How To Write A Good Article By Following SEO Best Practices

How To Write A Good Article By Following SEO Best Practices
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Summary: Are your high-quality articles tucked away on page 20 of the SERPs? Are your social media posts only reaching your loyal followers? It’s time to write a top-notch article that incorporates these 8 SEO best practices to stand out from the online crowd.

8 Steps To Produce Great Articles By Implementing SEO Best Practices

Search engine optimization is a multifaceted approach. Unfortunately, you can't simply add a few random keywords and hope to rise in the ranks. Social media, research tools, and CPC stats can improve your SERP standings. But there's more to it than that. You need to offer readers' real value and write for humans, instead of putting keyword integration above readability. So, what does it take to reach the #1 spot and become an authority in your niche? Here's how to write an excellent article by following SEO best practices and fine-tuning your existing content.

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1. Scope Out The Online Competition

Look at what other eLearning authors or marketing pros are doing in their SEO articles. Then learn from their mistakes or capitalize on their strong points. For example, how many times do they mention their primary keyword in the guest blogging post? How do they incorporate longtail keywords? What about links? Also, pay attention to the formatting and tone to see if it suits your subject matter.

2. Use Social Media To Find Hot Topics

At any given moment, a few hot topics are circulating the online message boards and social media pages. See what everyone's talking about and then find a way to integrate it into your content. Make sure the keywords include those buzzwords so that you generate more interest and traffic. You can also poll the group to find fresh content ideas for your next guest blogging post. As well as test out potential topics to gauge readers' responses. For example, the subject matter might be a bit too controversial, or it's already been covered before to ad nauseam.

3. Verify CPC Scores

A CPC (cost per click) score is generally used for PPC ads. You need to know how much you're going to pay when someone clicks on your ad. Think of CPS as an SEO performance tool. The higher the cost, the closer you are to converting visitors into customers. So, keywords with a steep price tag are more valuable when crafting your SEO article. That said, you tend to get more competition from other eLearning authors who think along the same lines.

4. Use Keyword Research Tools

Numerous keyword research tools enable you to pick the perfect keywords for your content. Some are free to use, while more advanced tools involve a fee. Evaluate the competitiveness of each keyword and discover others that tie into the topic. For example, you can reach a niche audience if you frame the keyword with a clarifier. Such as 'open-source LMS' or 'design tips for SMBs.' Focus on keyword tools that use multiple sources. For instance, they provide results from Google, Amazon, and their own proprietary search.

5. Avoid Oversaturation

There are 2 convincing reasons to watch your words and not oversaturate your content with keywords. The first is that you'll lose readers. Visitors don't want to muddle through a dense keyword jungle to get the info they need. The second is that you'll end up on the SERPs' bad side. Search engines usually flag content that's strictly intended for SEO purposes. It doesn't offer readers any value. Thus, it doesn't deserve a top spot in the rankings. That said, there are a time and a place for keywords…

6. Create A Keyword List For Every Article

Compile a list of 3-5 keywords you want to use for the article and weave them into the content. There should be keywords in the meta tags, title, headers, and paragraphs. Try to limit it to 1 or 2 keywords for every sub-header section. You can also include links that contain keywords. This is yet another reason to use SEO keyword tools to fine-tune and expand your list.

7. Edit For Readability

Edit your article to ensure it's readable. Preferably, by humans. You've already taken care of the keywords. But can readers get the information they need quickly and apply it in their own lives? Have you formatted the content in such a way that visitors can skim and skip based on their priorities? Have someone else read the article and provide feedback. This is also your chance to catch any last-minute errors you missed and ensure the content conveys the right tone for your readers.

8. Track Performance Post-Publishing

How man people view your guest post article? What sources drive the most traffic to your landing page? Where are visitors located? How many times did they click on the embedded links? After you post eLearning articles, you need to follow up and track its performance. Monitor reader engagement to determine which topics are worth covering in future articles and where to target your marketing efforts. For instance, most of the visitors come from your recent Facebook post. Likewise, one article, in particular, drives more traffic to your site and improves conversions. While another guest blogging post falls flat and doesn't receive many visitors.

These SEO best practices can help you find a buzzworthy topic and reach your target audience. Even if the internet is already swamped with eLearning tip guides, checklists, and software reviews. You'll be able to carve out a niche for yourself and become an online authority. As well as improve conversions and click through rates. So, avoid oversaturation, check CPC scores, and monitor performance with built-in metrics. Are there any SEO gems you'd like to share? Leave it in the comments below.

Becoming an authority in the eLearning niche does require a commitment. Download our eBook How To Become An Authority In The eLearning Industry By Guest Blogging and discover how to stay on top of trends and find a platform that suits your style and target audience.