Millions of articles are posted online every day. Each of these articles competes for the top spot on Google results. With so much competition to dominate the SERP (Search Engine Results Page), a simple SEO mistake can put your blog on the back burner. You may craft a compelling piece but still struggle to rank on the first page. This article focuses on SEO for content writers and will help you crack the code to rank your blog.

Leading the SERP: Best Practices in SEO for Content Writers

A writer’s work begins way before you write a word. Right from research to proofreading, SEO writing demands a series of steps to create optimised content. Following certain pre and post-writing practices will lay the foundation for a credible blog.

Mastering Keyword Research & Usage

The first step to writing is to know what the users are looking for. Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, SEMrush, and others will help us understand what the users are searching for. The most searched words on a topic are your keywords. 

For example, if you are writing for a finance advisory enterprise and intend to write about tax filing. Keyword research will help you understand the most searched query.

In this case, income tax filing is searched over 10,000 times. However, the red label indicates that it is hard to compete and rank your blog with that keyword. Choosing a keyword with an easy difficulty level and high search volume is always wise.

Here are some rules to strategically use keywords.

• Use it around 10 times in a 1000-word article, i.e., around 10%. 
• Include only once in the first paragraph and conclusion.
• Use it in equal intervals in the body. Do not overuse it in a paragraph and waive it in others.
• Add it in one or two headers and subheaders as well.

Create Unique & Original Content 

Using AI for writing or copying ideas from other websites is a rampant epidemic affecting content writers’ SEO. Search engine algorithms are smart enough to detect AI content or copied ideas. Use tools like SmallSEO, Copyleaks, Duplichecker and others to ensure your blog has original content.

Keep it Engaging & Error-free 

Writers must think like readers first. Remember, users will leave the site immediately, and you may lose an impression if you don’t take their heed at first sight. Writing compelling titles and meta descriptions to make them click. More clicks means more trust, which improves the chances of ranking on SERP. 

Attracting is the key to increasing traffic, retaining readers and improving lead conversion rate. Engaging content and interesting images will be a boon to boost SEO for content writers. Businesses can portray credibility with content that is grammatically and factually right. Use grammar tools to ensure an error-free article, and double-check your facts. Also, read some usual grammar errors.

Here are some tips to draft blogs that don’t bore your audience.

• Ensure your title and headers are short to 12 words.
• Include figures, facts, and visuals.
• Add evidence from authentic sources to build trustworthiness in SEO for content writers.
• Pack the article with value.

Understand Emotions & Add Value

Blogs are ranked based on relevance to user intention, but how? Search Engines continuously scout to understand their user behaviours. They constantly track trends, past searches, interests, dislikes, and other factors. Using robust AI techniques, they know if audiences are looking for Apple – the fruit, or Apple – the brand. 

Moreover, understanding and addressing human emotion can boost SEO for content writers. Discover a pain point you can resolve through the blog. This will make it extra useful to the readers.

Also Read: 10 Tips for Writing Engaging Blog Posts 

Prioritise Readability

You don’t want your readers to refer to a dictionary while browsing your blog. Make it simple and readable for your target audience. If your topic is too technical, jargon is inevitable, but ensure the language and style are not too complicated. Keeping it straightforward and relevant to the subject will be an added advantage in SEO for content writers.

Here are some suggestions for writing readable content.

• Keep the sentences short to 20 words.
• Use tools like HemingwayEditor to ensure your readability score is less than Grade 9.
• Use Headings (H1), Sub Headings (H2), and bullet points to give a structure.

Integrate Links Wisely 

Adding links can favour SEO for content writers in many ways. Directing to other articles on the website can boost traffic and retain users for a long time. On the other hand, external linking adds credibility and value if linked to reliable websites.

Audit Website & Update Regularly 

Develop SEO-friendly websites to avoid latency. Also, adhere to all web security practices such as HTTPS extension. It is equally important to align with SEO trends and keep the blog relevant with facts, statistics, and data changes.

As we have backlinks and internal links on our articles, frequently check the links and ensure they do not throw error 404. Broken links disgrace your brand; fix it or link to a new post if the previously linked page is deleted. 

Conclusion

Mastering SEO for content writers is no longer an advantage; it is the need of the hour. Today, writers must learn the art and science of aligning their creative liberty to SEO rules. Implementing these simple yet effective strategies can increase your chances of ranking on the first page. Ultimately, it will boost your brand positioning, website traffic, and profits.

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