SEO Writing: 10 Tips For Writing Content That Rank On Google

What is SEO Writing?

SEO writing is the process of creating content to rank higher in search engines like Google. It uses targeted keywords to make a page useful for readers and easy for search engines to understand.

Key aspects of SEO writing include:

• Keyword Optimization: Adding relevant keywords into the content of a page to ensure it matches what users are searching for.
• User Intent: Writing content that directly answers readers’ questions or solves their problems.
• Search Engine Friendliness: Structuring content with clear headings, simple language, and relevant details to help search engines crawl and index your page.

When done effectively, SEO writing boosts your content’s visibility, helping it reach the right audience while staying informative and valuable.

Why is SEO Writing Important?

SEO content writing is crucial because it helps your content rank higher on search engines, making it easier for your audience to find you. Without it, even the best content risks getting buried on later pages of search results, where few people look.

In fact, 75% of users never go past the first page! Studies show that the first result on Google receives over 28% of clicks, with that number dropping sharply for the second result, and sites on the second page getting very little attention.

Ranking high on search engines also boosts your brand’s credibility and authority. People tend to trust websites that appear at the top of search results, seeing them as more reliable and relevant.

Finally, well-optimized content keeps working for your site, helping you attract visitors, generate leads, and engage with your audience long after the content is published. 

10 Easy Tips on SEO Content Writing

1. Keyword Research

Effective keyword research helps you identify the specific words and phrases your audience is searching for, making sure your content is discoverable.

Start by using keyword research tools like Ahrefs, or Google Keyword Planner. These tools show what users are searching for and how popular those searches are. Google Trends is another helpful tool, allowing you to spot rising keywords and avoid those losing interest.

When selecting keywords, consider three key factors:

• Relevance: Your keywords should directly relate to your content and your audience’s needs.
• Search Volume: The keyword should have a decent amount of searches. High-volume keywords get more traffic but they often come with more competition, so make sure to aim for keywords you have a good chance of ranking for.
• Domain Authority: If your website is new or has low domain authority, it might be harder to rank for very competitive keywords. In this case, focus on keywords with moderate competition that are more achievable for your site.

Once you’ve chosen your main keyword, look for secondary keywords. These can be related terms or long-tail keywords, which are more specific phrases that typically have less competition. Using these secondary keywords can help your content rank for a wider range of search queries, increasing the chances of being found.

Be sure to revisit your keyword research regularly to stay aligned with changing trends and audience needs!

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2. User Intent

User intent is the reason behind what people search for on Google, and is a key part of SEO writing. There are four main types that you should know:

Informational Intent: Users are looking for information or answers. They might be searching for how-to guides, definitions, or research on a topic.

Navigational Intent: Users already know the website or brand they want to visit and use a search engine to find it.

Transactional Intent: Users are ready to take action, like making a purchase, signing up for a service, or booking an appointment.

Commercial Intent: Users are researching products or services to buy later. They might be comparing options or reading reviews to make a decision.

Make sure your content aligns with the user intent behind your targeted keywords. As an example, if you’re targeting a keyword with informational intent, you could try writing how-to guides, listicles, or tutorials. 

As an extra tip, check out the top-ranking pages on Google to find out what the user intent is for your keyword. For instance, searching “best laptops to buy” will likely yield comparison articles and reviews, letting you know that the keyword falls under commercial intent. 

3. Quality Long Form Content

Quality content is:

• Accurate: It must be correct and reliable.
• Valuable: It answers your audience’s questions or solves their problems.
• Unique: It offers something new or different.
• Engaging: It keeps readers interested and encourages them to interact.

It’s important to focus on content that matters to your audience, but what happens if you aren’t familiar with the topic? If you’re not an expert in the field, try interviewing one or doing deep research to bring fresh perspectives to your content. If you’re writing about a product, try testing it yourself and share your experience. 

Depth is another key factor to creating high-performing content. Research shows that top-ranking pages on Google are usually around 1,400 words. Why? Longer articles cover topics more thoroughly, which Google views as more informative and valuable to users.

To make sure your content is comprehensive, cover every aspect of your topic. Don’t just skim the surface. Go deep into your topic, cover every angle, and answer all the likely questions your audience might have. The more helpful your content is, the better it will rank.

Plus, when you write well-researched and engaging content, it stands out and builds credibility. This can help you earn more backlinks and social shares, boosting your SEO even further. 

4. Include Keywords Into Your Content 

Adding keywords to your content is an important part of SEO writing. But how often should you use them?

