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Writing content optimised for search engines is critical – Yet many don’t stay up to date with the latest trends in Search Engine Optimisation…
So let’s dispel the Myths of SEO
Writing content is not as easy as you might think. More so if you want it optimised for search engines. An essential element of creating content is writing content that engages with your audience, answers their search query, and that’s written with search engine optimisation (SEO) in mind.
SEO is the tactic used to help your content get discovered by search engines, essentially your SEO will dictate how it appears in the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).
Don’t let this statement mislead you. Do not write content for search engines. Write for your audience first, but optimise it for higher search rankings.
With the fast-paced nature of the digital world, some content marketing and SEO practices can be misleading!
We’re here to dispel them!
Myth: Keyword stuffing is the most effective SEO tactic
Fact: This is an outdated practice, and would be considered a black hat tactic.
Keyword stuffing is essentially overusing keywords to secure higher rankings in SERPs. This is a tactic that comes at the expense of your readers.
Search engines are smart, and their algorithms will be able to check your keyword density. When you stuff keywords into your content, search engines know and you will incur penalties from those search engines.
Tip: Keyword research
Do your keyword research – and do it well. Make sure your key terms align with your SEO Strategy. Once you have a list, focus on blending your keywords naturally and authentically within your written content.
Myth: Meta tags are the most important aspect of SEO
Fact: no, in fact focusing only on meta tags is a very narrow approach.
While meta descriptions and title tags are important, they are not the only factor. These are the elements of your content that are seen in search results. You need them, and they should be optimised – but meta tags alone will not get you to where you need to be.
Search engines look at many signals to determine the quality of your content. They also look at your uniqueness, keyword density, social shares, website’s health and domain reputation, user experience, backlinks and many, many other factors.
Tip: On Page SEO
When you look at all aspects of on page SEO, meta tags should be optimised – meta descriptions too. Also consider H Tags, optimised URL structures, ALT tags on imagery, anchors, backlinks and page load times… These are all signals used by search engines to understand if your content is relevant to a user search query
Myth: Content length is the only important factor for SEO
Fact: Long-form content can be beneficial for SEO but it is not the only important factor
The quality and relevance of the content form the biggest part of your SEO equation.
Many marketers who work in content marketing still focus on word count. Word count can help you understand your primary keyword density. This means understanding how many times your primary key phrase based on how many words you write. For example, if you want write 1000 words, you should have your primary keyword authentically blended into the content between 5-10 times.
However, content length is not a signal used by search engines when ranking your content.
Tip: Quality over quantity
Look at competitive content, what is available on page one of the SERP. Let these metrics guide you to the appropriate length and depth of your content.
Instead of focusing on word count, focus on creating high-quality content that meets the needs of your target audience and adds value. Your content needs to focus on quality, relevance, and user engagement!
Myth: SEO is all about ‘tricking’ search engines
Fact: No. Just no.
Search engines intend to deliver the most appropriate and relevant content based on the search query of the user.
SEO and content writing go hand in hand. Do not try to trick the search engine, focus on ensuring your content is found within the search engines.
Create informative content that’s written for your audience, you then use SEO to improve your position in the SERP. This should drive more traffic to your website.
Myth: SEO is a one time tactic
Fact: Not even a little.
SEO is a marathon, not a sprint.
SEO is an ongoing process. Search engines, including algorithms in social media, are continually updated and changed. Also, remember that your competitors may adjust their own strategies.
Tip: SEO needs to be reviewed regularly.
What you need to do, is schedule monthly reviews of your content. Focus on understanding the ranking position of your primary keywords. Identifying the peaks and troughs can help you gain a competitive edge in SERP, but also means you can ensure your content ranks highly.
Myth: Social Media Directly Improves SEO
Fact: No – Social media does not directly influence your ranking position
However, there is an indirect link. Social signals like shares and engagement can lead to more traffic to your website and increase backlinks. These do influence your ranking position.
Myth: You need to submit your site to search engines.
Fact: Kind of.
Whilst having a site map is a must. You don’t need to submit it to search engines, like Google. But, you can, and sometimes pushing the submission through can help speed things along.
As long as your website is accessible, and has links pointing to it, search engines will identify all new content automatically.
Conclusion
We hope that by understanding these myths in more detail, we have helped grow your SEO knowledge. Make sure you’re staying up to date on SEO best practices.
Work on your SEO at regular intervals. By doing so, you will be well on your way to improving your website’s SEO rankings.
Remember the focus should always be on creating high-quality content that adds value to your target audience and gives your audience the ability to engage with your content.
Want to create Kick-Ass Content that ranks well in search engines?
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