Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tips For New Web Writers
“It’s hard for me to believe that just a few years ago, I had no idea what SEO stood for,” says Suite Feature Writer Jenny Evans. “Now I try to explain the ins and outs of search engine optimization to my family and end up saying, “Oh… well… just forget it.” Did I ever think I would have such a good understanding of SEO? No way. But I learned like all web writers do – from my mistakes!”
Here, Jenny shares the three biggest mistakes she made while learning about search engine optimization. For more SEO tips, click on Be #1 on Google: 52 Fast and Easy Search Engine Optimization Tools to Drive Customers to Your Web Site – it discusses keyword relevance, types of search engines, paid-for listings, and much more.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Tips For New Web Writers
SEO Tip #1: Don’t Write “Whatever You Feel Like”
Every type of writing requires that you consider your audience, but it’s especially true with web writing. With SEO, the primary way readers find you is through search engines. You may write the best article in the world, but it will remain unread if no one is asking questions that will lead them to it.
To increase your blog or website readership, choose a topic that inspires you, and try to think like a reader: what do you want to know about the topic? What would you type into a search engine to find the answer? This exercise will help you find an angle for covering any topic you’re passionate about.
SEO Tip #2: Don’t Write an Article Before Identifying Keywords
New web writers often choose a topic, write an article about it, and then get to work trying to pick keyword phrases out of the text. While this may seem like a logical process, it just doesn’t work with web writing.
Before writing, brainstorm a handful of keywords that would lead your article. Use the Google AdWords tool to find synonyms or related search terms. Narrow the list and write an article around those terms.
SEO Tip #3: Don’t Write Just for the Money
The almighty dollar is the basic motivation for most SEO writers, but it can’t be the sole motivation for writing. Don’t pick a topic you neither know nor care about, even if you think it’s a money-maker. Instead, choose a topic that interests you and write about the solution to a problem in that field – especially if the solution includes a product or service.
Maybe you’ve had a slow earnings week and are starting to panic, but remember that good writing rarely comes from someone simply trying to make a quick buck. Attempting to do so might even hurt your credibility as a web writer, costing you more lost revenue in the future.
Through trial, error, and tutorial, I’ve ridden a sharp learning curve and come a lot closer to mastering SEO writing in the past few years. Now if I can only get around to revamping those old articles full of mistakes #1, #2, and #3…
If you have any questions or thoughts about these search engine optimization tips (or Suite101!), please comment below…
Jenny Evans has spent the last two years writing and ghostwriting SEO articles on a broad spectrum of topics. Her freelance work specializes in early childhood education, and she is currently the Feature Writer for Mormonism on Suite101.
~ Jobs for Writers ~
New jobs posted daily at Real Writing Jobs
Freelance writing and editing work at Go Freelance
Write for Examiner.com - become known as an expert!
Take your writing career a step further at Suite101
Comment by Suzanne on 23 October 2009:
Great post! I learn something (or am reminded of something I should not have forgotten) every time I stop by.
Suzanne
Suzanne´s last blog post ..Pet Safety and Protection Act of 2009
Comment by Johan on 23 October 2009:
Although it is great to be passionate about what you are writing about, and genuinely interested in your topic, a good SEO writer can write many different kinds of copy, Short copy or long copy, can be successful in their writing. Some of the SEO writers that may be copywriting just for the money and not personal interest are most likely writing SEO because it is one of the many tasks that their job entails. This does not mean that those writers are any less good at what they do or how they write.
Johan´s last undefined post ..If you register your site for free at
Comment by InternetHow Blog on 23 October 2009:
I am one of those who writes and consider about the keywords later on. I think I should take your advice on board and do some research on keywords and implement them on my articles. However, some times it is difficult, when you are writing for actual readers rather than just for search engines.
InternetHow Blog´s last blog post ..Do it now and do it regularly
Comment by Al Wise on 23 October 2009:
I love the “don’t write whatever you feel like”… genius. It’s so important to write search engine friendly !
Comment by Laurie PK on 23 October 2009:
Thanks for your comments — I love hearing how different writers do different things! And, how you tackle something like search engine optimization doesn’t necessarily make you a good or bad writer…we all just do what works for us.
I pick my topic, ensure my keywords are “good”, and then write the article. I’ve tried writing based on high-paying keywords alone, but don’t find it works well. Better to keep writing what you’re interested in, create a series of articles, link them all together in a nice thick spiderweb, and persevere until you start seeing results (ie, higher blog readership).
Thanks for this guest post, Jenny — it’s a great article.
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..The Key to Success for Female Entrepreneurs – Coco Chanel
Comment by r4 card on 24 October 2009:
Very nice and valuable tips. Really great. It very helpful to my kind of begginer in SEO. Thanks for sharing this tips with us.
Pingback by My Favorite Blog Posts This Week | Internethow Blog on 24 October 2009:
[...] SEO for new web writers @ theadventurouswriter.com [...]
Comment by nancy @ princetoncryo on 25 October 2009:
Interesting insight.
