Writing an effective SEO-optimized article is a unique skill. Sure you can write well, but if you don’t know how to optimize that article for clicks then it’s all for nothing. Your title, proper use of keywords, meta description, links, and even the article length will determine if you achieve a high ranking search result or not.

Title

Your title is going to be the first thing anyone sees, so really put some thought into it. It needs to be something that grabs attention and encourages further reading. Have your keyword in the title, and preferably as the first word. Use adjectives and numbers in your title. 10 Fun Ways to Build Muscle Fast will generate much more interest (and thus more clicks) than How to Build Muscle.

Keywords

Your best bet when it comes to generating clicks from keywords is to use long tail keywords. The difference between broad keywords and long tail keywords is their specificity. We’re talking about the difference between cars and high performance British cars. There will be a ton of competition if you use a broad keyword, but if you use long tail keywords your chances of a high ranking search engine result go through the roof. “Also make sure to use your keyword within the first hundred words of your article, as this will improve your ranking as well. Fit keywords in as naturally as possible or your article will be an awkward read and could appear to be promoting something”, – explains Victoria Lipscomb, a SEO copywriter at Academized.

Meta description

Your meta description is probably the most important part of your article; getting it right is crucial to getting clicks. Your meta description is what will appear first underneath your title in search results. It’s your first impression to online searchers. Keep your meta description to 140 words or less, since the blogging platform will do this automatically. It is crucial that you include your keywords in this section.

Article length

Once you’ve drawn in your reader with an eye-popping headline and have them interested with your meta description, you can provide them value with your actual article content. You’re probably thinking that, in this world of ever-decreasing attention spans, you should make your article as brief as possible. Wrong. Longer articles tend to rank higher in search results. You don’t need to write a sequel to War and Peace, but don’t be afraid to write a 1000-2000 word article if you’ve got enough information to warrant it. Try to be concise in your writing and break your article up into small paragraphs, doing this will make people more likely to read on.

Links

Links are a great way to add value to your article. Use internal links to send the user to another article on your website and increase your clicks while familiarizing people with your site and its content. You can also include external links, links that take the user to another website, such as Wikipedia, where they can learn more about the subject. Choosing good external links will also increase the legitimacy of your post and can improve your standings in search results.

Encourage User Participation

One of the great things about using the internet as a medium is being able to connect with your users instantly. Consider including a comment section. They’ll provide lots of interesting, and potentially helpful, feedback while also helping your search ranking, as search engine bots crawl comment sections as well as articles. A good way to increase reader involvement is to include questions at the end. These questions should ask the reader something about how they relate to the material and their previous experience with the subject matter. Don’t forget to include social media share buttons, this is one quick and easy way to increase your search ranking. WordPress has both free and paid options for share plugins.

Use online SEO writing and editing tools

Do you struggle with writing and editing? Don’t worry, there are plenty of tools available online that will help you write and polish your article to perfection. Here are some useful recommendations:

#1. StateofWriting and Studydemic will help you write and format your SEO-optimized article.

#2. Ukwritings and Paper Fellows are SEO writing tools that will help you create a proper meta description.

#3. Grammarix and Boomessays have plenty of tools and tips for accurate SEO content.

#4. Word Count Tool is a free and easy way to ensure your SEO article is the desired length.

#5. Assignment help and CiteItIn can help you add references to your content and are recommended by Huffington Post.

Get started

It’s time to get writing. You’ve got the resources and the knowledge now to craft a great SEO-optimized article. Remember the importance of your title, how to use your keywords, the all-important meta description, your links, online SEO writing and editing tools, and getting your readers involved are all simple, yet effective, ways to maximize your article’s search engine ranking.

Freddy Tubbs

Freddie Tubbs is a SEO strategist at Big assignments. He also works as a part-time content writer, and contributes articles to Essayroo and Australian help.