Is this the first time you have started content writing? If yes, you need to understand exactly what the difference is between content writing and SEO content writing. You must be thinking about SEO content writing, similar to traditional content writing. If you have a lot of questions about these forms of online writing and how they can improve your marketing strategy, make sure that you read this article.
You should pay attention to content writing as it is one of the most important ranking factors of search engines. Content creation requires a lot of strategies, research, analysis, and creating the perfect outline. However, it is not easy for any newcomer to understand the difference between content writing and SEO content writing. So let us now find out the significant difference between both content writing and SEO content writing.
What is the prime difference between content writing and SEO content writing?
Understanding the difference will help you to create the right content for different requirements. The primary difference between content writing and SEO writing age SEO-based content writing is specially designed to improve the chances of discovering your content on search engines. On the contrary, content writing is simply creating content for humans to provide them with information that they would want to read.
You will always be able to understand the content that is written by a robot or for a robot. One of the classic examples is it will have no intonation or emotion. The prime difference that I want to say is that SEO content writing is solely written to leverage search engine codes and improve your website visibility. And now you understand why marketers run after creating SEO content.
But what is the best content that search engines look for?
Which is the best type of content: regular content or SEO writing?
Since the market has been continuously changing, it is a need for marketers to stay away from the continuous change. To be very accurate, I have witnessed success in both content forms.
There should be a definite difference between the content you are creating for social platforms, as the algorithms of social media are different from search engines. When I mean regular content, I mean the blog post that is generally created with zero keyword research.
These are generally written for readers who are human, and when Google finds any keyword, it can be great. However, it is accidental. Creating regular content is an excellent approach, but it is definitely a risky step into the unknown world. Moving your way up, you need a proper promotional strategy to ensure your blog is likely to receive a reading.
You might be creating blogs out of passion, theories, or ideas. However, in contrast, when SEO content is created, they have a purpose. The only purpose of marketers is to get ranking.
Let me give you a straightforward idea, SEO content is created with the sole intention of writing for humans and search engines. The only reason you want to get the content ranked is that it gets discovered through organic searches made by humans. Unless you create content that is solely created with search engines and human readers in mind, you might struggle to get the content discovered in this vast universe.
Now again, you might be thinking, is SEO content better than just creating content? When the answer is no.
Content focus:
So now that you have already got an idea that there are two different main types of content available in the market, the differences are widely apart. One leverage the potential of search engines, while the other does not have such intention. However, then the question might be knocking in your mind about what regular content leverages.
The answer is humans – to be particular; it leverages human interaction and attention.
Even when the SEO content tries to do this, they sometimes fail. More theoretically, the primary skill of any SEO content writer is to create content both for human readers and search engines. And this is a real-time challenge.
Most content writers generally are not concerned about all of these things. They share their thoughts, ideas, opinions, news, and other information that will be useful for humans.
They do not constrain them to the needs and wants of the search engines. As they have freedom, it allows them to focus on creating content by keeping in mind the emotional state of the readers.
It can be a different state of mind like the following
- They had closer goals
- They have a realistic future
- They are not feeling
- They can succeed in
- They can make a better life
And so on…
Whether it is educating or entertaining or mind-altering or angering, great content will always have emotional changes. As humans are known for their emotions, when you create such feelings in your content, it can be compelling. But again, the question comes down to what type of content is the best choice for businesses.
Revealing the secret weapon to succeed in your marketing approach
You might think that I am being silly, but once an expert mentioned that one of the very first SEO tasks that he undertakes is to kill all the low-traffic pages. You simply get it as low traffic means it has almost no use.
However, before killing the content, you should be very much sure that the content is not of any use anymore. You can test it by promoting the content on social platforms and spending some money to boost that particular post. This way, you will be able to understand if that particular content is of any volume for your potential customers.
The primary thing is that the content might not be just focused on SEO or regular content, but it should be created with a particular intention.
Content is a secret weapon, which means you are using both content types for the website. You might have the best of both worlds, but that is how you have to create an unbreakable online presence. So, what are the different types of regular content you can create for humans that do not leverage search options?
Three Common content tactics that you can use.
It is not true if you think that since the search is excellent, you will be creating regular content. You need to understand the way to leverage human readers. When you know what humans want, you’ll be able to create content for them to drive their attention, as they will find it brilliant for their requirements.
Here Are the three most common ways of leveraging content
Read more: What is Content Marketing? Ultimate Guide 2023
Different reward content
When you find great blogs, it will compel you to come back for them more. Since you know that you will be able to read some great information, it will attract you. Apart from this, when that one blog site provides a variable type of content, which is both informational and entertaining, it becomes the pudding on the cake.
Some of the most common social platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, leveraged the potential of valuable reward content along with some other websites as well.
You will find several examples where the author keeps creating blogs that will compel you to come back, as you don’t want to miss any updates from that specific author.
If you have a business, this is an excellent kind of content as people will keep searching for you and not find you through a search. The goal is very simple, which is to hook the readers and compel them to come back for you every time.
User-generated content
The next most effective depth is to find people who can create content for you. One of the biggest examples is set by StarterStory.
This specific business makes use of email interviews. From there, they get thousands of pieces of information and create relevant and genuine start-up stories.
