What is SEO Content Writing? A Walkthrough
SEO optimizes web pages for search engines.
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of optimizing web pages to make it easier for the search engines to find your content. So what is SEO content writing?
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So, why do writers care about SEO?
Why is it important in today’s writing?
I saw one of Neil Patel’s posts online which differentiates a “writer” and a “blogger.” Both are two different things for both native and non-native speakers.
A blogger does.
A writer only cares about the message without minding the format, the reader’s attention span, analytics, and all that stuff.
Now, when we talk about SEO content writing, it’s blogging. Hence, to become an effective content writer, you need to know what it takes to run a blog.
Regardless if you’re a non-native speaker or not, it doesn’t matter. You may be a native speaker, but you don’t have the high-income blogging skills, you’re still nothing.
The same thing for non-native speakers. Though your writing skills may not be top-tiered, you’re at an advantage when you know how to operate a website.
Do you get me?
When A Writer Becomes A Blogger
It wasn’t easy.
When you transition from being a writer to becoming a blogger, it requires a lot of adjustments.
First, your focus shifts from content creation alone. You’re not writing anymore. You become a marketer.
How you package or market the content matters. That includes making sure that many internet users will see it.
It’s a fight.
As soon as you finish writing the first draft, you realize it’s not the end of your job. You’re not just a writer anymore. You’re a content writer.
Second, you become responsible for your site rankings. As a content writer, as I said earlier, your duty doesn’t end in writing it.
Your obligation encompasses an analysis of the numbers involved in the process. We’re talking about the site’s analytics.
You ask yourself who am I talking to, my audience, where do they come from, their budget, interests, everything.
As a content writer, you create a profile of your target market by the numbers you see, not imagination.
Reaching out to as many people as possible becomes your ultimate task. That said, you start looking at SEO.
That’s right, content writers are SEO writers.
How To Become A Content Writer?
The easiest way to explain how the process would look is by blogging. To become a content writer, your blogging know-how matters.
Gone are the days when blogs are solely for sharing personal stories and inspiration. Most businesses today realize the power of blogging in their sales.
Nowadays, consumers are getting smarter with their expenses. Most likely, they researched the product at least 7 times before they purchased it.
Business owners understand this new dynamic to the core. This is why they need content writers to execute their marketing plans.
Consequently, blogging morphed into a business funnel and people think of blogging not to share personal stuff. Not anymore.
In contrast to how it was 10 years ago, people think blogging is the best way to build a foundation for any type of business. It’s “personal” touch can make a colossal impact.
Through a few words, it’s either you gain customers or lose them.
Thus, blogging isn’t just a hobby anymore. It becomes a sport for ambitious marketers, who want nothing but to win the game.
According to Robert W. Bly, in his book “The Content Marketing Handbook: How to Double the Results of Your Marketing Campaigns,” he emphasized the power of content writing in building an empire.
The company’s growth, as well as the profitability of its products and services, rely on how a content writer does her job.
Are you getting the picture now?
As you can see, becoming a content writer isn’t as easy as it sounds. It’s just 2 simple words. But the obligations that come with it are massive. It’s not a joke at all.
Can you imagine being in charge of the company’s marketing success?
Do you think you can handle that?
How To Get Into Content Writing?
As I mentioned earlier, understanding how blogging works makes it easier to get into content writing. Do you get me?
In addition to that, you also need the basics of digital marketing and how it works. At least, the basics, alright?
As much as you want to avoid it, as most content writers do, SEO will always be part of your life. It becomes your constant companion. Trust me. It is like that.
In summary, to understand the realm of content writing, you have to learn the following:
- The process of content creation for blogging
- The basics of digital marketing through blogging
- The mastery of SEO
How To Create Killer Blog Posts?
This is where the process of content creation for blogs comes into the picture. That means designing an article that delivers results — leads and traffic.
When it comes to the overall content design, you’re looking at:
- Headlines (H1)
- Sub-headings (H2, H3, H4, and H5)
- Optimized images
- Anchor texts
- Permalink
- Outbound and inbound linking
- Comprehensiveness
- Lead magnet
- Call to action (at least 3x within the content)
That’s a lot, right? But that’s how it is.
