Table Of Contents
- Why is SEO important for content writing?
- What are the three pillars of content writing?
- What are the steps for writing user-friendly web content?
- How to optimize your content for search engines?
- How to write content that delivers value to the readers?
- Why is the title the content so important?
Content that is consistent, interesting, and of excellent quality has a much greater influence on the audience. Content creation enables your company to create a unified knowledge base. One of the most important aspects in determining the development and success of your company is consistency, particularly in brand messaging.
You will certainly profit from your content production efforts if you use your own distinct, identifiable voice, tone, and style across all of the platforms while creating content.
Content writing and SEO
It is no surprise that content and SEO are inextricably linked. Even if you are new to the world of digital marketing, it is highly unlikely that the concept of search engine optimization is new to you. In fact, you might have gotten in contact with some of the top SEO companies to obtain their SEO services. After all, without proper SEO, your content may end up on page 50 of the search results, and we all know that traffic to those pages is close to none.
Similarly, if your post-click material is poor, your first-page position will only get you so far. As a result, a strong link between SEO and quality content is critical.
You are creating fresh material for a cause. This is usually done to improve rankings and conversions, enhance engagement, or give consumer education.
Whatever the case may be, there are particular procedures to follow when generating online content that will satisfy both people and search engines.
This blog will show you how to produce content that satisfies all of the reader experience, SEO friendliness, and content quality standards.
1. Writing User-friendly Web Content That Hooks the Readers
Writing web content is indeed complicated. To strike a balance between user-friendliness and search engine optimization is often difficult. However, you should always keep in mind that your primary objective is to create content that is readable and understandable for your audience. Here are a few key steps that you can follow to create content that would impress the readers.
• The title of the page should make it clear what to expect from the content.
One of the most crucial ranking signals for the website is your page title. It is the link that visitors see in search results as well as in the browser window's tab while viewing a page.
This is why you should start your title with your most competitive, high-volume keywords, but avoid stuffing the title, rather use keywords smartly.
In addition, the company or website name does not necessarily need to be included in the page title. This will not help the post rank higher and will eat up valuable character space. Regardless, Google will select whether or not to display the site name in search results.
Instead, concentrate on using keyword variants that clearly describe what readers expect from this piece of content.
However, make sure you meet the expectations, otherwise, you will notice a high number of clicks combined with a high number of people who leave the website after seeing the content, eventually increasing the bounce rate.
It is also important for the page title to be click-worthy. If you are having trouble coming up with a click-worthy title that reads well, defines the content's goal, is not too long, and is clickable, go to Google and put in the primary keyword. Look at the current rankings, the terms that are being used to get ideas.
• Create a story with your headings.
One of the main reasons why users do not stay on your website for long is the way you arrange your information and convey the story.
Crafting a compelling tale and correctly structuring the material to your readers' satisfaction is what online content writing is all about. You do not want readers to think you are skipping stages from heading to heading, just like you wouldn't skip steps when making a cake.
• Know the preference of your readers
Write short paragraphs if your user prefers short paragraphs. There is no such thing as a perfect word count or paragraph length. Shorter paragraphs, bullets, and avoiding run-on sentences are preferred by readers, according to almost every content marketer and even Google.
However, this is not true for every reader or piece of material. Sometimes the content can be as simple as possible, with no fluff and all technical data given down without concern for layout.
Some people like to consume information in this manner. Most people don't, but as I'll explain below, focus on producing content that the readers will enjoy rather than trying to meet a certain word count.
• Include links to relevant content on your website.
Adding internal links throughout the text is a simple technique to retain visitors. Ideally, the longer we can keep a visitor browsing the site, the more likely they are to become a fan of the brand, convert, and engage frequently.
Furthermore, linking to other pieces of content on your site that are related to the subject matter might convince search engines that you are an authority on this topic because you have so many relevant pages of content published. However, be cautious and only link to bits of content that are relevant to the issue.
