Understanding SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) means optimizing (making your site good enough) for the search engines. The objective of all SEO efforts is to get more and more traffic. Now there are is a huge list of factors that contribute in the optimization of a website. In today’s post we will be discussing only about SEO copywriting.
In order to gain a better understanding about what is SEO copywriting, perhaps it would be more worthwhile if we start off with a definition of Search engine Optimization.
In simpler words, there are only so many spots on any Search Engine’s first page and each web firm is trying to get up as high up as possible on the ranking ladder; if not the first place. As part of their SEO marketing endeavors, E-firms go head on against each other in looking up user search trends.
Basic Standards of SEO Copywriting for the Web
SEO Copywriting refers to the art of combing the technical requirements of optimization factors along with solid content development.
Aligning your web copy with the following guidelines for SEO copywriting tips in mind will definitely ensure that the quality of your work rises. Over a period of time, once you’re fluent with the art of SEO content development, it should not surprise you that people quote or cite your website in their articles on best practices for SEO copywriting.
Before sharpening your pens for optimized copywriting, you should map out a keyword plan for yourself and divide it as follows:
Primary Keyword Term
Secondary Keyword(s) Terms
Semantically Related Terms
1. Anoint the Title Tag with Primary Keyword
Use the keyword to name the article title as the same.
Title Tag: Primary Keyword
When a search engine runs a check for a user, the titles are the first tags that get knocked on. You can add additional verbiage to the title in order to make it more robust; technically.
2. Get the Intro Bridge in the Meta Description & Meta Keyword Tags
Immediately following the title tag is the meta description tag, a brief snippet that serves as your intro paragraph on the search engine results page (SERP).
It always helps to accommodate the prime keywords in the opening few lines of the text. At most, squeeze in the keywords anywhere within the 1st paragraph.
Though the meta keyword tag has lost place in terms of an important factor in on site optimization but still it is a good practice to use your main and additional keywords in this tag. This would help the search engines to identify how you are tagging your article.
3. Use Strong, Bold, Italics and Underline Tags in Your Web Copy
Special formatting of your related keywords along with your primary and secondary keyword terms in also plays an active role in getting search engines to trace your particular article with relation to the keywords a user has searched for.
The bold or strong tags not only highlight your text in the copy for your readers but also tell the search engines about the relevancy of your content.
Bold Tag: Keyword
Strong Tag: Keyword
Italicizing and underlining your primary, secondary and related keyword terms also make your article more keyword enriched.
Italic: Keyword
Underline: Keyword
4. Use Keywords in h1, h2,…h6 Tags
Divide your article into headings and sub headings. This not only helps in making the content easily scannable by a reader but also tells the search engine spiders the hierarchical importance and relevancy of your keywords.
Heading 1 (h1): Keywords go here
Heading 2 (h2):
Heading 3 (h3):
Heading 4 (h4):
Heading 5 (h5):
Heading 6 (h6):
5. Internal Linking Your Web Pages
A good article on any topic provide links to related information by using keywords in the anchor text. While writing an article on any topic you should prepare 2 to 3 articles on related and expansionary topics and then link them up from your main article with the keywords as your anchor text.
Creating a hyperlink: Keyword to be hyperlinked
6. Relate Focal Keywords & Parallel Searches
Anytime that a user searches for a particular keyword, the search engine provides a directory of related and suggested searches. As a writer in pursuit of the best practices for SEO copywriting techniques, try to inculcate as many of these related & suggested searches as possible in your article’s body.
But be wary of trying too hard i.e. don’t get so caught up with adjusting the related & suggested searches that your article loses its flow and grip on the main keyword.
7. Keyword Density or Redundancy
This phenomenon is more commonly referred to as “keyword density”. It goes to say that a writer should use the keyword at least thrice (3) or up to four (4) times per 100 words.
On the other hand, instead of quoting an actual range, some writers say that the keyword usage should amount to one (1) percent of your aggregate word count.
8. Keep Your Web Copy Updated & Fresh
This not only refers to keeping your website flowing with fresh articles & excerpts but also staying abreast with all technological developments pertaining to benchmarking for SEO copywriting.
This article has been posted by Ozzy Mirza. Visit www.writeawriting.com to learn more about best practices on SEO copywriting.