Understanding A “Killer Blog Post” Anatomy
In these areas, the mastery of SEO plays a vital role. A content writer must know the keywords to use and where to place them. In that case, you’re looking at the 9 areas we mentioned.
The keywords must be present from the headlines down to the call-to-action. Your URL, the anchor texts, and even the content per se must contain the same keywords you target.
Put simply, you must increase your content’s visibility by satisfying the search engine’s algorithm. You’re trying to please an AI. You’re competing against millions of bloggers out there, trying to get the same traffic.
To make sure your content takes effect, knowing the exact keywords your target market uses is crucial. And that requires a skill.
As a content writer, your job is to urge people to buy your story. Thus, you need mastery of SEO to complete the task.
Why Content Writers Must Be Bloggers First?
Earlier, I said blogging morphed into a business marketing tool. It’s not just a place to share your personal life and experiences. But it is also your best lead generator if you know to do it.
Blogging teaches you the foundation of digital marketing. This also explains why many business owners or CEOs prefer working with a blogger.
To them, they save a lot of time teaching you the process of delivering the content they’re expecting from you.
As a blogger, you already have this understanding of how digital marketing works per se. You design your site. You create the landing pages with a clear call-to-action. You install the right plugins. That kind of stuff.
These are the behind-the-scenes that you do to keep your website running without problems. Like SEO mastery, it’s also a learned skill. And that’s what makes you more attractive than those who don’t own a website.
How To Start A Reputable Blog?
When you sign-up on my email list, you get access to my 1-hr FREE masterclass. The “Roadmap to Building a Successful Blog” masterclass will dig into the details, such as:
- Showing you the exact process of building a successful blog
- Unveiling mistakes most bloggers do to fail
- Learning the steps to do to remedy the earlier mistakes (for those who already have blogs)
- And more!
In this post, we’ll simply go through the basics of building a reputable blog sooner. But if you want to know more, you have the option to sign-up on my email list anytime.
Building a reputable or authority blog requires at least 6 months of work. That includes planning, purchasing a web hosting package, and drafting your first 5 cornerstone content.
You know, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
It’s a complicated process. When done right, it won’t be a daunting process for you then. So, here’s what you have to do to start:
- Before you waste money, plan first. Figure out your niche. Here, you have to make sure you stand out.
- After figuring out your niche, you research. Find out what’s going on in that niche, any news, etc. Learn the questions your audience asks.
- Decide the right domain names that match your niche. This will save you a lot of money. Trust me.
- Buy your desired web hosting package.
As you can see in the illustration, you see the ideal process most new bloggers miss. When looked closely, you don’t begin with purchasing domain names. A successful blog can take off when there’s a plan.
It doesn’t have to be as detailed as a business proposal. All you need is an idea of your niche. Your true niche. It doesn’t even have to be specific. A general concept will do.
Conclusion — How To Become A Successful Content Writer?
Now, you realize how important blogging skills are. Your writing skills are nothing without proof. Do you get what I’m saying?
Your blog is your home. It houses your ideas, your unique standpoint, your experiences, and above all, your life. Your story.
Blogging gives you the training ground for becoming the best content writer in the market.
Not only does it showcase your writing style, but your blog serves as the best lead generator. When your prospective clients land on your page, they review your published articles.
They determine whether you’re a good fit for their team or not. If they do, they will approach you by sending an email and making an offer.
Take note, you didn’t apply for them. Rather, you receive an offer. That’s when you turn the tables to your advantage. And that’s a game-changer. That’s a lot of difference, my friend.
When you apply the strategies I share in my “Roadmap to Building a Successful Blog” masterclass, you’re giving yourself a nudge at higher skill marketability.
As a non-native speaker, sharpening your writing and blogging skills give you an edge over an ocean of great content writers out there.
Now, it’s your turn.
Do you think you have what it takes to become a content writer?
Let me know in the comment section below.
If you have a friend or relative who might enjoy this post, kindly share it with them. It’d be a big help. Trust me. If you want to share your thoughts about this post, feel free to leave your comments, too. It will be fun to read them. 🙂
Originally published at https://mgaspary.com on January 9, 2021.
