Would you like to increase traffic to your website and increase sales? In this article, Net Branding’s digital marketing expert shares 7 effective SEO writing tips for driving conversions.
Right now, millions of people are searching the Internet for the things they want. In this digital search world, the copy (words, sentences and paragraphs) that you write about your products and services on your website is the most powerful digital marketing tool you have for increasing awareness of your brand.
With so many people online looking for content just like yours it’s important that you do everything you can to help them find it. That’s why search engine optimization (SEO) is such a crucial aspect of your content marketing strategy for significantly increasing your traffic and brand awareness.
Here are 7 effective SEO writing tips to help you optimise your copy for SEO to increase traffic to your website and drive conversions.
1 Use keywords naturally
Include main and secondary keywords naturally (i.e. don’t stuff them in awkwardly) in your copy, but make sure you clearly optimise the content for the main keyword. Also make sure your main keyword appears in the first paragraph of your content.
2 Write meaningful SEO meta titles and descriptions
Optimise your title tag with your main keyword, supported by additional relevant keywords. Of course, this requires that you know what people are searching for and what they want to find so you can craft copy accordingly.
The more relevant the keyword, the more weight the search engines will give it and the higher it will appear in search results. But don’t simply stuff titles with keywords – make sure they’re meaningful and informative.
Likewise, include your target keyword in your meta description and provide additional value-adding information to increase relevance, encouraging the searcher to want to click to land to your page.
3 Structure URLs so they’re optimised for search engines
Keep your URLs simple, short and easy for a search engine (and anyone else looking at them) so they can immediately understand exactly what your page is about.
4 Format your pages properly
Pages that are formatted properly for SEO are pages that are:
- Broken up with headings and subheadings. These are the so-called H1, H2, H3 tags. Make sure you use your keywords in these tags, especially your main keyword in your H1 tag and other keywords on the other tags. This helps the search engines see that your page is targeted to specific content and that you also cover off relevant related information as well.
- Feature short paragraphs of two to three short sentences. People read short paragraphs and shy away from long one. Keep sentences short (no more than 15 to 20 words) and get to the point quickly. This helps to keep readers engaged and focus their attention.
- Use bullet or numbered points. Bullets or numbers break up content and make it easier for readers to quickly get the important facts.
- Include links in the content. Adding links to your other pages where doing so is relevant provides more information for readers and adds value to their experience.
5 Ask questions, then answer them
Anticipate the questions that your audience might have and answer them. This is a great way for drawing the reader into your content and explaining things clearly. If your ask the right questions and answer them well, then your audience will be even more ready to convert.
6 Ask the reader to do something
In other words, have a call to action. You’re writing copy to sell or get people to ultimately do something, not just to state facts. So nudge them (you don’t have to be ‘salesy’ to do this) to make a decision by telling them what to do. Be sure to make it obvious and easy for them to do what you want them to do.
7 Optimise your images
They say “a picture paints a thousand words” so definitely make good use of relevant, value-adding images on your pages. However, make sure you give each image a proper file name and include your target keyword in their alt text. Make sure you optimise image size so they load quickly and clearly.
If you follow these basic SEO writing tips you’re sure to improve the conversion rates on your website.
Would you like more help to improve your website content for SEO?
If you’d like more SEO writing tips or want help to improve your website or digital marketing efforts, then simply talk to one of Net Brandings SEO specialists. The team at Net Branding, Auckland’s full-service digital marketing agency, offers expert support on SEO and website development and design. We can also help you action a range of digital marketing tactics guaranteed to deliver results for your business. We’re just a phone call or click away – so get in touch with us today.
