There is no need to panic. Awareness is the key to preventing mistakes.
SEO is no longer optional for blogging, but are you doing it right?
Search engines are becoming more sophisticated and smarter with each passing year.
Sites that follow Google’s rules gain from Google Algorithmic Updates. Sites that hurt readers end up with a big Google penalty.
So if you want your blog to have a good chance of success, put more effort into SEO. Make sure you follow current good practice.
Have you ever wondered what not to do when undertaking SEO content writing? Here are the SEO content writing mistakes to look out for.
What is meant by SEO Content Writing?
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is a method of boosting a website’s ranking on search engines like Google, Bing, etc. It uses set techniques to attract organic traffic.
SEO Content Writing means using the keywords and phrases your target audience will use to find your website’s content.
Ideally, your audience should not be able to tell that you have used keywords and other SEO tactics in your content. Let them enjoy reading a good piece of writing.
8 Costly SEO Content Writing Pitfalls to stay away from
1. Not writing mobile responsive content
Over half of all internet traffic now comes from mobile phones. So your blog needs to work as well on mobile as it does on desktop.
It means that the text and images in your content should resize on their own to fit the device. AI and machine learning have moved ahead. Even so, it is easier for Google crawlers to understand short sentences.
To do this, simplify your writing. Use simple, one-sentence paragraphs.
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2. Not making your content easily scannable
Most readers do not have the patience to read every word.
Many readers only skim a page.
In SEO content writing, scannability matters a lot.
So your most important page elements should be placed along the “F” track.
Nothing breaks up a long text (and information) as well as bullet points and numbered lists. They are perfect for scanners who love to pluck key points.
Lastly, bold, italic, coloured, underlined or hyperlinked text stands out and is more noticeable.
3. Not paying attention to your meta title and description
In search results, visitors first glance at your link’s title. Then they take a closer look at your meta description for extra convincing.
Two lines of the meta description should suffice to convey the entire content briefly.
So write a short, clear meta description that makes people want to click. This improves your click-through rate (CTR), ranking and traffic.
So write your meta tags with care. Put essential keywords into them, and keep the character limit in mind.
4. Not using semantically related keywords and synonyms
Using the same word too often is tiring to hear. It is also painfully obvious that you are writing for SEO.
When you use synonyms or related focus keyphrases, your content becomes more readable and flows more naturally. Google would likely reward such content with higher rankings. It gives more context on a topic.
You can reach searchers who use less standard phrasing by including these slight variations. Make sure your copy contains some long-tail keywords as well. Long-tail keywords let you narrow your search by combining keywords.
5. Not writing at a realistic reading level
Lawyers may enjoy legalese and doctors may use medical jargon. Content writers should aim for a reading level of 8th grade.
A simple message will reach a wider audience and reduce the bounce rate.
Make sure your content is readability-tested with tools like Hemingway. They help you steer clear of wordy or hard terms.
6. Not creating an outline before you start writing
By creating an outline, you are able to keep track of the writing process.
Better yet, it gives clear direction for SEO content writing. It helps you focus on the main topic. It also helps you create quality content from beginning to end by cutting out what is not needed.
This means you must think about every issue you want to address with your blog. Then decide the main takeaway for the reader. Remember to revise your outline and trim where needed.
7. Not taking into account the search intent
The reason why someone uses Google (or any other search engine) to search is called search intent. Search intent can be sorted into four types: Informational, Navigational, Transactional, and Commercial investigations.
For a keyword that has informational intent (and not transactional), you’re unlikely to rank if you write a sales-oriented, persuasive blog post. To begin your keyword research, analyze the SERPs. This helps you understand the intent behind the keyphrases you are targeting. Then adjust your tone of voice and call to action.
8. Not taking the audience’s viewpoint into consideration
In SEO content writing, it is common to write only from the site owner’s point of view. The user is not considered at all.
Users won’t bother to learn your product-related jargon. They won’t care why you think your product is awesome, or your blog is interesting. Their main concern is to learn what problem you will solve for them. They also want to know how they will gain from reading your blog.
For your search engine results to really shine, you need to think like your reader. What topics are they interested in reading about? What are their pain points/ Headaches? Also, consider writing in the first person and using “you” often, as opposed to “I” or “we.”
A few final words
Most SEO content mistakes come from skimping on preparation and paying too little attention to the quality of the text. Your rankings will soon suffer. So make sure each text carries a well-thought-out, original idea, or a compelling story that focuses on the site’s visitors.
Don’t worry if you have neglected SEO up until now. It is still possible to get back on track. PromotEdge’s SEO content writers use proven techniques to help our clients’ sites rank in search engines. They also build brand recognition on the web.
