1. Let Formatting Do Your Work for You
Use numbered lists or bullet points in your content to help organize your thoughts and make it easier for readers to skim. Also, use bolded text to highlight key concepts so readers know what to expect at a quick glance. It’s a win-win because it’s easier for you and readers actually prefer it!
2. Consider Your Audience
You know the ins and outs of your business and could probably talk a fellow industry professional in circles with abbreviations and slang, but that doesn’t mean that your audience shares your expertise. Avoid technical jargon where possible to avoid alienating people that are less experienced.
3. Use Simple Language
Some people get overwhelmed by writing because they think it has to sound all fancy and sophisticated, but you don’t need to write at a college level when creating web content. In fact, most digital marketing folks agree that the ideal reading-level for web content is actually a 5th-8th grade level, and you can do that!
4. Use Keywords Naturally
Keywords are incredibly important to use in your content, but you don’t want it to seem forced or awkward. Instead, insert keywords into your text naturally to make your content more reader-friendly!
5. Spell and Grammar Check
You don’t want to appear unprofessional by having spelling and grammar mistakes littered throughout your content, so while it’s not a great idea to have an intern or your children write all of your content for you, it’s totally acceptable to have them edit it. Have whoever is helping you check your content for technical mistakes and also general readability.
6. Promote It
Get the most mileage out of your efforts by pushing content through social channels (where appropriate) like Twitter, Facebook, and so on. This is like double dipping, because it expands your viewership for that particular piece of content and also reduces the amount of outside content you need to find to promote on your social channels.
If these tips weren’t enough to convince you that you are supremely capable of creating your own content, hire a professional to do it for you! Say... oh, I don't know... a Michigan internet marketing company named LionShark! Okay, that was a shameless plug. But really, we’d love to take on the messy work of SEO-friendly content creation for you!
Kate Pierce is the owner of LionShark Digital Marketing LLC, a West Michigan internet marketing company. Her areas of expertise include Paid Search, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Web Consulting for small businesses, Copywriting and Local Online Marketing. She lives in the Grand Rapids area with her husband and enjoys cooking, watching sports and spending time outdoors. Like a true digital marketing expert (i.e. geek), she loves talking about marketing theory and SEM trends… so don’t say you weren’t warned!