SEO Writing: 10 Content Writing Tips that Rank on Google

What is SEO Writing?

SEO writing is the process of writing content to rank on the first page of search engines like Google. It includes keyword research, writing high-quality content that matches user intent, and optimizing the table of contents for easier page indexing.

Research from Search Engine Journal in 2020 showed that the click-through rate for websites in the first position on the search engine results page (SERP) is 25%. This number drastically drops to 15% for websites in position two and then to 2.5% for websites in position 10. Once you hit the second page of Google, that number becomes even smaller or negligible.

This means that if your website is not on the first page, there is a small chance that consumers will find your website organically. Fewer visits to your site means fewer opportunities to generate leads and ultimately revenue.

Your next best option is to invest in advertising to bring those users to your site. But that costs, and if you have a limited budget, why not invest your time in SEO writing? It’s free and will likely bring traffic to your site much longer than an online marketing campaign.

1. Use Headings Correctly

Tables of contents help Google’s indexing tools understand your blog post and sections within it.

Think of search engines as readers quickly scanning your blog. They want an overview of what your article will cover, that’s your H1. Then your H2, H3, and H4 break down subtopics within the piece.

Therefore, your subheadings should reflect the content in the body and include high-intent keywords. When you use the right keywords, meaning those your target audience uses, you have a much higher chance of ranking on the SERP.

2. Optimize Your Content for Featured Snippets

Featured snippets on Google are the most direct answers to search queries. For example, if I search “How to write a blog post?” Google might use a featured snippet to display the best answer.

To earn a featured snippet on Google, you need to answer the question thoroughly and concisely.

For example, if the search term is “How to take a screenshot on a Mac,” you can put “How to take a screenshot on a MacBook” as your H1 or H2, followed by steps in a numbered or bullet list.

Once you do that, make sure to include part of the question in your answer. Using the above example, you could start the paragraph with: “To take a screenshot on your MacBook, here are the steps…”

Additionally, start each sentence with an action verb, like “click” or “select.”

If the keyword you want to target for a featured snippet requires a definition, write an answer that is no more than 58 words.

3. Write for People, Not Search Engines

With all these SEO guidelines, it’s easy to forget that when a user searches on Google, they are looking for an answer. The best way to improve your chances of ranking is to write high-quality blog posts.

What does this look like? Detailed answers, scannable sections, organized subheadings, and visual aids.

Keep in mind your customers’ personalities, motivations, challenges, and interests. It’s also important to choose topics that will resonate with your potential customers and address their pain points. While some SEO tools can help with the technical side of your website, you may also choose to use SEO content writing tools that will help you write correct, concise, and human-friendly content that will rank well and attract readers. Different tools also measure content engagement, allowing you to see how long people spend on your page, whether they visit more pages or how far down the page they scroll.

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/blogging-for-seo