Needless to say quite a few people were searching for that name - Mr McFeely among them. Because my blog post was on the first page, he found the blog and commented on it.
So, if you blog about figures in the news then put their names in the titles. People will be searching for these names and you'll may well get some search engine traffic. Of course, it won't work for the really famous names, but it often works for those with lower profiles. And it's a doddle when you write about someone who's only just arrived on the scene.
This tactic could be really good for local SEO. If you blog about those well known only in your city, then you're almost bound to rank highly, simply because there's not much competition.
Remember that we all have egos, and chances are that many of these people will be searching for their names and end up reading what you have written about them. If you have something nice to say they may well show their appreciation by commenting. And if they have websites or blogs they may well send links your way, which is of course highly beneficial for SEO.
That's not to say that you should only ever be complimentary and supportive when blogging about local leaders, celebrities and newsmakers. Being critical can also help you SEO-wise. You'll still be adding relevant local content and probably ranking highly for searches for their names, and there may be other local bloggers and webmasters who might link to your views. Just remember to be fair in what you say, though. And clarify it's just your opinion so you further lessen your chances of copping a lawsuit.