As an avid content writer, I am always looking for ways to improve my skills and deliver the best possible content to readers. Recently, I have been focusing my efforts on learning Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies to make my articles more discoverable online. In this article, I will discuss the key techniques I use to create SEO optimized content, including focusing on relevant topics and keywords, optimizing for readability and sharing, and continual improvement through analytics and feedback.
Researching Topics and Keywords
The first step in my process is to carefully research the topic I want to write about and identify the main keywords and phrases my target audience is likely searching for. I use keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner and Ahrefs Keyword Explorer to get a sense of search volume and competition for different keywords related to my topic. From there, I choose my main focus keywords that have decent search volume but aren’t too saturated. These keywords form the backbone of my article and help ensure I am writing about something people actively want to learn about.
Within each paragraph, I naturally include these keywords and their related synonyms in a way that sounds natural and reads well. For example, one article I wrote focused on the keyword “content marketing strategies.” In addition to directly mentioning that keyword throughout, I also referred to “tactics for content marketing,” “effective content promotion,” and other semantically related phrases. By optimizing in this way, I am able to target specific searches while still keeping my writing engaging.
Optimizing for Readability and Sharing
While keywords are important, I also focus on making my content easy and enjoyable for humans to read. Long paragraphs full of keywords but lacking structure or flow will not perform as well or build loyalty from readers. I aim to keep paragraphs short, include relevant subheadings h2,h3, etc., and use a scannable writing style with bolding and underlining strategically. Internal linking to other relevant pages on my site also helps break up content in a useful way.
Optimizing for sharing is another huge factor. Readers are much more likely to engage with and spread content they find genuinely helpful or entertaining. I incorporate plenty of visual elements like images and charts to break up blocks of text. Calls to action nicely presented with buttons make it effortless for readers to share my work on social platforms. Getting others to link to or mention my articles externally is invaluable for boosting search ratings over time.
Continually Improving Through Analytics and Feedback
No content is perfect on the first creation, so I always review performance metrics and gather feedback to sharpen my techniques. Google Search Console provides insights into how my pages rank for target keywords and what content people are actually clicking once they find my work. Analytics like Google Analytics and Bing Webmaster Tools supply additional clues around traffic sources and user behavior. I assess which articles are most popular and whether the topics remain relevant.
Getting feedback from readers and fellow writers through surveys and discussions is also invaluable. Comments highlighting what they found most useful or requesting related topic suggestions help me shape my future content accordingly. By continually testing hypotheses and refining my process, I have seen steady improvement in key metrics like time on site, bounce rate, backlinks, and social shares over time. My goal is to produce high-quality, reader-focused content that search engines also appreciate.
Case Study: Optimizing a Travel Blog Post
To apply these principles, I recently wrote a blog post reviewing the top things to do in Sydney, Australia as determined by my research. After selecting this topic based on its search volume and competitiveness, I included the main keywords “things to do in Sydney” multiple times naturally within the title, first paragraph, and other focus sections. I then broke the content into individual sections for each top activity h2, with 3-4 paragraphs describing details h3.
Relevant images of each place accompanied the text for visual appeal. Bullet points highlighted key details and I boldly underlined must-see attractions. Internal links connected readers to other pages on my blog for related Australian travel tips. Calls to action encouraged sharing the post to social media and embedded Google Maps displayed the locations. By following best practices for SEO optimized writing, this blog post ended up ranking highly in search and driving new visitors to my site.
