As small business owners, we constantly strive to make our mark in the competitive online world. We see that more people turn to Google for their purchasing decisions every day. So because of that, it’s crucial to have a strong SEO website content strategy. Not only does it drive more traffic to your website, but it gets them to stay on longer. With algorithms constantly changing and new trends emerging, it can be overwhelming to keep up with effective strategies.
But, don’t let SEO overwhelm you! There are some areas you can look at and better understand to give your site and content a boost! Understanding the importance of SEO in content strategy is crucial so that your website Gets Visibility, Builds Authority, and Gains Trust with your visitors. Let’s break down 3 key areas that you should focus on for an effective SEO content strategy in 2024.
Researching and incorporating relevant keywords into your content
The first area to focus on is:
Keyword research: Understand the language of your target audience.
Descriptive URLs: Ensure each URL is simple and descriptive.
Page titles: Use keywords naturally within the page title.
Meta descriptions: Craft meta descriptions like they were ad copy to improve click-through rates.
Content optimization: Sensibly use keywords and variations in your page copy.
User experience (UX): Ensure your site is a joy to use and navigate.
Strong calls to action: Make it easy for your users to know what to do next.
I know it seems like a lo, but don’t let the SEO jargon overwhelm you! But understanding the importance of SEO in your content strategy is crucial if you want your website to Get Visibility, Build Authority, and Gain Trust of your visitors. It may seem like a lot at first, but breaking it down into manageable parts can make all the difference.
Start by doing your keyword research and figuring out the language of your target audience. Also, Make sure your URLs are simple and descriptive so that both humans and search engines can easily understand them. In other words, if your blog is about how to get better at smoking meat, your URL should be something simple like: www.something.com/smoke-better-meat.
Use keywords naturally within your page titles and make sure your meta descriptions make your site stand out in search results. When it comes to the content on your pages, use keywords and variations naturally. Always put the User Experience first aka do not Keyword stuff. Add strong calls to action and make sure your visitors know what you want them to do when they get to your site. Because remember you have less than 5 seconds to answer the 3 questions every visitor asks when they get to your website.
What is E – E – A – T and how does it relate to my SEO Website Content Strategy?
Your content tells visitors what you do, how you do it, who you have done it for and why someone should use your business/care. According to Google’s search quality rater guidelines, they have introduced a term called: E-E-A-T which stands for:
Experience.
Expertise.
Authoritativeness.
Trustworthiness.
The addition of “experience” indicates that content quality can also be evaluated through the lens of understanding the extent to which the content creator has first-hand experience in the topic. Blah Blah blah what does the even mean? In other words is this something you have dealt with and experienced yourself, i.e. have you ‘lived it’? Or is this second hand knowledge? Remember AI can only spit out content, it has not experienced it. With this reframing of E-E-A-T, Google states that “trust” is at the center of this concept and is the “most important member of the E-E-A-T family.”
Experience is like lived experience – specifically, first-hand experiences on the topic you’re writing about. Expertise is the extent of knowledge demonstrated within your article or by the writer. Authority considers the extent to which a content creator is known as a go-to source on the topic. Trust is developed by showcasing experience, expertise and authority in aggregate.
Creating high-quality, engaging content that resonates and provides value for your target audience.
Remember, building E-E-A-T is a long-term process. The longer you do the thing you are doing the more experience, expertise and authority you will build. So, be mindful of these core pillars when creating a content strategy so your SEO can work properly. And if you’re smart, your content should also go beyond these obvious brochure-type elements and help your prospective customers achieve their goals. For service businesses, you can loosely break your content down into four categories:
Business Information. Who you are and why people should care.
Service content. What you do and where you do it.
Credibility content. Why a prospect should engage with your business.
Marketing content. Content that helps position you as an expert and puts your business in front of prospects earlier in the buying cycle.
(If you notice, these also help you answer the questions your visitors are asking…)
Creating high-quality, engaging content is an essential part of any successful marketing strategy. Your content serves as an introduction to your business, telling potential customers what you do, who you’ve worked with and why they should choose your services.
By showcasing these things within your content, you can build trust with your audience and improve your SEO. It’s also important to go beyond basic business information and service content, creating marketing and credibility content that positions you as an expert in your field. In other words, create content that helps your audience achieve their goals.
Optimizing technical aspects of your website for SEO
Have you ever visited a website and had to wait what felt like an eternity for it to load? (Even though it was probably like 3 seconds) Frustrating, right? As more and more people use their mobile devices to access the internet, it’s crucial for websites to be mobile-friendly and load quickly. Not only does it improve the user experience, but it also affects your website’s SEO. In fact, I have discussed this elsewhere.
Google has even stated that they use page speed as a ranking factor. So, ensuring your website runs smoothly on all devices should be a top priority. You know the old saying, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’? Well, guess what: People do (I mean, I do), and they WILL judge your website!
The impact of an effective SEO Website Content Strategy for your website’s success
When it comes to establishing your online presence, having a good SEO website content strategy can make all the difference. Without a solid SEO content strategy, your website could easily get lost in a sea of other online offerings.
By honing in on the right keywords and optimizing your content accordingly, you’ll be able to attract the right audience to your site. AND filter out those who are not a fit for your business. Not only will you drive traffic to your site, but you’ll also establish your brand as a trusted source. So if you haven’t given much thought to your content strategy and SEO tactics, it’s definitely time to start!
Okay, let’s be real – we all want our websites to succeed. But in reality what we really want is some TLC: Traffic, Leads and Clients. But how do we make that happen? A good SEO Website content strategy is a great place to start! By optimizing your content with the right keywords, creating great content, and making sure it is mobile-friendly, your website will start to Get Visible, Build Authority and Gain Trust. Thus, making it easier for potential customers to find you. 2024 is right around the corner so it’s time to start thinking about your SEO website content strategy today!