Please Don’t Go No. 2 on SEO Copywriting

I’m at the grocery store the other day and the cashier asked me what I do for a living. I tell him I’m a writer.

Him: “Oh, really? What genre?”
(Looks like he just met a celebrity. I chuckle.)
Me: “Not that kind.”

Then I thought to myself, Why should I laugh? Copywriting is certainly an art, and when you add SEO copywriting into the mix, I might as well be Pablo Neruda (a little overboard?).

Not only do you have to be a good writer to be an SEO copywriter (Rule No. 1: understand the English language), but then you also have to infuse your copy with marketing/advertising savvy and write with your audiences/personas in mind to live up to the title, “copywriter.”

Then comes the SEO part, and it goes something like this: Align your copy with that of your top online competition (grade level) and strategically place sometimes the most awkward strains of keyword phrases into just the right places (keyword distribution) with just enough instances (keyword density), and then surround those phrases with clarification language (tilde words) and identify which words to use in your anchor text links based on siloing, all the while trying to form sentences that are cohesive and compelling. (Phew, I’m sweating just thinking about it.) And don’t even get me started on Meta data.

• People who think SEO copywriting is a toilet
• Give bad SEO copywriting the royal flush
• FAQ: How can I excel in SEO copywriting and make my web content appealing to both search engines and human readers? 

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People Who Think SEO Copywriting is Valuable a Toilet

Years back when I worked in-house marketing, we decided to outsource our SEO for one project, just to test their methods and results. I sat down with the SEO consultant, who shall remain nameless, one day to get a “lesson” in SEO copywriting.

At that point, I had very little exposure to on-page optimization, but I certainly knew how to form a proper English sentence. I distinctly remember him giving me some God-awful keyword phrase and telling me to plop it here and there and there. In the end, it didn’t even form a grammatically correct sentence. And this was the home page we’re talking about.

Of course, I told him that’s not how we worked around there. I had standards, after all. Then, the words that came out of his mouth next made me cringe (and people still say it to this day and actually believe it). He said:

“It’s fine, nobody reads the words on a Web page anyway.”

Now I was no SEO copywriting expert, but as a writer, that offended me. Did he understand the research, planning and thought that went into Web writing? And to come and crap all over it with his mediocre SEO copywriting tactics. Now that was just … wrong.

Sadly, there are still people out there who call randomly dumping keywords onto a page “SEO copywriting.” And many companies have experienced the disappointment that comes with second-rate on-page optimization and writing.

But it’s not necessarily anyone’s fault. It just seems SEO copywriting isn’t developed enough to be considered its own certifiable craft yet. Not enough people are taking the time to learn and develop best practices for SEO copywriting to set standards.

Seems like it’s due to SEOs and business owners tasking themselves with the job of SEO copywriter because they believe it’s not important enough to hire an expert – or maybe they don’t have the funds to hire someone.

See, the thing people forget is: you must write for the search engines and the humans. Always. You need to position yourself as an expert to the bots as well as their human counterpart. Sure, it takes a very special person to read every word on a Web page, but if and when you do get that type of persona on your site, you risk losing all credibility if you don’t have proper and persuasive language.

Give Bad SEO Copywriting the Royal Flush

Everything I needed to know about SEO copywriting best practices I learned from Bruce Clay, Inc. I added that to my arsenal long after I became a writer. The key here, folks, is this: you must, must, must have a foundation as a marketing/Web copywriter first, and then move into on-page optimization as an added specialization to achieve the best results.

If you’re a business looking for SEO copywriters, check credentials first. Find out whether they are truly writers or just SEOs. Now, I’m not saying all SEOs are bad writers, but try before you buy. Check out their portfolios, have them mock up a sample Web page for you, do whatever it takes to ensure they understand the technicalities of English and copywriting as well as on-page optimization. The best way to understand if they know what they’re doing is to educate yourself on the subject, too.

If you run a company that does SEO and you don’t already have a writer on staff, please consider it. The worth you can add to client projects is invaluable.

And for those of you who are entertaining the idea of outsourcing your SEO copywriting to another country, don’t even get me started …

Time to work on your SEO copywriting and maximize your content presence online? Talk to us.

