Writing good articles is not enough. You should also make the article search engine friendly. That way, your blog will be easier to be number one on Google and be flooded with visitors.
How to do it? You need to know first how to make SEO Friendly articles, namely articles that use superior keywords.
Well, in this article we will share 20 tips for writing SEO articles. You can also learn examples of SEO Friendly writing to put into practice. Curious? Come on, read more!
20 Ways to Create SEO Friendly Articles in 2021
There are twenty ways to write a good article to get a high position on Google, namely:
- Do Keyword Research
- Understand User Intent
- Take a Unique Perspective
- Pay Attention to Article Structure
- Pay Attention to the Opening Section
- Use Short Paragraphs
- Use the Inverted Pyramid Technique
- Write Focused Articles
- Spread the Keyword Properly
- Use Conjunctions
- Insert Internal Link and External Link
- Add Visual Content
- Image Optimization
- Use Headings and Subheadings
- Try Optimal Article Length
- Pay attention to the Technical Components of the Blog
- Take Advantage of SEO Plugins
- Make sure there are no writing errors
- Consistently Publishing Articles
- Don't Forget to Promote Articles
It turns out that there are many ways to make SEO-friendly articles, right? If so, let's start the discussion one by one.
1. Use the Right Keywords
The first step to make your articles SEO friendly is to use the right keywords, namely, words that have a large search volume, small competition, and are by your blog niche.
Keywords with large search volumes show that they are highly sought after by the audience. So, if you write it, it will have the potential to attract a lot of readers.
Keywords with little competition will make it easier for you to win high positions on Google. It could be because not many have written it or the competitors are not big blogs.
Well, choosing keywords that match your blog's niche will help your content stay relevant. That way, it will suit the needs of your blog visitors. For example, a beauty blog, of course, would be more appropriate to use keywords such as beauty tips, the best skincare, and the like.
To get the right keywords, you can do keyword research first. Some free keyword research tools you can use are Ubersuggest, KWFinder, or Google Trends.
Previously, the author has shared articles about keyword research, please refer to the Keyword Research Tools article.
2. Understand User Intent
Intents are the information that users want when they type certain keywords in Google.
Writing SEO articles needs to pay attention to intent because search intent is one of Google's SEO assessment factors. The reason is, the right intent will answer the searcher's needs in the form of relevant content.
Well, when visitors get the desired information, they will certainly linger in your article. This makes Google think your article is useful and needs to rank high.
Fortunately, understanding user intents is fairly easy. You can simply peek at competitor articles in Google search results (SERP).
For example, you want to write an article with the keyword “best cat food.”
On the search page, articles that appear are about recommendations for the best cat food brands. So, if you want to write an article, write a brand recommendation with more numbers or a more in-depth discussion according to the needs of the reader.
3. Take a Unique Perspective
A keyword can be used to create articles with different points of view. This step is effective for making your articles stand out more. However, of course, by making sure it is by the user's intent, yes!
Say you want to use the keyword “how to make pasta.” If your competitor has an article on how to make restaurant-style pasta, you could write about “How to Make Pasta at Home in Five Steps.”
In addition to your unique article, the convenience offered will certainly be more attractive to readers. Not to mention, a unique point of view also ensures your article is original, so Google prefers it to rank high.
4. Pay attention to the structure of the article
Once you've determined your point of view, you've structured your article well. The goal is to expedite the writing process by choosing what to convey in the article.
In addition, a good article structure will make it easier for visitors to understand your article. Generally, the structure of an article is divided into three parts:
- Introduction (Prologue) — the beginning of the article that explains the background and purpose of the article.
- Content — a detailed description of the main topic.
- Conclusion (Epilogue) — the concluding section that contains a summary or conclusion of the article.
One tip you can try is to write a few short sentences outlining each section. Then, you can develop it into a complete explanation that is interconnected.
5. Pay attention to the opening section
The next way to make SEO-friendly articles is to write a good opening section, which is to answer the reader's intent and include keywords. Why should that be?
