Updated January 2026
Quick summary
Using keywords in a blog post helps search engines understand what your content is about, but the goal is to support readers first: include your main keyword naturally in the title, intro, headings, and a few times in the body, plus use related words and variants so your content stays clear and useful rather than forced or spammy.
The concept of keywords can be pretty hard to understand (and keyword research is a completely different subject entirely). First, a keyword can be a single word or a combination of words. Here are some examples. Every bullet point below is considered one keyword (or keyphrase):
- Keyword
- What is a keyword
- What is a key phrase
- What is an SEO keyword
- How to use keywords
- How to use keywords in a blog post
Keywords are the words people enter in a search engine. Nowadays, people are used to entering multiple keywords to get a better search result.
Keywords or keyphrases containing 1-3 words are called short-tail keywords. Anything longer is called a long-tail keyword.
Short-tail keywords are generally harder to rank for. Also, people tend to be more at the start of their buying journey. Long-keywords are easier to rank for and people enter more and more into the search field the closer they are to making a buying decision.
A blog post should focus on one main topic and answer it properly.
Keyword usage in 2026: What still matters and what’s changed
Using keywords in blog posts in 2026 is about clarity, relevance, and intent rather than repetition. Search engines are now very good at understanding context, so the goal is to make it immediately clear what a page is about and who it is for.
A blog post should focus on one main topic and answer it properly. Your main keyword helps define that topic, but it does not need to appear in every sentence. Instead, it should be used naturally in places that help both readers and search engines understand the content, such as the page title, introduction, headings, and URL.
Natural language plays a much bigger role than it used to. People search using full questions and conversational phrases, especially on mobile and voice-enabled devices. Writing in a clear, human way and using related phrases and variations helps your content match a wider range of relevant searches without sounding forced.
Structure matters as much as wording:
- Clear headings,
- short paragraphs,
- bullet points,
- and logical sections
make content easier to read and easier for search engines to interpret. Well-structured content is also more likely to appear in featured snippets and AI-generated search results.
Keyword usage should always support the reader’s experience. If a sentence sounds awkward or repetitive, the keyword does not belong there.
A helpful, well-written blog post that fully answers a searcher’s question will outperform content that focuses too heavily on keyword placement.
The best-performing blog posts are the ones that are useful, easy to scan, and written with a specific reader in mind. Keywords still matter, but they work best when they reinforce a clear message rather than trying to drive it.
Short-tail keywords are harder to rank for and are often used early in the buying journey. Long-tail keywords are easier to rank for and indicate users are closer to making a purchase.
For example:
- Short-tail keyword: Red Sandals
- Long-tail keyword: Red leather strapless sandals women size 8
So, how can you use them on your website and in blog posts? I will explain a simple process for you to get started.
This blog post is NOT about professional keyword research, but it will help you understand how to find relevant keywords using ChatGPT and where to insert them into your blog post.
How to use keywords in your blog post – ChatGPT Prompts to get you started
Show me the magic GPT
1️⃣ Make sure you're logged into your ChatGPT account. 2️⃣ Click on the cat. 3️⃣ Enter your blog article title into the chat field and hit Enter 😻
(this Magic GPT does everything I am describing below in one single step)
Ask ChatGPT to give you a list of short-tail keywords (these are harder to rank for but should be included so that search engines get the general gist of your blog topic). Here’s the prompt:
I am writing a blog post about the importance of a wedding cake (replace with your topic). What
keywords should my blog post include?
Reply:
- Wedding Cake: The primary subject of your post.
- Wedding Planning: The cake is a vital part of planning a wedding.
- Bridal Trends: To connect with current styles and preferences in weddings.
- Custom Cakes: Highlighting the personalization aspect of wedding cakes.
- Cake Design: Focusing on the artistic and aesthetic elements.
- Wedding Reception: Where the cake often plays a central role.
- Wedding Traditions: To discuss the traditional significance of wedding cakes.
- Bakery for Weddings: Referring to the sources for procuring wedding cakes.
- Cake Tasting: A part of the selection process for many couples.
- Wedding Themes: Cakes often align with the overall theme of the wedding.
- Wedding Photography: Since the cake is a key feature in wedding albums.