The best thing is that they don’t have to write for their website as well. As they gather real stories, if you take a look at this website, they have over 4000 case studies. Even if you schedule properly to read all the case studies, they manage to keep adding more every week.
If you take a closer look, you will find that none of these stories are intended to leverage search engines, but the nature and volume of content become a magnet for the relevant readers.
Content curate
There is nothing new about content creation. Most websites have used this technique for years, and Reddit is probably one of the most notable examples. However, when you have additional insight, it creates a new version of your content.
The web is ruined by SEO
We probably have heard the story that Google is continuously losing its market share to the growing Tiktok. There is nothing new that we don’t want to read articles with thin content that is only created for the purpose of ranking as the domain has power in it.
Hopefully, there will be an algorithm update that will completely change this behavior. However, if you want to create good SEO content, the primary thing needs to be done by marketers and writers.
But what do readers look for from SEO content?
If you want to create good SEO content, you need to answer the search queries made by humans, and it must have information absent on the internet. This can be a great combination of SEO writing and content writing. You can start by answering their search and then gradually go beyond it.
As mentioned by Seth Godin, “Cross out every sentence that could have been written by someone else, every box check, every predictable reference. Now, insert yourself. Your truth and your version of what happens next.”
No, denying that you will not want to delete every sentence, but a marketing expert and SEO content writer needs to add the truth, experience, and views to the topic.
Creating unique experiences and angles on common topics can be highly beneficial. This is the reason why content design, UX, and inserting experience and views matter a lot these days.
It can give the gear towards improved search and success. How do you create such SEO content that would stand out?
Most effective ways of creating useful SEO content
To create helpful content for humans and search engines, you have to be a little bit strategic.
Make sure to add your views and data: The first thing you will find in the top-ranking websites is they have their data which gives a unique angle to the entire content.
So, you need to research a little bit about the data that is unique, and you have it.
Add some design: No, you cannot create bland content. You must add some graphics so that your content reciprocates your thought. You can even add very simple graphics to explain topics. Remember that visuals are always better for humans to understand. You need to leverage your knowledge for the best results.
Add some facts: Facts are crucial for content to make it legit. If you think about where you can get the facts from, the answer is Statista.
Try using videos: As I have mentioned, creating content with many graphics helps keep attention. Apart from using images, you can leverage the potential of short videos. Yes, it can be a little bit time taking and requires some effort, but you can create short videos that are similar to your topic and then publish it on YouTube along with embedding The video on your website page as well.
It adds a unique angle to your content. So not only you’re using text to explain the topic, but also you have videos to make them understand even better.
Add H2s: Modern content writing is a little bit of an argument. People are using different kinds of tools to analyze the content and its performance on search engine result pages. In order to stand out from the rest, it is always recommended to add something that is new to the web. Them. So what kind of H2 can you add?
You can use People Also Ask to find out great information about the H2 contents.
Add a short and quick answer: Yes, this is intended for search engines. There is nothing new that search engines love to find solutions.
For example, if you’re looking for a short brief regarding any device you want to buy, you would definitely not want to read through paragraphs but small information. So unlike other buyers giving descriptions, you only need to get to the point. Use quick answers in the boxes so readers can easily find the preliminary information.
Add numbers and details: As artificial intelligence is continuously on the rise, there is a need for you to add elements that other AI will not be able to provide. Make sure you add relevant service and product data to your content body.
Provide accurate answers: You must know that experts provide exact solutions to problems. This is how Quora was built.
However, you have to be straight to the point with honest answers. If someone asks whether it is harmful to use a hairdryer, your response should be firm and not diplomatic. You should also back your answer with real-time data to make it believable to the readers.
Use the quotes of business leaders: We all have an idol in our mind, and they have already set a benchmark. Using their inspiration, you can add quotes to make the content pop out. Make sure to add a unique page design for the quotes so that it makes the reader feel a lot better.
It is time to put your knowledge to work
Hopefully, now you have real-time knowledge about content writing and how it differs from SEO content writing.
Remember that SEO content means answering questions of your customers, while content answers questions that they don’t even know. Both are required for a successful strategy.
As both types of content are required for a successful strategy, you must choose writers and add all the critical elements to your content. A seasoned person with detailed research ability can significantly contribute to the team.
So initially, you need to determine whether you want to work for search engines or the readers. Depending on your lookout, you have to create content accordingly. So it is better that you get hold of an experienced content writer who knows about creating content according to the latest strategy.
Frequently asked questions
There is no denying that SEO content is essential if you have the intention to rank and get visibility. However, there are many websites that people mostly follow just to get information. They do not use any SEO strategy, but their content quality and the use of variable content compel people to come back to them. So if you want to get ranked and make it useful for search engines, you need to create valuable content that uses search intent.
Short answers to search queries are highly beneficial as search engines mostly pay attention to search queries. As search engines would want to provide an ideal solution to the questions of the searchers, it can be precious when you add short answers based on the search query.
Yes. If you want to improve your ranking and visibility, you have to pay attention to the search intent. If a search engine finds your answers valuable to their searchers’ queries, then there is a chance for your content to get higher in the results.
Yes, it is. In today’s world, when search algorithms are changing and it is not focusing on AI-based content, writers can only create content with human emotions. So, you need to choose a seasoned writer and provide them with a proper strategy to follow.