• Use Illustrations and Graphics more
Visuals can aid in properly demonstrating a point, clarify a process, or provide excitement to a piece of content. There is no magic number for how many graphics, or if they should be filtered, grayscale, or avoid containing humans. You will have to identify what works for you.
This is highly influenced by the context of the content and your reader as well. Before you even start writing, you should know who the reader is, what sort of graphics they prefer or would serve them best. More specifically, how you optimize your images.
You must optimize the ALT Tags for each picture. Describe what is to someone who cannot see it without excessive cramming with keywords.
Reduce the file size. There is no perfect file size to compress any image, so your picture files should be kept as small as possible without altering picture quality.
View the Image on Mobile and Desktop devices. Check that the picture or graphic and make sure it is not stretched across the page on mobile devices.
• Tell the readers what they should do next.
A call to action is required for every piece of content. It must make it crystal clear to the reader what they should do next.
Signing up for an email newsletter to have more information like this delivered to their inbox is one example. Other times, it appears that clicking on internal links will take you to the more relevant stuff.
Regardless of your goals for this piece of content, whether it's merely to boost keyword ranks or to grow your email list, the user should know what to do next other than quit the simply return to the search results.
2. Search Engine Optimized Content Writing That Ranks
While there is no doubt that user-friendliness is the key to creating amazing content, search engine optimization is equally important as well. The reason is that no one would read your content if it does not rank, and SEO is the key to rank content on search engines. Here are a few steps that you can take to write content that ranks better in Google SERPs.
• Create a list of primary and secondary keywords.
If you're starting from scratch and haven't previously decided which keywords to focus on, I recommend doing a content gap analysis to see which phrases your rivals are ranking for, but you aren't.
These keywords, having medium to high search traffic, will help you decide what to write about next, as well as which major and secondary keywords to add.
You can use Google's free Keyword Planner to find out which keywords have a competitive but not overly competitive edge and would make a fantastic piece of content.
The number of times you need to incorporate the keyword throughout the text will be determined by search traffic, competition, and a few other criteria.
• Include keywords in the title and headings.
The line between over-optimization and correctly optimizing your content is thin. The keyword does not have to be in every heading but only when it makes sense and flows smoothly.
• Include Keywords in Your Anchor Text
It is the connected word or words in a post that direct a reader to another page, either on the same site or on another website. If you can incorporate a term into your anchor text, by all means, do so. Again, as I mentioned earlier, this must be done organically.
What you do not want to do is to stuff keywords throughout the content just link internal and external pages.
• Include the keyword inside the first 100 words of your sentence.
The topic of your new piece of content is generally determined by the keyword for which you are attempting to rank. Including that term in the first 100 words will help to define the topic clearly and it would make it easier for readers and search engines to understand what the content is all about.
• Avoid overlapping keywords and duplicate page titles.
Page names are just as essential for SEO as they are for users. Avoid having duplicate page names to avoid over-optimizing your fresh piece of content. You should also avoid having significant overlap in page names with comparable phrases or keywords.
You do not want to compete for attention with previously published information, especially at the start of the page title. If multiple pages begin with the same title, search engines will have a difficult time understanding the difference between those pages.
• Do not Overlook Long Tail Keywords
When it comes to optimizing titles, headers, URLs, and picture descriptions, long-tail keywords may take up a lot of space. However, if your target user's search query contains more than three words, you should optimize the content for that long-tail term.
Assume you are making an infographic on the most popular L-shaped couches that accommodate 6 or more people. Whoever is seeking that information is aware that they want an L-shaped sofa that can comfortably seat at least six individuals.
This is your chance to notify the user (and the search engines) that your infographic has the greatest L-shaped couches that accommodate six people.
• Enhance Your Short But Sweet URL
When you are ready to publish the content, double-check that the URL still fits the title and includes the major keywords, using as few words as possible.
Do not add numbers to the URL in the first place to prevent having to adjust it every time you need to modify the title. This prevents you from having to put up redirects or alter the URL every time you edit the article or decide to go on a whole new path.
