5 Easy tips to write SEO-friendly content your audience loves

Looking to enhance your content writing skills and attract more visitors to your website? You've come to the right place. In this blog post, I'll demystify the world of search engine optimization (SEO) and will share five easy tips to create SEO-friendly content you're audience will love.

Whether you're a blogger, small business owner, or aspiring content writer, having a basic understanding of SEO best practices is crucial. You don't need to be an SEO specialist to rank higher in search engine results—you need to learn how to optimize the content you write for search engines.

First, what is SEO?

'SEO' is a standard business buzzword—but what does it actually mean? Search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO, is the process of optimizing your website and online content for improved visibility on search engine result pages (SERPs). When someone types a particular topic or keyword into engines like Google, the search engines aim to provide the most relevant and valuable results first.

SEO helps your content stand out and earn rankings towards the top of the search results page, in turn reaching your target audience more effectively. Best of all, it's an organic form of growth—a free way to grow your business online without ad spend.

5 Easy guidelines for SEO content writing like a pro

You don't need a degree or technical know-how to write great SEO content—you need the foundational principles to write engaging, high-value web content with SEO best practices in mind. Here are five easy tips to get started:

1. Do keyword research

Before you begin clacking away at your keyboard, conduct some research by searching for popular words and phrases related to your content. Explore what ranks in the top ten results of your search, taking careful notice of the keywords they use and the layout of their content. This is a good indicator of what you should include in your content writing.

You can also use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Moz to discover what people are searching for in your niche. However, paid tools aren't necessary to begin optimizing your content for SEO. By incorporating keywords naturally throughout your content plus including them in your headings, subheadings, and body text, you can boost your web content's rankings. These keyword tactics help search engines understand the relevance of your content.

2. Lead with engaging headlines and meta descriptions

Craft catchy, attention-grabbing headlines that include your target keywords. Your headline is the first thing reader see—make sure it's compelling. Additionally, write concise meta descriptions that summarize your content accurately and entice users to click through to your page.

3. Create valuable and readable content

Focus on creating high-quality content that provides genuine value to your audience. Write informative, well-researched articles that address their questions, needs, or interests. Format the page for easy readability.

Remember to write for humans first and search engines second. Your content should be engaging, easy to read, and written in a conversational tone.

4. Use proper formatting

Organize your content into small, digestible paragraphs. Use headings and subheadings (H1, H2, H3) to break up your content and make it scannable. This not only enhances the readability for your audience but also helps search engines understand the structure of your content.

Additionally, you can break up large sections into bullet points, numbered lists, and bold/italic formatting to highlight key information and make your content visually appealing for readers.

5. Incorporate internal and external links

Add a mix of internal and external links to your content. Internal links connect to other relevant pages on your website, providing additional information and improving the user experience. External links connect readers to reputable sources and show that you've done your research—thus enhancing the credibility of your content.

When linking, use descriptive anchor text (clickable text) that accurately describes the linked page's content. I recommend including 3-4 internal links and 2-3 external links per page of web content (depending on the length and type of content).

SEO Content strategies for small businesses

While SEO content writing can help improve your search rankings, it's essential for small businesses to consider their overall SEO strategy. Optimizing content for SEO isn't a quick fix—it's a long-term game riddled with challenges and rapid changes. Having an SEO content strategy in place can help guide your business forward toward an overarching goal.

Need help figuring out where to start? Here are three quick SEO content strategy tips for small businesses:

1. Understand your target audience and keywords

Take the time to research and understand your target audience. Identify their demographics, interests, and pain points. This will help you create content that resonates with them and addresses their needs.

Additionally, conduct keyword research to discover the relevant keywords and phrases your audience uses when searching for similar products or services. Seek opportunities to include keywords naturally into your content to improve its visibility in search engine results.

2. Create high-quality, valuable content

Focus on producing high-quality content that provides value to your audience. Write informative blog posts, articles, or guides that answer their questions, solve their problems, or offer helpful insights.

Ensure your content is well-researched, well-written, and easy to understand. By creating valuable content, you attract more organic traffic to your website and establish yourself as an authority in your industry.

3. Promote and build backlinks

Building backlinks from reputable websites is an important aspect of SEO. Seek opportunities to guest post or collaborate with other relevant websites or influencers in your industry. When your content is referenced or linked to from other authoritative sources, search engines view your website as trustworthy and authoritative as well.

Additionally, promote your content through social media, email marketing, and online communities to increase its visibility and attract more traffic.

Save yourself the stress of SEO content writing—hire an expert

It can sometimes feel intimidating to start writing SEO-optimized content. The amount of SEO tips and tools on the internet feels infinite—but your time as a busy business owner can feel anything but.

Save precious time and the stress of getting started with SEO by working with an experienced content writer who's well-versed in SEO best practices.

Content writers know how to practice SEO content writing principles while keeping your brand's tone of voice and business goals in mind. They're experts at creating content that resonates and developing strategies to extend its reach and drive you closer to your business goals. Hiring a freelance content writer can help:

Save you time, resources, and money

Create high-value, engaging content that ranks high on SERPs

Boost website traffic and improve SEO

Build connections with your audience

Establish industry authority

Develop a regular cadence of content

Amplify content's reach with effective strategies

Ready to work with a content writer? Look no further. Explore my range of content strategy and blog writing services, or schedule a discovery call with me to see if we're a good fit for each other.