10 SEO Copywriting Tips to Help Your Website Rank Higher on Google
You probably have a beautifully designed website. Full of snappy headlines and pretty pictures showcasing your business. But if no one ever finds it on a Google search, what’s the point of investing all that time and money into it?
My SEO copywriting tips will show you how to make your website work harder to help you grow your business. That means bringing in traffic – but also generating leads and converting searches to sales.
Your copy needs to sound sharp – but also deliver the goods. That’s where SEO copywriting comes in.
Being a successful SEO copywriter means I have to write excellent copy and content for clients that ranks well on Google – but also speaks to their ideal customers.
Here’s my top 10 practical and easy-to-apply SEO website copywriting tips to get your SEO content working hard and improve Google rankings.
1. Start with keyword research (What your customers might type into Google)
First things first. If someone is going to search for a business like yours – what might they actually type? These search words are your ‘keywords’. They are all the words and phrases people use on the internet when looking for your business products or services.
That means, when writing your content, whether website copy, regular news articles or blogs, you should aim to include these words and phrases in your writing.
For example, if you were looking for a copywriter in Leeds, you might search for things like:
- “Best copywriter in Leeds”
- “SEO copywriting for websites”
- “Copywriter for small businesses
Make a list of these words and phrases and use them as a guide when writing.
2. Write for humans – not search engines!
Write content to solve the problems of your ideal customers. Use a natural tone that makes people feel as though you understand their needs. You don’t need to ‘stuff’ your content with keywords. Talk to your customers as though you are having a conversation with them – and sprinkle your keywords in naturally.
If you write content that is clear, helpful and natural – and still uses those all-important keywords, then both customers and Google will love it!
3. Put the key message at the top of the page
I bet you don’t read every word of long, complex articles you see online! Most people don’t. And when it comes to website copy, it’s skim and scan all the way!
That’s why it’s a good idea to start each page with the most important messages:
- What you do
- Who you help
- Why they should choose you!
Make it easy for customers to understand how you can help them – and turn those searches into sales!
4. Make your website copy easy to scan
Long paragraphs can be hard to read, especially on phones. Always break up big blocks of text – and make things simple for readers by:
- Using short paragraphs
- Adding subheadings (like the ones in this blog)
- Using bullet points or numbered list where possible
This makes your content easy to read – and more likely to keep visitors to your site there for longer!
5. Give every page one clear SEO focus
Each page on your website should have one main purpose. Make customers’ lives easier by making your website clear and easy to understand. For example:
- Your home page introduces your business
- Your services page explains what you offer
- A blog post answers a common customer question
Never try to say everything on one page! Help your customers – and Google – understand what each page is about.
6. Use clear headings and subheadings to guide the reader
Think of headings (and subheadings) as signposts which help your reader understand what’s coming next. They also break up your content and make it easier to scan. And for that all-important SEO – headings and subjeadings help Google understand what your page is about.
7. Include helpful internal and external links
Providing useful content for potential customers is always a winning strategy! If you are writing about a service or product you provide, add a link to the services page on your website. If you are trying to encourage people to get in touch – then a link to your email or contact page will make it more likely to happen!
To add in a extra layer of helpfulness – why not add links to other relevant resources or websites? It shows you know your stuff and have really thought about the best way to help your customers.
8. Use a clear ‘call-to-action’ on every page
A call-to-action, or CTA is a clear instruction that tells your website visitor exactly what to do next. This could be:
- “Get in touch today”
- “Book a free consultation”
- “Download our free guide”
This simple step on your website is a powerful tool that helps you turn visitors into customers.
9. Keep your website content up to date
Search engines prefer websites that are active and relevant. It definitely doesn’t mean rewriting everything every month – but it’s a good idea to:
- Update your content if anything changes
- Check for broken links or old info
- Add new blog posts or pages when you can
Even small, regular updates show Google (and potential customers) that you business is active and trustworthy.
10. Write website copy in your own voice!
Just be yourself. Use the language your customers know and understand. Friendly, helpful and down-to-earth content is usually more effective than jargon – or copy that sounds like it’s trying too hard to be clever.
You want your customers to buy into your business – so let your personality show!
And finally…
You don’t need to be a professional writer or a technical SEO whizz to create website content that works. It’s easy to get started with these top SEO copywriting tips.
But – if it feels daunting or time-consuming, then why not get some help? I help business owners write clear, compelling website copy that works. Turn your website visitors into sales with engaging copy, insightful content and SEO strategy.
Get in touch today – let’s chat!
