Search Engine Optimization. It’s complicated, to say the least. Search engines, like Google, are constantly changing and updating their algorithms. There are a few things you need to know to be a successful SEO writer. Here are the top ten tips to make a note of. 

Keywords

Keywords are one of the most important factors of successful SEO writing. As you’re creating your content, make sure you make a note of what keywords are most important and use them frequently throughout your writing. Keep on top of different types of keywords so that you aren’t constantly repeating yourself throughout. By doing this, you will find your work contains a mixture of long-tailed keywords and short-tailed keywords. An example of a long-tailed keyword would be “successful SEO writing tips,” and the short-tailed version would be “SEO writing.” Long-tailed keywords are the most important because they make each piece of content different and increase your content ranking. It’s still important to use short-tailed keywords to build a good foundation of the semantic field around your work. Another example; if you were searching for a dating site for anime lovers, the short-tailed keywords would be “anime dating,” and long-tailed would be “best anime dating sites for lovers.” You can test and trial this to see for yourself. The different keywords you search for are what bring the right links to the top results. 

Title and Description

Your title and the description are often referred to as a title tag and meta description. Meta descriptions are what people read to decide whether it’s worth clicking the link and if the site provides the correct information. A successful title tag is one that is short and sweet, describes the content informatively well, and is unique to draw your target audience in. 

Headings and Subheadings

Using keywords in your headings is a great way to optimize your SEO rate. Keywords are critical in googles algorithm, even though they would probably prefer them not to be. Using keywords in your headings optimizes your content, and ensuring you use the right format throughout your work (like H1’s, H2’s, H3’s, etc.) will also boost your content. Even more so if those headings have keywords in them. 

Your Audiences Still Important

It’s so important not to lose sight of what is most important; your audience. Although we have to adapt our writing to make it successful for search engines, we have to remember we are still writing for people. So don’t forget about creativity and provide your readers with the content they need.

Writing Style

Your writing style is what keeps hold of your readers’ attention, so make sure that the style fits the type of writing you’re doing. If you’re writing about something academic, there are tips around making your work effective academic writing. This same principle applies to any subject based on SEO writing. 

One of Google’s main ranking factors is writing that includes links to other sites. Include links to other relevant sites, but ensure they are not a competitor. This not only enhances your SEO rates but also backs up what you’re talking about too.

Be Original

There are sites you can use like Dupli Checker to check how unique your work is. Do not copy and paste any work from other web pages or re-write something you have read from another site unless you are using quotations and links. Plagiarism will decrease your SEO rates. Google’s algorithm doesn’t like copycats! 

Write What People Want to Read

There are sites online that show you what people are searching for the most. It’s pretty obvious if you’re writing what the most frequent searches are for, you have more chance of people reading your work. Google’s trends are constantly changing, so it’s a good idea to use sites that show Google’s latest trends to keep you up to date on what people want to read. 

Organize Your Work

When we learn to write stories in school, we’re often taught about timelines and storyboards so that your writing flows well. The same principle applies to SEO writing. Make sure that your work has a good structure; otherwise, it can seem difficult to follow, and people get bored of reading work that confuses them.

Do Your Research

Knowledge is power. People like it when you sound like you know what you’re talking about. Even if you are well experienced in your current topic of writing, it’s still a good idea to do some extra research, as you never know what interesting facts that could interest your reader you might come across. 

SEO writing isn’t as complicated as it seems. If you follow these SEO writing tips for beginners and stay consistent, you will be sure to optimize your SEO results!