- Wedding Celebration: Emphasising the role of the cake in the festivities.
- Cake Flavours: Discussing the various flavour options for wedding cakes.
- Marriage Ceremony: Linking the cake to the overall wedding event.
- Wedding Cake Trends: To capture what’s currently popular or in vogue.
Always check the reply carefully. You do not need to use ALL of the suggested keywords. You can also omit keywords that are not relevant to your business or for a specific blog post.
Use this prompt:
Now provide a list of long-tail keywords for each of the above main keywords: Don't provide an explanation for each keyword. Simply list the main keyword from above and then below a list of long-tail keywords.
Reply:
- Wedding Cake
- Unique wedding cake designs
- Affordable wedding cake ideas
- Custom wedding cake creations
- Wedding Planning
- Comprehensive wedding planning checklist
- Wedding planning tips for beginners
- Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
- Bridal Trends
- Latest bridal gown trends
- Bridal makeup trends this year
- Popular bridal hairstyle trends
- Custom Cakes
- Custom birthday cakes near me
- Custom cake designs for weddings
- Personalised custom cake toppers
- Cake Design
- Elegant wedding cake designs
- Modern birthday cake designs
- Creative cake design ideas
- Wedding Reception
- Unique wedding reception themes
- Wedding reception decoration ideas
- Wedding reception venues on a budget
- Wedding Traditions
- Cultural wedding traditions around the world
- Unique wedding traditions and customs
- Modern takes on classic wedding traditions
- Bakery for Weddings
- Best bakery for wedding cakes near me
- Gluten-free wedding cake bakery
- Custom bakery options for weddings
- Cake Tasting
- Cake-tasting events near me
- Wedding cake tasting experience
- How to prepare for a cake tasting
- Wedding Themes
- Rustic wedding theme ideas
- Beach-themed wedding decorations
- Vintage-themed wedding inspiration
- Wedding Photography
- Creative wedding photography poses
- Wedding photography package prices
- Best wedding photography styles
- Wedding Celebration
- Unique ideas for wedding celebrations
- Wedding celebration etiquette tips
- Small wedding celebration ideas
- Cake Flavours
- Popular wedding cake flavours and fillings
- Unique birthday cake flavours
- Seasonal cake flavours for events
- Marriage Ceremony
- Outdoor marriage ceremony locations
- Traditional marriage ceremony customs
- Non-religious marriage ceremony ideas
- Wedding Cake Trends
- Latest trends in wedding cake designs
- Top wedding cake flavour trends
- Emerging wedding cake trends for [current year]
Always check the reply carefully. You do not need to use ALL of the suggested keywords. You can also omit keywords that are not relevant to your business or for a specific blog post. If you want more long-tail keywords, you can ask ChatGPT to provide at least 5 or 10 (or any number) of long-tail keywords for each sub headline. You can also ask ChatGPT to include information about search intent.
SEO experts talk about three different search intents which is important to understand when creating content for your website visitors:
- Informational Intent: This is when users are looking to find information or learn something. They might have questions or want to know more about a particular topic. For example, searching for “how to bake a chocolate cake” or “what is the tallest mountain in the world” reflects informational intent.
- Transactional Intent: Here the user’s intend is to complete a specific action or transaction, like buying a product or signing up for a service. Searches like “buy running shoes online” or “best deals on smartphones” indicate that the user is ready to make a purchase or perform some other specific action.
- Navigational Intent: When someone is searching for a specific website or page, they have navigational intent. They know where they want to go or what business they are looking for and they use a search engine to get there. Examples include searches like “Facebook login,” “OpenAI website,” or “YouTube trending videos” or “Tesco Opening Times” or “B&Q near me”
Use this prompt to get the search intent for your keywords:
Please re-write this list and before every long-tail keyword write the search intent.
Reply:
Section 1: Choosing Your Wedding Cake
- How to choose a wedding cake design?
- Informational: Elegant wedding cake designs
- Informational: Modern birthday cake designs
- Informational: Creative cake design ideas
- What are popular wedding cake flavors?
- Informational: Popular wedding cake flavors and fillings
- Informational: Unique birthday cake flavors
- Informational: Seasonal cake flavors for events
- What size wedding cake do I need for my guests?