I would like to make an addition to this – many business owners are so concerned with increasing their site rank that they do not bother about the content. Writing good content is the key and if the website owner really wants to promote the business online, then he/she must hire a professional to write the stuff.
Comment by George Angus on 25 October 2009:
Hi Laurie,
Hmmm. I guess I need to chew on this one a bit. There has to be a balance between key words and writing naturally. Some folks are able to strike this balance and others make it painfully aware that they are writing for SEO.
Maybe it is a skill that can be learned, but maybe not.
I gotta think about it.
George
George Angus´s last blog post ..New 10K Challenge Day
Comment by Nick @ Brick Marketing on 26 October 2009:
It is very important to really have your keywords lined up before hand and always write for humans first and search engines second. If the thought process does not exist in your article it won’t get picked up anywhere credible.
Comment by SEO Wanna Be on 3 November 2009:
Incredible, I learned a lot about SEO and Man, this thing’s getting better and better as I learn more about internet marketing. Also as part of my ongoing mission to find the absolute best tools to make money, this is without a doubt at the top of my list.
Comment by Christie on 14 November 2009:
Finding the right few keywords or phrases for your blog posts will help boost traffic in the future…but it takes time.
Comment by Teresa Schultz on 14 November 2009:
The “What would you type into a search engine to find the answer?” is, I believe, key in helping your client’s site be more easily found, and I also agree with identifiying keywords before starting on the article.
Once an article on a client’s website is live, or I have loaded an article to my own website to check it before giving it to the client, I use an online meta tag analyser tool to check relevancy of the meta title, meta description, and meta keywords, related to the content of the article and then, using the results, sometimes tweak my meta tagging to better suit the article’s content. sometimes I need to change the content here and there too, but not often if I wrote the article only after first deciding on which keywords should appear more than twice in the article. I’m usually not happy with anything less than 90% relevancy.
Teresa Schultz´s last blog post ..How to avoid copyright problems and write using your own words
Comment by satrap on 15 November 2009:
search engine and things related to it are always evolving, so its kind of hard to stick with the same plan as you always have to adapt to new rules. specially with google. any way thanks for the post.
Comment by Laurie PK on 15 November 2009:
Thanks for your comments, everyone!
Nancy — I agree that content is most important. Many businessowners don’t have the time or ability to write their own articles, which can be great for copywriters and writers
George — I’m still bad at search engine optimization in that I tend to use too many keywords. Striking the right balance takes time and practice.
Teresa — that online meta tag analyser tool sounds like a great way to make sure your posts are effectively optimized! Is it a free service?
Satrap — you’re right; Google is always evolving, which does make it hard to know how to write blog posts that’ll actually be found. But there are certain things that it’d be best to stick to (eg, making sure your key phrases are words readers actually search for, titling your blog post accurately, etc).
Thanks again for your comments — I love hearing from you
Laurie
Laurie PK´s last blog post ..How to Get Money to Start Your Business – Suze Orman
Comment by Chrisile from Search Engine Optimisation on 22 November 2009:
I have been doing SEO for quite sometime now. And it is right, do write not because of money.
Comment by John on 30 November 2009:
Very good points. I think it is difficult for us all to realize how much effort goes into developing solid content.
- John
John´s last blog post ..3 Things That Should Make A Small Business Owner Thankful
Pingback by Superhero Nation: how to write superhero novels and comic books » Writing Articles Around the Web on 17 December 2009:
[...] Search Engine Optimization Tips for New Bloggers– this will help you write Google-friendly content, which is helpful if you’re the sort of writer that enjoys having readers. [...]
Comment by Dhany on 15 March 2010:
Thanks for this great SEO post. I’ve just bookmarked it in Delicious. I am sure I will reference it again.
Pingback by Writing Web Content - How to Use Keywords and Optimize Online Writing on 26 March 2010:
[...] to use keywords effectively” is a search term – I’ve used it myself! A tip for search engine optimization is to narrow down broad search terms (“writing for the web” is too broad, and [...]
Pingback by Beyond Writing an E-Book – Tips on Pricing, Marketing, and Landing Pages for E-Books on 15 April 2010:
[...] guides) cover topics such as copywriting, social media and community building, Google Analytics, Search Engine Optimization, and marketing tips and strategies. Books about website usability are coming soon. My niche is [...]
Pingback by How to Find Online Writing Markets and Write for the Web on 24 April 2010:
[...] writing for print and writing for online readers. Some web editors ask for articles that are search engine optimized, while others just require well-researched, well-written articles. Several web editors have asked [...]
Comment by Latashia Yawn on 28 April 2010:
i am a newbie in Search Engine Optimization but i think that the submission of articles in article directories is one of the best ways to gain backlinks. ~
Comment by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen on 29 April 2010:
Thanks for your comments — the more I hear, the more ideas I get for writing about search engine optimization! If you have any questions, feel free to ask…
Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen´s last blog post ..Choosing the Best Web Host for Your Blog – 9 Tips for Bloggers