Friday, February 8, 2013

Well-Written, Quality Content Equals Successful SEO in 2013

This week I discussed why your business needs quality content and how content marketing can put you on the digital map. But how can content help your SEO and help you with search engine rankings? Search engines play it smart these days, especially Google, and they have cracked down on unethical blackhat SEO tricks such as keyword stuffing. The key to a successful SEO campaign in 2013 is high quality content that is well-written and researched. 

Build Links With Well-Researched, Longer Articles
Kiss short articles good-bye in 2013. Target audiences want meatier articles with real substance. According to SEOmoz, longer and more in-depth articles are where it's at when it comes to quality content. This helps improve conversions and builds your brand authority. Target markets tend to engage and interact more with longer, well-researched articles. 

Hire a Professional Writer 
 If you are going to play the digital media game this year, then it's time to think quality and not quantity. Hire a professional writer to write your content. Time is money so investing in quality writers might be the best return on your investment. Don't just take my word for it. According to an article on SearchEngineWatch.com, one of the top trends shaping SEO in 2013 is a demand for businesses to hire "good writers who know their stuff." Professional writing equals quality content. 

Beware of Content Scammers 
Don't hire cheap, outsourced writers from content mill companies who churn out poorly written content. If it sounds too good to be true, then it's probably a scam. You might think you're saving a few bucks with those $5 articles, but they will hurt your SEO and your brand in the end. Many of these companies are out to make a quick buck and they don't hire professional, vetted writers. They are clueless when it come to research and re-purpose (or plagiarize) content. These supposed "unique" articles are usually stuffed with keywords and riddled with typos. Ask for writing samples, references, and credentials before hiring ANY writer (especially online). 

Remember it's your reputation on the line and your content should always accurately and honestly reflect your company brand. For more content tips, check out this article - how to protect your brand with ethical content marketing. 




2 comments:

  1. You are right on about well written content being the key to SEO. Google is far more advanced than they were a couple of years ago and for the most part SEO is a dying aspect of a website; especially with plugins that provide Google with all the information they need to determine relevancy.

    It's also so much easier now for readers to separate quality content from content written for search engines. Once they do, they will never go back to a site that is set up for SEO.

    It's always been about people to me. Readers want great writing in the style and format that appeals to the reader.

    Thanks for writing this post. It's an important one though will be shunned by people still fighting to hold onto their SEO game.

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  2. Thanks for your comments, Angie. I agree - SEO is pretty much out the window and all the spammy, black hat tricks won't cut it anymore. I still see content that is stuffed with keywords and I just have to laugh. The worst keyword stuffing I've seen is on LinkedIn profiles. Some people still don't get it when it comes to SEO. It comes down to unique, quality content that is relevant and will actually help people.

    ReplyDelete

Therese Pope, Copywriter/Content Developer & Digital Buzz-icist

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