How to Create Engaging & SEO-Friendly Content

Some writers want their content to be super creative and unique alone. They believe that if they write something amazing, people will automatically find and read it. Here's the thing, though: These approaches don't always work, especially if you're not a big-name brand.

The best way to create content is to make it friendly for both readers and search engines. That means thinking about what your readers are looking for and using the proper SEO guidelines.

Why Does SEO-Friendly Content Matter?

I often talk about the importance of hiring great SEO copywriters, and it's because of what I call the "online engagement process."

First, someone types a search query into a search engine with different keywords.
Then, the content shows up high in the search results because of good SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
The content's title grabs their interest, and the meta description makes them even more curious.
Finally, the content itself engages them.

When a business follows this online engagement process, something extraordinary happens. Those searching online quickly go from being potential customers or readers to becoming customers, clients, or loyal readers. And that's like the Holy Grail online because it means more sales and better returns on investment.

Here are tips to help you create engaging, successful, and SEO-friendly content.

Keyword Research

Imagine you're making a recipe without the right ingredients. That's like making content without the right keywords. Having a plan for which words to use in your content is essential. This helps your web pages or blog posts get noticed by more people. When you do some research, you'll learn about popular words and trends. Then, you can make your content better by using those words.

Here's a guide on how to do keyword research for SEO.

Excellent Titles Are Important

Even if your content is amazing, if your title isn't interesting, only a few people will see it. First, put the primary keyword at the start of your title and keep it around 60 characters long.

Your title should do one or more of these things:

Show how to do something.
Make you seem trustworthy.
Make people curious.
Tell people about a benefit or something cool.
Get people thinking about your brand and why it's great.

Also, using brackets or odd numbers in your title can catch people's attention. Make sure to spend time creating titles that make people want to click. Trying out different titles can also help you get more clicks.

Think About What People Want When they Search

If you rank high for a popular keyword, but your content doesn't help people find what they want, you will lose visibility over time. There are three main reasons why people use search engines.

When they want to do something, like booking a massage.
When they want to learn.
When they are looking for a specific website or brand.

Start by using longer and more specific keywords that match people's needs. Make sure your content helps them. Be bold and use keywords that have few searches. It's like finding your blue ocean where there's less competition. You can do the same with your SEO strategy by creating content for specific keywords related to your products.

Remember, it's not always about going where everyone else is. Sometimes, it's about finding your path and standing out.

Start Writing

Now, it's time to begin writing your first draft with one main goal: make the topic easy for your readers to understand. The quickest way to keep things simple and organized is to start with a basic outline.

Jot down your most important thoughts and create subheadings. These thoughts might change later, but focus on getting the main ideas down that support your main topic for now. At first, ideas might come slowly, but once you get into the groove, the words will flow.

Don't worry about perfecting everything or getting all the facts right at this stage. Just let your thoughts flow on the screen or paper without stopping. We want to generate ideas freely (like stream of consciousness), but remember; we're aiming for short paragraphs to make revising easier.

Some people find handwriting works well in this phase, even though it might sound old-fashioned. For certain articles, it is helpful to outline my ideas in a quiet space away from work.

Try to avoid writing long, dense paragraphs in this initial draft. This will save you time when you revise later and, with practice, will help create a smooth flow with shorter sections and space between ideas. The goal is to make it easy for your readers to follow along and understand your ideas quickly.

Get Organized

If you have many words, bullet points, or subheadings, it's time to put everything in order. When your writing is organized, it shows that your thoughts are organized too.

When you're organizing, think about the following:

- What you want to achieve.

- Your main goal.

- Why you're writing in the first place.

Writing without a plan is like going on a trip without a destination. Some people like to start with the beginning and end before filling in the middle. Others do it the other way around. Try both ways and see which one works best for you. Experiment and find your style.

Make Your Meta Description Awesome

After you've written your draft (but remember, it might change), it's time to create the meta description. Even though Google says it doesn't affect your ranking, it does affect who clicks on your website. Use the main and related keywords in your meta description where they fit naturally. When these keywords appear in a search, they'll be bold in the meta description, making it stand out and giving users a better experience. A meta description is usually around 120-150 characters.

Once your meta description is ready and the layout allows it, write a "deck headline." This is like a supporting subheading for your main title. The deck headline (similar to what's used in traditional journalism) is meant to make people curious about your title tag.

Optimize your Page

When optimizing your page, think from the top to the bottom. Make sure you keep keywords in mind for these parts:

- The web address (URL).

- The title (even though it might change).

- Subheadings and other headings. Also, use logical H2 and H3 tags.

- The descriptions for images, captions, and titles.

Make Your Links Better

Many people forget how important it is to optimize the links inside your content. What you do with links in your text or images can make a big difference in how people use your website.

Optimize internal links

Find the best keyword or phrase and link it to an important page within your site. If you look through this article, you'll see how I linked a key phrase to another content within my portfolio blog.

Use external links

This is especially important if you're in an industry where advertisers are important. A simple link in your text can help build a strong relationship with potential advertisers. Also, linking to trusted sources can make your readers trust you more.

Just remember, all the links in your content should match the topic of your article.

Revise and Proofread

Many SEO tweaks happen after you've uploaded your content into the content management system (CMS). This is where you'll handle internal linking and most on-site optimizations, like turning headline tags into actual headline tags and optimizing meta descriptions, URLs, and so on.

But before you hit that publish button, there's one more step – review your content on the live screen. Preview your post to make sure everything looks just right. This step helps you check if your article flows smoothly (is there enough space between paragraphs?). It also lets you review all the SEO elements, like well-optimized header tags and internal/external links.

Final words

In conclusion, crafting great content and optimizing it for search engines is a journey. It starts with research and organization then flows into writing and revising. Don't underestimate the power of well-chosen keywords, engaging titles, and thoughtful internal and external linking.

Before you unveil your masterpiece to the world, always take that extra moment to revise and proofread. The details matter, and a polished final touch can make all the difference in creating a seamless and enjoyable reading experience.