In the world of search engine optimisation, content is king. Whether you’re writing web pages, blog posts or articles, content is an important element of SEO.
As Sonia Simone, the co-founder and Chief Content Officer of Copyblogger, says:
“If you make a living with words, or you want to, you owe it to yourself — and your clients — to gain a reasonable level of SEO literacy.”
So, if you’re wondering how to become an SEO content writer, take a look at our top tips to ensure your success.
1. Study… and study some more!
There are a few ways to formally equip yourself with the necessary skills if you want to know how to become an SEO writer. They include:
Earn a degree
Having a relevant degree isn’t compulsory, but some employers (if you’re looking for a full-time position rather than freelance work) may specify a degree requirement; usually in English, journalism, communications or other similar fields.
A bachelor’s degree or a similar course can provide you with the skills you need to be successful at SEO content writing, so they’re always worth considering. For example, an English or journalism degree will improve your editing, proofreading, grammar, and creative and technical writing, and you’ll also gain good research skills, including finding and citing relevant sources.
Learn programming languages
Any aspiring SEO content writer should also consider studying programming languages, whether in their own time or by applying for a course.
As a writer, it’s unlikely you will need to master programming languages completely, but having an understanding of the programmes used by an SEO professional could make you stand out when applying for jobs or freelance work.
Common programming languages include Java and C++ as well as scripting languages such as JavaScript and PHP. You should also bear in mind markup languages like XML and HTML.
Know everything there is to know about SEO
If you want to write great SEO copy, you need to understand how search engines work. This may sound technical, but learning to write for search engines is easier than you think. The best way to do this is to keep on top of any new developments in algorithms as well as the latest trends.
Alongside keeping on top of search engine optimisation trends, you’ll need to ensure you have a good understanding of keyword placement and density as well as how to apply these strategies when you’re writing blog posts, web pages, articles and press releases.
You may also find it worthwhile to learn how Google crawls pages and gives out link authority in order to build a successful strategy. Remember, successful SEO content writing is all about writing and linking multiple blog posts, not just posting one blog and hoping for the best.
2. Build up a portfolio and get as much experience as possible
If you’re hoping to work as a freelance SEO content writer, building up a portfolio is very important. You will need this to showcase your work and skills in order to convince clients they should work with you.
In addition to collating a history of any previous publications, you could consider starting up your own blog or guest posting on other sites. However, remember to focus on your niche as much as possible and accumulate as many different samples of your work as you can.
On the other hand, if you’re just starting out as an SEO content writer and you don’t have a lot of work to add to your portfolio, try creating your own samples to showcase your skills. Other great ways to get SEO writing experience include:
- guest posting for free
- networking with other writers in your niche
- letting people know you’re available for hire
- asking for a referral
- pitching your own ideas to potential clients
- joining Facebook groups and LinkedIn
- signing up to a copywriting agency