Blogger SEO Checklist: How to Rank a Free Blogger Site on Google

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When people compare Blogger and WordPress, the conversation usually ends with the same conclusion: "WordPress wins because of SEO plugins."

That assumption has discouraged countless beginners from starting a blog on Blogger. They believe that without plugins like Yoast or Rank Math, their posts will never appear on Google.

The truth is much simpler.

Google does not rank websites because they use SEO plugins. It ranks pages that are easy to crawl, answer searchers' questions, and provide a good user experience. SEO plugins simply make certain optimization tasks easier. Blogger already includes many of those features.

If you know where to find Blogger's built in SEO settings and combine them with Google Search Console, you can build a blog that has every opportunity to compete in Google's search results.

This checklist walks you through the essential Blogger SEO settings. No plugins. No coding. No expensive tools.

Can a Free Blogger Site Really Rank on Google?

Yes.

Blogger is owned by Google, but that does not give Blogger sites any ranking advantage. It also does not give them a disadvantage.

Google treats Blogger like any other website. Every page is evaluated according to the same ranking systems, including relevance, content quality, page experience, and many other signals.

Many Blogger websites receive thousands of visitors from Google every month because they consistently publish useful content and follow basic SEO practices.

The platform is not the obstacle. Most blogs struggle because they ignore SEO fundamentals.

Your Blogger SEO Checklist

Think of this as a pre launch and publishing checklist. Once these settings are complete, your attention should move toward creating useful content instead of chasing technical tricks.

1. Make Sure Search Engines Can Find Your Blog

This sounds obvious, but many new bloggers accidentally hide their blogs from search engines.

Open your Blogger dashboard and go to:

Settings → Privacy

Confirm that Visible to search engines is turned on.

If this setting is disabled, Google cannot properly discover and index your blog, regardless of how good your articles are.

Always verify this setting before publishing your first post.

2. Write a Strong Blog Description

Under Blogger's settings, you can add a search description for your website.

This description helps search engines understand what your blog is about. It may also appear beneath your homepage in search results.

A good description should explain:

  • What your blog covers
  • Who it helps
  • What readers can expect

For example:

Beginner friendly blogging tutorials, SEO guides, and practical tips for growing a successful Blogger website without expensive tools.

Keep it natural. Do not fill it with repeated keywords.

3. Turn On Search Descriptions for Every Post

One of Blogger's most useful built in SEO features is the individual post search description.

Before publishing an article, look for Search Description in the post editor.

Write a summary of about 140 to 160 characters that naturally includes your primary keyword.

Instead of this:

Blogging, Blogger, blogging tips, Blogger tutorial, SEO.

Write something like this:

Learn how to rank a free Blogger site on Google using Blogger's built in SEO settings and Google Search Console.

Every post deserves its own unique description.

4. Create Search Friendly Titles

Your title is one of the strongest SEO signals on the page.

A good title should clearly describe the topic while matching what people actually search for.

Instead of writing:

Everything You Need to Know About Blogger

Write:

How to Start a Blogger Blog That Can Rank on Google

Notice the difference.

The second title answers a specific question and includes keywords naturally.

Avoid writing titles only for search engines. Write them for real people.

5. Structure Your Headings Properly

Good organization helps both readers and search engines.

Your article should have:

  • One clear H1 title
  • H2 headings for major sections
  • H3 headings when you need subsections

Do not use headings simply because they look bigger.

Each heading should describe what comes next.

Well structured articles are easier to scan, easier to understand, and easier for search engines to interpret.

6. Optimize Every Image

Images can generate search traffic on their own.

Before uploading images:

  • Compress large files
  • Use descriptive filenames
  • Add meaningful alt text

Instead of naming a file:

IMG00352.jpg

Rename it:

blogger-seo-checklist.jpg

Your alt text should describe the image naturally.

For example:

"Screenshot showing Blogger search description settings."

This improves accessibility and gives search engines more context.

7. Submit Your Sitemap to Google Search Console

Publishing your blog does not guarantee Google will discover every page quickly.

Google Search Console allows you to submit your sitemap directly to Google.

If your Blogger address is:

https://example.blogspot.com

Your sitemap is typically:

https://example.blogspot.com/sitemap.xml

If you use a custom domain, simply replace the Blogspot address with your own domain.

Inside Google Search Console:

  1. Verify ownership of your site.
  2. Open Sitemaps.
  3. Enter your sitemap URL.
  4. Submit it.

Google will regularly revisit your sitemap to discover new content faster.

8. Use Google Search Console as Your SEO Dashboard

Many beginners install plugin after plugin because they think SEO requires complicated reports.

Google Search Console already provides the most important information.

Use it to monitor:

  • Indexed pages
  • Search performance
  • Clicks
  • Impressions
  • Average search position
  • Search queries bringing visitors
  • Pages with indexing problems

If Google reports an issue, fix it before publishing more content.

Search Console tells you what Google actually sees, not what a plugin guesses.

9. Understand Robots Settings Before Changing Them

Blogger includes advanced options for custom robots.txt and custom robots header tags.

These settings often attract attention because they sound technical.

For most beginners, the safest choice is to leave Blogger's default robots.txt in place. Blogger automatically generates one that works well for normal blogs.

Creating your own robots.txt without understanding its rules can accidentally block Google from crawling important pages.

The custom robots header tags are also advanced settings.

They can control whether certain pages are indexed or followed by search engines. Unless you have a specific reason to change them, the default configuration is usually the right choice.

In SEO, changing advanced settings without understanding them rarely improves rankings.

10. Publish Consistently

No technical setting can replace useful content.

Google rewards websites that consistently publish articles answering real questions.

Instead of publishing ten random posts, build content around one topic.

For example, if your blog teaches blogging, write articles about:

  • Starting a Blogger blog
  • Writing blog posts
  • SEO basics
  • Google Search Console
  • AdSense
  • Blog traffic
  • Keyword research

Over time, your blog develops topical authority.

That matters far more than installing dozens of SEO tools.

Common Blogger SEO Mistakes

Many Blogger sites struggle because of simple mistakes.

Avoid these habits:

  • Publishing articles with no search description.
  • Using vague titles that never mention the topic.
  • Uploading huge images that slow the page.
  • Ignoring Google Search Console.
  • Copying content from other websites.
  • Publishing dozens of thin articles instead of fewer high quality ones.
  • Changing advanced robots settings without understanding them.

Fixing these issues often has a greater impact than any SEO trick.

Remember What Google Actually Wants

Google's ranking systems are designed to help people find useful information.

That means your biggest SEO advantage is not a plugin.

It is creating content that genuinely answers the searcher's question better than competing pages.

If your article is clear, original, well organized, and easy to understand, the technical SEO work becomes much simpler.

Blogger already provides the tools needed to make your content discoverable.

You do not need Yoast. You do not need Rank Math. You do not need a long list of premium SEO plugins to give your blog a chance in Google Search.

Blogger already includes the essential features needed for basic technical SEO. When combined with Google Search Console, descriptive titles, helpful search descriptions, optimized images, and consistent publishing, you have a solid foundation for organic growth.

Treat this checklist as your routine before every new article. Complete the basics, monitor your performance in Google Search Console, and spend the rest of your time creating content people actually want to read.

That is the kind of SEO strategy that continues to work, whether your blog is on Blogger, WordPress, or any other platform.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? Psalm 8:4

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