First, the opening section that doesn't answer the intent will make the reader leave your article. Second, placing keywords in the opening section can help Google recommend them to the right readers.
To make the opening section interesting, there is an AIDA formula that can be used, namely:
Attention — Get the reader's attention with the main sentence in the form of a question, short joke, or statistic.
- Interest — Attracts the reader's interest by mentioning the problem at hand.
- Desire — Explain that your article can be a solution.
- Action — Invites your readers to read the article to the end.
One way to make SEO friendly articles is to pay attention to the opening part of the article
Here's a brief explanation of the AIDA opening section above:
- Paragraph one catches the reader's attention with a question that often haunts business people, namely about retaining customers.
- Paragraph two attracts the reader's interest with the problem at hand, namely customer loyalty.
- Paragraph three mentions solutions on how to maintain customer loyalty which can be found in the article.
- Paragraph four invites the reader to find out these steps.
6. Break it down into short paragraphs
Keep the paragraphs in your article short because it can make the reader comfortable. Three sentences are generally sufficient to convey a good explanation.
According to research, online article readers tend not to read word for word but scan the letter "F" (F-Shaped Pattern).
Image source: nngroup
The reader will read the opening part in full, then scan the interesting words/sentences vertically. And so on, until the end of the article. Now, with a maximum of three sentences in each paragraph, it will:
- Make it easier for readers to find the words/sentences needed.
- Makes the reader more relaxed in understanding the explanation.
7. Use the Inverted Pyramid Technique
The inverted pyramid is a writing technique where you put the most important information at the beginning, followed by a more detailed explanation, and end with additional information.
This approach will keep your article simple and make it easier for readers to get to the headlines quickly.
Image source: Wikipedia
You can use the inverted pyramid technique in the explanation of the entire article, in a subheading, to a paragraph. In the article What is a Bug, the outline structure used is as follows:
The reader's intention about understanding the bug is placed at the beginning as the most important information. Then, proceed with the various causes of the bug as a further explanation. Then, how to avoid bugs becomes additional information for those who want to try the steps given.
8. Write Articles Focused on One Topic
Deciding on one topic and focusing on that explanation is how to make important SEO-friendly articles. Apart from not confusing the reader, a clear topic of the article will make the information conveyed more coherent.
For example, when writing a “how to raise chickens” article, you should focus on how to raise chickens. If you want to discuss the type of chicken to raise, write a different article. This will make it easier for you to discuss it more deeply and completely.
In addition, focusing on one particular topic will make use of related keywords. In the end, Google's web crawler is easier to understand the structure of articles for indexing.
9. Spread the Keywords Properly
One of the mistakes beginners make in writing articles is using excessive keywords (keyword stuffing). The goal, so that it can appear faster on Google search pages.
In fact, keyword stuffing is a spam practice that is far from the standard way to write SEO-friendly articles. The reason is, Google considers keyword stuffing as spam because it will reduce the quality of your articles and make readers uncomfortable.
If keyword stuffing, your ranking will go down or even be removed from search results. Oh NO!
Therefore, spread your keywords appropriately and as needed. Remember, you are writing articles for humans to read. So, make sure your paragraphs are weighty and easy to read.
10. Use more conjunctions
As the name suggests, conjunctions are words that connect sentences or paragraphs. Conjunctions are used to help readers understand the relationship between ideas in the article.
Examples of conjunctions that you can use are
- Contradictory conjunctions: but, however, whereas, otherwise;
- Corrective conjunctions: but, only;
- Conjunctions of affirmation: even, even (in fact), moreover, never mind;
- Limiting conjunctions: except, only;
- Conjunctions of sequence: then, then, next;
- Equation conjunctions: namely, that, is, is;
- Concluding conjunctions: so, therefore, therefore;
Let's see an example of using conjunctions below:
Text A:
“In closing, I want to explain some of the advantages of brand X cat food compared to brand Y.
The price is cheaper. It's very suitable for me as a boarding student. You don't have to buy online because the pet shop near the campus sells it. This brand is indeed more marketable than brand Y. My cat eats it very well and asks for more. In fact, I give the same portion as brand Y.
