Jelene Juario
SEO (search engine optimization) plays a major role in ensuring that your website is found online, or seen by users. The goal of many content writers is to rank high on Google, and keyword stuffing might be one of the easier ways to achieve that goal. There is a small risk that this strategy might backfire, so it’s imperative to know how to integrate SEO keywords within your copy in the most effective way possible.
Consider the Keywords Your Audience Uses
You want your users to find information that’s useful and relevant to them. The key is to imagine being in the position of someone who might use a search engine query with keywords for that page.
It’s important to remember that these are people who have an interest in your subject, so make sure that you are writing something they will find interesting. There’s nothing worse than clicking on a link and finding something that has absolutely nothing to do with what you were searching for.
So ask yourself with your audience in mind:
- What kind of words or phrases would they use when searching?
- Would they use certain phrases more often than others?
- Are there any common variations?
- Does your audience tend toward technical terms or colloquialisms?
Use Secondary Keywords
You should also try to include secondary keywords in your copy to make it more semantic for users. These are synonyms, variations, and similar phrases that support the core keywords placed across your content. By doing this, you can increase organic traffic and expand your content. Put another way, secondary keywords strengthen your page against the competition.
Include long-Tail Keywords
You should use long-tail keywords based on what your target consumers are searching for. Long-tail keywords are often more specific and less searched, but they can be very helpful to your SEO efforts.
They are less competitive than short-tail keywords, so it is much easier to achieve higher rankings in the search engine results pages (SERPs) for long-tail terms. You can use these keywords to beat your competitors and connect with your audience easily.
If one of your phrases is three words long and the other is only one word long, it will look strange when they’re in the same sentence together. Try another pair of phrases instead—like “video game glitches” and “gameplay errors.”
Don’t Forget to Tie LSI keywords
LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords help Google understand the content of your webpage. They’re not synonyms for your main keyword; instead, they’re words that might be used with your main keyword.
You can find your LSI keywords using many free tools. Google’s Autocomplete can help you find LSI keywords just by typing your core keyword into the search box. Put these Autocomplete-generated terms in your content to boost your rank.
If you have a website where people can order bouquets, include LSI keywords like “wedding,” “online delivery,” and “customization.” This will let search engines know you’re not just selling bouquets – you’re selling the ability to order them.
Write for your audience, not the search engines
The most important thing to remember when using keywords for web copy is that you’re writing for humans, not search engines. Google’s algorithm is getting more sophisticated by the day, and while keyword stuffing used to help you, it now works against you.
Instead of optimizing for SEO keywords, make sure your content is informative and engaging for the audience. Put a lot of effort into creating readable, good-quality content. Keyword optimization works best when you pay attention to the words you use and how you use them. It also works when you write to the point in your content.
Make your copy longer to incorporate keywords better
Having longer, more in-depth content on your website helps you to include more keywords naturally. An article with 10 keywords that is 1000 words stands out more than one that is 400 words.
Don’t forget to make it useful for the reader when you write long-form content. Considering how much original stuff is out there, it’s up to you to add value. It will be tempting to write short pieces, but if you think about it, you’ll realize you have a lot more to say. Plus, Google prefers long content, so this is a plus for search engine optimization.
Make Your Copy Stand Out with an Effective Keyword Strategy
SEO copywriting with keywords is a must, but you must also write it to increase conversions. Be careful not to overuse keywords, and make sure you’re writing for a human audience.
When your site is generating traffic for a keyword, you’ll get rewarded by the search engines. You need great writing to convert traffic into conversions, so make your copy engaging and appealing to attract your ideal users.
