Are you struggling to get your website off the ground? It can be hard to build up web traffic, and it can take time. But it also requires a solid search engine optimization (SEO) strategy – and the cornerstone of good SEO is strong content. If you’re struggling to get the web traffic you need, it could be that your content isn’t strong enough.
How can you make it stronger? You need to focus on writing that hooks your reader from the very first sentence, and breaks down complex concepts in simple, plain language, while still being optimized for search. Here’s how it’s done.
Open Each Piece with a Compelling Hook
If you want readers to engage with your content, you need to open each piece with a compelling hook – an image, a data point, or a question that draws readers in and makes them interested in hearing what you’ve got to say. A hook should be so interesting and exciting that readers feel compelled to continue writing the piece. You have only a few seconds to capture a reader’s interest, so make that first line count.
Optimize Your Content for Search
Much of your site’s SEO optimization will be highly technical and may be best handled by a Phoenix SEO services agency, but you can optimize your content for search yourself. Choose a primary keyword and work it into your title and subheadings, as long as it fits there naturally. Use it in your first sentence and again in your concluding paragraph, and two or three times in your body copy. You can use secondary keywords in your body copy and subheadings, too – but keep keyword saturation at one to two percent. Using too many keywords can make your content feel spammy, and that will lose you readers as well as harm your search engine rankings.
Use Clear, Plain Language
Fifty percent of American adults can’t read a book at the eighth-grade level. They haven’t got the literacy skills for it. So, if you want people to read your content and understand it, you have to use plan, clear, simple language. The simpler the language and the writing, the more accessible the content will be. Even readers who read well will digest content better when it’s written in simple language.
Use short sentences and short paragraphs. Avoid long words and jargon; replace them with layman’s terms when you can. Don’t adorn sentences with adjectives and adverbs. Use active voice, and address readers directly. Illustrate your points with examples to help readers understand better.
Avoid Writing Solid Walls of Text
No one wants to sit and read a thick wall of text online, so break your content up to make it easy to digest. Again, short paragraphs are beneficial here, as are subheadings. Bullet-point lists and numbered lists are a great idea, as are callouts and images. Organize your content so that readers who are just skimming it will still pick up the basic ideas. 
Address Readers in a Friendly, Informal Way
To create brand loyalty in your readers, address them the way you would a dear friend. Again, use the active voice to sound more informal. Address the reader directly as “you” and use “I” or “we” to express your view or the view of the company.
Proofread Carefully
While lots of readers might not notice the occasional typo, errors in spelling and grammar are going to put a lot of people off your writing. Proofread carefully to eliminate these errors. Give your work to someone else to look over if possible. A fresh set of eyes can often see errors that you’ve missed because you’re too close to the work.
Include Visual Aids
Visual elements help readers remember what they’re reading. Use infographics, images, videos, and graphs. This will get readers’ attention and help them process when they’re taking in. Interactive content, like maps, infographics, quizzes, and games, keep readers coming back and can increase reader engagement with your content. It can even generate more sales leads than non-interactive content.
When your website content is weak, your SEO will be weak. You need high-quality content to draw readers in, keep them engaged, and make them want to revisit your website over and over. Focus on creating content that’s valuable for your readers. With high-value content as part of a solid SEO strategy, you could see huge increases in traffic to your website and gain more customers, too. It’s well worth taking the time to write quality content.