Brand X is highly recommended and I will move to brand Y from now on. That's all, see you in the next article!”
Text B:
“In closing, I want to explain some of the advantages of brand X cat food compared to brand Y.
First, it's cheaper. So, it's really suitable for me who is a boarding student. Second, you don't have to buy online because the pet shop near the campus sells it. It seems that this brand is indeed more marketable than the Y brand. Third, my cat eats it very well and asks for more. In fact, I give the same portion as brand Y.
In conclusion, brand X is highly recommended and I will move to brand Y from now on. That's all, see you in the next article!”
Even though the content is the same, there is a huge difference between Text A and Text B, right?
Text B clearly shows that three advantages are interconnected and ends with a conclusion. While Text A must be read and absorbed slowly to understand.
11. Insert Internal Link and External Link
Internal links are links from one page to another on the same website.
An SEO article needs to use internal links because it is useful to help Google index your website and understand the context of the article being created. As a result, your SEO will also be better.
For visitors, internal links help direct if they want to read more about the topic you are talking about. This not only makes visitors stay longer on the website but also shows your expertise in discussing the topic in depth.
While external links are links that refer to other web pages. You can insert an external link as a source to strengthen the explanation and convince the reader. For example, links to research results, statistics, quotes, or references from other media.
However, try to insert external links appropriately and only to relevant pages, yes! Because Google will give you a penalty if you get caught spamming an irrelevant external link and actually annoys readers.
12. Add Visual Content
Visual content such as images, illustrations, infographics, charts, GIFs, to memes also includes how to make SEO-friendly articles, you know! Why?
The human brain processes visual data 60 thousand times faster than writing. So inserting infographic or chart data into your article will make it easier for readers to understand.
In addition, visual content with the right color combination is proven to increase reader interest by up to 80%. For example, colors that do not collide or colors according to your website design.
Finally, 91% of netizens prefer visual content overwriting. As a result, they will be more comfortable with your article if there is visual content to support the explanation.
You can get visual content from websites that provide free images like Pixabay or Unsplash. Plus, you can create your own visual content using Canva. Meanwhile, if you want to make memes, you can go to Imgflip or Kapwing.
13. Image Optimization
Writing SEO articles with additional visual content is important. However, you need to do an optimization step. The goal is to save storage resources, make the website faster, and visitors convenience to be more awake.
What needs to be done for image optimization in the article? Here are some tips:
- File Name — Provide a short, precise, and keyword-friendly image file name. For example, cat-Persian-brown.jpg. No, Persian-brown-cute-very-not-strong-cat.jpg.
- Alt Text — Describe the image's alt text in full to help Google identify the topic you're discussing. You can also enter keywords if possible.
- Image Format — Select the right image format according to your image type. For example, JPEG for photos, PNG for detailed images, GIF for moving images, and the like.
- Compress Image — Compress your image to reduce the image size without loss of quality. As a result, images will be displayed faster and visitors will remain satisfied with the quality. You can compress images via loving or TinyJPG.
The tips above are just the basic steps of image optimization.
14. Use Heading
The heading is the title of the article section that describes certain information.
The use of headings is very important when writing SEO articles. The reason is that readers will find it easier to find the outline or subject of your article. Especially, for those who tend to scan information in articles.
Plus, Google likes well-structured articles. Not surprisingly, articles whose structure is clear and according to the reader's intent will get featured snippets "ranked 0" like this:
Correct use of headings will make articles SEO friendly and get snippets on Google
WordPress itself has six headings (H1 to H6) that you can use as needed. Here are some tips on maximizing headings that you can try:
- If possible, include keywords in your headings.
- Use H2 as the main title of an article, just like the title of a chapter in a book.
- Use H3 when a more detailed explanation is needed, as part of H2. And so on until H6.
- Use headings according to their function. That is, H2 is further explained by H3, not H4.
- Avoid using H4-H6 whenever possible, because it will make the structure of the article too complex or deep.
