14 best SEO content writing steps with 5 expert tips?

Whoever writes blog posts, even if it’s you. It surely requires great research, collection of information, data, compressing them together and then, forming a high-quality article, this process takes a lot of time. But, if the great effort results with low ranking and minimum views then, it’s surely heartbreaking.

However, when SEO is applied in a specific content, this ends with ranking on Google search results. This is the primary goal of marketers to optimize the website and bring the site in front, of the target audience.

Okay! But, how are we going to write SEO content? Don’t worry, cause, we just covered that up for you. So, in this article we are going to narrate you, what is SEO content writing? And some of the top 14 effective steps for SEO content writing? Which will help to optimize your blog post and will rank on Google.

What is SEO content writing?

SEO is a short for (Search Engine Optimization) it’s a process to optimize a website for Google search results. By, implementing high-volume keywords in your content for the target audience search, including: writing valuable content and formatting the structure of headings, subheadings such as: H1, H2s, H3s, H4s and so on.

This means, analyzing your audience search intend then, applying those keywords in your content. This research of high-volume keywords is called SEO.

A study shows, if a website position is on number 1 then, CTR (Click-Through Rate) rise up to 25% unless, if the website is on 2 position then, it falls down 15%, when the position falls down on 10 number then, the CTR goes around 2.5% and when a position for your website falls onto second page, the percentage for CTR decreases.

This means if your website is not on the first page of Google then, the chances decrease for your audience to find your website organically. Less ranking is, less CTR. Ultimately, this affects less audience and revenue.

However, you can also approach for a paid ad campaigns to get instant traffic for your website but, it cost money and if you are having tight budget then, why not use SEO content? Which will organically rank your website.

Step 1: research and development.

First step for you is, R&D, which is a short for (Research and Development). It means: exploring, diving deep in and researching about the topic you are writing on, the audience you are writing for, and the competitors you are competing against. Here’s how you can do it.

Identify, your targeted audience.

You have to determine, who your ideal readers are, and what topics or information they are searching for. Consider, their demographics, interest, problems and pain points, to tailor your content accordingly.

For instance: If you plan to write an article on, Content Writing Guide for Beginners.

So, you will focus specifically, on those audiences, who just discovered about content writing and want to learn it as a beginner. Not those, who are expert in this field.

Just think, like them, search like them and ask questions like your customers. With this approach, you can easily identify your targeted audience. After this, you will also need to use keyword research tools, which we are going to discuss in the 3rd step, stay along.

Step 2: Competitor analysis.

The second step in writing SEO content is, conducting competitor analysis. Understanding what your competitors are doing can provide valuable insights, help you differentiate your content and make it better. Here’s how to do it.

Identify your competitors.

You have to identify, your main competitors on the niche or industry you are targeting. Look for websites or blogs, that rank well, for similar keywords or target the same audience.

When you found your competitor now, study your competitor’s content to understand their strengths and weaknesses. Look for topics they cover, what headings or keywords they use, writing styles, multimedia, engagement metrics and comments they receive.

For example: If you noticed, your competitor’s blog posts on, healthy recipes perform well. Consider, crafting similar content but, with a unique twist, and with more information.,

Step 3: On-page-SEO, keyword research.

Keyword research is mandatory and is crucial step in SEO content writing, this research can be implemented by, analyzing your audience search query. You can analyze your audience keywords, through one, Google manual research and second, by using some SEO tools, including: Ahrefs, UberSuggest and Google keyword planner.

How to do manual Google SEO keyword research?

Google manual SEO keyword research can be implemented by, using Google search but, how exactly? This will tell you.

Search your topic on Google

Go to Google and search your article topic. For instance, if you are writing your blog about (how to do content marketing?) then, search this in Google. When you do so, Google will, suggest to you with some of your audience searches, also known as, such suggestions. These suggestions are mostly used by your audience so, you can use one of those keywords.

You can also use (People also search for)

When you press search button, for example: you search (Digital marketing) then, Google will show you some results about digital marketing. So, scroll down, and you will witness (People also searched for) after this, you can use these Google search suggestions that are used by your audience.

Use (_) key search

When you will search any topic, you can use (_) key, before your keyword for example: when you will write Digital marketing on Google, instead: write (_Digital marketing). Google will, then, add a high volume keyword before your search query so, you can use them also in your content.

Now, let’s take a look how to use SE or tools such as Ahrefs and Google keyword planner?

Go to the SEO website then, you will witness (type your keyword button) so, search your keyword on the give an option and then, these tools will give you with your keywords volume, keywords percentage, how many times is your keyword used by, your audience and much more data, can be provided by these SEO tools.

Step 4: Apply SEO in headings.

When you have done, your keyword research. Now, apply those high-volume keywords in your headings, these headings help Google crawler to scan your content easily.
Headers, help Google crawler to understand your article and subsections within it. Think of your Google caller as a bot reader, which will scan and get an overview of your blog post subsections, including: H1, H2s, H3s, H4s and subtopics of your content.

