Consider a situation: You work for an IT company dealing with pet care supplies. Your boss wants you to create a product description for their dog food.
First, you will ask relevant questions about the product. However, your boss says you can find a vast amount of information on Google.
In this regard, Google is a vast library containing a repository of information. You can search for the name of dog food and get thousands of results.
But you only go through a few at the top of the search results page. So, the next time you write something, think about how to get that content on top of Google SERPs.
Now, you might be wondering how I will achieve this feat. It is relatively easy. It is simple to adhere to SEO writing.
The fundamental purpose of this blog post is to clarify the basics of SEO writing and provide practical tips to help you succeed. So, let us get started and empower you to apply your knowledge.
The Simple Definition of SEO Content Writing
SEO content writing is all about exploiting your content writing skills and SEO strategies to get your content piece to rank on Google SERPs. It is quite different from creative writing, wherein you use imagination and write to grab the readers’ attention.
In SEO content writing, you need to follow specific keywords that show up on top of Google SERPs and organically use them in your content pieces to outrank other competitors.
For now, let us quickly deep dive into the main section of this blog.
Five Tips That Will Help You Succeed in SEO Content Writing
It is essential to know that SEO content writing takes time and practice to master. But, to make your task more accessible, we have enumerated five tips to help you succeed in SEO content writing.
#1. Take Advantage of Semantic Search to Outrank Your Competitors
The most important thing you can ever do to get your hands dirty in the SEO content writing field is to get a grip on semantic / keyword research.
Sometimes, businesses ask content writers to research relevant topics related to their niche, such as optimizing Salesforce forms for better lead generation.
Trying keyword variations and related keywords is the best way to counter this practice. When you search for a particular query on Google, the associated keywords are displayed at the bottom of the page.
You can then use tools such as Moz and Ahref to see their keyword volume and use them in your write-ups. The best trick is to use lower search volume keywords, and it is difficult to easily outrank your competitors by using them in your write-ups.
If you do not wish to use this methodology, we suggest you try tools like LSIGraph to make it effortless to search for LSI keywords (related keywords in layperson’s terms)!
#2. Try to Use Data-driven Content to Develop Your Authority
According to Invesp, 87% of marketers proclaim that data is their company’s most under-utilized asset! This untapped reservoir of value can help you enhance the quality of your write-ups and showcase your authority in your business domain.
For example, integrating insights from an email verification tool can add credibility to your content by ensuring the accuracy of your data sources.
The best thing that you, as a professional writer, can do is to break the silos and include cross-functional data sources, and create a compelling narrative around it.
The good news is that this well-researched, data-backed content can attract backlinks, ultimately enhancing your digital advertising impact.
As a professional writer, you must regularly update your content with recent data to make it relevant and attract traffic to your blog posts. This will encourage your readers to keep returning to your post for fresh details and get your content indexed frequently by Google SERPs.
#3. Your Sole Purpose Should be to Target User Intent in Your Write-ups
In layperson’s terms, user intent is the primary objective behind the search query posted by the user on Google. Once you answer their hot question, they will return to your website for relevant information.
For example, if someone is searching for social media tools for a Children’s Museum, their intent might be to find effective platforms to manage their online presence. The user intent can be divided into four preliminary parts:
Informational Intent
This type of intent is shown by a user when they are looking for information or getting their queries resolved. It can be in basic definitions, how-to guides, research materials, or justifications.
Navigational Intent
This is where the user wants to research a specific website or brand. They are already aware of what they are looking for, and their primary purpose is to use Google to navigate to a particular website.
Transactional Intent
This type of intent occurs when people have already decided to take action. This can be a purchase, booking an appointment, or subscribing to a service, such as small business coaching.
Commercial Intent
The user shows this type of intent when they have decided to purchase something but have yet to do so. They wish to compare the products, read customer reviews, and search for the best deals before making a final call.
Once you know the user intent, it is easy to formulate content according to their specific needs and increase your scope to show up on Google SERPs. For every industry and niche, the user intent will be distinct.
Additionally, consider how subtle elements like an email signature can reflect your brand’s professionalism, contributing to the overall user experience and trustworthiness when they contact you for further information.
#4. Utilize the Power of Content Clusters to Rank Your Pieces Better
In simple words, content clusters are a group of subtopics that are developed around the primary topic. This helps the search engine understand how in-depth you cover each topic.
For instance, if your primary topic is “effective remote work strategies,” you might create clusters around tools like video conferencing platforms. These are essential for maintaining communication in a remote work environment. Content clusters can be divided into two parts:
Pillar Pages
These pages comprehensively cover a single topic by briefly discussing several sub-topics.
Cluster Pages
This is an expansion of the content you use on the pillar page with the help of comprehensive coverage of information for each sub-topic in hand.
Both types of pages are interconnected using hyperlinks. Content clusters can improve a website’s overall SEO. However, poorly structured clusters can lead to lower conversions if the content doesn’t resonate with your audience or lacks clear calls to action.
As a professional SEO writer, you must keep updating your clusters and interconnected with each other so that your readers find real value in your pieces.
Additionally, when creating cluster content, it’s essential to redact sensitive information if the topic involves personal data or confidential business details. You can practice this strategy specifically when your website has diverse issues.
#5. Keep An Eye on Your Competitors
Once you are ready to execute the tips mentioned above and know how you wish to appear on the Google search results page, watch out for what your competitors are doing.
Additionally, consider analyzing their cold email marketing campaigns to see how they engage their audience and drive traffic to their site.
Watch out for:
- The page structure to see how they are compiling the content on their website
- The keywords and phrases they use in the headline and subheadings.
- The total length of their write-ups so you can gauge the average length in your business niche.
- The content localization of their website into other languages
Monitoring their activity on social media platforms is essential to understand how they distribute content and interact with their audience. Social media can be a powerful tool for amplifying your content’s reach, so studying your competitors’ approach can offer valuable insights.
We suggest you go one step ahead and select the topics your competitors have written about. This will help you curate a content calendar.
However, do not copy everything they mention in their write-ups. Instead, integrate your findings into your strategy, perhaps by leveraging a CRM to track customer interactions and feedback, helping refine your content approach.
Start Giving Wings to Your SEO Write-Ups Today!
The tips above can go a long way in ensuring you ace SEO content writing without fuss. However, remember to practice hard to ace SEO-based writing. With time, you will get a knack for perfecting it. Keep this blog as your Holy Grail whenever you feel stuck, and refine your SEO strategy.
Keep this in mind: SEO writing is not a one-off thing. It would be best if you spent time enhancing it regularly. Keep your eyes and ears open and periodically check the SEO updates to make your write-ups rank better on Google SERPs!
