Imagine there’s a bookstore opened around the corner of our street. Their shelves are filled with amazing books. But weeks go by, and still only a handful of people visit the store. A question might come to your mind, Why aren’t people showing up?
The reason is that they have not aligned marketing tactics. But then they realized to put a sign outside their store. Plus, they also leveraged social media to promote their bookstore. You might notice more people walking into that store.
The same is the case when it comes to drafting content for the Internet. No matter how amazing your content is, if people can’t find it, it’s like that hidden bookstore I have mentioned above.
Beautiful but unnoticed.
The reason in your case might be that you have not aligned your content with modern SEO needs. Remember, modern SEO is not about sprinkling keywords. It is about answering user queries and providing them with information or a solution to your content. So, the search engines can find them valuable to show to users.
If you are struggling with making your content shine in front of the audience then worry not. Below I am going to tell you about some keyways to align your content with modern SEO needs. They will help you in drafting the content that shines.
1. The Modern SEO Needs
Like old days, SEO is not just about the keywords and backlinks anymore. To stand out in the competition your content must meet the latest standards that search engines like Google are focusing on. Below I have described some key factors for making content that are shaping today’s SEO scenario.
I. User Intent
By user intent, I mean understanding what users want to achieve from their searches. They might be:
- Looking for knowledge – Informational
- Seeking a specific website – Navigational
- Want to purchase – Transactional
II. E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness)
E-E-A-T – This is a concept introduced by Google to measure the credibility of content. Search engine algorithms consider the experience, expertise, authority, and trustworthiness of the source behind the content. If your content lacks E-E-A-T elements, search engines may not consider it much more reliable to rank.
To improve your E-E-A-T make sure that your content is being:
- Well researched
- Backed by credible sources
- Demonstrating that you are an expert in the topic
2. Structuring Content for SEO
In modern SEO the structure of your content is as important as the words you write. Good structures provide a better readability experience for readers and bring more engagement. And will help you improve your ranking on search engines.
Let’s take a look at the key elements of content structure for SEO.
I. Title Tags and Meta Descriptions
Title tags and meta descriptions are the first impressions that make people visit your website you’ll need to make compelling titles. Add your primary keyword into the title but do not enforce it.
Remember, a good title is one that clearly tells what the page/post is about.
Now come the meta descriptions. They are like a short overview of your content encouraging users to click on it. So, try to make them compelling, and don’t forget to add a CTA in meta descriptions. Adding keywords to the meta description can be beneficial but it is not a necessary requirement.
If you find it difficult to write optimized titles and meta descriptions that can help you get more clicks get assistance from online tools like Jasper. For example, Jasper’s meta description tool can help you make multiple meta description ideas for a single page/post. You can personalize these ideas and use them accordingly.
II. Heading Tags
Heading tags are not just for structuring or organizing the content. In modern SEO they have a crucial role. By using the heading tags, you can make your content easy to read for users. Plus, they also make your content easy to understand for search engines.
Use the H1 tag for the main title of your content (only one per page/post is recommended). Don’t forget to add the primary keyword.
Subsequent headers (H2, H3, H4) can break up the content into digestible sections. Try to incorporate secondary keywords naturally (do not enforce them as it is not a necessary requirement).
III. Content Layout
By content layout, I mean how you present your content to the audience. To provide a good experience consider adding:
- Bullet points
- Numbered lists
- Short paragraphs
- To the point information
For this purpose, you can get assistance from a summarizing tool. They can assist you in making clear and concise sections for your content.
Also, don’t forget about mobile-friendliness. It is now favored by search engines too. A major portion of users now access content from mobile devices. So, ensure your content is responsive and easy to navigate on smaller screens.
3. Writing for Humans Not Search Engines
In today’s modern SEO, it is not possible to trick search engines. Now you have to craft content that must resonate with the audience’s queries.
When you write content by keeping humans in mind search engines take notice and probably reward you with better rankings. Below is how you can keep your content both engaging and SEO-friendly.
I. Writing Style
Based on my experience, I suggest you write content like you are having a conversation with the readers. Keep your tone simple, friendly, yet professional. To bring simplicity and maintain consistency in tone, get assistance from a paraphrasing tool.
Moreover, try to use examples, anecdotes, and relatable language to keep readers hooked. When your writing feels natural, people are more likely to connect with it and stay on your page longer.
II. Keyword Integration
Search engines now prioritize content that aligns with user intent. Forget about getting a better ranking by over-stuffing the keywords in your content. Plus, avoid putting keywords into your content forcefully. Always prioritize relevance and flow over rigid keyword density rules.
For example, if your audience is searching for “how to extract text from images” your content should tell them steps to do it rather than repeating unnecessary keywords.
III. Content Length and Depth
When it comes to content length, it may vary with the type of content you are going to draft. Below I have shared some general recommendations for different types of content.
- Blog posts – 1000+
- Guides – 2500+
- Product pages – Up to 1000
- Taxonomy pages – 250+
However, don’t just aim for a word count, focus on depth too. Provide valuable insights while keeping your content scannable. Make sure that readers are getting the information they need without feeling overwhelmed.
4. Leverage Visuals
Visuals are more than just eye candy. They are powerful tools for giving a boost to search engine rankings. By adding images and infographics you can make your content more appealing.
Moreover, visuals break up large chunks of text and help explain complex ideas in seconds. Search engines love this because users spend more time on your page. They’ll give signals that your content is valuable.
For crafting eye-catching images leverage tools like Canva. They will provide you with hundreds of built-in templates that you can personalize without advanced graphic design skills.
I. Do Not Leave Visuals Unoptimized
Simply adding visuals isn’t enough. You have to optimize all the visuals for search engines. Serve them in next gen formats. Add descriptive alternative texts to help search engines understand what your images are about.
Plus, consider compressing your visuals to reduce file size without sacrificing quality. Otherwise, they might affect the page speed and can drive users away and hurt your SEO rankings.
II. Do Not Ignore Multimedia
Visuals are not just limited to images. Multimedia can also keep your audience on your page longer. This will increase dwell time which is a key SEO metric. For example, you can embed a short video tutorial in a blog post to keep readers staying longer.
Conclusion
Drafting content that aligns with modern SEO needs is essential for standing out in search engines. Remember, the key is to provide value to readers. And there is no shortcut to it. By combining the smart SEO practices I have discussed above you can make your content follow success.
