SEO Content Writing for 2023- The Ultimate Guide to Rank

The Ultimate Guide on SEO Content Writing to Rank at Google’s First Page

Throughout the year, Google constantly makes updates and changes its algorithms. But Content is the king of SEO. No website can rank higher without SEO-friendly high-quality content. SEO Content Strategy is the other crucial and legit phase to process and proceed with writing.

What is SEO Content? How to write SEO-friendly content? This is the common question every mind arises.

We are here to answer you! We provide the ultimate guide to write the best SEO content that will not only help you complete the requirements of SEO in content. But also guide you on how to rank #1 on Google. The process is explained thoroughly in a comprehensive way.

WHAT IS SEO CONTENT?

To understand the meaning of “SEO Content”, it is important to break it into two components:

“SEO” and “CONTENT”

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is the practice to increase the quality traffic and achieve visibility to your website organically through search results.

Content refers to any information relevant to the topic. Content can be of various forms: Text, Images, Videos, Infographics or a combination of all.

The main objective of SEO-friendly content is any content that attracts the audience to the webpage. Content is magical in SEO. Without content, SEO does not exist.

SEO Content has enough specific variables that are explained step by step below.  After this, we will understand how to optimize your content for search engines.

SEO Content Strategy

1. Define your goals
2. Consider your audience
3. Create an editorial calendar
4. Analyze and re-assess

KEYS FOR CREATING THE BEST SEO CONTENT IN 2023

Here are the guidelines and checklist to help you create (most searched, most read, most shared, and most valuable) content.

Now, we will understand these key points in brief.

Content Optimization starts with Keyword

Homework is required in an initial step before you start creating your content. Keyword research is necessary to understand the interest of the audience that they type in the search box. It serves purposes:

• You will know what type of content you need to create to attract and interest the audience
• You will be able to increase your chances of getting visible on search engines.

Keyword research can be done simply in two ways:

• Google Keyword planner

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• Google Search Results

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You can also use SEO Tools for Keyword Research such as Semrush, Ahrefs, Serpstat, and others. These tools are the Best 3 SEO Tools, I consider. You can also read an article on Semrush VS Serpstat VS Ahrefs. SEMrush is the Keyword Research Tool that is used by marketing experts. It also provides a course for how to Research a keyword for Blog Post. Click here to enroll in the course for FREE.

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Select the most searched keyword (head, mid, long-tail keyword)

You should study the key phrase that the competitors are using on the same keyword. You have to always focus on keywords that are not too competitive, otherwise, you will have a hard time ranking.  If your website is new, you should always start with a long tail keyword, as its competition is low. Thus, it brings your website rank on google easily. Once the long-tail keyword started ranking, you can then further work on mid and head keywords (Suggestion).

Create similar key phrases that you would be using for the SEO Content

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In the screenshot of search results shared above for the keyword “SEO content”, the creation of key phrases is to be done after analyzing the behavior.

Example:

• Tips to create the best SEO Content
• Ultimate Guide to write SEO content in 2023

Write a long-form content

The content can be created in different word limits. But our mission is to rank on Google. The most quality and lengthy content in detail results in increasing the average session time as it increases the readability time.

According to our experience, the long-form content should be written once a week. This way, Google starts ranking your article on its own where you are providing the solution to every query relating to that topic.

Note*: During the content writing, it should not be a copied content, miss spellings and type errors should be avoided. This makes the audience skip to other articles.

 SEO Content can also be created in ways

• Featured content (exact answer)
• Answer box (direct question to answer 100-200 words)
• Knowledge graph (informative graph, photograph, a screenshot using alt tag)
• Snippet content (1000-1500 words) (Recommended)
• Cornerstone content (lengthy, detailed 3000+ words) (Recommended)

Once your content starts ranking on Google with Long-form content, you should not miss upon Featured content and Answer box (FAQ Schema).

Use a keyword in the content at different locations

You should use your focus keyword(s) at different locations such as 1 time in the 1st Paragraph, 1-3 times between the content in different paragraphs, 1 time in the last paragraph. The number of times you should mention your keyword in the content depends on the word limit of a blog post. For example: With 1000 words content: use keyword 4-5 times, with 2000 words content, you can use keyword 7-8 times and with 3000+ words content, you should use your keyword at least 10 times.

Use keyword minimum 7 times (should contain 1-2% keyword density of your text)

This is most important to note while you are writing SEO content. This is because Google crawls the text every time a search is done. The usage of keywords lets Google crawler know that you are an exact match for what your audience is searching for.

