Do you SEO?

I guess it depends on the kind of writing you’re up to, really. It’s pretty easy to break it up. Let’s say there are two types of writing you’re doing – The writing that is destined for the printed form, and then the writing that will live on the web.

We can toss writing for print media to the side, unless of course it will be available as an on line media piece as well.

This leaves us with anything that you plan to leave on the web. The sub-component of this is the assumption that you want people to read what it is you have to say. If you’re using the web to write a journal on a specific site then maybe you don’t care if anyone reads it. Fair enough.

If you want others to read what you’ve sweated and bleed to write, then why not use Search Engine Optimization (SEO) techniques? OK, before you get all flustered and start freakin’ about not being a web designer, you need to know that there are a bunch of things you can do that require little effort on your part.

Writing with SEO is a mindset. At the core it means keeping in mind as you write that you want the search engines to find what you’ve written so that the world will notice you, heap lavish praise, and click on every ad on your website.

Here are just a few things to consider when you’re putting together a piece of writing destined for the web. Trust me, this is a small window into a very large world. You could spend weeks perusing through SEO websites and becoming a SEO master. Hmmm, maybe not a bad idea!

Define the key words that fit for what you’re writing. It’s not rocket science. For this article, obviously “SEO” is a key word. Choose several, if possible.
Use the key words. This is where folks tend to get a little loopy. This is also where your skill as a writer will come into play. You have to balance placing key words in appropriate places without interrupting the flow of writing.
Put a key word in the title of the piece, in the first sentence of the first paragraph, and then wherever you can work it in, without making the article look like one big ad for “insert key word here”.
Add links where appropriate. Linking out to helpful sources is good for your readers and good for SEO. Do everyone a favor and don’t link every other word, and don’t link to stinky-nuttin’ but ads kind of sites. Be nice.

I hope this gives you a start and takes away some of the mystery. This article has not even scraped the first molecular level off the topic. Spend a little time and look around at SEO sites. Have a look at this non-intimidating list from Tech Blog. it will get you started in the right direction.

14 comments on “Do you SEO?”

Thanks George, all tips on SEO are always great. A word of advice, don’t go nuts on your meta keywords, it can have a negative effect on Search Engines if you overload keywords, its a tricky balance.

Hi Webdesi3,

That’s absolutely correct. Like everything in life, this is all about balance. Write meaningful prose that flows with a judicious use of keywords and folks will be on the right track.

Always good to see your comments, Webdesi3

Cheers
George

Thank you for the quick primer. I’m just starting to grasp the importance of SEO and work it into my blog posts. I know it’s an art. Though it does make me a bit cynical at times – especially when I do catch myself going “loopy” with too many keywords. I try to keep in mind what this is all about in the first place: WRITING WELL. And if keywords get in the way of that, I’m inclined to leave SEO on the side.
(BTW, thank you for the comment on my blog – it was incorrectly marked as spam so I only just read it! I wouldn’t worry TOO much about the competition if I were you. You seem to write thoughtful, insightful posts with correct grammar and spelling – that already puts you miles ahead of the competition! From what I hear, it’s all just persistence from here.)

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Monica,

Nice to see you here again. Great point about SEO getting in the way of writing. I think that is where the rubber really meets the road. For me, the writing is more important as I figure that if I always put my best writing forward, I’ll eventually get whatever traffic results I’m looking for.

And, thank you for the kind words.

Cheers!

George