Are Keywords Killing Your Content? Tips To Improve SEO Copy To Save You Time
Write Searchable and Enjoyable Copy
It’s typical isn’t it? We are taught time and time again within SEO that ‘Content Is King’, but many of us are writing copy that -
a. Isn’t getting the attention it deserves
b. Needs to exposes a product or service
c. Has keywords that are less than exciting
Whether you are writing for yourself or your customers, SEO is vital for online exposure and getting websites up to the top spots of Google, Yahoo and MSN. Keywords are vital for this and often copy is badly written but has the key words distributed perfectly.
We all understand that we need to write content to give something to our readers to inform them of a specific product or service and when they reach our website, give them further information to make them stay with us. However it’s the content they want and it’s the links Search Engines want, it’s all about balance.
But how can we write content that means something but keeps SEO and Key words distribution in mind?
Tip 1: Don’t focus purely on the SEO.
When we have a list of key words we know they have to fit within the text somehow and the subject focus goes out of the window. Keep your subject in mind as you would writing any copy, and begin writing. When complete, you may find that you have entered the key words without even thinking about it. However if this hasn’t been the case you have done the hard work now and it’s a case of piecing it together.
Tip 2: Read, Let someone else Read, and then Re-read.
You may not take criticism well, but when customers are depending on you, it’s vital that you swallow your pride and ask another member of staff to read through your copy. You’ll be surprised what their feedback is especially if they know nothing on the subject matter. Get them to look at your grammar and spelling.
Don’t take it personally if suggestions are made, SEO is not about being precious of what you’ve written, it’s about getting results and the only way to do this is to ask for a second opinion. Embrace the fact there are people that are willing to help and in time you’re writing and SEO will improve.
Tip 3: Keywords are Queen.
It’s important that keywords don’t kill your copy, but they are the reason you are writing after all. Ensure they are distributed wherever possible without being spammy. Obviously you need them in the title, headings and main body but, also ensure they are evenly spaced throughout the copy and not all crammed at the beginning or end.
Look at the medium your are writing for. Site text is different to Press Releases, but the theory is still the same and therefore your methodology should be the same.
To achieve the three results mentioned at the beginning you need to ensure your work is written well and contains the relevant SEO. Not one or the other, this will only result in more hard work with poorer results.
January 13th, 2010
I think sometimes just sitting down and writing the natural way gets noticed the most, plus gets the most exposure in Google’s eyes and the end user.