Write Your Content for Humans NOT SEO

Writing by Nick Stamoulis ShareThis

Brendan Regan at FutureNow made a repeatable observation. The we-we tool Brendan mentions is new to me, but I think it has some value. If anything, it should teach new copywriters that search engine optimization isn’t the world. It’s only a small part of the picture when it comes to writing website content. It’s a necessary part, but you can kill your prospects for success if you focus too hard or too heavy on the right keywords.

When writing content for your website, it’s important to write with your user in mind. SEO can only take you so far. It won’t sell your services for you.

I don’t mean to cast it in terms of sales copy vs. optimization. That’s not really a proper characterization either. Ideally, you want highly SEOd content that is well written and sells your services. It should be charged with user benefits and convert traffic. In other words, you want the sales message and SEO to compliment each other, not detract from each other. They are like a team and should work together. Otherwise, you have holes in your armor.

July 22, 2009
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4 Comments
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Content Development

4 Responses to “Write Your Content for Humans NOT SEO”

Malcolm Evans says:

September 10, 2009 at 1:40 pm

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. With the exception of care with titles, tags and headers, plus a suitable but not overdone key density in the first paragraphs, good copy is good copy: it will speak to seo needs by speaking first and foremost to the client and the customer. I would add that too many websites still talk to and about their owners, not the end user. We research and implement coporate culture and as such seek to speek to leaders, managers, consultants and academics. In short, with the proviso of the above points, let your enthusiasm and expertise speak for itself and look outwards, not inwards. Malcolm.
Nick Stamoulis says:

September 10, 2009 at 2:01 pm

Hi Malcolm, That is excellent advice, about letting your expertise speak for itself and look outwards…thanks for reading!
Steven W. Hall says:

October 10, 2009 at 12:07 pm

I have always talked in my posts the way I talk to people face-to-face. that may be why I don’t get to many return visits, but that’s me and i am going to stick to it, besides that’s all I know
Nick Stamoulis says:

October 10, 2009 at 1:55 pm

Hi Steven,
That approach should work well for you since you are speaking directly to your customers on your site…Thanks for stopping by!