- Informational: Unique wedding cake designs
- Transactional: Affordable wedding cake ideas
- Informational: Custom wedding cake creations
- How many tiers should a wedding cake have?
- Informational: Custom birthday cakes near me
- Informational: Custom cake designs for weddings
- Informational: Personalized custom cake toppers
- What are the latest trends in wedding cakes?
- Informational: Latest trends in wedding cake designs
- Informational: Top wedding cake flavor trends
- Informational: Emerging wedding cake trends for [current year]
Section 2: Practical Considerations
- How much does a wedding cake cost?
- Transactional: Unique wedding cake designs
- Transactional: Affordable wedding cake ideas
- Transactional: Custom wedding cake creations
- Can you have a wedding cake on a budget?
- Informational: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist
- Informational: Wedding planning tips for beginners
- Informational: Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
- Where to find custom wedding cakes near me?
- Local/Transactional: Best bakery for wedding cakes near me
- Informational: Gluten-free wedding cake bakery
- Transactional: Custom bakery options for weddings
- How far in advance should you order a wedding cake?
- Informational: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist
- Informational: Wedding planning tips for beginners
- Informational: Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
- How to store a wedding cake before the wedding?
- Informational: Unique wedding cake designs
- Informational: Affordable wedding cake ideas
- Informational: Custom wedding cake creations
- How to transport a wedding cake safely?
- Informational: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist
- Informational: Wedding planning tips for beginners
- Informational: Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
Section 3: The Wedding Cake Tradition
- What is the tradition behind wedding cakes?
- Informational: Cultural wedding traditions around the world
- Informational: Unique wedding traditions and customs
- Informational: Modern takes on classic wedding traditions
- How to cut a wedding cake properly?
- Informational: Unique ideas for wedding celebrations
- Informational: Wedding celebration etiquette tips
- Informational: Small wedding celebration ideas
Section 4: Creative and Alternative Ideas
- What are some unique wedding cake topper ideas?
- Informational: Custom birthday cakes near me
- Informational: Custom cake designs for weddings
- Informational: Personalized custom cake toppers
- What are some alternatives to traditional wedding cakes?
- Informational: Latest trends in wedding cake designs
- Informational: Top wedding cake flavor trends
- Informational: Emerging wedding cake trends for [current year]
Conclusion
- Summarize the importance and joy of choosing the right wedding cake for the celebration.
Then use this prompt:
Now provide a list of questions people ask in Google around wedding cakes.
Reply
- How much does a wedding cake cost?
- What are popular wedding cake flavours?
- How to choose a wedding cake design?
- What is the tradition behind wedding cakes?
- How many tiers should a wedding cake have?
- Where to find custom wedding cakes near me?
- What are the latest trends in wedding cakes?
- How to store a wedding cake before the wedding?
- What size wedding cake do I need for my guests?
- How to cut a wedding cake properly?
- Can you have a wedding cake on a budget?
- What are some unique wedding cake topper ideas?
- How far in advance should you order a wedding cake?
- What are some alternatives to traditional wedding cakes?
- How to transport a wedding cake safely?
Use this prompt:
Bring these questions into a logical structure for my blog post
Reply:
Introduction
- Briefly introduce the significance of wedding cakes in marriage celebrations.
Section 1: Choosing Your Wedding Cake
- How to choose a wedding cake design?
- What are popular wedding cake flavours?
- What size wedding cake do I need for my guests?
- How many tiers should a wedding cake have?
- What are the latest trends in wedding cakes?
Section 2: Practical Considerations 6. How much does a wedding cake cost?
- Can you have a wedding cake on a budget?
- Where do I find custom wedding cakes near me?
- How far in advance should you order a wedding cake?
- How to store a wedding cake before the wedding?
- How to transport a wedding cake safely?
Section 3: The Wedding Cake Tradition 12. What is the tradition behind wedding cakes?
- How to cut a wedding cake properly?
Section 4: Creative and Alternative Ideas 14. What are some unique wedding cake topper ideas?
- What are some alternatives to traditional wedding cakes?
Conclusion
- Summarize the importance of choosing the right wedding cake and the joy it brings to the wedding celebration.
