SEO Copywriting: Everything You Need to Know
Copywriting is one of the most important skills a marketer can possess. It’s also one of the most difficult to learn. But it’s worth it, because good copy can make or break a business.
Easy enough, right? But then there's SEO copywriting. What's that all about? At TalktheTalk, we're somewhat of SEO copywriting experts ourselves 😉. So in this blog post, we're going to break down what you need to know about SEO copywriting and how it can help your business stand out from the competition.
What is SEO copywriting?
Let's start by looking at what SEO copywriting is.
SEO copywriting is the art of writing content that is both informative and optimized for search engines. It involves creating content that contains targeted keywords and phrases, while still being engaging and useful for readers.
The "SEO" element is relevant for businesses that operate online (or through a hybrid model), since they'll have to rank high in search engine results for sustainable business.
So who is an SEO copywriter?
An SEO copywriter is someone who has the skills and knowledge to write content that can be found (and understood) by search engines. They're responsible for crafting content that contains targeted keywords, while still being readable and engaging for readers.
In short, an SEO copywriter is a copywriter with knowledge of how to make their words work for search engine optimization.
For decades, many successful online businesses have opted to hire professional SEO copywriters to help them create content that can be found easily by search engines. You can browse some of the works of our own copywriters to get an idea of the standard we set here at TalktheTalk.
Traditional copywriting vs SEO copywriting
Traditional copywriting and SEO copywriting are both forms of writing that are used for marketing purposes, but they have some important differences. Here's a breakdown of the main differences between traditional copywriting and SEO copywriting:
Traditional copywriting:
Traditional copywriting is the art of writing persuasive and engaging marketing materials, such as sales letters, brochures, and advertisements. The primary goal of traditional copywriting is to persuade the reader to take a specific action, such as making a purchase or signing up for a newsletter.
Traditional copywriting typically focuses on crafting compelling, persuasive language that appeals to the reader's emotions and desires. It's less concerned with search engine optimization and more focused on creating a strong call-to-action (CTA) and persuading the reader to take action.
Traditional copywriting can be used in a variety of mediums, including print, radio, television, and online.
SEO copywriting:
SEO copywriting is the art of writing content that is both informative and optimized for search engines. It involves creating content that contains targeted keywords and phrases, while still being engaging and useful for readers.
The primary goal of SEO copywriting is to improve the search engine rankings of a website or business. By creating content that is optimized for search engines, a website or business can increase its visibility and attract more traffic.
SEO copywriting is typically used for online content, such as blog posts, web pages, and social media posts. It requires a deep understanding of how search engines work and how to optimize content to rank well in search results.
In summary, traditional copywriting is focused on persuasion, while SEO copywriting is focused on optimization for search engines. Both forms of copywriting are important for marketing and can be used in different mediums, but they serve different purposes and require different skills and approaches.
Why is SEO copywriting important?
SEO copywriting is essential for any business that wants to make an impact on the web. It helps you reach relevant audiences and convert them into paying customers. It also sets you apart from competitors who don't use SEO copywriting techniques.
Here are the most compelling reasons to write SEO-optimized copy:
Improved search engine rankings: By creating content that is optimized for search engines, you can increase the chances that your website will rank higher in search results. This can lead to more visibility and more traffic to your site.
Be seen as more credible: High-quality, well-written content can help establish your business as an authority in your industry. This can lead to increased credibility and trust among your target audience.
Better user experience: By creating content that is useful, informative, and easy to read, you can improve the user experience on your website. This can lead to higher engagement and longer time spent on your site, which can be beneficial for your search engine rankings.
Greater brand awareness: By creating content that is shareable and interesting, you can increase the chances that your content will be shared on social media and other platforms. This can help increase brand awareness and reach a wider audience.
Increased conversion rates: Well-written, targeted content can help persuade visitors to take action, whether that's making a purchase, filling out a form, or signing up for a newsletter. This can lead to increased conversion rates and, ultimately, more revenue for your business.
Long-term benefits: Investing in SEO copywriting can have long-term benefits for your business. By creating high-quality content that is optimized for search engines, you can continue to see the benefits of increased traffic and higher rankings for months and years to come.
Where is SEO copywriting needed?
SEO copywriting is needed in every part of your content marketing strategy. It should be included in:
Blog posts
Web pages
Product descriptions
Email campaigns.
It's also important to consider SEO when writing social media posts. Since social media posts are often indexed by search engines, they can help boost the visibility of a website or business.
An example of where SEO copywriting may not be needed is when writing content for print media, such as brochures, flyers, or booklets. In this case, SEO isn't relevant and the focus should be on creating engaging content that is informative and persuasive. But, even then, you should be mindful of buzzwords that are relevant to the topic, so that readers can easily understand what you're conveying.
The first element: Keyword research
One of the key elements of SEO copywriting is keyword research. This involves identifying the terms and phrases that people are using to search for information online. By including these keywords in your content, you can help search engines understand what your content is about and improve its ranking in search results.
However, it's important to balance the use of keywords with the needs of your audience. Your content should always be written for humans first, with search engines as a secondary consideration. If you stuff your content with too many keywords, it will likely be difficult to read and may turn off your audience – and Google punishes you for this.
Keywords are important for your:
Headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings help break up your content and make it easier to read, while also providing an opportunity to include relevant keywords that tell Google what your content is about.
Title tags and descriptions: Title tags and meta descriptions are short snippets that appear in search engine results. They should include the main keyword you're targeting and be written in a way that encourages people to click on your link.
Alt tags for images: Alt tags provide search engines with a description of what your images are about, helping you rank for relevant keywords.
Creating internal and external links: Links to other pages on your website and to external websites can help Google understand the context of your content, which can help with rankings. By including relevant keywords in the anchor text of your links you can further improve search engine visibility.
How you can research keywords: Free & paid methods
There are several ways you can research keywords, both free and paid.
Google Keyword Planner: Google's free keyword tool allows you to research keywords and get an idea of the search volume for each one. You can also use it to discover related keywords that you may not have thought of.
SEMrush: This is a paid tool that provides comprehensive keyword research data and insights into the performance of your competitors. We use enterprise-grade tools like this to do our own keyword research for our clients.
BuzzSumo: BuzzSumo is a great tool for researching popular content topics. By analyzing the performance of your competitors' content, you can identify the topics that are resonating with your target audience.
The second element: Writing content
Once you've identified the keywords you want to target, it's time to start writing. The goal of SEO copywriting is to create content that is both engaging and optimized for search engines.
Here are some tips to help you write content that will have the best chance of ranking:
Start with a strong headline: Your headline should be attention-grabbing and descriptive while also including your target keyword.
Organize your content: Break up your content into sections with headings and subheadings, using keywords whenever possible. This will make it easier to read and help search engines understand what each section is about.
Include images and other multimedia: Including images, videos, and other multimedia elements can help break up your content and make it more engaging. Don't forget to include alt tags so search engines can understand what your images are about.
Optimize for readability: Make sure that your content is easy to read by using short sentences and paragraphs, and formatting it in a way that's easy on the eyes.
Link to other pages: Linking to other pages on your website and external websites can help improve both the user experience and search engine visibility of your content.
Let the pros handle your SEO copywriting needs at TalktheTalk Creative
Overall, SEO copywriting is an important aspect of content marketing and can help increase the visibility and reach of your website. By creating informative, keyword-rich content that is useful for your audience, you can improve your search engine rankings and drive more traffic to your site.
If you're looking for help with SEO copywriting, our team at TalktheTalk Creative can help. We specialize in helping businesses create content that is optimized for search engines and designed to engage your target audience. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
