One of the most challenging aspects for content writers of blogs and websites is creating content that not only appeals to readers but is also visible to Google. Even if the content is well-crafted, if it is not SEO-friendly, its visibility on search engines may be low. In such cases, writing articles that include some technical rules understandable by Google bots can increase visibility and, consequently, website traffic. Additionally, one of the most effective ways for e-commerce sites to grow without increasing their marketing budget is to have SEO-friendly content.
Websites with a strong authority and a good backlink profile rank high on search engines. This, in turn, brings more clicks, likes, visibility, and users. The key to writing SEO-friendly articles lies in the selection of keywords.
Keyword Selection
Before starting to write content, the first step is to choose relevant keywords. Accurate keyword selection involves thorough research and competitor analysis. Choosing high-volume keywords as your main keywords will be appreciated by Google bots, enhancing your site’s visibility and traffic. For example, if your topic is “types of home-cooked meals,” a search query for this topic on Google will provide suggestions for the most searched queries and potential keywords.
Moreover, tools like Ahrefs can simplify keyword selection. Additionally, partnering with an SEO agency can provide you with the most accurate keyword choices for your website.
Length of Content
While shorter, content-rich sites used to be prominent in the past, today, there is a trend towards longer, high-quality articles shared less frequently. This shift is due to Google’s innovations, focusing on prioritizing such articles. Google consistently improves itself, prioritizing user experience and aiming to deliver the best results for user queries. Therefore, content exceeding 1000 words with relevant keywords and subheadings has higher visibility on search engines.
Headings and Subheadings
Headings and subheadings are as crucial for SEO as they are for readers to easily navigate and review the content. These headings follow the H1, H2, H3, …, H6 tag structure. Search engine robots better understand the site hierarchy with these H tags, supporting the article’s ranking on the first page. Each page should have one H1-tagged main title, followed by H2-tagged subheadings, and if necessary, H3-tagged sub-subheadings. This structure can continue up to H6. Remember that only one H1-tagged title should be used in an article, while the rest of the H tags can be used multiple times.
Tips for Determining Subheadings
When selecting subheadings, include some of your chosen keywords and long-tail keywords. If you struggle with subheading selection, Google may provide suggestions when you search for your topic. Using the example of “types of home-cooked meals,” Google can suggest subheading ideas based on the most searched queries.
Optimization of Images in the Content
One of the most essential elements that makes your article interesting and shareable is images. Adding alt text to images, especially on blog sites, makes the image understandable for Google bots. Additionally, ensure that the website’s images are optimized. Large images can slow down the site’s loading speed, negatively impacting user experience. For tips on factors affecting website speed and how to improve it, you can refer to our article “How to Increase Website Speed & PageSpeed Optimization 2021.”
Importance of Backlinks
Another criterion that helps search engines rank your content higher in initial queries is the number of backlinks your content receives. Backlinks within the content not only bring traffic but also serve as bridges between your articles. Providing a backlink to your old content can help it achieve higher rankings. Creating a link between each new content and the previous one strengthens this bridge, making it easier for search robots to find your articles.
Furthermore, high-quality, authoritative links within the content increase your website’s validity, leading to better rankings on the SERP.
For the most accurate SEO-friendly website and articles, you can seek SEO services from a successful agency. A skilled SEO professional knows which keywords to use in your website content, how to build bridges with relevant links, and how to accurately present the site hierarchy to Google bots. By doing so, you can increase the visibility of your articles on search engines and attract more user traffic.
Author: Hakan Karaman