So, your subheadings must reflect your sub content and include high search volume keywords in it. When you will use high-volume keywords, which means, those keywords that are used by your audience then, you will get high chances to rank on Google search results.

Step 5: Use keywords in meta description.

If you are not adding meta a description to your blog post then, you are missing a lot of chance for your blog optimization. Let’s take a look, why it’s important.

By now, we talk about how your blog post can communicate with Google crawler and the use of keyword research but, this is not the end of the list because, Meta a description takes the next part.
Meta description is a summarized description for your blog post, which is usually shown below the title, and it’s another way for Google crawler, to determine your blog post search ranking. This mostly contains 1, 2 descriptive sentences.

You have to use meta description, to summarize your blog post and remember, to make it concise, use 1 to 2 keywords, in your meta description and compelling because, there are competitors competing with you. So, your Meta description must stand out among others. Therefore, always add meta descriptions with high-volume keywords.

Step 6: Right for humans, not for search engines.

Remember, no matter how much SEO methods you apply to rank your blog post, it will never work! Only, if you are not providing value for your audience. After all, your audience are reading your blog, not search engines. So, more views will get more revenue.

With all these SEO guidelines, it can be easily forgotten, that when your audience search on Google, they are looking for an answer. The best way for you to improve chances for ranking is to write valuable and high-quality blog post, that can resolve your audience problems.

So, what does your quality blog post should look like? Thorough, detailed answers, organized subheadings, improving readability by using bullet points or numberless and infographics.

Keep their motivation, challenges and interest in mind, it’s also important to choose topic and write valuable content that, resonates with your audience which can address their pain points and FAQs.

Well you can use some productive content writing tools, which can help your content to be compelling, interactive, correct and human friendly that, will rank well and can engage with your readers.

Step 7: Add keywords/Alt in graphics.

With any image you add to your post featured or body image, you must add ALT text, which should also include your high-volume keywords. Alt text is a resemblance of infographics. This describes what’s in the photo and helps Google as well as, those who are blind and visually impaired, it helps them to understand why the photo is in the post.

When you will add Alt text which describes your photo with high-volume keywords, this helps to optimize your blog post and the photo itself.

Step8: Resist to keyword stuff.

The goal is to fully optimize your blog post, not over saturate it. Find natural spaces to add keywords, instead: of overdoing and forcing them in, where it’s not illegible.

For instance, if your keywords are digital marketing based, paid ad campaigns, social media marketing and sales. So, avoid using your keywords in matter description like: sales by digital marketing, paid ad campaign and social media marketing.
Instead: try focusing on one or two keywords to sound natural in your description.

Like: Are you looking to level up your Digital marketing game, discover our killer paid ad campaign marketing strategies to lucrative, your sales in five minutes.

With this approach, you are still using your keywords but, you are not over-saturating your description. Remember, your goal is to resolve your audience problems and if, your readers have poor reading experience then, it will give signal to Google that it’s not meeting their needs. So, be natural and communicate humanly.

Step 9: Link externally with high authority websites.

When you craft your blog post don’t forget, to link externally, linking to high authority websites helps blog readers to expand their knowledge even more, with additional material also, it shows search engines that you have done your research.

Proper researching and giving stats of influential websites, surely, strengthens your blog post. A compelling and authentic statistic can also, make your argument powerful, which can gain trust towards your audience.

Step 10: Include internal linking strategically.

Internal linking plays a vital role in optimizing your blog post and improving user experience. By, linking related articles or pages, within your website, you create a logical structure, making it easier for search engine crawlers to index your content. Internal linking also encourages users to explore more about your website or articles, reducing bounce rates, and increasing average session duration.

You should include links to related articles that offer, additional insights or resources, keeping your readers engaged and satisfied.
Just like, I am doing in this article.

Keep in mind, external linking and internal linking are both different. In external linking, you allow users to explore other websites or articles however, internal linking allows users to explore relevant articles, that are in your website.

Step 11: Aim to craft a longer blog post.

In the age of short form content trend, it feels short content, is a great way to go but, actually search engines prefer longer and in-depth posts.

I mean, think about it, the more content on your page, the better clue, search engine will get that, what your post is about. Also, longer blogs help to provide more information for your audience. At (Shahnoorblogger) we discovered the ideal length is about 3000+ words.

However, the downside of longer blogs is that they may affect readers to leave because it’s too long, to come back to this problem, break your content into pieces subsections and scannable chunks.
Write your paragraphs into 2, 3 or fewer lines. Ohhh! And don’t forget about bullet points and number lists, this certainly attract readers to digest easy especially, in mobile devices.

Step 12: Optimize your website speed

Your audience and Google itself loved those websites, which are furious in their loading speed. Obviously! Because, it improves user experience.

