How to Optimize Content for Search Engines

Many good writers and entrepreneurs do not make a good wage online, which could be for a multitude of reasons. However, if you learn how to optimize content for search engines, also known as search engine optimization (SEO), you can increase your chances for earning revenue. This is not the final word on how to optimize content for search engines as the topic is ever-changing, in-depth and complex, but these tips will put you on the right path for better search engine results.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Understand that the major search engines use two main methods for weighting content for advertising and organization purposes. One is keyword density and the other is Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI). You will want your content optimized in both areas for best results.
2. Decide which keyword or keyword phrase you wish to use and employ this regularly in the title, first paragraph, last paragraph, and throughout the content where the keyword fits naturally. Keywords used in the first and last sentence may also improve SEO.
3. Aim for a keyword density of 2.5 to 5 percent generally. Find an optimal percentage for your website, if significant, by comparing similar articles and search ranking or page views.
4. Replace pronouns and general nouns with your keyword to increase keyword density. For instance, to best optimize content for a search engine on the topic of “Britney Spears,” use her name rather than the word “she,” as much as is reasonable to read. Another example: when writing on a specific car model, write “Ford Mustang” rather than “car” or “automobile” to reach out to people searching for “Ford Mustang.”
5. Learn a bit about LSI for best results. Otherwise think of LSI in terms of words related to your keywords that people may search for and use these terms (as secondary keywords) in your content. Along with Ford Mustang, for example, you may want to add words/subtopics like, “affordable auto insurance” or “classic race cars” such that it relates to your article.
6. Reread your work and condense it. Remove unnecessary language that dilutes both the keyword density and the content. Say more in fewer words, employ active verbs and reduce gerunds (-ing).
7. Try free and paid services to best optimize content for search engines, depending on need. See Resources below.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid excessively high keyword density (6 percent and upward) as it has the reverse effect of good SEO. Your content may be dropped or low ranked for appearing as spam.
• Calculate keyword density by dividing the number of instances of the keyword by the total number of words.