Search engine optimization, more affectionately known as SEO, can be a very daunting idea for traditional writers, let alone those who are trying to brand their company via a blog. SEO is an often-misunderstood concept, and, as with much of the unknown, we tend to shy away from it instead of digging in and getting to the facts. If you have been writing interesting, on-trend articles and blogs, but you can’t seem to figure out why there is not more pickup and visits from readers, a few modifications to your SEO tactics will really make all the difference.Here are some tips and tricks that will up your SEO in no time:
Keep it short and sweet
For your headlines, make sure you keep them short but descriptive, and include relevant keywords and phrases.
Hit the books…and Google
Once you decide what your article theme will be, write down all of the words that correspond to the theme so you aren’t using the same keywords every time. If you find yourself struggling to come up with different words, grab a thesaurus and come up with a list of about 10 different words and alternate using them within your copy.
Another idea is to use Google‘s (Nasdaq: GOOG) free keyword search tool via Google.com/adwords to research keywords that people are searching for pertaining to your topic. To use this go to google.com/adwords, click on tools and analysis, then select keyword tool to access the keyword research tool. Also, make sure that your article makes sense and is user-friendly and that it is not just a list of keywords. Remember, you are writing the article for readers, not just a search engine. Finally, if you are writing articles that correspond with your website, you should write one 300-word article for each keyword on your site, that way you can ensure that each one of your keywords is well supported. These articles will provide knowledge and resources to your visitors, not just aid in SEO.
A picture is worth a 1,000 (key)words
Another trick for improving SEO is to embed your articles with links to videos or visuals. Have these images and videos on your website, not someone else’s, so that readers will stay on your page.
Lay it out
For better formatting, use a font that is a Google-friendly Web font. The company’s free, open-source fonts are available by clicking here. Remembering these simple tips will ensure that your SEO is at the top of its game.
