You want to write content that gets your site found – and that means writing for SEO. Here are 9 simple tweaks you can start using today.

Are you writing high-quality content that’s driving next to no traffic to your website?

You’re not alone.

Many companies make the big mistake of believing all they need to do to become an SEO powerhouse is to write fresh content. While original, well-written content is an essential part of SEO practices, there is much more to it than that.

Fortunately, you can master writing for SEO with just nine little tweaks.


Keyword Research

You must adopt an SEO mindset.

You are no longer writing solely for the customer. You must also write for Google.

For Google to take notice of you, it has to understand what you are talking about, which is where keyword research comes in.

You must identify the words and phrases people are looking for in the search engine results pages (SERPs), and naturally place them in your fresh, high-quality articles.

So, if Google likes what it reads, you will shoot up the SERPs and will drive more traffic to your website.

Also, there are different Keyword categories, such as:

  • Branded (a name)
  • Long tail (sentences/phrases)
  • Naked links (a URL)
  • Generic (CTAs, such as ‘click here’ or ‘learn more’)
  • LSIs (variations of the main keyword)

For a successful keyword research strategy, you must identify what anchor text you can compete with online. Store the words and phrases in a spreadsheet that you can turn to when writing a new blog.

Don’t forget to make a note of how many times you have used a keyword within the content, so you can alter a strategy with each article.


Keyword Density

Keyword density doesn’t mean stuffing a blog with the chosen anchor text.

This isn’t 2010 and you will be penalised for it in the SERPs. What you must do is write high-quality content and naturally incorporate the keyword 2-3 times per 500 words.

You must also add the keyword into a catchy title that will engage readers, and try to place it within the first and last paragraph of an article. 


Meta Descriptions

Never underestimate the importance of meta descriptions.

Every page on your website must have a unique meta description, which is a summary of the content on that page. This little description will appear in the search engines. It is almost like an advertisement to encourage people to click on the link. 

So, make the reader believe they would make a big mistake if they failed to visit your website.


In-Depth Copy

While you should never write for writing’s sake, you also cannot afford to skimp on content when writing for SEO, either.

While you could say everything in 100 words, you must find something of value to say to your visitors.

Search engines tend to value longer articles over shorter copy, so strive for the 1,000 to 2,000-word count mark and create copy that’s no less than 300 words.


Header Tags

Header tags improve an article’s readability. 

Header tags indicate to Google that the article has moved onto a different subject, which makes it easier to categorise the content.

H1 tags are commonly used for the main title on the page, while H2 tags are used for the subsections throughout the article. If you need to divide the content into further sections, that is when you will work your way down from H3 to H6.

Never assume the reader is a novice.

For example, an SEO expert might read this blog to brush up on their knowledge of the different anchor text varieties. So they will scan to the section and will not need to read the sections on keyword density or meta descriptions – because they already know it.


Alt Tags

Alt tags are a handy way to provide the reader and Google with a description of an image when it fails to load. 

They can also be an effective way to incorporate a main or LSI keyword into the content, but the keyword must be used to accurately describe the image.


Internal Links

Internal linking should become your best friend when writing for SEO and the customer.

By incorporating links to other internal articles or pages, you can help a reader easily navigate their way around your website. This not only ensures you effectively engage with a visitor, but it will improve your bounce rate.

What’s more, the internal linking will associate the URL with the anchor text, which could greatly improve your ranking in the search engines.

Don’t forget to naturally incorporate the navigational links with the targeted keywords, too.


Faster Loading Times 

Slow load times result in a slow-performing company.

47% of consumers expect a website to load within two seconds or less.

Customers haven’t got the time or the patience to wait for a website to load, so they will simply click away to a competitor.

It’s not just customers who will have difficulty accessing your articles, either.

Search engines will struggle to crawl through your pages, so they will spend less time on your website, which means your content will become much more difficult to find.

Start by testing your website pages to identify how long it takes for text, images and other content to load. If your content is running slower than a snail, either replace it or delete it.

You should also optimize HTML, Javascript and CSS files to boost a site’s speed.

Improve your load time, improve your ranking. It’s that simple.



How can traffic find you if you’re not on the road?

An XML sitemap ensures the search engines can find every page on your website. You just have to submit it to the likes of Google, Bing and Yahoo!

The sitemap will make it easier for search engines to crawl through each page on a website, which will improve its ranking in the SERPs.

WordPress has a built-in sitemap installed, but some other content management systems do not. 

So, check if your CMS platform has a built-in XML sitemap. If it doesn’t, you should take the time to create one.


Writing for SEO 

Writing for SEO no longer means writing low-quality copy that’s stuffed with spammy keywords, which offer little no value to the reader.

Companies who deploy content marketing practices can receive 55% more visitors.

It is essential to create high-quality copy that complements your company’s objectives, the visitors’ needs and can aid online marketing, such as social media engagement and a ranking in the SERPs.

Are you looking to leverage content marketing as an ROI driver?

Talk to us, just make a booking here and we can help you.