Why Content Matters for SEO

Talking about your company on your website is like meeting a client in a business suit: You need to dress it up in order to make a good impression.

So, you want your website content to be sharp, clever, and communicate your business' message clearly and efficiently. But did you know that something as small as the words on your website can also affect your search engine ranking?

As of June 2011, there were 346,004,403 websites on the Internet. That means that even all dressed up, without the right keywords, your website will stand out as much as a stockbroker on Wall Street.

Why is that? Well, in our previous post we mentioned search engine "spiders". These spiders also search through the key words on your website's content, so they know when to bring it up in search results. The more commonly a keyword is searched, and the more frequently that word appears on your website, the higher your website will appear in search results.

And that's why content matters! Let's take a look at how you can use content to boost your SEO.

The key is to include commonly searched keywords throughout your web site. But they also need to be relevant to your business.

Here's an example. Say my business is Snippy's, a hairdresser in Auckland, and I want to boost my SEO for snippy.co.nz. According to Google Keyword Search, top search terms related to hairdressers include: hairdressing, hairdresser, Auckland hairdressers, hair cuts and hair colour. So on my web page, I may say something like this:

"Welcome to Snippy's Hair Salon! Our Auckland hairdressers can take care of all your hairdressing needs, including hair colour, blow waves, and hair cuts!"

The aim is to include keywords organically and make them look like part of the text.

If you've got the hang of that one, here's something else you can do: Include useful resources on your website. The idea is for people to use your website for more than a list of services and contact details - they should find something interesting and informative, and most of all, something that will keep them coming back. You can do this by including blog posts, articles and updates on your website.

Also, don't let your content get outdated. Keep it fresh, keep it interesting, and people will keep coming back!

So that plus our previous blog posts just about covers everything you need to know about SEO. If we've missed anything out, or if you just want expert advice, copywriting services and other help to get your website's search engine ranking at its best, don't hesitate to get in touch!