1. Target Audience
My audience is people who are just starting out in the outdoors. They want peace, health, and a sense of adventure. They are usually between 30 and 65 years old. They are careful with money but are willing to spend if something will last and really work. They are not collectors of gear. They just want tools that help them get outside.
2. Keyword Research
The keywords I am going after are simple and match the way beginners search. Some examples are:
- budget camping gear 2025
- best affordable hiking gifts
- backpacking for beginners
- starter camping kit
- how to start hiking and backpacking
- outdoor gear under 200
- eco friendly hiking gear
- holiday camping gift guide
These are things people type into Google when they are starting out. They fit both my gift guides and my blog.
3. Page Analysis
I looked at the page Backpacking for Beginners on HikingGuy.com. t is a good example of on-page SEO. The meta description is clear and tells Google and readers what the post is about. It uses keywords beginners would search for, like “backpacking for beginners” and “how to start.”
The page uses headers the right way. There is one H1 for the main title. The big topics are broken into H2s, and the smaller points under them are H3s. This makes it easy for people to follow and helps search engines understand the content.
The page also uses alt text for photos. The text describes what the photo shows, like “backpacker with loaded pack on trail.” This helps screen readers and also tells Google what the photo means.
Keywords are placed in smart spots. They show up in the title, in the opening paragraph, in some of the H2 headings, and a few times in the body. They feel natural and not stuffed in.
For my blog I will do the same. I will write meta descriptions that use my keywords like “budget camping gear 2025.” I will keep one H1 title, use H2s for sections, and H3s for product names. I will use alt text for every photo, like “affordable hiking backpack under 200.” I will place keywords in the title, first paragraph, headings, and throughout the text in a natural way.
4. Off Page SEO Strategies
Here are the three strategies I plan to use:
- Outdoor Influencers
I will work with other outdoor influencers to share gear lists or give shoutouts. This puts my blog in front of people who already follow outdoor voices. - Backlinks
I will look for links from other trusted outdoor websites. This could be from gear retailers, magazines, or blogs about hiking and camping. A backlink tells Google my site is worth paying attention to. - Guest Posting
I will write guest posts for other outdoor blogs. These could be trip reports, gear tips, or beginner guides. Guest posts bring new readers, build my name, and send links back to my blog.
5. Technical SEO
Technical SEO is what makes sure my site works well for both people and search engines. A site that loads slow or breaks on a phone will turn people away. Here is my plan:
- Site Speed: I will use Google PageSpeed Insights to check how fast my site loads. I will compress images and keep file sizes small. A faster site keeps people from leaving.
- Mobile Optimization: Most of my readers will be on their phones while shopping or reading on the trail. I will make sure my site is easy to read and use on a small screen.
- Broken Links: I will check my site for broken links. If a product link or a page goes dead, I will fix it fast. Broken links hurt trust and SEO.
- SEO Plugin: I will use Yoast SEO to write meta descriptions, fix titles, and make sure my keywords are in the right spots.
By keeping the technical side clean, my site will run smoothly, and people will stay longer and come back.
6. Follow Up Plan
I will track my progress with Google Analytics and Google Search Console. I will watch which keywords start to rank, like “budget camping gear” or “holiday hiking gifts.” I will also look at my affiliate dashboard to see how many people click and buy. Each month I will check my numbers. If something is not working, I will update my posts, add an FAQ, or link to my guide from another post.