Content writing for search engine optimization
How good content writing can improve your search engine optimization.
Good content writing is an art, but every webmaster can learn how content writing can improve your search engine optimization (SEO). Learn why the first paragraph is so important and how to structure your page using headlines to attract and keep your visitors.
When you reach the content writing phase, you should already have identified the topic of your web page and a number of keyword phrases or sentences to use in your web page's content. Even if you are just an average writer like me, you can learn how to use these keywords both in your text and in your headlines. But remember, you are writing for your visitors first; search engine optimization comes second only.
Before we start, also realize that you are only writing a first version of your web page. Your web page does not have to be perfect in one go. When you start getting visitors, you will learn what keywords are actually used by your visitors to find your page. You will then have to rewrite your content, at least partly. So, don't try to be a perfectionist,... yet!
Writing your title and metatags.
Using your keyword phrases in your metatags is crucial for good search engine optimization. Put your main keyword sentence at the start of the title element and title metatag. However, your Title element will not always be completely invisible. It will also be displayed at the top of the browser window and in bookmarks. So don't make your title too terse and uninteresting.
Your description metatag is even more important, your description metatag contents will often be displayed by search engines and should help convince your prospective visitors that your content is interesting. If you have the wrong description or, worse, a just plain boring description, your search engine ranking may not deliver you the traffic you really want.
Writing your first paragraph using your main keywords.
Your first paragraph is the most important paragraph on your web page, not only from a SEO perspective but also to get your visitors really interested. On the web, most people will just scan a page instead of read it. They will read the first paragraph and scan the headlines. So, make sure your first paragraph grabs their attention and encourages them to read the rest. Good content writing often uses an approach that tries to tease the reader in the first paragraph. At the same time, however, you will need to make sure that your important keyword phrases are used in the first paragraph as well, to improve your search engine ranking.
Lots of articles on good content writing are written by Internet marketing experts. They try to sell you something, and will advocate a writing style that, in my view, is really over the top. I would never buy anything from any web site that treats me like a child but, hey, other peaple might!
Using headlines to grab attention and improve ranking.
As visitors will normally be in a hurry, the rest of your page needs to be structured, so visitors can easily scan it and find those paragrapghs that really interest them. So, use headlines that reflect the content of your sections and invite your visitors to read that section. But also realize that search engines use the content of your headlines to identify the theme of your page and your keywords.
Some final notes.
Looking at this page, I wonder do I follow my own advice in writing the content of these pages. We'll yes, but I am only human, and this is still just the first draft. I am not selling anything so I am not spending more time on this page than necessary. So, if you believe you could do better, good on you. Give me your feedback!