Do-it-yourself SEO web copywriting tips

Should you try to do your own SEO web copywriting or should you hire a professional when you need effective website copy? Though a few DIY tips can help, should you really be writing your own copy when there's professional help out there?

Web copy writing technique, creativity and something else...

The work of the web copy writer isn't as simple as just applying a few prescribed techniques, then watching the search engines crawl up. Writing SEO copy that reads well for humans as well as search engines combines technique, creative skills and a hard to define intuitive element.

With that in mind, here are a few techniques, drawn from the toolbox of an experienced Gloucestershire web copywriter, that you can use when adding website content.

10 professional web copywriting tips to improve your SEO copy

1. Put your business name at the end of the Title tag: don't waste valuable keyword positioning by putting it first.

2. Avoid lengthy 'welcome to our website' content; cut to the key message as soon as possible.

3. Think inverted pyramids; put your main ideas first, followed by supporting information.

4. Use bullet points to convey lots of information without overloading readers; put the most important ideas first and last as these are more likely to be viewed by a skim reader.

5. Use AIDA (Awareness, Interest, Desire, Action) to create a logical flow through the page structure.

6. Structure? At very least, think 'H1 heading', AIDA-led paragraphs, subheads and a call to action.

7. Look after skim readers; headline and subheads should summarise the main story and lead the reader through your page.

8. Aim for at least 250 to 350 words of relevant, benefit-laden, customer-focused text that includes your main keyword/key-phrase in the first and last paragraphs, and at least one subhead and a bulleted list item.

9. Avoid confusing misuse of hyphens in website content: if you are using an en-dash and spaces, use the appropriate HTML entity to make sure they'll render properly.

10. Don't cram keywords so the text reads unnaturally; put humans first.

Do you have time to master specialist SEO copy skills?

Although this isn't an exhaustive list, these techniques will undoubtedly help your website content. What they won't do is give you the specialist skills and intuitive 'feel' that an SEO or web copywriter develps when they practice their craft five, six or even seven days a week. Do you really have the time or inclination to master these when a demanding business is calling?

Free-up time, get great content and add value

Haven't you got better things to do with your time (think about your hourly rate!) than your own copywriting? You wouldn't think twice about hiring an accountant or a website designer. Similarly, professional copywriting gets words working for you and frees your time for adding value in the ways that you do best...

What will you do with the time you free up by hiring a professional for your web copywriting?

Contact me now for a no-obligation chat.