"Write for visitors!" What does that mean?

Write for readers? Part of Google's Helpful Content update stipulates that sites should publish content for visitors, not search engines. I so much wish that were the case. I really do. I've long wished that search engines (Google) could decipher content regardless the titles, headings, intro, bolded words and other silly SEO optimizations. I enjoy writing these emails above all else because I need not pay any attention to SEO. I get to just write. --------------------------------------------------------------- -PAID AD- [WebAcquisition.com](): Due Diligence M&A Advisors Mushfiq, founder of The Website Flip, launched a new agency to provide services to those buying, growing, and selling content websites. Mushfiq has hired an A-class team of specialists to provide deep insights into any website. WebAcquisition offers the following services: - [Content website due diligence]( - [Aged domain growth strategies]( - [Merger strategy of two content sites]() - And more... Mushfiq is offering a 10% discount on any orders in the month of November. [Check out WebAcquisition.com]() -END PAID AD- --------------------------------------------------------------- While Google said it wants sites to write for readers, not search engines, I don't believe Google is advanced enough to rank content that isn't optimized for search. Take one of my all-time favorite sites as an example. It's [Greaterfool.ca](). It's arguably one of the best real estate / investment / personal finance sites for Canadians. I don't care much for those topics. It's so good I read it regularly anyway. I read it because of how well he writes. The fact he's funny helps. That's talent. It gets 500K monthly visitors resulting in well over one million monthly pageviews: This site is 100% for readers. It's very, very well done. Yet, Google bestows almost no traffic on it. Google should be shoveling traffic to that site based on the Helpful Content guidelines. It doesn't. It's a disgrace that Google doesn't. Almost all that traffic is direct: And get this... direct is NOT email. The site doesn't collect emails. Direct is direct, as in people bookmark it or type in the URL to visit. That's remarkable. Where does that leave us? We're damned if we optimize for search and damned if we don't. Who knows? Clearly, we must still optimize content for Google search doing so in a way that it doesn't seem like we are. That's so annoying. For now, I publish content optimized for Google while doing my best to serve readers. How? I don't know specifically but here's what I'm doing: - When possible, make it clear it's written by a human being. I don't use AI. - First person point of view mostly. - Avoid fluff. I've been avoiding fluff for years but when outsourcing it slips in. - Inject interesting facts and tips throughout. I hired one expert who does a great job injecting "Pro tips" in his articles. It's a nice touch. Yes, he's an actual expert with two decades in the industry. He's able to get right to the point. I like his articles very much. - Include quotes from other experts and people who know the subject when possible. - Run content through [Hemingway app](=) so that it's written for grade 5 or 6 level. Poor writers tend to be write in passive tense and are way too wordy. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. - While I don't do this, I suspect dictating your articles would make them more personable. I don't care to do this so I don't but if you don't mind dictating, give it a shot. - No conclusion: Nothing comes across as amateur hour as much as adding a section titled "In conclusion". Another pet peeve of mine. Does all this please Google? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. --------------------------------------------------------------- Limbo Land I have a love / hate relationship with being in limbo land. You know what limbo land is, right? Maybe you don't. I made it up but it's a real situation. It's a dumb term but that's what came to mind as I've been entrenched in it for several days. Limbo land is when you're maybe going to sell a website. I say maybe because it's never a sure thing that a buyer will come along and offer what you want. That's limbo land. It might be a private buyer kicking the tires or you have your site listed with a broker waiting for offers. It's a difficult situation to be in because you don't really know what to do. Do you keep working on the site? It's kinda hard to stay motivated when there's a chance you'll sell it in a week, two weeks or even a month. But then you think to yourself, "what if it doesn't sell? I wasted weeks when I could have been building it further." You're in limbo. Limbo land cuts both ways. It's tough waiting what might happen. On the plus side, it's exciting as to what might happen. You just might sell the site for a good buck. That's a bonus. I'm in limbo with a site currently. I keep working on it because I'll only sell if it's a really good price which is unlikely. It's a "Make me an offer I can't refuse" situation. But the "glass half full" part of me muses "maybe, just maybe they'll offer what I want." Limbo land needs a deadline I've been down the selling path before. It's a drag providing all the stuff a buyer wants but it's unreasonable to refuse. I'd want all the relevant details if I were buying. In my current situation, the potential buyers are private. Someone reached out and said they represent buyers interested in the site. I've provided all they asked for. Now I wait. I'm not waiting forever! I gave them a deadline to submit their offer. They have less than one week remaining to make an offer (they know how much money I want for the site). If no offer is made within that time, I'll withdraw the site from being available for sale. They either want it at the stipulated price or they don't. I sure don't want to be waltzed along for weeks or months while they kick the tires. By giving a firm deadline I will then know where I stand and motor full steam ahead on continuing to grow it. The thing is I don't care if I sell it or not. If I get the price I asked for, it's a great deal especially with the Canadian dollar as low as it is (yes, that factored into the equation... it's like getting 20% extra). If it doesn't sell, I'll continue growing it. Fine by me. I wasn't thinking of selling it in the first place. It's never good to sell when desperate. That's when you might cave on price more than you should. By setting a firm deadline at which time I'll walk, I'm relaying to them "I don't need to sell but will if the price is right." Until the deadline passes, I remain in limbo. --------------------------------------------------------------- You are who you are A few times a month I think to myself I’m going to start running or elevate my “fitness”’routine by doing something more intense such as CrossFit. I never do either. Long ago I tried running. Even longer ago I actually broke a sweat in the gym. These days I walk, ride an e-bike or if raining, wimp out and ride a stationary bike while watching Netflix. I lift light weights a few times a week. None of this will make me an athlete. My aim is that it helps me live longer and stay in okay shape. I’m the same with my business. I was the same in school. I put in an okay effort and leave it at that. Here’s where I excel. I’m consistent. While I almost never break a sweat working out, I do my low-intensity, barely moving and lifting workouts three to six times a week like clockwork. It was the same in school. I didn’t get the best grades. Those folks were either genius or worked like crazy. I’m no genius. I didn’t work that hard. But I was consistent in putting in a few hours every day and managed to get decent grades. Same with work. I never put in long days. I certainly don’t own the dominant site in any niche. I leave money on the table with my sites. What I do manage to pull off is I plug away five days a week most weeks of the year. While I’m not a peak performer, I more or less get the results I want. That’s me. That’s how I operate. Some folks are able to work harder than anyone else. Some work smarter. Some are willing to do that which others won’t do. Some are willing to take bigger risks. You are who you are. Instead of forcing yourself to do things you hate, take the path of least resistance and figure out a business that gels with your work habits and interests. Thanks for reading. Jon Fatstacksblog.com [Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | 2016 Hill Drive, North Vancouver, British Columbia V7H 2N5