The only exception is if the number is unique to the main keyword. Concentrate on keeping the URL short and simple, addressing the topic's main point, and adding the keyword.
• In a meta description, summarize the content item
An excellent meta description utilizes as few words as possible to summarize what to expect on the page (between 138-148 characters) and includes 1-2 keywords.
Yes, search engines may disregard your wonderfully prepared meta description and rewrite their own. But, unless you have a crystal ball that informs you when Google decides to change your meta description, I strongly advise you to always put your best meta description forward.
• Don't optimize your content on a plugin alone
Plugins may be quite helpful in content creation and optimization. But you must balance the optimization of your content for bots and real human users. Concentrate on generating the material you need - the content that delivers details, a solution, amusement, or tackles a particular problem.
3. Writing High Quality Web Content That Delivers Value
Let’s say you’ve managed to write with perfect grammar and is enjoyable to read. Moreover, it is completely search engine optimized as well. Do you think this is it? No, because bringing users to your page is just the first step. If they don’t find value in your content, they would soon leave.
That is why you should focus on delivering value to the readers. Providing answers to the burning questions is the only way to keep the readers hitched and make them come back. Here are a few areas that you can focus on to write content that is not only readable but adds value as well.
• Make your content stand out by being unique.
I respectfully urge that you refrain from producing another blog post that covers the top X methods to accomplish ABC and provides the same advice as nearly every other published article on the subject.
It's becoming increasingly difficult to discover content on a hot topic that delivers something fresh and comprehensively covers all of the relevant facts. The majority of the time, you'll see similarities amongst websites that give the same recommendations, guidance, or information.
• Meet the Expectations of Visitors
Every brand has distinct personalities they're attempting to reach out to, so you'll have to write for all of them. You must create content that caters to all of your brand's personas, whether 80 % of your audience prefers more visual material or 50 % prefers lengthier paragraphs.
Find out the right balance that speaks to your diverse audience. It is indeed as complicated as it can get but you can manage by laying out the requirements clearly before starting to write.
• Describe the topic in detail.
This is your opportunity to make a name for yourself. To do so, you must address absolutely everything there is to know about the subject — and I mean absolutely everything.
Discover the who, what, when, why, and how questions individuals are truly searching for online with the aid of particular applications.
You can then transform those questions into headers and/or FAQs, with matching paragraphs to cover all aspects of the subject. Define who the material is meant for, what format it will be best accepted in, and what distribution channels to advertise it on before you start creating it.
• Extensive research to deliver reliable information
If you don't know the answers to the questions that you are going to write about, make sure to perform extensive research before doing anything else.
Because your content bears your name and brand, you want to be sure that you're presenting accurate information and correctly citing any research you've done. This type of research method will help you avoid sharing the identical and generic information that every other company has previously released.
By strategically putting all the data about the subject in your own content, you will also provide the reader with substantial value and prevent them from leaving your website for further information elsewhere.
You should be proud of every piece of material you post. Make it something that you would like visitors, other companies, and influencers to share. Make sure that your material exceeds the expectations of each visitor by offering engaging information, a clear content structure, and value to the subject. Hopefully, this guide will help you figure out what you require to create content that stands out.
Almost all the points described above are exercised by most of the top SEO companies. All three pillars are being followed by top SEO agency services provided by top of the list companies.
This is it for today’s blog. I hope you liked reading it and that you’ve learned a thing or two about writing content that performs well. Do share your valuable feedback and reach out to me if you want to amplify your brand messaging. Here at Prism Digital, the best digital marketing agency in Dubai, we ensure that all your needs and requirements are met. We look forward to seeing you on the other side. Thank you.
About The Author: Lovetto Nazareth
Lovetto Nazareth is a digital marketing consultant and agency owner of Prism Digital. He has been in the advertising and digital marketing business for the last 2 decades and has managed thousands of campaigns and generated millions of dollars of new leads. He is an avid adventure sports enthusiast and a singer-songwriter. Follow him on social media on @Lovetto Nazareth
