Even though content is vital for SEO, just filling up blogs with lots of keywords and nothing else isn’t the right approach to writing SEO content. Some writers focus too much on finding the right keywords and using them a lot, which makes the content more for search engines than for real people. Remember, the main goal is to make your readers interested and keep them exploring your website.
But that doesn’t mean keywords aren’t important anymore. They still really matter for SEO content, but they’re not everything. Writers need to find a good balance between making content interesting and making it good for SEO. It’s kind of tricky to get it right because there’s no one-size-fits-all rule. However, there are some things you can keep in mind to make your SEO content better.
In order to organize content properly, creating an outline is advised.
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Use keywords effectively
Though keywords may not be as impactful as they were before, they are still a determining factor in the success of a content campaign, particularly when writing SEO content. However, creating content that revolves around keywords needs to be done the right way. One thing SEO content writers need to remember is to not just focus on the data from keyword research but also to go beyond it. What this means is that writers need to read between the lines of data and figure out what is driving customers to engage with these keywords. How many comments were made for a given article (or video), and what was the general tone of these comments? Where did they first see this post pop up? Looking into the social media statistics of the post is a great way to find out more as well.
However, writers need to keep in mind, again, to not focus so much on keywords and other relevant terms, and instead look at the bigger picture. Yes, your content passed all of the standards needed for it to rank on the first page. But do your consumers read until the end? Do they suggest it to other people they know? Are they responding to your calls to action? Writers need to ask these questions because, in the end, the main reason why we even do SEO is to increase traffic that will convert.
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Present your content properly
One of the most common mistakes rookie content writers make is to immediately type whatever pops into their minds. Though writing from inspiration is not necessarily a bad thing, it becomes a different thing entirely when you are simply writing as you go without a concrete plan in mind. The ideas and points might be there, but if it is not organized properly, either the readers will not understand your content properly, or they simply won’t be interested. Laying out the content properly on the page is half the battle when it comes to high-quality content.
The main thing that needs to be done is to have the main content be front and center. Don’t make your readers have to scroll down just to get to the point of the entire article. Remember, the easier it is for visitors to get what they want, the better your page is. There’s no need to have your page look “pretty” either. Though some websites may look nicer than others, what drives traffic is if it is easy to read and understand. It’s a good idea to have an outline of the entire content to properly organize the points and ideas, as it will make it easier for the reader to understand.
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Make it long without it being boring
Another thing SEO content creators need to keep in mind is to always give value to your content. And how much value can you give when it’s only 200 words long? Most search engines favor longer articles and blogs, and we can see why. Yes, little is better than none at all, but writers need to make sure their articles have “content.” And it can be challenging to do that when what you give out is less than 300 words. Though there is no exact length given by search engines, it is best to shoot for well over 1,000 words. With a higher word count, you have more elbow room to present your topic properly.
On the other hand, there are times when in-depth content can become a tad boring. Because of this, there are times when readers don’t even care to finish reading the entire thing. One way to combat this is to insert some photos or lines that will pique the consumer’s interest. Infographics, numbered lists, and even funny GIFs can go a long way in alleviating the monotony. However, take note that you should maintain the tone throughout your content. Know the target audience, and act accordingly to be consistent throughout the write-up.
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Craft the main content well and make use of supplementary content
When it comes to search engines, what matters for great content is how good the main part is. The main content is like the heart of a blog—it’s what the whole page is about. But making this main part good isn’t easy. It takes a lot of time and effort to create impactful content, especially when writing SEO content. The key is to always keep in mind what you’re trying to achieve with your writing. However, even with great main content, there’s still something else needed to make it work well.
Supplementary content is like the extra stuff that makes the main content even better. It should be directly related to what the main content is about. For example, if your main content is a blog post about cooking the perfect three-course meal, good supplementary content might be an article about where to buy the freshest ingredients at a good price. This extra content should also make the user’s experience better and encourage them to stay on the page.
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Make it worthwhile for the user
One of the things that drive ranking in search engines is user intent. This means if visitors find what they were looking for in your website, it will rank higher. This is also one of the standards content needs to reach to be deemed high-quality. If what you have on your page is interesting, SEO-friendly, and contains the proper keywords, it still means nothing if it does not fulfill what the consumer expected from it. This is why writers also need to keep in mind what the users are looking for when they read your content. When it comes to user intent, the end goal for SEO writers is to have their content be what their readers are looking for.
This combines two things that were previously mentioned—giving value to what you write and knowing the target audience. Keeping these things in mind is essential to give the user what they want. Don’t only write about what you think your audience wants. Listen to what they want. You can do this by reading the comments section and being on the lookout for recurring problems or concerns. With this, it’s clear to see why writers need to keep the user’s needs in mind when creating content. The main thing writers need to question when they finish writing up an article is if the content fulfills the user’s needs, or will the user need to look elsewhere. If it’s the latter, you need to change it until the answer is the former.
Conclusion
In the end, there’s no surefire way to consistently write high-quality SEO content every single time. No magic formula guarantees success, and what works for one website might not work for another. However, it’s crucial to stick to the basics. When aiming to produce high-quality content, the key is to never lose sight of why you’re doing it in the first place. Everything else will fall into place. Below, we’ve outlined some tips and guidelines to help you achieve that objective when writing SEO content. Ultimately, the best approach is to keep learning and always prioritize delivering value with your content.