Write for people – not for keywords.
- Learn linguistics
- Learn what good content actually is
- Learn what accurate content is
- Learn how to write well in general
- Learn what element types (tables, lists, images) exist and how to use them semantically and accurately
It’s much easier to tweak and optimize good content than to take a “made for keywords” article and make it good.
When you start with keywords, you create forceful structure and narrative that seldom is good.
What is good SEO content anyway?
I’ve been doing SEO on and off since 1998 (as agency, for my own projects etc).
In 2019, I finally understood what GOOD content REALLY is.
I think most people instantly focus on keywords and end up with crappy content. Then they try every trick in the book to get that to rank.
Until 2019, I THOUGHT I knew what good content was because I could get crappy content to rank. You didn’t need good content. Today, it matters much more.
Good content adds something to the discussion. Something that is helpful.
But it does not have to be new information. It could be a repacked or revamped collection of known knowledge.
Something that connects the dots.
If you take existing data and remake it into a more consumable article, then that’s added value too.
Creating good SEO content is cheaper than supplementing with inlinks
It’s MUCH cheaper to create a good article and get it to rank than making bland content and then employ various tactics to get high position in the Google SERP (Search Engine Result Position).
Mediocre content will be dependant on offsite SEO (getting links etc.)
Good content will attract attention and natural inlinks.
Good content, especially evergreen, will stand the test of time and Google Core Updates.
This is not about learning to walk before you run. This is about learning to swim before you jump into the ocean and instantly needing a life-vest.
Why is it easier to optimize good content?
If there are keywords that you want to add, you can simply add a few examples, anecdotes, lists or data tables into your existing article.
You can do this without ruining the structure of the article.
With clear formatting, the reader will know that a passage is an anecdote and probably skippable.
On the flip-side, if you have an “article” that is stuffed with various keywords, you basically have a bag of ingredients, but nothing to show for.
If you compare SEO to cars, it’s easier to tune a fundamentally good car than forcibly assemble a pile of spare-parts and make it run well.
Learn about semantic elements
I think lists and tables are underused or misused.
In addition to that, you have IMG, FIGURE, FIGCAPTION, BLOCKQUOTE and more.
You can cram in TONS of keywords and data into these elements.
But you MUST learn when and how to use them properly. Just using these elements will not help.
Tables
In my option, tables are the SEO superheros.
Tables can contain lots of data and keywords without being seen as keywords-stuffing.
Why? Because that’s the nature of tables. It also allows for a potentially VERY compact way to add keywords.
Tables also allows you to show very clear structures and relationships between the various topics and concepts that you are presenting.
They are something of a Schema predecessor.
Google loves that!
Unfortunately, those that are starting learning SEO often omit tables.