Tips to Help You Create SEO Friendly Content

The adage goes, content is king. As true as the adage holds, not all content is king. Some content is definitely more valuable than other content. One of the places that content creators and businesses alike would like to dominate is the search engine. Millions of websites are all fighting for the number one spot in the search engine hence the demand for SEO content.

Clinching that position requires a lot of hard work. First, it takes understanding how to create SEO friendly content. Content creation is an art and a science. The art is a personal feel, but the science is adhering to and executing tips.

Here are some tips to help you create SEO-friendly content.

Understand how search engines rank content

People use search engines to find answers to things they are looking for. Therefore, the most important thing when creating your content is to answer a question for your target audience. The search engine wants to be relevant to the user by serving them the most accurate responses as fast as possible. Your work is to help the search engine serve your target audience. A win-win for both of you.

To do that, you have to pay close attention to the quality of your content. It has to be in-depth but answer questions directly. Preferably you should include multimedia to improve user experience.

Understand How Keywords Work

When most people come across the term SEO, they think of keywords. However, while keywords are part of SEO optimization, they are not everything.

In addition, some people question the efficiency of keywords in today’s search engines. The truth is, keywords are still relevant, but they do not perform just by themselves. Search intent is a critical component nowadays.

While writing a piece of content, you choose a topic to address. Once you know what topic you will be writing on, conduct keyword research on the specific topic; depending on who you are writing for and your type of content, you will choose either short or long-tail keywords.

The search volume and competition vary between different keywords, too. Depending on what you want to achieve with your piece of content, you will choose where you want to compete.

Understand How Links Work

Search engines find a lot of significance in a given web page’s links. This is because links help the search engine determine the page’s authority.

While you create content, ensure that the pages you link to are credible, authoritative pages. It helps validate your content. You can also build backlinks to your content, but you must ensure that the pages that link back to you are equally credible and authoritative.

Lastly, you can interlink between different content you have on your website. Interlinking tells the search engine that you are authoritative on the topic you are writing about because you have much more information in other articles.

Understand and Address Search Intent

Your content has to answer someone’s query. Before answering the query, you have to understand it. We do this by understanding the search intent. Once you have an answer, you directly provide them with what they’re looking for.

There has to be good research to understand the search intent properly. Some more research has to go into researching the already-ranking pages. Understand how they answer the question. Note what they are doing right and do the same in your content, but most importantly, look at what is missing and ensure you address it in your piece. You can get further insights from the “people also ask” and “Related Searches” parts of the search engine.

Understand the Web Reader

People read differently when perusing through a physical copy compared to when we are reading on the web. For example, while reading a physical copy, you’d follow diligently from left to right. But on the web, you’re likely to scan through. Understanding that web readers mostly scan content, you have to make your content scannable. One way to do that is to avoid blocks of texts. Instead, ensure you break down your content into digestible chunks that a reader can quickly take in.

Also, include decent amount of headings, correctly marking the headings and subheadings. This improves readability and enables the search engine to scan your content and understand what you are offering.

Optimize Meta Description

The meta description summarizes your content in less than 160 characters. You should make it as catchy and inviting as possible to entice your reader to click on your piece. Google shows the meta description under the title of your content. It's not guaranteed that Google will pick the meta description you have crafted, but having your primary keyword in the meta description improves the odds of it being shown.

Your meta description should answer the search intent but make them curious enough to want to read further. It is like your 15 second pitch to your target audience.

Write High-Quality Content

High-quality content is content that has considered all aspects of the topic. High-quality content provides the most accurate, comprehensive information in the most appealing way while simultaneously satisfying the search engine.

This means if you are to create high-quality content, it starts from the mountains of research you have to do. First, the content must be well researched, up to date, and accurate. Then you have to research the best keywords for it and infuse the two naturally.

Then, the content has to be presented appealingly. Short paragraphs and bullet points where applicable. It also has to follow the inverted pyramid format where the most important information is offered straight on, and then the details come later.

In addition, high-quality content has to have other aids such as images, graphics, graphs, and videos to enhance the reader’s understanding of the content better.

Update Content Regularly

The digital space is fast-moving. Today you're ranking on top, and in no time, you are dislodged. The only way to ensure you stay at the top is through regularly updating your content to ensure you are fresh and relevant. If new statistics come out, make sure you update your piece. If new products launch, ensure you do update.

Parting Shot

Creating this type of content that performs on the web requires a blend of creativity and technical understanding. Payton Clark Smith of Pait Digital has perfected their craft and understands the science behind SEO friendly content. Contact us today and let’s talk about everything from inbound marketing, e-commerce marketing, video marketing, paid media, website design, and much more.

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