How to write SEO-friendly content without compromising your creative flair

Search engine optimisation (SEO) can be a fairly formulaic and scientific practice when it comes to writing content. Indeed, crafting words to please Google’s increasingly complex algorithms inevitably means that writers have to think about factors such as how many keywords they have managed to fit into their text. For some, this can seem restrictive and at odds with creativity.

However, it is important to remember that Google’s algorithms are attuned to look out for engaging and readable content. Rather than limiting writers, practising SEO can help them to hone their craft. Here are a few ways that writers can implement SEO whilst retaining their creative integrity:

1. Use keywords wisely and in moderation

One of the key tenets of good SEO is generating content that features keywords and phrases that potential customers are likely to type into Google. Google Keyword Planner is a great tool for helping you make a list of popular words that will work for you.

Once you have drawn up a list, you can start weaving them seamlessly into your content. Remember that stuffing your articles full of keywords could actually end up harming your SEO as well as stifling your creativity. Choosing keywords wisely and keeping them to a minimum will allow you to offer content that is well-crafted, creative and enjoyable to read.

2. Write content that will be genuinely useful

Writing content that your key demographics find genuinely useful and insightful will help to boost its reach. Indeed, people are more inclined to share content that they believe their friends will find helpful. The more that your content is shared and read, the better it will rank on search engines.

Useful content does not have to be boring or unimaginative, however. Think about offering your audiences engaging advice pieces and stories that are both entertaining and applicable to their daily lives.

3. Organise content with digital users in mind

The more content gets added to the web, the more likely internet users are to skim read articles. Indeed, as attention spans decline, it is important that you organise your content in a way that gets the point across almost immediately.

To make your content more readable and, ultimately, SEO-friendly, try using bullet points and subheadings to split up your ideas, as well as making the most of italic and bold fonts to highlight important information. Rather than being restrictive, splitting your text in this way will allow you to explore a number of exciting ideas in a relatively short article. Indeed, rather than hampering creativity, understanding the rules of readable content will help to ensure that your articles receive the attention they deserve.

If you’d like us to take a look at your SEO or have a chat around any of your questions, please reach out, we’d be happy to help!