15. Keep Article Length Optimal
Yoast, the creator of one of the best SEO plugins, recommends an article length of at least 300 words so that Google can understand your topic. Even so, at least make articles with an average of 1000 – 2500 words.
Why is that? There are two reasons:
- First, long articles usually have complete explanations, so they can provide more benefits to readers.
- Second, long articles that are SEO friendly tend to have more headings, images, or links that can be inserted by keywords. In effect, the overall SEO of the article will be better.
As long as the length of the article is optimal and the information provided is relevant, it will easily rank in the top search results.
16. Pay Attention to the Technical Components of Blogs
Creating SEO-friendly articles not only requires you to pay attention to sentences and paragraphs but also the technical components of the blog. The goal is that your articles look attractive and can compete in Google search results.
Then, what are the technical components of a blog?
One of the tips for writing SEO articles is to pay attention to the technical components of the blog
- SEO Title — This is the title of the page that appears in Google search results. To be SEO friendly, try your title tag to describe the outline of the article, contain one keyword, and be a maximum of 60 characters long.
- Permalink — By default, the permalink is taken from the title of your article. For example, your website.com/how-to-peel-onions-quickly-without-watering-guaranteed- works. Too long, right? So, shorten your permalink to your website.com/cara-peeling-onions
- Meta Description — This is a short description of your article in Google search results. So, keep your meta description a maximum of 160 characters and contain one keyword.
By paying attention to the technical components above, your SEO will also be better. As a result, your articles will rank higher in Google search results faster.
17. Take advantage of SEO Plugins
The SEO plugin will automatically provide suggestions to optimize the SEO aspects of your articles. Very useful, right? Therefore, make sure you use one of the plugins to make it easier to write good SEO articles.
The SEO plugin we recommend is Yoast SEO. This plugin can help you make sure the title, word count, meta description, keyword distribution, image optimization, and so on are optimized correctly.
Interestingly, Yoast SEO will display a green icon if your article is good. So, it's easier to find out. If not, you just need to do the suggested optimization.
18. Make sure there are no writing errors
Make sure there are no writing errors in your article. Improper use of punctuation, and incorrect grammar. Because writing errors can damage the reader's experience and reduce the quality of the article.
In addition, the number of writing errors in the articles written will make you look less professional, which will lower your credibility.
Therefore, check the article carefully before publishing.
One of the tips, after you finish the article, take a break for a few hours to refresh your mind. Then, position yourself as a reader and read the article aloud to make it easier to find sentences that sound odd.
19. Consistently Publishing Articles
Consistently publishing articles is also very important as a way to create SEO Friendly articles, you know. Why?
- First, you can provide more benefits to readers in the form of actual information. You certainly also prefer to get information from the latest posts, right?
- Second, the consistency gives a positive signal to Google that your blog is active. That way, Google will not hesitate to recommend your content on the search page.
Consistently publishing articles is also one way to create SEO friendly articles
However, you do not have to publish articles every day, really. You can schedule it according to your needs and abilities.
20. Don't Forget to Promote Articles
Promoting articles aims to get readers quickly and capture relevant traffic. This will give a positive signal to Google because your article is read and needed.
With this step, your SEO will be better and your position in search results will also increase.
Here are some tips to promote your SEO friendly articles:
- Promote on all your social media. Both personally, and in related social media groups/communities.
- Promote also in relevant online forums. Remember, don't spam!
- Create a mailing list so that the promotion of your articles is faster and on target.
- Install a share plugin like AddToAny or MasShare to make it easier for visitors to share/promote your articles.
Ready to Write SEO Friendly Articles?
It turns out, there are quite a few tips on how to make SEO-friendly articles, right? Yup!
In essence, so that articles are SEO friendly, you must follow Google's SEO rules and pay attention to the convenience of readers. Starting from spreading keywords, optimizing images, applying the inverted pyramid technique, and so on. You should be able to balance all the tips above.
Hopefully, the tips above are useful and help your article get a lot of readers on Google. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave them in the comments! See you!
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