How to do SEO writing and website optimizing has changed!
Over the past year, search engines have changed their priorities, especially on SEO and content marketing.
Do you remember the days when you would type a phrase into Google and one of two things would occur:
1. Your first page of results would be the same exact information from several different websites?
2. Your results would be pages loaded with a bunch of jibberish that made no sense, but was loaded with keywords?
How frustrating was that?
You may not have noticed, but those days are gone. When is the last time one of these scenarios happened to you?
Sure there may be the occasional website that sneaks in there, but the pages and pages of poor content showing up in your results are no longer happening. This is fantastic news for the billions of people that use search engines to find out information everyday.
However what does it mean to those that have a business online? Do you need to change what you are doing?
To make it simple and easy on you, here are some tips to help you get started.
How to Do SEO Writing that Search Engines and People Will Love
1. Discover relevant keywords. Your first step in SEO writing is to discover the keywords your audience is using to find you. Keep in mind, these are not the keywords you think they should be using, but words that they are actually typing into the search engines. There are tools such as Google Adwords that can hep you find the right ones. If you need help, check out: How Do I Find Keywords.
2. Choose keywords for your site. After you have your list complete, it's time to choose the words for your site. First pick your keywords for each page—these are your site's main keywords. Keep them at no more than 3 or 4 per page. The rest of your list are great words to use for blog posts.
3. Enter keywords in the correct place. For your best results choose a focus keyword for each post or page you write. This will be the one you will want to place in your title, url, and headline. Also, you can add up to one more keyword in your post, but try to use it no more than 3% of the time in your writing.
4. Repeat this phrase: Your audience is always #1. Regardless of what words you choose, keep in mind that at the end of the day, your readers are always your priority. Write for them, by providing them the information they are seeking. (Hint: the search engines love valuable and relevant content too.)
5. Don't forget about your photos. Be sure to rename any photo you have on your page or post with a keyword phrase. Search engines like to scan those for keywords as well.
6. Add Pluggins for help. If you are using a WordPress site (which you should be for optimum SEO), there are pluggins that can help with the process. Two of the best are Yoast and All in One SEO. Each one will help you be sure you are on the right track with your SEO writing.
Learning how to do SEO writing can feel overwhelming. There are people who can help you, but if you understand the basics you will be well on your way.
Have a question about SEO writing? Ask it below or visit us on Facebook and ask there. Looking forward to it!
Thx! I'm bookmarking this as a reference
Some great tips here and I especially like the reminder about keeping your readership as a priority. At the end of the day that's what it is all about!
SEO is still overwhelming for me. I think the main reason is because I have always heard how important it is and how complex it is, that somehow I lost my interest in it. I need to get on track though and do something about it. I have a small question to start my endeavor with…I will ask it on your facebook page ok?
Great advice on SEO! Yes, so much has change and I have to keep up with them, you are so generous sharing the news with others. Have a wonderful day!
yhese are great tips, Gretchen.. I work hard to help people figure out what is best for SEO and audience. I wrote for SEO for so many years I didn't have a clue how to write for appeal. Glad I have a partner as she can do both with ease!
I see so many people in my business who don't take the time to do some simple SEO steps – it makes a world of difference. The steps you outline should make it easy for every one to know what they can do to improve their Search Engine Rankings!!!
Thanks for posting these great tips!
Thanks for the helpful info.
I have a general knowledge of SEO but often times do not capitalize on it…Got to work on this!
Great info and so easy to understand! Sometimes I think SEO has gotten so big in people's minds that they just don't want to learn anything about it. Or, they think they can't possibly go up against the big companies. Thanks for posting good SEO tips for the "little people!"
Wonderful information! I shared with my small business networking group!
This is such a great post — I got as far as yours (HYFG) on Tuesday but got side-tracked as I started using some of your suggestions — especially the pluggin, Yoast! Thank you for sharing!
Great information about SEO content. I love using Yoast. It makes my life so much easier when posting my content. Thanks!
Love these tips. I didn't realize to label my photos for SEO keywords. Wow. Thanks tons. I usually a radish as a radish. Thanks Gretchen.
Gretchen, thanks for this information about SEO. It seems I am still in quite a learning curve in learning exactly how to chose and use keywords. This has cleared it up some as I move forward. You are giving me what I need… Thanks.
Not only was this list comprehensive, but it was refreshingly concise! The facts, ma'am, nothing but the facts! Thanks, Gretchen …
Thanks Gretchen. I'm still working on SEO challenge. This will help me tremendously!
Oh I’m so glad they will help Nancy! Best of luck with it
We use these seo writing strategies when we write content for this blog, for other sites to which we contribute, and for clients (e.g. as part of a new web website project or link building campaign).
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Statistics show that nearly 60% of keyword searches include 2 or 3 keywords. With that in mind, try to optimize your pages for searches on keyword phrases of 2 or 3 words to drive the biggest results.
Thanks for the nice post and helpful for the content writers like me.
You are welcome! Glad you found them helpful.