Of course, you should use your keyword in your text, but you shouldn’t overdo it. Avoid using all the keywords in a single paragraph. Make sure the use of the keyword is balanced throughout the text.

However, the usage of keyword most recommended is once in the main page title, meta description, introduction, heading, subheadings, conclusion.

Create short paragraphs under subheadings to increase readability

Readability is crucial for your audience. Readability is key to SEO Content. The people will be able to understand your text if your text is well-structured and clear.

You must be astonished to know that; Google reads text too. If your text is easier to read, has a clear structure with subheadings and clear paragraphs, Google is more likely to grasp the main message of your article. If Google understands the message of your post, your post is more likely to rank in the search engines.

The paragraph under a heading should not be more than 200 words. If it is more than it, you can use a sub-heading to break it into a paragraph further.

SEO Content has three elements

• Original content
• Findable content
• Readable content

ORIGINAL CONTENT: Writing original content is the first pillar of SEO-friendly and high-quality content. Your article should have fresh ideas, new and original. Keep in mind that original content does not mean new content, it means it should be unique content. Your content should add value to your website. For example, writing your opinion on a topic or giving a structured overview of older information is an original approach for SEO Content.

FINDABLE CONTENT: The key to SEO-friendly content is to ensure that your content is findable. Google selects and picks up your content for the search results if it is findable. It gives more traffic and visibility on the search engines. Content findability should neither compromise with the originality of your idea, nor with the readability of your text.

READABLE CONTENT: A clear structure is a key to readable SEO content. It must contain an introduction section, a body in which you convey your message, and a conclusion. Within the bigger structure in the body, a text needs to be divided further into paragraphs that reflect your ideas and arguments. These paragraphs need to be preceded by subheadings that clearly state the content of each paragraph. Furthermore, make sure to start each paragraph with a topic sentence. The topic sentence is most important to be included at the start as it will give your audience an idea about your content.

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SEO CONTENT GUIDELINES on How to write Best SEO Content

Apart from all the pointers mentioned above, SEO content also includes schemas and tricks. SEO friendly content includes:

• Each sentence should be less than 20 words. It means sentences should be short and clear rather than long and convoluted. Never create a complex literary masterpiece.
• Sentences should avoid starting with the same beginning word. Always mix up your sentences to keep your article readable and free of obstacles.
• The sentence should give a clear message. In order to increase the words for long-form SEO Content, no need to write and reframe the same content. Google is very intelligent. You can’t even doubt Google.
• Content should not be copied and plagiarized. Try creating unique SEO Content.

High-quality content avoiding passive voice.

Though Passive voice is not the most crucial point to consider in SEO-friendly content, but this is also one of the ideas to create SEO-friendly content. Passive content distant the thought process to connectivity and makes it inefficient to read. Whenever you use the passive voice, always consider whether a better, active alternative is available.

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Use transition words

Transition words are words such as “in contrast“, “additionally“, “most importantly”, “because”, “therefore” or “besides” to craft a coherent text. These types of words give your readers direction while reading an article. There’s no need to stuff your sentences with long, difficult words when you can also use simpler words to achieve the same effect.

Structure of the SEO content

While structuring your text well and writing clearly, Google is much more likely to understand what your text is all about. This positively influences your ranking immediately.

If your content is well-written and nicely structured, chances are much higher that readers will actually stay on your site to read your article. Thus, increasing the average session time. That will result in lower bounce rates (the percentage of people who land on your website and will eventually improve your ranking in the search engines. High-quality pieces will lead to more trust from your readers. If your content reads well and is free of typos, it will look much more professional and legit.

Other structure for SEO Content also includes

• Use pictures/videos in your blog for better engagement or to make the audience stay on your page.
• Use numbers and bulleted lists
• Include statistics and data
• Use internal links (to interlink the pages in the website and external/outbound links (outer links to make the content authentic)

CONCLUSION on SEO CONTENT WRITING

Google’s mission is to find the best result, however, focusing on making a great site for your user will lead to the algorithm ranking you higher. As Google’s algorithm improves, it becomes increasingly proficient at awarding points for achieving the goal. The Content is directly proportionate to successfully optimize the SEO of your article. Completing the simpler steps explained, the guidelines will not only help complete the best SEO content but also, leave you to finish the On-Page SEO.  

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• Step-by-Step Guide on On-Page SEO: 28 Factors to Rank #1 [2023]
• Step-by-Step Guide on Off-Page SEO [2023]
• Step-by-Step Guide on Technical SEO [2023]
• SEO Strategy & Tips for 2023: 15 Steps Guide to Rank #1
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