Are you looking for SEO content writing tips that actually work?
There are just so many resources online that it’s hard to tell which ones are good.
In this guide, you will learn tried-and-tested tips for creating content that increases your organic traffic and positions your business for growth.
TL;DR – SEO Content Writing Tips
Like anything SEO-related, writing for SEO has a learning curve. So, we’re here to make it as simple as possible.
Follow these best practices for SEO content writing:
- Research your primary and secondary keywords
- Satisfy the search intent
- Find and fill content gaps
- Use proper formatting
- Write with the reader in mind
- Don’t let AI do the writing for you
- Create a compelling title and hook
- Include photos and videos
- Link to internal and external resources
- Keep your content fresh
These practices will make your content more visible to your audience, ultimately leading to higher revenue.
If you want to skip the heavy lifting, our experts at TrioSEO can take the load off your shoulders. Sign up for a free SEO audit to spot gaps in your current SEO strategy and create a new one to bring out your website’s full potential.
What is SEO Content Writing?
SEO content writing refers to the process of writing to rank higher on search engines and gain organic traffic.
There are various types of content writing that you can use to attract and engage customers, including:
- Blogs
- Product guides
- Social media copy
- White papers
Do you need more content to help you connect meaningfully with your audience? Our SEO content writing services deliver human-written, optimized content that drives high-quality traffic to your website and improves engagement.
What is SEO Copywriting?
SEO copywriting is the process of creating written content that combines SEO best practices with copywriting techniques to bring about a specific action, such as converting free users into paid subscribers.
Why is Content Important for SEO?
Content is a crucial element of SEO strategy. It tells search engines you are a credible, authoritative resource, which helps boost your rankings and bring your brand to your audience’s attention.
It does this by:
- Using high-intent keywords
- Demonstrating authority and expertise
- Providing shareable resources that can increase your organic traffic
Role of Keyword Research in SEO Content Writing
Every great SEO content is backed by thorough keyword research.
This is because if you want to gain traffic, you need to write content that people are actually interested in and will find online.
Keyword research ensures you’re doing that so people can make their way to you.
Pro Tip: This step can be a long, meticulous process. Use our keyword research checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything!
10 SEO Content Writing Tips
Below are 10 infallible tips that will give you better results:
1. Research Your Primary and Secondary Keywords
Always begin with keyword research to ensure you’re writing content that your audience wants to see.
This step is also crucial for identifying primary and secondary keywords to target, which is critical for ranking on SERPs.
But what’s the difference between the two?
- Primary keywords have higher search volume, making them great for attracting traffic. They also signal which topics are popular among your audience.
- Secondary keywords, on the other hand, complement your main keywords by providing depth and ensuring you’re covering a topic comprehensively.
2. Satisfy the Search Intent
The next step is to plan your content so it provides exactly what people need when they search for the keywords you’re targeting.
For instance, if you’re targeting an informational keyword like “what is search intent” on Google, you’ll notice that the top pages are resources that educate users on the meaning of “search intent.”
That’s because people who use such keywords want to gain knowledge, which is what your content should provide.
3. Find and Fill Content Gaps
Part of creating SEO content is looking at what your competitors are doing.
Examine their content to identify opportunities for content your audience needs that your competitors haven’t covered yet.
You can also conduct an SEO content audit to identify gaps in your existing content library.
4. Use Proper Formatting
Formatting can help search engines better understand your content. So, don’t underestimate what those headings can do.
Simply put, your article should look like this:
- Title: H1
- Main headings: H2
- Supporting subheadings or subtopics: H3 and so on
You can also format specific article sections to earn featured snippets on Google.
For example, if the search query is “how to start a campfire,” you’ll need to:
- Write a brief H2 that mentions the query
- (Since this query asks for a step-by-step guide) Provide the steps in a bullet list
5. Write with the Reader in Mind
When writing for SEO, it’s tempting to focus on the search engine bots. But remember that your content is for humans first and for bots second.
Write in such a way as to engage, educate, and even delight your reader. This means you should:
- Ensure readability: Avoid intimidating walls of text. Instead, make your article skimmable and easy on the eyes by providing plenty of white space.
- Avoid keyword stuffing: Having 1 to 3 primary keywords every 500 words is good. But there’s no one-size-fits-all approach for keyword placement.
Bear in mind that even search engines prioritize quality over quantity. Ensure that your sentences read naturally, and don’t use keywords just for the sake of it.
- Don’t bury the lede: Don’t save the good stuff for later. Give your readers the answer (at least a short one) to their questions right away.
6. Don’t Let AI Do the Writing for You
In a rush? Outsource content creation instead of using AI to whip up content.
AI has come a long way, but it’s nowhere near as good as human writers who understand the motivations behind search queries and the nuances of every topic.
