What Makes an Article SEO Friendly?

When one thinks of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), most marketers think immediately of keywords. While keywords are a vital element of good SEO, they represent just a small part of what helps your page rank high in search queries. In reality, There are many parts to a good SEO strategy, some of which relate directly to single pieces of content. Let's have a look at some of the key SEO elements that apply to the writing of single web articles and blogs.

Keywords

Let's address the obvious first. Far too many marketers misuse - or outright abuse - keywords in their content. The keywords you select should be carefully researched. They should be timely, relevant, and reflect the search habits of your target audience.

Even if a keyword seems, in your mind, unlikely to draw readers in, the numbers don't lie. Keywords, and their use in searches, is in a constant state of flux. That means that you, as a successful marketer, need to be in tune with how the market behaves and design content around that.

Formatting

If your site has a blog, its presentation should have a strong sense of flow throughout. Short, concise paragraphs are another plus, mostly because readers will be more prone to digest more content if it is delivered in smaller chunks. The longer people stay on your site and the more pages they visit, the better your rankings will be.

Also be sure to run spell check and sweep your copy for any egregious grammatical errors. Conversational grammar is fine, but it has to make sense.

Length

While it is always a good idea to seed your website and blog with fresh written content, be sure to present a mix of shorter articles and long-form content. Shorter articles allow for more keyword seeding, but long-form content can help you rank as an authority. This is particularly important in boosting both general and local search rankings.

Remember that good SEO only starts with keywords. The best-ranking blogs and Websites are those that find the right balance of both good keyword research and quality content.