When it comes to writing web content, its easy to get carried away with SEO right from the get go. But let me ask you, when was the last time a search engine bought anything from you?
Best practice is to write for your audience first and then optimize the content so that it will get indexed by search engines. Here are 10 key tips on how to write web content that your visitors can easily consume.
- Focus on web content for potential buyers – Write about the benefits your products can bring to your visitors and how your products can solve their needs.
- One keyword phrase per page – Don’t try to jam in 8-12 keyword phrases into a single web page or article. Use one keyword phrase and a few variations of that phrase.
- Add your best content above the fold – Make sure your call to action or your best content is above the fold so visitors don’t have to scroll down to find it.
- Include a call to action – Provide a clearly visible call to action, whether you are asking for a phone call, fill out a form or sign up for a newsletter.
- Work with bulleted lists – Visitors like to scan pages for headlines. Bulleted lists are short reads and provide pointed information.
- Use compelling words – Use words that compel customers into responding – Search Engine Workshops has a great list of muscle words.
- Avoid long paragraphs – Use short paragraphs so your readers can scan the content quickly and stay engaged in your article.
- Use news related items – Pull topics from the news in your industry. Your audience is already searching for the info, why not provide it for them.
- Keep graphics to a minimum – Use graphics to draw your visitors eyes to a p
- Read your copy out loud – If you read your copy out loud, you will quickly see if it flows properly. If you can’t make it through the article, neither will your visitors.
So now that you have an idea on how you should write web content, later this week I will give you some ideas on generating content on a consistent basis.