/ Uncategorized / By

A Guide to SEO-Optimized Content: Gain 10x More Readers

There is really no value in content writing if you do not have the viewers to spend time looking at your content. And not just looking, we mean really digesting every single word you have to share and walking away with a burst of inspiration and clarity. In order to bring these readers to your website or blog, your content must be optimized for search engines, so people can discover you.

Here is a quick guide on how to increase your visitors by 10x.

Questions to Ask

In order to create good content that is SEO-optimized, you need to ask yourself the following questions.

Are there a lot of articles on this topic already on the web?

This is one of the biggest mistakes that some content writers make. Obviously, you do not want to waste time creating content on topics that have loads of articles already written on them, for two reasons. One, you will have a lot more competition, and it is going to be hard to beat that competition. Two, you are not providing much real value. The content that tends to perform best is the one that is unique from the rest and offers a different perspective.

Is this a trending topic?

While you are busy writing content that can be posted anytime and not have an impact on performance, there may be hot topics slipping away with time, which will make you lose out on a lot of potential traffic to your site or blog. Do not make this mistake. Go to Google News, ask your friends, do whatever it takes to make sure you stay aware of all trending topics and news.

By the end of the article, are readers going to get enough value, or is the content just a waste of time?

In other words, do not write just for the sake of writing. If your readers have the same knowledge before and after reading your article, you are screwed. This just means that you have not only wasted your audience’s time, but not that audience is not even your audience anymore, as they have lost faith in your content. Adios!

The Breaking Point of Long-Form Content

If you know a thing or two about SEO, then you know that long-form content is the way to go. However, how do you know when to stop with a content piece? After all, you do not want to end up repeating the same information again and again till your viewers get agitated. You can follow the checklist below and make sure your content passes the following points:

  • Every paragraph presents a new piece of information
  • You have graphics throughout the content to make sure readers do not get bored
  • You have included all of your major keywords, without keyword stuffing. In other words, the content is long enough so that you were able to include all your keywords, and they are all conveniently spaced out.
  • The content never goes off-topic.

Choosing Good Keywords

There are many good keyword tools you can use to help your readers discover your content. Some of the best tools to use are Google Keywords Planner (made specifically for Google Ads, but still great for organic SEO too), and SpyFu, a competitive keyword research tool that provides some really helpful insights. When compiling your keyword list, you want to make sure that you include both long tail and short tail keywords. Long tail keywords are the keywords that viewers will use when they are almost nearing a point of purchase. Short-tail keywords are more general and are usually a few words long. Both are equally important to ensure regular and relevant traffic to your site.

Search engine optimization requires a great deal of patience, but with time and perseverance, the results can be outstanding. It’s no wonder why so many companies invest thousands of dollars on SEO to grow their business. However, with the strategies listed above, you can reap the same benefits with less money.