Settings

If you want the fast route, run through these steps in one sitting. You’ll turn on the right options and avoid traps that cause index bloat.

Open Settings → Meta Tags and enable the site search description. Write a one-line summary with your main topics and audience.
Go to Settings → Crawlers And Indexing, switch on custom robots header tags.
Click Edit under posts and pages. Tick all and index. Leave noarchive unchecked unless you want to hide cached pages.
Open the options for archive and search pages. Tick noindex and leave follow on.
If you expose a feed page or special utility page, set those to noindex.
Decide whether you need a custom robots.txt. If yes, keep it short and include a single Sitemap: line to your feed sitemap.
Under Settings → Publishing, add your domain and follow the DNS prompts from your registrar. When it resolves, set one preferred version (with or without www) and keep internal links consistent.
Under Settings → HTTPS, enable availability and redirect so every visit lands on the secure version.
In Search Console, add the property, verify, and submit the sitemap. Check the Pages and Sitemaps reports after a day or two.

Core Web Vitals On Blogger

Speed and stability affect real users. You don’t need a dev team to raise scores, but you do need restraint with widgets and media. Start with the layout shift culprits and image delays that readers feel the most.

Quick Wins

Replace heavy sliders with a single hero image or, better yet, lead with text.
Lazy-load below-the-fold images; most modern themes handle this automatically.
Resize large images before upload; aim for display size and compress to under 200 KB when possible.
Remove counters, badge farms, and bloated share bars that inject third-party scripts.

Category Hubs That Build Topical Depth

Instead of long, infinite label pages, create hub pages with a short intro, a curated list of internal links, and a clear path to related guides. These hubs help readers move through your best work and show the shape of your site to search engines.

Editorial Rhythm And Pruning

Publishing on a schedule helps you spot gaps. Each quarter, merge near-duplicates, redirect weak posts into stronger ones, and upgrade any article that gets traffic but leaves readers hanging. You’ll keep a tight library that earns trust.

Putting It All Together

Start with platform settings, link the site to Search Console, and publish helpful posts on a steady schedule. Use short titles, crisp snippets, clear links, and fast media. Revisit older pieces each quarter to keep facts current. That steady cadence gives readers a smooth experience and helps your site grow over time.