7 steps to make search-optimized content
The approach I use for creating search-optimized content involves a straightforward and accessible seven-step process. After conducting thorough keyword research and identifying my target keyword(s), each article I publish on my blog undergoes the following SEO writing steps:
Step 1: Analyze the SERPs for Your Target Keyword(s)
When writing for SEO, it is crucial to grasp the concept of search intent. Search intent refers to the purpose behind a user’s search query. For instance, if someone searches for “best restaurants near me,” their intent is to discover top-notch dining establishments in their vicinity.
Understanding search intent is deceptively important, as misinterpreting it can hinder your chances of securing a first-page ranking on Google, regardless of the quality of your content. Therefore, the first step involves thoroughly examining the search engine results pages (SERPs) related to your target keyword(s), allowing you to align your content with the search intent and optimize your chances of ranking higher.
Step 2: Develop an Article Outline
To streamline the writing process and maintain quality control, crafting an article outline is essential in SEO writing. The outline serves as a roadmap for your content and helps you structure it effectively.
During the outline creation, it’s important to incorporate key SEO details, such as addressing common questions or concerns that users may have when searching for the targeted keyword(s).
Additionally, this step involves determining the headings and subheadings that will be included in your article. Consider the unique aspects, value proposition, or superior qualities that set your content apart from existing articles on the topic. This ensures that your article offers something distinctive and valuable to readers, making it stand out from the competition.
Step 3: Write Your Draft
The creation of a rough draft is a fundamental step in the development of almost every outstanding article.
Why is it important?
Drafting allows you to refine your ideas, conduct research, and establish the overall flow of your content. It provides an opportunity to make changes and revisions without the pressure of producing a final, polished product from the start.
Personally, I find it convenient to write my drafts using Google Docs. This platform facilitates seamless collaboration with editors, designers, and other team members.
Step 4: Get Feedback and Revise Your Draft
While not always feasible, receiving feedback on your draft can be immensely beneficial. As writers, we often become too immersed in our own work and may overlook certain aspects. Having a fresh perspective from a second pair of eyes can provide valuable insights.
If you have team members or employees, consider having them review your draft and share their thoughts. Additionally, reaching out to your audience for feedback can be highly valuable. Utilize platforms like Facebook groups or your email list to gather input from trusted members or actual customers. Their feedback may offer perspectives and information that you hadn’t considered before, potentially uncovering insights that aren’t even available on search engines yet.
Once you receive feedback, revise your writing accordingly, addressing any identified areas for improvement. With the revisions complete, you’re ready to move on to the next step.
Step 5: Edit and Format Your Draft into a Proper Article
This is the stage where you refine and perfect your article. While having an editor can greatly enhance content quality, if that’s not an option, you can still edit the content yourself.
As you edit, remember the goal of providing the best possible answer concisely and in an easy-to-skim format. Ask yourself these questions: Is this the best answer? Am I explaining it simply? Is the article easily scannable for someone with limited time?
To enhance your writing, organize the content with headings and subheadings, use italics or bold to highlight key points, and vary sentence lengths for a more engaging read. Simplify complex words whenever possible, but don’t hesitate to use technical terms when necessary.
Incorporating visuals like photos, videos, and bulleted lists can break up long stretches of text and present information visually, while also potentially benefiting SEO.
When editing, try reading your content aloud. This helps identify dry or boring sections, reveals areas of complexity or confusion, and highlights grammatical errors. Additionally, take advantage of Google Docs’ automatic spelling and grammar checks, allowing you to focus on content quality rather than technicalities during the editing process.
Step 6: Set Your SEO Elements and Publish
Having a well-crafted article is a significant step toward ranking on Google, but it takes more than just great content to achieve those coveted page #1 rankings.
Earlier in this article, I mentioned the importance of on-page SEO. This includes optimizing various elements on your page, such as:
- Title tag
- Meta
- Open graph tags
- URL slug
- Page or post categorization
- Image alt text
It is crucial to optimize these elements for each page on your website during the writing process. If you’re using WordPress, there are plugins available, such as SEOPress, that simplify the process of setting and managing these SEO elements.
Once you have properly set your SEO elements, it’s time to publish your post and make it live for your audience to enjoy.
Step 7: Update Your Internal Links
Once your post is published, it’s important to add internal links from other pages on your website to the newly published article. This practice serves two purposes: enhancing user navigation and assisting search engines in understanding the relevance and context of your new page through anchor text.
By incorporating internal links, you make your website more user-friendly and encourage visitors to explore related content. Furthermore, these internal links help Google crawl and index your site effectively.
To identify internal link opportunities, you can utilize the Google search operator “site:”. Simply input “site:yoursitehere.com [related keyword here]” into Google’s search bar to quickly locate relevant pages on your site that can be linked to the new article. This technique streamlines the process of finding suitable internal linking opportunities and optimizing your website’s internal link structure.
Final Thoughts
In essence, SEO writing revolves around providing the most comprehensive and easily digestible answer to a specific query. By effectively addressing search intent and adhering to on-page SEO best practices, you can master the content aspect of SEO.
Remember, the key is to create high-quality content that not only answers the user’s query but also presents the information in a format that is easily understood and skimmable. By striking the right balance between informative content and optimized structure, you can optimize your chances of ranking higher in search engine results.
Keep refining your SEO writing skills, stay updated with industry trends, and consistently apply these principles to your content creation process. With dedication and attention to detail, you’ll be well on your way to achieving success in SEO writing.