Use keywords to help your readers

Don't write your pages just for the search engines. Your text also needs to be directed at your visitors' interests and needs. And herein lies the challenge: to write your page copy so that it works perfectly for both the search engines and your visitors.

It's not that hard. How come? Because both engines and readers have the same priority--they are both looking for relevance. And, they both want to find it within the first few lines of text on the page.

Use keywords and phrases in your headings and text

When you have determined the best keywords and phrases for your page, be sure to include them in the headlines, subheads, text and links on the page. Major search engines will be looking for matches to the terms people use.

The engines will be looking hard at your main headings and opening paragraph (that's where they want to find those words). In other words, if you don't get straight to the point then you're likely to move down in searchability rating.

Search Engines Look for Relevance

When you write pages on your site, you need to keep both your readers and the search engines in mind. Fortunately, both audiences have the same priority—relevancy.

Your visitors are looking for information that matches their interests and expectations. And the search engines are looking for pages that match and are relevant to the search terms and phrases people use.

For both audiences, make sure that keywords and key phrases can be found in your headings, introduction text, subheads, links and concluding paragraphs.

*Here's a great source of information on Search Engine Writing: “Tweaking Your Site's Copy to Get More Search Engine Traffic”

Write strong meta tag page titles and descriptions

Make sure that you write a new page title for every page on your site. Make sure the title includes your principal keyword or phrase. And make sure the title offers readers a clear description of what they can expect to find on the page.

Write a strong page description. Don't make it overly promotional. Use it to describe what people can find on the page. Be sure to include one or more of your top keywords. Don't simply repeat your page title.

Search engine copyediting should become a regular and familiar task. Copywriting web sites means using your writing skills to please both your readers and the search engines.

Here's a great source of information on Search Engine Writing: Tweaking Your Site's Copy to Get More Search Engine Traffic.

Wordtracker: And How to choose the best keywords and phrases

Every page on your site should be optimized for the search engines. This means finding the best keywords and phrases...and then using them in your titles, descriptions and page content.

How do you find the best keywords? Use a tool like WordTracker. It will help you find dozens of relevant keywords. Better still, it will tell you which keywords and phrases are likely to bring you the most traffic (these are the niche words that are being used frequently by your prospects, but are not being featured much by competing sites).

*A key to writing copy online is to build your seo copyediting skills.