This structure guides the reader from initial considerations in choosing a cake through practical aspects of purchasing and handling, delves into the traditions behind wedding cakes, and concludes with creative ideas and alternatives, providing a comprehensive view of the topic.
Use this prompt:
Now take the headlines from this structure suggestion and insert the main keywords you created above as well as the long tail keywords below the relevant headline. Avoid adding explanations behind keywords.
Reply:
Introduction
- Introduction to the importance of wedding cakes in marriage celebrations.
Section 1: Choosing Your Wedding Cake
- How to choose a wedding cake design?
- Primary Keyword: Cake Design
- Long-tail Keywords: Elegant wedding cake designs, Modern birthday cake designs, Creative cake design ideas
- What are popular wedding cake flavours?
- Primary Keyword: Cake Flavors
- Long-tail Keywords: Popular wedding cake flavours and fillings, Unique birthday cake flavours, Seasonal cake flavours for events
- What size wedding cake do I need for my guests?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Cake
- Long-tail Keywords: Unique wedding cake designs, Affordable wedding cake ideas, Custom wedding cake creations
- How many tiers should a wedding cake have?
- Primary Keyword: Custom Cakes
- Long-tail Keywords: Custom birthday cakes near me, Custom cake designs for weddings, Personalized custom cake toppers
- What are the latest trends in wedding cakes?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Cake Trends
- Long-tail Keywords: Latest trends in wedding cake designs, Top wedding cake flavour trends, Emerging wedding cake trends for [current year]
Section 2: Practical Considerations
- How much does a wedding cake cost?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Cake
- Long-tail Keywords: Unique wedding cake designs, Affordable wedding cake ideas, Custom wedding cake creations
- Can you have a wedding cake on a budget?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Planning
- Long-tail Keywords: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist, Wedding planning tips for beginners, Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
- Where do I find custom wedding cakes near me?
- Primary Keyword: Bakery for Weddings
- Long-tail Keywords: Best bakery for wedding cakes near me, Gluten-free wedding cake bakery, Custom bakery options for weddings
- How far in advance should you order a wedding cake?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Planning
- Long-tail Keywords: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist, Wedding planning tips for beginners, Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
- How to store a wedding cake before the wedding?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Cake
- Long-tail Keywords: Unique wedding cake designs, Affordable wedding cake ideas, Custom wedding cake creations
- How to transport a wedding cake safely?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Planning
- Long-tail Keywords: Comprehensive wedding planning checklist, Wedding planning tips for beginners, Budget-friendly wedding planning ideas
Section 3: The Wedding Cake Tradition
- What is the tradition behind wedding cakes?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Traditions
- Long-tail Keywords: Cultural wedding traditions around the world, Unique wedding traditions and customs, Modern takes on classic wedding traditions
- How to cut a wedding cake properly?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Celebration
- Long-tail Keywords: Unique ideas for wedding celebrations, Wedding celebration etiquette tips, Small wedding celebration ideas
Section 4: Creative and Alternative Ideas
- What are some unique wedding cake topper ideas?
- Primary Keyword: Custom Cakes
- Long-tail Keywords: Custom birthday cakes near me, Custom cake designs for weddings, Personalized custom cake toppers
- What are some alternatives to traditional wedding cakes?
- Primary Keyword: Wedding Cake Trends
- Long-tail Keywords: Latest trends in wedding cake designs, Top wedding cake flavour trends, Emerging wedding cake trends for [current year]
Conclusion
- Summarise the importance and joy of choosing a wedding cake for the celebration.
Either use the suggested structure or amend it.
Then, write the full blog post by “simply” filling in the gaps and using the suggested keywords.
- Write from your heart.
- Address the reader.
- Don’t hold back any information.
- Avoid talking about yourself. Any time you want to use the word “I”, try to replace it with “you.”
Example of text with and without keywords
No keywords (i.e. not optimised)
At the heart of a British wedding, the cake stands as a splendid symbol of the couple’s union. It’s more than just a culinary delight; it’s a cherished tradition, steeped in meaning and shared joy. Each tier, elegantly adorned, represents the layers of the couple’s journey together. Cutting the cake is a pivotal moment, symbolising the first shared task in married life. Moreover, it’s a focal point for guests, a subject for photos, and a talking point that adds a sweet note to the memories of the day. In essence, a wedding cake is an integral part of celebrating love’s milestone.
