You probably already know how important it is to have a strong search engine optimization, or SEO, strategy in place. While many companies know of SEO-friendly content, it can be hard to execute. Learning how to rise in the search rankings isn’t always very clear.

Some companies handle content in-house while others work with SEO writing services instead. Either way, it’s critical to understand the hallmarks of truly readable and effectively optimized content. And it’s crucial to your marketing goals. SEO content requires specific skills. There are a few paths to follow to develop strong, SEO-optimized content.

1. Identify Specific, Focused Keywords Before Writing

It’s possible to conduct historical optimization on already-written content. But that’s time-consuming. Rather than going back to fix your writing, a more efficient option is to conduct thorough keyword research and identify specific words or phrases to use before you begin writing. This way, you can incorporate targeted keywords right from the get-go!

2. Build In Backlinks Whenever Possible

This idea may not get as much attention as some other SEO strategies but is no less important to attract as many new customers as possible to your website. Rather than only adding a couple of links per piece, insert several links to previous articles or blog posts of yours. This is called building backlinks and can help give your other pieces an additional boost. This is because search engines will take notice that another piece of content you’ve posted is getting referenced in new content going up, which indicates that it’s a popular and likely trustworthy source. By using backlinks effectively, you can help bolster your own previous efforts. Your linkbuilding strategy can play a crucial role in your rankings.

3. Craft a Readable and Strategically Organized Structure

Without a clear structure, your readers won’t be able to follow your train of thought and may click out. This hurts your bounce rate, which can in turn cause your site to tumble in the rankings. To avoid this, making your content organized and highly readable should be of primary concern. Take some time to craft a strategic outline before you begin writing. Identify what it is that you want to communicate in each section, and figure out what organization of the information makes the most sense for an understandable, enjoyable flow of ideas.

4. Don’t Keep Things Too Short and Sweet

Some keep their writing short and sweet and get straight to the point. But, search engines tend to like longer pieces. The tricky part is balancing the two. Try to write slightly longer pieces, but don’t go overboard. This can harm readability and bore potential customers. Keep an eye on your SEO reporting to know what’s working and what isn’t.

Readability and strategic structure are pivotal in determining the potential success of a given piece of content. Incorporating these into your writing can seem difficult. You can’t see maximum results from your SEO efforts without really grasping what it is that makes for top-quality, interesting, and functional SEO-friendly web content. By checking your writing for these guideposts, you can help ensure efficiency and impact for your company’s inbound marketing.