SEO Copywriting: 10 Simple Steps for Beginners
What is SEO Copywriting and how it can help you?
SEO copywriting strategy is the process by which you create search engine friendly copy/content. Therefore, SEO copywriting focuses on creating informative, quality and attractive content by including keywords that are found in Google.
In short, you need your SEO copywriting strategy to be targeted on finding your page in search results on Google and urging readers to a specific action.
In order to understand how to develop a strategy for SEO Copywriting must understand the basic principles.
1. Research the audience and keywords
The first step when you develop content for an article/site is to define your target audience and keywords that people use to find your page. If you know for whom you develop content and after which keywords can be found, then you can develop a good structure.
2. Training content
Once you know who your target audience is and where you can find keywords for your article is time to move on to the next step – preparing the content. This step is important because here you set the subject that you write about and the elements that have to be included in the content to make it more attractive and easier to find.
There are 4 questions that you must answer for this step:
What is the purpose content? What do I want to obtain from the content?
What is the content’s main message?
What is the important information you write about?
How do I present the information?
A good text structure will make the reader be more engaged.
Thus, the first step to attracting the reader’s attention must be an attractive title. The title of the article is important in terms of optimization copywriting and SEO.
Why is the importance of a good title article?
Because over 90% of people read only the title of the article and if it has aroused the interest will continue reading the rest of this article.
Therefore, if you want to make people click on your site in the search results you have to develop exciting titles.
Meta title should be up to 60 characters and contain keywords. It is preferable to have your business name in the title for developing your brand.
3. Effective Content Development
Content is the main reason people come to your site. If you want a site ranked in Google you have to develop quality content that would be of help for people.
For each content, you must develop an attractive introduction to urge the reader to continue reading on. The introduction is the part that comes immediately after the title or subtitle. The introduction of an article it has to be both exciting and contain the main keyword.
4. Meta descriptions
Before publishing the story/content online you must optimize meta description. But even if no is no longer a factor in search results ranking, it helps people to decide if they click on your site.
You must have your main keyword in the meta description. Next, to this, you must have a persuasive meta description urging for action.
A meta description is an element that helps those seeking a topic that you write about, to give or not attention to your site.
To develop a meta description you should think and understand what is the intent of the people’s search. What are their problems? What are they looking for? What solutions are they seeking?
5. “The Secret” in SEO Copywriting
When someone arrives on your site only 2 things can happen – either remain on the website or click the “Back” button.
If the people who clicked on your website / your article stay longer, Google will appreciate this and will reward you with a better position in search results.
The bottom line is that if you want a better position your site in Google search results should encourage people to click on your site and stay on it – the longer the better.
There are some examples of which great copywriters and SEO experts use to urge readers to read further.
Here’s a list of some examples of words:
- “Here’s an example:”
- “Read on to learn how to …”
- “The conclusion is that”
- “You probably ask yourself”
- “Incredible how you can …”
- “But that’s not all! Can you … “
- ” But here’s how things stand “
- ” And the best part is that “
6. Use attention grabbers in the title and meta descriptions
Want to know how to attract more clicks to your site without colossal efforts? There are a few tricks used by experts in SEO and copywriting to attract thousands of users on the site.
Use numbers in the title. For example 10 ways to … 7 tools … 5 amazing sites… The numbers make people perceive that as professional content.
Use words such as “how to”. For example: “how to make money blogging”, “how to write better blog posts”.
Remember, many people are looking for answers to their questions online. So, if the title of the page/article is the phrase “How to …” people will click because they know that here they will find the answer to their questions.
Here are some other words that attract attention: easy, simple, fast, best, best guide, strategies, tips, techniques, instant, free.
7. If you want to encourage people to stay longer on the site must offer a viable reason.
Primarily people who had reached the site must agree to stay there and continue to read the content. You must submit your idea in a way that stirs interest. For example, “Who agrees with me when I say that it is very hard to have quality content on your site?”. Those who read the sentence will agree with you because subconsciously answer is yes.
After you’ve captured the reader’s attention should offer them a “decoy”. This step is important because it will give him a small part of what you’ll present in the content’s body. Take this example: “Well, it seems that you can develop quality content on the site without spending money and help from experts.”
8. Structure of text
Once you have applied the above principles all that it remained is the last essential step. You have to make content that is easy to read.
How do you do this?
Simple.
Divides the text into several chapters/paragraphs. People do not like to see a large piece of text unordered.
“Break” your text in several paragraphs, all aligned.
Add images between chapters to demonstrate the idea. Do not avoid to use white space between paragraphs. We recommend using bulleted or numbered list if you want to present different ideas.
9. Use appropriate language
No need to go into technical details and jargon that are understood by only 10% of readers.
Use questions to capture their attention, also using the word “YOU” to make the audience feel that you speak directly to them.
Adopt a conversational style that resonates with the target audience. Read the article at least twice before publication. Think about how you talk to your readers if you were face to face with them.
10. Include Call To Action
The aim must be to urge the reader to take a specific action such as – to buy, subscribe to the newsletter list, to click on a link just to give a few examples. Inspires readers to take the action that you want them to do. Do not be afraid of it. Encourage them to take that action logically, emotionally.
Place your call to action after you presented the benefits and advantages of your product/service.