Check the following example of the same text, but with keywords
In the following two examples, first, I insert short-tail (generic) keywords. I’ve highlighted them in bold for you to see and also listed them beside them. In your blog post, you wouldn’t highlight them obviously.
Keywords add context and improve relevance.
As you can see in the above example, keywords add context for both the user and the search engine and improve the relevance of your text.
Keywords signal what your content is about. When a reader is looking for specific information, like details about wedding cakes, the presence of relevant keywords (like “wedding cake designs” and “cake cutting ceremony”) quickly assures them that they’re in the right place.
When a website visitor scans or reads your text, certain words will stand out to them and they reaffirm the topic.
A search engine uses keywords to determine the main gist behind your blog post.
With short-tail keywords
In every British wedding, the wedding cake stands prominently, embodying the love and unity of the couple’s journey. More than just a confection, it’s a significant wedding tradition, beautifully showcasing elegance and shared joy.
Each wedding cake tier of this custom wedding cake symbolises a chapter of the couple’s life together. The act of wedding cake cutting by the newlyweds is a cherished moment, reflecting their first cooperative task in married life.
Additionally, as a key wedding reception highlight, it captivates guests, enhances wedding photography, and remains a pivotal wedding celebration detail, adding sweetness to the day’s cherished memories.
Short-tail keywords used
- wedding cake
- wedding tradition
- wedding cake tier
- custom wedding cake
- wedding cake cutting
- newlyweds
- married life
- wedding reception
- wedding photography
- wedding celebration
With long-tail keywords
In every British wedding, the wedding cake stands as a stunning focal point of the reception, embodying the deep love and lasting commitment of the couple. More than just a culinary delight, it’s a vital part of centuries-old traditional wedding customs, elegantly symbolising the start of a shared future. Each beautifully crafted wedding cake tier often reflects a personal wedding theme, marking significant milestones in the couple’s journey together. The ceremonial cutting of the cake by the newlyweds is a cherished highlight, representing their first joint venture in a lifelong partnership in marriage. As a major attraction at the reception, it captivates the attention of guests and photographers alike, serving as a key element in creating lasting memories of the wedding day.
Short & long-tail keywords used
- wedding cake
- focal point of the wedding reception
- deep love and lasting commitment
- centuries-old traditional wedding customs
- the start of a shared future
- wedding cake tier often reflects a personal wedding theme
- ceremonial cutting of the cake by the newlyweds
- a lifelong partnership in marriage
- captivates the attention of guests and photographers
- creating lasting memories of the wedding day
Avoid keyword stuffing
When working on your blog SEO, you need to avoid keyword stuffing at all costs.
Keyword stuffing is like repeating a specific keyword too many times in your blog content, title tag, alt text, and meta description. People also talk about keyword density, i.e. a percentage of how often a certain keyword is used.
If you’re unsure if you have used too many key phrases, read your blog post out loud. Does it read normal? Or does it sound weird?
This process does NOT replace professional keyword research
First of all, what is professional keyword research?
Professional SEO keyword research is like a treasure hunt where you’re looking for particular words or phrases that people often type into search engines like Google.
Imagine you have a website about baking cakes. To make sure people who love baking find your website, you need to know exactly what words they use when they search for cake recipes or baking tips online.
SEO experts use special SEO tools and techniques to find these words. These SEO tools provide information on:
- Keyword ideas and search intent
- how many people search for a certain keyword or keyphrase (i.e. search volume)
- how hard it would be to show up in Google’s top results for that specific keyword or for a related keyword (also known as keyword difficulty)
- whether a keyword is actually relevant to what your website offers.
They then use this information to suggest the right keywords to include in your website’s content (and blog content), so more people can find and visit your site. It’s all about connecting your website to the right audience using the right words!
Here are some keyword research tools you can use:
- AHREFS
- SemRush
- Keywords Everywhere
- Also Asked
- Answer The Public
- Ubersuggest
- Marketmuse
- Google Keyword Planner
- Google Search Console
- Google Trends
- Moz Keyword Explorer
- Search Engine Results – they will give you a clue about target keywords people might use
