A Beginner’s Top Guide To SEO Copywriting
Updated on: 31 October 2024
SEO copywriting is a crucial component of every digital marketing strategy. SEO copywriting is the practice of creating content that is both engaging for readers and optimised for search engines. This involves using targeted keywords, crafting compelling headlines, and ensuring the content is structured in a way that search engines can easily index. The goal is to improve a website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs), driving more organic traffic. SEO copywriting is necessary in digital marketing, as it helps businesses reach a wider audience and convert visitors into customers.
In the Philippines, SEO copywriting has gained significant popularity due to the country’s growing digital economy. Many businesses are recognising the importance of having a strong online presence, and SEO copywriting is a key part of this. By investing in SEO copywriting, businesses can improve their search engine rankings, attract more potential customers, and ultimately increase their sales. Additionally, SEO copywriting helps build brand credibility and trust, as high-quality, informative content can position a business as an authority in its industry. To learn more about this, read on as this article delves deeper into the art of SEO copywriting.
What is SEO Copywriting?
As mentioned earlier, SEO copywriting is the process of crafting high-quality content that satisfies both search engine algorithms and human readers. This means producing material that ranks well on Google while also being engaging enough for people to read, link to, and share on social media. SEO copywriting is very important in digital marketing because content that achieves high search rankings but fails to drive business goals is ineffective, just as compelling content that does not attract traffic is. However, by combining strong SEO principles with effective copywriting techniques, you can create content that not only ranks well on search engines but also engages users, thereby encouraging them to share and even make purchases.
6 SEO Copywriting Tips to Rank High Easily
To help you craft a successful digital marketing strategy that involves effective SEO copywriting, here are some foolproof tips on how you can craft high-quality SEO copy that will make your website rank high easily on SERPs:
- Perform thorough keyword research
The initial phase of SEO copywriting is not about writing at all. It starts with determining the topics you want to be searched for. Identifying and incorporating the keywords you aim to rank for in your content is essential, and this makes keyword research the first crucial step in SEO copywriting. This process involves compiling a list of keywords and key phrases that you want your content to rank for in search engine results. Basically, if you want to attract search traffic, you need to write about topics that your target audience is searching for. Therefore, before you start writing, you should compile a list of relevant keywords to focus on.
The simplest way to achieve this is by using a keyword research tool, such as Ahrefs. Here is the process:
- Access Ahrefs’ Keywords Explorer.
- Input specific keywords related to your site.
- Navigate to the Matching terms report.
Review the list and identify relevant keywords that you can incorporate into your content. For example, if you own a mattress company, the key phrase “how to sleep better” would be ideal for you to use.
- Match search intent
As a search engine, Google prioritises ranking relevant content. Typically, online users search for one of the following types of content on Google:
- Blog post
- Video
- Product page
- Category page
- Tool
To maximise your chances of ranking highly, it is essential to match the search intent online users have. Search intent is basically the main objective that a user has when typing a query into a search engine. You can determine this by examining the top-ranking pages. For instance, if you analyse the SERP overview for “how to sleep better,” you can see that it predominantly features list-based blog posts. Hence, these kinds of content are what you need to create if you are targeting the search term “how to sleep better.”
- Optimise for EEAT
Google recognises that while AI tools like ChatGPT can provide accurate information, it lacks the human experience and trust that users often seek. For many queries, people prefer answers from credible sources with real-life experience. For instance, a parent would rather get parenting advice from another parent with happy, successful children than from a chatbot without personal experience. To address this, Google is prioritising content that offers personal experience by implementing its EEAT guidelines (experience, expertise, authority, and trust).
Although Google still relies on algorithms and cannot manually verify a writer’s expertise, there are several ways to optimise for EEAT and demonstrate your expertise to Google:
- Use phrases like “in our experience,” “we have found,” and “studies showed.”
- Link to reputable sources.
- Include anecdotal examples.
Many EEAT factors involve basic on-page SEO optimisations, such as adding author bios with credentials or noting “peer reviewed by” or “medically reviewed by” at the top of the page. Remember also that one of the most crucial EEAT factors is obtaining backlinks from other credible websites. By creating high-quality content with original insights and personal anecdotes, you can build a strong brand reputation and gain backlinks. Now, if you hire freelance writers, and they lack personal experience in a topic, have them interview an expert. They can then use the expert’s unique insights and anecdotes to elevate the content to an expert level.
- Enhance your copy’s structure
Structure is a vital component of an effective SEO copy. Basically, if your blog post is just a large block of text, readers might feel overwhelmed and leave quickly, or they might only read a few paragraphs before leaving. To prevent this and keep users engaged, be sure to improve your copy’s structure by using, for example, graphics and screenshots to convey the information the users are seeking. Additionally, you can also enhance user engagement by incorporating subheadings, bullet points, bold fonts, and short sentences.
- Integrate stories and examples
While the previous SEO copywriting tips can enhance your content’s readability, another effective strategy to keep users engaged is to incorporate stories and examples. Think about a time when you could not put down a great book because the story was so compelling. Even though you are not writing a fiction novel purely for entertainment, you can still use storytelling techniques to maintain reader interest. Include anecdotal examples in your SEO copy to illustrate your points or build a case study around a specific story. In doing this, keep in mind that the essence of a great story lies in highlighting the conflict and pain points, then presenting the solution you discovered to resolve them.
- Analyse and optimise your headline
One of the simplest ways to boost organic traffic to your website is by enhancing your click-through rate (CTR) in search results. CTR is also a ranking factor, so increasing your clicks can improve your rankings in the SERPs, leading to even more clicks. You have two main opportunities to improve clicks from the search results page:
- Your title tag (headline)
- Your meta description
Basic SEO best practices for optimising your headline and title tag include:
- Incorporating the main keyword.
- Keeping title tags to 60 characters and meta descriptions to 160 characters.
To truly enhance clicks to your blog posts, consider the user’s psychology and how to effectively convey that you have the best answer to their query. Here are some essential tips to help you improve your headlines:
- Include proof, e.g., “Guide to Landing Pages: Proven Formula To 10x Leads.”
- Mention if you include a template or checklist, e.g., “The Content Calendar Notion Uses (Template Included).”
- Avoid using exaggerated words like “insane” and “unbelievable.”
Conclusion
Overall, it cannot be denied that SEO copywriting is a cornerstone of effective digital marketing, as it ensures that content not only engages readers but also ranks well on search engines. By optimising content with relevant keywords and creating compelling, informative pieces, businesses can significantly enhance their online visibility and attract more organic traffic. In addition, hiring a professional SEO copywriter is crucial because they possess the expertise to craft content that meets both the technical and creative demands of SEO. Professionals stay updated with the latest SEO trends and algorithms, ensuring that the content remains effective over time. So, if you wish to enjoy the benefits of an effective SEO copywriting strategy, be sure to seek the services of SEO copywriters.
References
https://yoast.com/complete-guide-seo-copywriting/
https://ahrefs.com/blog/seo-copywriting/
https://copyblogger.com/seo-copywriting/