In this article we propose 9 ideas on how to write content that is at the same time relevant for the readers and optimised to be crawled and indexed by search engines.
Let’s start…
- Always write your content imagining to talk to your readers.
It’s really important to focus on your audience and to have as objective to write for them. If the information you are sharing are not useful, interesting and don’t involve the reader, nobody will read what you write. Bear in mind that by copying someone else’s content, you won’t provide your readers with any new information and you won’t help your content to be indexed (Google recognises if yours is a duplicate content).
- The key to the keywords
Using keywords is essential for optimising your site in search engines and for helping readers find relevant content. There is, however, a balance that you must find, not to upset the search engines with their excessive use, and not to frustrate your readers with repetitive content. Search engines will put a red flag when the content is overloaded with keywords.
- Always stay up to date
Nothing remains stagnant, and not even your site must be. Fresh information is preferred by Google, and it is proven, that when the content is updated more frequently, readers are returning more and more often to revisit the site for information, rather than looking elsewhere, because they will recognize you as a reliable and truthful source of the latest news.
- Length matters
When it comes to both SEO and readers, the length of the content is a factor of its effectiveness. Write a long post, and risk losing readers – no one wants to read a blog post with the size of a novel. Studies show that the ten websites with the highest rank on Google are those with posts of 2,000 – 2,500 words.
- Arouse interest with the most interesting information
Do not leave the best for last – prioritise information, putting the most relevant stuff at the head of your post. A captivating and engaging title is what you need for attracting readers.
- Make it fast
Regardless of what you have to say, if your site loads slowly – you will lose visitors. The speed of loading pages directly affects the ranking in search engines: make your site faster and get the highest rank.
- The missing link
If you have found more information on another blog or know other sources with more details on the topic, your readers definitely want and deserve to see them.
Google likes to see links to other sources with content related to that of your post, and so also demonstrate to other sites that appreciate their content, and hopefully they will do the same for you.
- Lists, lists, lists
People love lists, because they are easy to read and present all the main information in a few simple key points. That’s why the lists are the best way to transmit the information you want, without forcing the visitors to read the entire pages of text. Search engines are also crazy about the lists included in the content.
- Be honest
Not only does Google love to see a real name and a face behind the presented text, but also readers. When we see a real person behind the content we are reading, we add a certain level of trust, which could never exist if we can not imagine the person who wrote it.
In addition, there are several applications on the web that will help you test and optimize your content.