Your content marketing needs to have a strategy. You can’t simply write blogs and other content and just wait for it to be seen.
Lucky for you, there are some things that you can do to help your content get in front of as many people as possible. One of the most important things that you need to understand as a marketer is search engine optimization. Otherwise known as SEO, this is essential if you want your website and content to be found.
Here are some tips to increase your SEO with your content marketing.
Know your audience
You need to know exactly who your audience is if you want to catch their attention. Not only should you know their ages and sex, but it also helps to look a bit deeper. Think about their lifestyle and hobbies. Think about the challenges that they face. What information are they looking for when they look online?
If you write for the right audience, you will have more people click on your website and blogs. The longer that they stick around (and the more that they read), the more that search engines will take notice. They are much quicker to send people to websites where people spend a lot of time. If readers just click right on by, they won’t send them there!
Don’t forget to do keyword research
Keywords are essential for SEO so it is important that you do your research. You should start with Google AdWords Keyword Planner, though there are several other good choices that you might like better.
When deciding on keywords to use, most people use short and simple words. However, you shouldn’t forget about longer keywords. As more and more people search using specific phrases and keywords, you could catch their attention if you use longer keywords (as long as they are the right ones).
Be careful with keywords
Though keywords are an essential part of SEO, you can still overdo it. In fact, too many keywords, often called keyword stuffing, can turn readers away. It makes it hard to read and understand so your readers will go to another site where the information makes more sense. It is important to read each piece out loud. It has to sound natural, or your readers will go elsewhere!
Most people recommend that you use your keywords in your title, the introduction, and the headings. Many also use it in the conclusion of the piece. If you vary your keywords, you can reach even more people without sounding like you are trying too hard.
Focus on headlines
Your headlines are going to be what reels people in. For this reason, they are almost as important as the whole rest of the piece!
Not only do they have to be catchy, but they also need to give them a reason to click farther. Your headlines need to let readers know exactly what to expect when they open your blog.
Use images (but only if they add to the piece)!
The truth is that people are more likely to read blogs that have images. It just adds a little something extra to every piece, especially if you use the right images. They can help readers understand what you are trying to say even better!
You need to make sure that you are careful with your images. Many business owners and bloggers have gotten sued over the pictures that they have on their website and blogs. You can’t just borrow any image that you find online. Some allow you to use them as long as you let readers know where they came from. Others require a small fee to use them.
Don’t forget to add a few links
Links can really help with your SEO, though just like keywords, you can go too far. If you use too many, your readers may click on some and never come back!
When looking for links, you should find some that allow your readers to do more research if they want. You should use some that are linked to your own blogs (internal) and to other websites (external).
Use meta descriptions
Meta descriptions are very important for SEO purposes. For this reason, you can’t leave them blank. Fill them in thoroughly with enough information to bring your readers in.
Add content regularly
Search engines like websites that get updated and changed on a regular basis. Most business owners don’t have time to add page after page to their website just to get new readers. However, blogging on a regular basis acts like the same thing. If you add a blog at least once or twice a month, the search engines will take notice.
Paying attention to search engine optimization is essential if you want your content to be read so that the search engines take notice. For this reason, you should write every piece for your target audience. Really know them so that you can get inside their head and write about what they need.
Keywords are also essential, though you can easily overdo it. Make sure that you do your research and use multiple versions of your keywords so that you can catch the attention of as many people as possible, while still sounding natural and easy to read.
Your headlines are just as important. If they aren’t catchy, people will skip around until they find one that catches their attention. Take your time until you come up with a headline that just has to be read!
If you really want your website to be optimized, you need to add images. Your readers will spend more time on your website and the search engines will take notice. Links are also important. You can’t forget to fill out the meta descriptions. If they are filled out correctly, it will help to bring more readers in.
Though SEO sounds complicated, if you stick to it, really think about your audience and keep on writing new content, you will be ahead of many of the other businesses!