The most well-known cause of slowing your website is, due to large and heavy images. If your page is having several images and each one is over 100 KB (kilobytes) then, this can drastically affect your loading page speed.

Surprisingly, there is a solution which helps to optimize your images without compromising on its quality. (Squoosh app)
Squoosh app, is a free software which helps to compress images without losing their quality. If you feel your website law ranking, due to slow page speed then, you can head over to (Google page speed)

Google page speed, is a free website that, helps to analyze and recommend better suggestions to optimize and improve your website loading speed.

Step 13: Add link building or back links to authority website.

Link building is a critical and crucial phase in SEO. Consider, search engines like a competition, where winners get the most votes, and the more votes you get, the better you rank.

If each webpage gives a back link to you, this is considered, as a vote for your website and this build trust in the eyes of Google.

How to do link building or add back links

Guest posting

In guest posting, you have to write high-quality, valuable and relevant articles for other websites.
You can get in touch with other websites by, cold emailing them and asking for a back link, in a return of high quality article. Remember, you have to pitch relevant websites belonging to your niche.

Blog commenting

You can add your website page link to other’s blog comment. But remember whenever you add a link to other’s blog comment you have to craft your comment valuable, relevant and engaging which shows the author that you have read their blog properly.

Get yourself interviewed

Getting interviewed by, people who belong to relevant industry can give you great link and traffic from their side.
You can ask for interviews by, emailing and engaging with them from social media platforms.

Step 14 Craft eye-catchy SEO title.

No matter, how much your content ranks on Google but, if your title is not attractive and compelling it will surely not force your readers to click and persuade to read, your article.

How to write eye-catchy SEO title?

You can craft your attractive and compelling SEO title by following these steps.

• Add a high volume keyword, in your title.
• Write in numbers, for example: top 10 steps to earn online.
• Add a bonus to your title, for example: how to write freelance proposal with examples.
• Add a date or duration, for example: top 10 best steps for digital marketing in 2023 learn in five minutes.

Expert tips for SEO content writing.

Great job! You have now discovered, essential steps to write SEO content but, before you go. Let me provide you with some expert tips, that can further optimize your content and rank on the search results.

Tip 1: Conduct, long tail keywords.

Well, we have already discussed about keyword research, that focuses on high-volume keywords. Don’t underestimate the power of long tail keywords. These are longer and more specific keywords or phrases, that have lower search volume but, can drive highly targeted traffic to your website. Because, they have less competition, making them easier to rank.

For example: Instead, of targeting Broad keywords, like: digital marketing, you can use long tail keywords, like: Best digital marketing strategies for small start-ups.

Tip 2: Optimize for voice search.

With the rise of voice assistance, like: Siri, Alexa and Google Assistant, optimizing your content for voice search has become crucial. People tend to use different search queries, when speaking, compared to typing. So, it’s important to adapt your content accordingly.

You should focus on conversational language, natural sounding phrases and question based content to align with voice search queries. Incorporate long tail keywords that reflect, what, why, when, where and how questions, when people speak.

Suppose, you are having a travel website. Instead, of targeting best fast food restaurants, you should target voice questions, like: what are some best fast food restaurants near me?

Tip 3: Craft longer content than, your competitors.

Well, shorter content has its place, longer in-depth article intend to perform better in search rankings. You should aim to create comprehensive content, well researched and authoritative content, that covers the topic in depth.

This not only provides value to your audience but, also increases the chances of earning back links from other websites, which can significantly, boost your search ranking.

For example: If your competitor article is having word count of 1500 words then, you should aim to craft 2000 words long article or at least, more than 1500 words article. Even 1600 words long article can work, but, don’t forget to prioritize quality than, quantity and providing value to your audience.

Tip 4: Keep your content up-to-date or refresh.

Search engines prioritize fresh and up-to-date content. Time to time, updating your article and refreshing information in your content can improve search rankings. You should consider, re-visiting your articles and adding new insights, valuable information or latest statistics. This shows search engines, that your content is current and relevant, which entice them to rank higher.

For instance: If you are having an article about, the best social media marketing strategies from 2022, you should update it with, the latest trends and tactics of 2023 and beyond.

Tip 5: Include frequently asked questions.

Including a dedicated frequently asked question section in your content can have multiple benefits. Firstly, it helps to address common queries and concerns, that your audience may have.
Secondly, it provides the opportunity to target long tail keywords within the questions themselves. Search engines, often, feature frequently asked questions snippets in search results, which increases your visibility and click-through-rates.

A word from Shahnoorblogger.

Well, you already know beneficial and valuable content is the key. Now, you just have to implement these SEO tactics to rank on Google. It will sound trickier at first but, later on, you’ll get used to it and it will be easy for you to rank on the top of Google search results.

Frequently asked questions.