Search Engine Optimization (SEO): it feels like a never-ending quest to decipher the latest Google riddle, doesn’t it? Good news is, there are some timeless strategies you can use to stay ahead of the curve. Whether you’re writing blog posts, product pages, or crafting the perfect ‘About Us’ copy, mastering the art of SEO will make all the difference.
Over the years, there have been all kinds of studies conducted on page one of the Google results. The consensus is that the vast majority of searchers never make it to page two. And getting to that coveted page-one/number-one spot used to be all about gaming the system. Today, success is about understanding your audience and creating content that truly answers their questions and solves their problems. It’s a win-win — search engines reward helpful content, and your business gains visibility.
With this in mind, let’s go over some timeless strategies for crafting SEO-optimized content for today’s standards:
Do Your Research
Keyword research is a foundational aspect of SEO. As trends come and go by the hour these days, keyword research needs to have a significant role in your writing process.
Your goal should be to locate the queries people are looking for concerning your niche. As a general rule of thumb, try to focus on long-tail keywords – terms and phrases made up of four or more words.
The reason is that these terms typically have a lower search volume, but can still give you a good chance of ranking well on the SERPs.
For example, let’s say you are writing content for a vegan recipe website. Using the Moz Keyword Explorer, we will enter the term “quinoa.”
You’ll notice the competition for this general term is VERY high, making it nearly impossible to rank for. So, you’ll want to get a little more specific to what you offer. If you click on “See all suggestions,” you will be given an extensive list of relevant terms with the more manageable competition.
Keyword research indeed takes some critical thinking. Once you have developed a good bank of relevant search terms, you can include them in your website content to be indexed by the search engine crawlers.
Craft SEO-Optimized Content for Search Intent Not Keyword Density
Gone are the days of keyword stuffing! Today, creating high-quality content that addresses your target audience’s specific needs is key. To do that:
- Focus on Search Intent: Instead of chasing a specific number of keywords, research the questions and problems people in your niche are searching for online.
- Answer User Queries: Write content that directly addresses those questions and provides valuable information or solutions.
- Natural Keyword Integration: As you write, relevant keywords will naturally flow into your content as you provide those answers. Focus on readability and avoid forced keyword insertion.
This is a more holistic approach to content writing that’s more in line with how search engine algorithms function today. It prioritizes content that is informative, engaging, and genuinely helpful to the user.
While you still need to include keywords and phrases for rankings, your approach needs to be more nuanced and strategic. Do your best to cover the terms in a natural way that doesn’t confuse readers, or has awkward amounts of repetition.
Try to use varying keywords in your content, as this spreads out and diversifies your chances of ranking.
Choose Title Tags Wisely
The title tag of your content is one of the most critical pieces of the puzzle. The title tag is the face of your content and how it is received across the web.
Especially on your website’s blog, the title should include keywords that fit the specific context of the post. (Keep in mind, you can only have so many characters in the title. Google typically allows 50-70.)
Try to keep it under that length to avoid being cut off. (SEOmofo is a great tool to help with this.)
Define the URL
The URL of a webpage sometimes tends to be a forgotten factor in SEO. SEO-friendly URLs are reasonably straightforward. Experts will tell you the first 3-5 words hold a good deal of the value, so try to keep them relatively short with the proper keywords included. Ultimately, both the readers and the search engines crawlers should be able to understand what your content is all about from the URL.
Like so: https://example.com/soda/homemade-rootbeer-guide/
Create Concise Meta Descriptions
Meta descriptions are the body of text placed under the title. It is meant to provide readers with a short preview of what the content is.
While it doesn’t necessarily hold as much SEO value as the title tag, it’s crucial for click-through rates (CTR). It should still include your chosen keyword(s) and be well written and concise.
Keep in mind; the meta description is what persuades people to open your content. Think of it as an SEO-charged sales pitch!
Include Links
Link building is an essential part of SEO. This process involves adding both internal and external links within your content.
Internal links direct readers to other pages within your website. A good interlinking structure makes it easier for search engines to crawl your website and understand its meaning and value.
External links (like this one) direct readers to pages outside of your website. If you are citing specific data, findings, or want to provide additional information, you’ll want to include external links in your content. Just be sure the site you link to is credible, and the material was (preferably) published within the last few years.
The key here is quality. Don’t include links within your content just for the sake of linking. Make sure the pages you link to are relevant to your content and add value for the reader.
Use Google Search Console!
One essential tool for creating SEO-friendly content is Google Search Console (formerly known as Webmaster Tools).
Some of the significant features of this tool include:
- Pinpointing the keywords that are driving traffic to your website.
- Monitors links.
- Scanning for error messages.
- Checking mobile usability.
- Creating structured data.
- Sending links to Google to ensure indexing.
Of all the excellent SEO tools out there, this one needs to be at the top of your list to help guide your writing.
Final Thoughts
SEO is a fascinating form of marketing. Google is famously known for keeping the more intricate details of their ranking algorithms quiet. For the most part, experts are working around the clock to uncover the secrets and tricks to get placed on page one. Due to how fast the landscape moves, this is no easy task.
Writing SEO-friendly content is somewhat of an art form. If you want to find your way to the glorious page one, keep these tips in mind.
Jack Shepler is a Marketing and Search Engine Optimization expert. He founded Ayokay, award-winning marketing, and web design firm in Indianapolis, Indiana that has built brands, increased sales for businesses, and helped nonprofit organizations fulfill their missions since 2011. He uses his decades of experience to educate through the Ayokay blog and through public speaking. You can follow him on LinkedIn.