There’s no exact rule for how many times to use a keyword. What really matters is where you put the keywords. 

Here’s where you should include them:

• In your URL: This tells Google and readers what your page is about.
• In your title tag: The title is one of the first things Google checks when ranking a page.
• In the first 100 words: It’s important to introduce your keyword early on.
• In an H1 tag: This is the main heading of your page and should include your main keyword.
• In an H2 tag: Use keywords in subheadings to organize your content and help Google understand it.

Use your keywords strategically! Avoid keyword stuffing and making your content sound unnatural. Google can tell when this happens, and it can hurt your rankings.

Instead, focus on placement and avoid overusing them to keep your content both reader friendly and search engine optimized.

5. Keep it Short and Readable. 

Good readability is crucial for SEO writing! People will bounce if your content is hard to read, which can hurt your rankings. 

Here’s how to keep readers engaged:

• Keep sentences and paragraphs short: This makes your content easier to skim, especially for busy people on mobile devices. 
• Use simple, clear language: Write at a 9th-grade level to make your content easily understandable by a wide audience. 
• Add visuals: Images, charts, or videos can make your content more engaging.
• Use bullet points and lists: They help break up text and highlight key points.

6. E-E-A-T

Many people forget that they’re writing for human readers – not just search engines!  

Remember, Google uses the E-E-A-T framework to judge content. Your content should show real-life experience (Experience), demonstrate your knowledge (Expertise), be a reliable source (Authoritativeness), and build trust with readers (Trustworthiness). 

Be sure to let readers know that there is a real person behind the content. This keeps them engaged and encourages them to see you as a credible source. 

7. Use Multimedia

Multimedia can make your content more engaging and boost SEO. It grabs users’ attention and encourages them to stay on your page longer, which signals to search engines that your content is valuable. For certain keywords, multimedia can also help your content appear in image and video search results. This can increase visibility and drive more traffic to your site.

8. Add Internal Links and Outbound Links

Adding internal and outbound links is a great way to boost both SEO and user experience.

• Internal Links: These links connect to other pages on your website, helping users discover related content and improving navigation. For search engines, they help index your pages and understand your site’s structure. Aim for 4-5 internal links per post, but make sure they’re relevant to the content.
• Outbound Links: Linking to authoritative external sites shows Google your content is credible. It also provides additional value for users by directing them to helpful resources. Always link to high-quality, reliable sources to support your claims.

Using both internal and outbound links strategically enhances your content’s visibility and usefulness to readers.

9. Optimize Your Title Tag and Meta Description

Don’t overlook the power of an optimized title tag and meta description! 

• Title Tag: The title tag is the first thing people see in search results, and tells both Google and users what to expect. It should clearly describe your content and grab attention.
  • Use your main keyword (ideally at the beginning) to help your page rank.
  • Make it enticing with power words or numbers to encourage clicks.
  • Keep it under 55 characters so it doesn’t get cut off.
  • Example: SEO Writing: 10 Tips For Writing Content That Rank On Google

• Meta Description: This is a brief summary below the title tag. An effective meta description can attract attention and increase clicks.
  • Use active voice and action verbs like “learn more” or “find out”.
  • Keep it under 105 characters to ensure it displays properly on mobile.
  • Include your target keyword to show relevance to searchers.
  • Example: Want a kickass blog that ranks first on Google? Read on for 10 easy SEO Writing tips you can use now!

10. Optimize Your URL Slug

The URL slug is the part of the link that comes after the domain name. Optimizing this helps both search engines and users understand your content better. 

Here are some best practices to follow:

• Keep it Short and Clear: A short, descriptive slug is easy to read. For example, use seo-writing-tips instead of tips-on-writing-for-seo-optimization.
• Include Keywords: Add your target keyword to help search engines understand your content. For example, how-to-improve-your-seo.
• Use Hyphens, Not Underscores: Use hyphens to separate words. Google prefers seo-writing-tips over seo_writing_tips.
• Avoid Special Characters and Capital Letters: Don’t use characters like &, %, or #, and avoid capital letters. For example, use SEO-Writing-Tips instead of #10-Best-SEO-Writing-Tips.
• Remove Unnecessary Words: Skip words like “the,” “and,” or “for.” Keep it simple. For example, best-seo-strategies is better than the-best-seo-strategies-for-your-content.
• Avoid Dates: Don’t use dates in the slug. This keeps your content relevant longer.