How To Write Texts That Google Likes

By Akshay Sharma February 21, 2017 Education, LifeStyle

The days of SEO-heavy texts are long gone. To be more precise, keyword-heavy texts went to the trash bin in 2011, with the release of Google Panda algorithm. True, as of today, Google already shifted to yet another (Penguin) algorithm, but the basic rules from 2011 still apply. In a nutshell, the biggest goal of a Google friendly text is to bring value to the readers. It is also true that Google never discloses much about the actual logic behind their search engine. Still, given what we know now, it is possible to point out some white-hat policies that work 100%. Here goes:

Target the right audience
This is marketing 101, and if you think it has nothing to do with writing texts Google will like, think again. If our primary goal is to provide information of value, we have to know our target reader. It really does not matter if you are promoting iPhones or refrigerators, you have to know your target buyer. For this, the best piece of advice would be to imagine your ideal customer. Do not neglect anything — age, hobbies, occupation, etc. Drawing a picture of your target reader (even an idealized one) will help you to define your perfect audience. This is marketing 101 (check out this in-depth digital marketing article), and if you think it has nothing to do with writing texts Google will like, think ag

Bring value to your readers
Now that you have a picture of your ideal customer (follower, reader), think how you can actually be of value to this person. Sure, when we start to promote a service or a product, we usually do have some value in mind. Now, however, it is the right time to consider what value it brings to your target consumer. And, of course, the same approach applies to writing each and every of your articles. The easiest scenario would be to answer a specific question in each of your posts. For example, not ‘how this or that thing can change the world/your life,’ but ‘how an app can help you save money’ or ‘how this online course will help you master fundamental leadership skills,’ etc.

Optimize and highlight keywords

Even though SEO-heavy texts without any valuable information will get penalized by Google, it doesn’t mean that you should neglect your keywords entirely. Make the most of Google Analytics to find out which keywords in your area have the highest rank and implement them in your text. Needless to mention, make sure you use keywords naturally — that is, so the keywords and phrases fit perfectly into your article. Use the phrases you’ve analyzed just like you would in a conversation with a friend or a colleague — in the right place, at the right time. Do not push them. Still, you can sometimes highlight the key phrases to make sure the readers pay attention to them. Make no mistake, Google will, too.

Create an appealing headline
Another important thing both Google and the readers love is the headline. No matter how great your blog post may be, no one will read it if the title does not call to your audience. Once again, go back to your perfect reader. What do they want? What answers are they trying to get? Indeed, the best headline gives insight into the essence of your article. Here are just some examples of titles that have the potential to attract attention:

5 Reasons behind a failed startup
Common mistakes when developing a business (and how to avoid them)
How to increase your site conversion: 6 Steps

Avoid plagiarism and credit your sources

One of the most important things about creating Google-friendly content is originality. Once again, forget about the good old days when ‘cats like milk’ and ‘kittens love dairy’ were two completely different things for Google bots. They are not anymore. Quality content (both for people and for Google) is the kind of content that brings a new perspective to a common question. Rewriting somebody else’s work just to make the words sound different does not work.

However, you still have to mind the actual phrasing — after all, we all tend to use some writing cliches that may affect article ranking. Fortunately, there are plenty of tools and services that can help you write texts without plagiarism — just remember to scan your post with special software.

Another important thing about avoiding plagiarism is to always credit your sources. If you are quoting, paraphrasing, or even referring to another article, always include a link to the original source.

Make it visual
Another important tip on writing people and Google-friendly texts is to make your posts visual. There are two ways to achieve this effect:

Structure — to make the articles readable (and Google scannable), make sure they are well structured. Use short paragraphs, include relevant headers, and avoid long, overly complicated sentences. When using a header, remember that a quality subtitle acts as a headline to each paragraph. In other words, it should summarize the gist of your paragraph, so it’s always better to use an actual phrase or a mini-sentence rather than just one word.

Pictures — pictures can be very helpful, but make sure you do not overdo it here. After all, too many pics will distract attention from the written message. So, unless you are working on an infographic, stay reasonable.

No doubt, there are plenty of other techniques that may help you write engaging posts people and Google will like — after all, perfection has no limits. Still, the tips above are quite universal and will give you a great start.

BIO: Christina Battons is a blogger and freelance writer. I am interested in topics about education, writing, blogging, motivation, etc and I also like to share my knowledge with people. Currently, I write for various blogs like ThrivingWriter or similar. My free time I spend with my family, friends, or riding my bicycle. You can find me on Facebook and Twitter.