FAQ: How can I excel in SEO copywriting and make my web content appealing to both search engines and human readers?

Mastering SEO copywriting will be essential to stand out from the crowd. Though it can be challenging, creating content that appeals both to human readers and search engines can be achieved with proper strategy and knowledge. In this article, we’ll look at all the elements necessary for effective SEO copywriting and provide valuable tips for writing copy that resonates with both human readers and search engines alike.

Understanding SEO Copywriting

To excel in SEO copywriting, you must grasp the fundamental concept of blending readability and search engine optimization. Effective SEO copywriting entails producing content that conveys your message and is readily discoverable by search engines.

1. Keyword Research: Use comprehensive keyword research tools, like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs. These tools are especially helpful.
2. Content Relevance: Once you have identified your keywords, ensure your content relates directly to this chosen subject matter. Google’s algorithms are getting increasingly adept at understanding context. Be sure that your content is meaningful for readers.
3. Quality and Originality: Produce the highest quality content that will engage and inform your target audience through captivating storytelling, expert insight, and well-researched data. This not only pleases readers but also helps your SEO rankings.
4. Optimize for SEO: Incorporate your chosen keywords naturally throughout your content. Ensure they appear in your title, headers, and within the body of your text. However, avoid keyword stuffing, which can harm your rankings.
5. Engaging Headlines and Meta Descriptions: Create catchy headlines and meta descriptions that entice readers to click through from search engine results pages.

Balancing Act: SEO and Human Appeal

Achieving the perfect balance between optimizing for search engines and engaging human readers is the heart of SEO copywriting excellence. Consider the following tips:

6. User-Friendly Formatting: Break your content into digestible sections with subheadings, bullet points, and concise paragraphs. This enhances the readability of your content.
7. Mobile Optimization: Ensure your website and content are mobile-friendly, as Google prioritizes mobile responsiveness in its rankings.
8. Visual Appeal: Incorporate relevant images, videos, and infographics to make your content visually appealing and informative.
9. Page Speed: Optimize your website for fast loading times, as Google considers page speed when ranking sites.
10. User Intent: Understand the intent behind user queries and aim to satisfy that intent in your content.

Transcending SEO Copywriting

SEO copywriting is ever-evolving, and staying updated with the latest trends and best practices is essential. Engage in continuous learning and testing to refine your skills. Keep a close eye on your analytics to assess the success of the content you produce and make any necessary modifications.

SEO copywriting requires an in-depth knowledge of search engine algorithms and human psychology. By striking the right balance between SEO optimization and reader engagement, you can excel in crafting web content that appeals to search engines and human readers, driving your online presence to new heights.

Step-by-Step Procedure: Excelling in SEO Copywriting

1. Start with comprehensive keyword research using tools like Google Keyword Planner or Ahrefs.
2. Craft content that is highly relevant to the chosen keywords.
3. Prioritize quality, uniqueness, and expert insights in your content.
4. Incorporate keywords naturally throughout your content, avoiding keyword stuffing.
5. Create engaging headlines and meta descriptions to entice clicks from search engine results pages.
6. Use user-friendly formatting, including subheadings, bullet points, and concise paragraphs.
7. Ensure mobile optimization for your website and content.
8. Enhance visual appeal with relevant images, videos, and infographics.
9. Optimize page speed for better rankings.
10. Understand user intent and address it in your content.
11. Stay updated with the latest SEO and content marketing trends.
12. Engage in continuous learning and skill refinement.
13. Monitor analytics to measure content impact and make necessary adjustments.
14. Experiment with A/B testing to optimize content performance.
15. Keep an eye on your competitors and industry leaders for inspiration.
16. Build a solid internal linking structure to enhance user experience.
17. Encourage social sharing and backlinks to boost your content’s authority.
18. Engage with your audience through comments and social media.
19. Prioritize trustworthiness and authenticity in your content.
20. Review and update your content to maintain relevance and SEO effectiveness.

This article was updated on November 24, 2023.

Jessica Lee is the founder and chief creative for bizbuzzcontent Inc., a marketing boutique that focuses on digital content strategy and professional writing services for businesses.

See Jessica's author page for links to connect on social media.