Let’s cut to the chase — if you’re putting content online, and you want people to actually see it (like your tradie service, your Airbnb, or maybe your home renovation blog), then you need to make sure it’s showing up when Kiwis go hunting on Google. That’s where “ranking well” comes in.

Here’s what matters…

First off, Google doesn’t care how fancy your page looks if the content doesn’t give value. It’s like when you walk into Mitre 10 or Bunnings — if the staff aren’t helpful, you’re probably not going back, right? Same deal with content. Google wants to send folks to pages that answer their questions properly.

This is what you should do…

1. Write like you’re talking to a mate
   Use your own voice. Don’t overthink it. You’re not writing a uni paper. Just tell your story or share your info, straight up. If you’re writing a blog about your kitchen reno in Hamilton, speak like you talk — “We ripped out the old stove, chucked in a new induction cooktop from Noel Leeming, and boom — way better.” That’s more powerful than some stiff product blurb.

2. Focus on one main topic per page
   Don’t try and be everything at once. It’s like trying to jam your whole house reno into one Insta post — too much, and none of it stands out. Say you’re writing about installing a heat pump in your Wellington home. Just focus on that: the why, the how, the price, maybe who did the job (shout out to Heat Pump Guys or HRV).

3. Use the words people actually search for
   Here’s the trick: people don’t search “HVAC solutions for upper North Island.” They type in stuff like “best heat pump Christchurch” or “cheap heat pump install Auckland.” You’ve got to use those real phrases. Try popping your topic into the search bar and see what comes up — the “People also ask” section is gold.

4. Answer the flipping question
   If Google thinks your blog actually answers what someone’s looking for, you’re more likely to be shown first. So if your blog title’s “How to paint a weatherboard house in NZ,” then talk paint types (Resene? Dulux?), prepping surfaces, painting in our weird weather — the lot. Don’t waffle on about random house tips. Stick to the paint.

5. Add heading breaks — give scrollers a hand
   People skim. It’s just how it is. Ever searched for a recipe on Food in a Minute or Nadia Lim’s site? Odds are you scroll to the bullet points. Same goes here. Break things up with clear headings, short paragraphs, and maybe a bulleted list when you’ve got steps. Makes it easier to read and Google notices that readers stick around longer too.

6. Link to helpful stuff
   Be a good neighbour. Link out to other helpful Kiwi pages — like MBIE for building codes, or Plumbing World for gear. It tells Google your page plays well with others. Plus, it’s genuinely helpful. Say you’re writing about installing a water filter in your Christchurch home — linking to Water Filters NZ or even Mitre 10’s filter guide? Smart move.

7. Keep it fresh
   Google loves updated content. So if you’ve written about your solar panel install from 2020, maybe give it a refresh. Did your power bills actually drop? Would you go with Harrisons again? Any new rebates from Gen Less or EECA? That update shows your info’s not dusty.

Oh, and don’t forget the images…

Add decent images (your own if you can). If you’ve just retiled your bathroom with goods from Tile Depot, show it off. Just label the files properly — not “IMG_204.jpg,” but something like “bathroom-reno-tile-depot-nz.jpg.” Google reads that too.

Anyway, bottom line?
Make your content genuinely useful, keep it focused, use Kiwi phrases people are searching for, and make it easy to read. Do that, and you’re already ahead of half the stuff online.

Give it a go — your future self (and your web traffic) will thank you.