SEO writing tips in 2014? With all that has happened in search in recent years, do we really even need them? The answer is yes. Despite all the speculation in the industry, SEO is not dead, and it can still help you rank in SERPs when creating content.
Don’t worry, no keyword spamming or black hat tactics. I’m talking about writing optimized content using Google-friendly best practices. After all, when you spend time and money on quality content, your prospects should be able to find it.
Want to get a leg up on your competitors? Need to generate more leads and sales for your business? Here is a collection of must-know tips to boost the visibility of your web pages.
SEO Writing Tips: 22 Ways To Rank Higher In SERPs
1. Plan ahead.
This saves you time and keeps you organized and focused. Find great keywords. Plan what you’re going to write about. Build a content calendar.
2. Use SEO-friendly software.
Blogging platforms like WordPress (especially when you add the right plugins) make it easy to write and search engine optimize.
3. Be consistent.
Google favors sites that continuously publish fresh content, so writing consistently can improve visibility. Three to four posts weekly should do the trick.
4. Elaborate.
Long, in-depth blog posts and articles tend to perform well in SERPs. Aim for 1,500 words or more when writing. You may just get a ranking boost.
5. Keep it interesting.
Engaging content keeps visitors on your webpages. One of the lesser-known SEO writing tips, Google looks at bounce rates and time on site when ranking pages.
6. Write compelling, keyword-rich titles.
The title is the first thing search engines look at. Users, too. Note that click-through rate (CTR) is a ranking factor.
7. Break text with subheads.
Subheaders (H1-H6 tags) organize your content and describe it to search engine bots. Be sure to use important keywords here.
8. Include enticing snippets.
The meta description, along with your page title, is what makes users click through from SERPs. Again, click-through rate affects rankings.
9. Lead with keywords.
The first few words of your titles are given more weight in search. Always use primary keywords as close to the beginning as possible.
10. Link to trusted sites.
Linking to relevant content on high-ranking sites in your industry improves user experience, which is why it is an SEO best practice.
11. Link within your own site.
Linking to internal pages distributes link juice and allows search engines (and users) to crawl your website more easily.
12. Vary anchor text.
Optimizing link text (outbound links) to match keywords exactly can attract penalties. To be safe, diversify your anchor text.
13. Attract inbound links.
Search engines see multiple quality backlinks as a sign that your content/site is useful. There are many ways to build inbound links.
14. Add optimized pics.
Images bring your text to life. If they are optimized (file size, keyword titles, alt text, and descriptions), they can boost SEO and traffic.
15. Use LSI keywords.
Latent Semantic Indexing is how Google understands searcher intentions. Use synonyms and related words to make your content more relevant.
16. Target long tails.
Long tail keywords are less competitive and easier to rank for. Visitors who find your content using these terms are also more likely to convert.
17. Answer questions.
People ask search engines questions all day long. Provide credible answers (using long tail keywords) and they may just refer them to you.
18. Check your density.
Keyword density may not be a Google ranking factor, but too many keywords can lead to over-optimization penalties. Keep it under one percent.
19. Make use of online tools.
One of the best SEO writing tips you’ll get. Online tools can help with everything from keyword research and productivity to grammar and writer’s block.
20. Have a swipe file.
Keeping a file that contains all your best ideas, keywords, templates, and information can save you a lot of time when writing.
21. Don’t forget to share.
Sharing gets you traffic and links, which tells Google your content is popular. Promote via social media, blogs, forums, and other relevant channels.
22.Let others handle the writing.
Don’t have the time to create and optimize content? Outsource to professional writers. Check out the authors at Writtent.
Have some SEO writing tips up your sleeve? How do you make your content work harder for your business? Let me know in the comments.
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