Writing for search engine optimization (SEO) involves lots of keyword research and expert keyword placement. Though keywords must also be sprinkled throughout the body of the article, the most important place for critical keywords to appear is the article title.
Choosing SEO Article Titles
Writing a perfect SEO article title is more difficult than it might seem at first glance. After brainstorming with the help of online keyword tools to determine 6–12 optimal keywords for an article, SEO writers should number the keywords in order of relevance to the content of the article. The primary keyword—the one that most accurately describes what is in the article—should always be placed in the title.
Include Alternate Keywords in a Subtitle
In addition to the SEO title, a subtitle should be used. Most SEO writing includes a subtitle as a general rule just to include more keywords, so make sure to take advantage of it when possible.
The subtitle would ideally contain the second and third most relevant and popular keywords on the list, provided that they are keyword phrases not already used in the title.
For example, an article titled "4th of July Lesson Plans" should be subtitled with equally relevant yet distinctly different keywords in a title like "Classroom Activities for Independence Day."
SEO Tips—Avoiding Toxic Titles
Two cardinal rule for search engine optimization titles are to use detailed keyword phrases in the title and to avoid clever titles. For example, "Carbohydrates: Friend or Foe?" Is a poor SEO title for two reasons:
- One-word titles are a waste of space that could be used to provide readers with more information. A title like "Carbohydrates as Part of a Healthy Diet" includes extra keywords and gives readers a better idea of what to expect inside the article.
- Clever titles and subtitles might be funny or thought-provoking, but they have little to do with the actual content of the article. No one searches for phrases like "friend or foe," so using that in the subtitle is just wasting valuable SEO real estate. "The Importance of Carbs in Nutritious Eating" is a much better subtitle that provides alternate keywords and provides information about the content.
Freelance writers who are used to print magazines will have to get used to using a different set of rules when writing SEO. SEO page name titles should always be factual, descriptive, and keyword-rich.
Utilizing SEO Image Titles
Most search engine optimization articles include the opportunity to attach at least one photo, and sometimes as many as five or six. Attaching a photo adds color and visual interest to an article, plus it illustrates the content of the text.
Another major benefit of using images in SEO writing is that it provides extra keywording opportunities. Image captions can include additional keywords, especially those that are awkward or difficult to word naturally within the body of the article.
Search engine optimization writing is a difficult skill to master, but one of the most important and basic parts to master is writing good titles. SEO titles and subtitles must be properly keyworded with the most relevant phrases. Image captions should also be used to incorporate extra keywords.
Readers may also be interested in Best SEO Keyword Research Techniques and Where to Find Freelance Writing Jobs Online.
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