Besides, search engines flag AI-generated content, which means using AI to create entire articles can hurt your rankings.
7. Create a Compelling Title and Hook
If you’re spending a lot of time polishing your title and hook, you’re doing it right. These are two of the most critical parts of your content because they are the first things people see.
Capture their attention with a great hook, and you have a greater chance of keeping their attention to the very last word.
A good hook:
- Establishes your credibility
- Points toward pain points and their solutions
- Provides a snapshot of what the article is about
- Contains an interesting statistic or information
- Sparks an emotional connection or elicits an emotional response
8. Include Photos and Videos
Multimedia elements like photos and videos break up chunks of text nicely. They also help make content more engaging, encouraging readers to stay on the page longer.
Don’t just use any type of multimedia element, though. Make sure it complements your topic.
For example, a short video tutorial works well in an article on “how to temper chocolate.”
9. Link to Internal and External Resources
Links help make your content more engaging and authoritative.
Internal links can make it easier for readers to navigate related resources on your website, increasing time spent and engagement. They can also help you develop a hubbing strategy that demonstrates the depth of your knowledge and expertise.
External links, on the other hand, boost your website’s credibility by linking to other reputable websites.
10. Keep Your Content Fresh
Revisit old content to update outdated information.
By republishing updated content, you can gain more traffic and even up your chances of ranking higher, especially as Google prefers “fresh” content.
Don’t have the resources to implement all these tips? Leave it to the experts.
Sign up for a free SEO audit, and we’ll take care of all your SEO content writing needs with our 10+ years of SEO experience.
SEO and Content Marketing Trends to Follow
SEO and content marketing evolve fast. Stay on top of these trends so you don’t get left behind:
- Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) can potentially cause a dip in organic traffic (if you’re not ready): Much is unknown about this Google Search update yet, but we know so far that it will eliminate the need for clicking on a website – at least for queries requiring a simple answer.
Google will compile an AI-generated snapshot of the answer you need, so you no longer have to click through various websites (with links to other resources in case you want to go in-depth).
We don’t know when or if Google intends to make this development the main way the search engine works. But it’s best to get ready. How? By developing in-depth, expertise-driven content.
- Combining AI tools with human expertise is the way forward: AI is becoming increasingly pervasive in content creation, which means there will be a lot of low-quality, automated content online.
Here’s the thing, though: Google is also getting better at spotting and flagging them. But it’s not just that. Readers can tell when your content is 100% AI-generated, too. And human readers want human writing and expertise.
This doesn’t mean you should get rid of AI altogether. Instead, use AI tools to improve your process and produce human-written content for human consumption.
According to a study by Semrush, 65% of companies that use AI in content creation gain better SEO results.
SEO-Friendly Content Writing Services at TrioSEO
Our robust SEO strategy (with content creation at its core) can keep boosting your click rates, traffic, and leads even months after you start.
Our ongoing services at TrioSEO can take the load off your team and ensure that you receive professionally written, ROI-driven content every time.
Here’s a snapshot of our process:
- SEO audit: We first thoroughly understand your company, brand voice, products or services, and target customer profile (ICP) to align messaging and topics precisely to your needs right from the start.
- Keyword research and planning: Then, we map content ideas to your buyer’s journey to attract, nurture, and convert leads. Our keyword research process uncovers low-competition terms with a high search volume. We use these to build keyword clusters, the base for a strategic monthly content calendar.
- Content writing and publishing: Our expert writers create accurate, factual drafts that incorporate practical tips, stats, and examples. We also optimize these drafts for on-page SEO and refine them until the final version is ready to publish.
- Performance analytics: Lastly, we provide monthly reports to help you track engagement and conversion metrics. These display the content reach, conversions generated, and other data highlighting ROI.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You might be wondering about these FAQs:
What Does it Mean to “Write for SEO”?
“Writing for SEO” means creating content to rank higher in search results and drive organic traffic.
It uses SEO best practices, including incorporating keywords into the copy and optimizing metadata.
What is SEO Content Strategy?
SEO content strategy is a high-level plan for how a company creates and optimizes content to increase its brand’s visibility in search results.
Part of content strategy is analyzing your competition, establishing online authority, and promoting SEO-optimized content.
Why is Having Duplicate Content an Issue for SEO?
Publishing duplicate content weakens your ranking potential.
When your website has pages containing the same content, search engine bots get “confused” about which to rank. As a result, similar pages may rank lower.
Conclusion
Expertly written content is foundational to a successful SEO strategy.
That’s why if you want to see increased organic traffic and more leads that turn into sales, you need to master the art of writing for SEO.
Don’t have the time for it? That’s what we’re here for.
We can be the SEO partner for your growing business. Sign up for a free SEO audit with us, and let’s get started!