[DD] Know some keywords. Use some keywords. My minimalist guide to SEO copywriting

As smart as search engines are, it's important to remember that they can’t see your website pages. They look for simple signals in your copy and code to figure out what you’re saying, and if it’s relevant to searches. Don't just write more copy. Use your keywords strategically, putting them in: - Headlines - Sub-headings - Lists - Links between pages / blog posts - Links back to your website - Title and description tags - Alternative text and image tags Minimalist Tip: A few carefully placed keywords will get you farther than a whole page of keyword-laden copy. Breaking up your text with choice formatting will also make it more readable. Don’t over-egg the SEO pudding You might have heard of “keyword stuffing”, the process of repeating your keywords so many times that you leave the reader with a bad taste in their mouth. A bad taste and a grimy keyboard for having visited your site. You need to use your keywords as frequently as is natural, not as frequently as is possible. You should always keep your reader as your number 1 priority. To test your keyword frequency, you might like to read [The secret confession of a The secret confession of a Wordle junkie](=). Minimalist Tip: Look for the quick wins. Ask yourself if you could be more specific about your products or services. Exchange “our products” for “our reflective pug harnesses” Your SEO strategy doesn’t end with your content Your search engine ranking is a bit like a popularity contest. You have to give people a reason to hang out with you. You have to hang out in the right places and you need other people to give you a rap. When it all comes together, voila you’re the coolest kid in school, AKA a voice of authority. (Although when I think back to my high school, the best people I knew often weren't the coolest. Have I just destroyed my analogy?) That means creating online content that is valuable and relevant, linking to trustworthy websites and getting trustworthy websites to link to you. Search engines are getting smarter but you can still keep the eyes of potential customers on you by being a voice of authority: - commenting on blogs and forums - getting talked about on other blogs - getting listed in directories - talking and linking to the leaders in your industry Minimalist Tip: Don’t try to be everywhere. Look at influential people in your industry and target them with your content. If your web page or blog post isn’t engaging, focused on the benefits you offer and action-focused, then lots of keywords in all the right places isn’t really going to help you. Write for people first then look at optimisation. Once you know where to strike, your optimisation won't take any effort at all. Belinda Improve your copy skills and confidence with training and support (and have a giggle with other word nerds) in my free Facebook group: For The Love Of Copy. [Request to join here](=).== Hey, if you want to tap out of the Daily Draft emails (but nothing else), [hit this link](. No hard feelings. If you want out of everything >> [Unsubscribe]( Where am I? A suburban street , Outside of San Francisco, California 95050