Looking for tips for writing an article that ranks can be tricky, especially when you’re new to the job.
There are many things to consider when writing, from the title to the length and everything in between. I thought I’d put together these tips and strategies to aid you in your quest. Using these tips, you’ll be able to write a great piece to help your website thrive, so keep reading and don’t miss a single step.
The best way to write an article that ranks is by ensuring that your piece is well-written, easy to understand, and has a catchy title. It’s also necessary that you cite credible sources. Adding subheadings, and alternative texts to images, using keywords in the right places, and using internal links can also help rank your article.
Tips For Writing An Article That Ranks
Create Content Around Shoulder Niches
Shoulder niches are helpful because they help you broaden your reach and create more opportunities for yourself. Creating a shoulder niche enables you to attract new clients who wouldn’t have necessarily been interested.
The idea behind shoulder niches is that they provide opportunities for you to expand your audience. Think of them as side roads you can take to reach people who may not have initially been looking for what you offer.
Shoulder niches are a great way to expand your search visibility. They can help you get backlinks from authority sources and other bloggers too.
Backlinks can (if properly managed) increase the visibility of your content in search engines. High-quality, relevant backlinks are one of the ranking factors their algorithms look for when ranking websites in search results. (source)
Backlinks can be beneficial if you constantly compete with other sites in your niche.
It’s essential to note that backlinks are not advertisements. The blogs that include these backlinks are informational pieces written in an entertaining way. The content draws attention and keeps readers engaged. The goal is that they engage with your business or website, but if they engage with a backlink source, that can indirectly help your growth too.
Use A Catchy Title
When writing an article for your blog, it’s essential to consider how it will present on search engines. Suppose your title doesn’t include the keywords for which you want to rank. In that case, getting your article in front of people searching those terms will be challenging. Title tags are valuable for search engines to determine a page’s topic and what to expect from the page content. (source)
Here are some things to consider when creating a title:
- Make sure the title is clear and concise. Trying to cram too much information into it is a bad idea—you don’t want your readers to have trouble understanding what they’ll find when they click through.
- Use keywords naturally in the title, especially if there are keywords that you want to rank for in particular. But don’t go overboard—if it sounds unnatural or forced, it probably won’t work.
- Make sure the title is unique and doesn’t repeat another previously published one. It will help ensure that readers don’t get confused between different articles with similar titles.
Start With A Good Introduction
Always start with a bang.
When writing an article, you probably spend a lot of time on the content itself. But your title can often be the most crucial part of your article—it’s what people see before they click on it. A good title helps direct people to find your article when they search for it on Google and other search engines.
The first few words of your title should be easy to read but contain keywords that encourage someone to want to click on the article. (source)
A good introduction will ensure that your readers know what they’re in for, and it’ll help them decide whether or not they want to continue reading. You want to give them enough information so that they can decide whether or not the rest of your article is worthwhile. They might move on and never return if you don’t do this.
Suppose you want your article to rank well in search results. In that case, you must ensure that the introduction is compelling and engaging. It should also be relevant to the rest of the page and not just a generic intro that you use for all your blog posts.
Use Keywords In The First 150 Words
The first tip is to use keywords early and often in your writing. It may seem counterintuitive because it’s easier to create a flow and rhythm from your content if you don’t have to stop and insert keywords every few sentences.
However, suppose you want people to find your article through search engines. In that case, it’s essential that you use keywords in the first 150 words or so of your post—this is where Google looks for them most often. (source)
To do this effectively, start by coming up with a list of relevant keywords or phrases before writing any copy at all. Then use them throughout your article as often as possible without making it look unnatural or stilted. Try using them naturally in sentences rather than using them as nouns themselves.
Link To Credible Sources
You demonstrate that reputable sources back up your content by linking to credible sources or websites in your blog posts. It shows Google that you aren’t just writing off the top of your head or posting whatever comes to mind. Instead, it shows that you have thoroughly researched your subject matter and found the best resources available.
Search engines love this because they want to provide quality content to their users. They also want to give credit where credit is due.
Suppose the search engine or another site knows that a particular site (like yours) has produced high-quality content on a specific subject. In that case, the other sites will link to your site when they find similar content elsewhere.
For reference, credible sources are the ones that can be considered unbiased and have some evidence based on verifiable data. (source)
There are many different ways to determine what makes a source credible. The most common way is relying on the publisher’s reputation or the person or organization that publishes the material. Determining a publication’s reputation occurs by measuring its track record of accuracy, fairness, and objectivity in its reporting over time.
Another way to determine credibility is by looking at how much experience the author has had with a particular topic. For example, suppose you want to write about politics. In that case, you’ll want to research your sources before using them in your writing because they will make up most of your references throughout your piece.
Use Internal Links
Internal links are essential, as they help Google understand and rank your website better. By providing Google with links to follow along with descriptive anchor text, you can inform Google about which pages of your website are essential. (source)
When you create internal links, you’re telling Google that one page is related to another. They help Google understand your site structure and the relationships between different pages. It also makes it easier for users to navigate your website since their browsers can find where they want to go next.
For reference, internal links point to pages on your website. They are a powerful way to boost your SEO and ensure that your content is straightforward for visitors to find, increasing engagement and conversions.
Successful sites use internal links to connect different pages on your site. Also, internal links help search engines understand what your site is about in terms of content.
The more appropriately managed internal links you have on your site, the more likely that Google will see your site relevant to a user’s query.
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Publish High-Quality Content
Think before you hit publish.
Only publish high-quality content.
When you’re writing, keep in mind that the purpose of your content is to inform, persuade, or entertain your reader. If it doesn’t do any of these things well, you shouldn’t post it on your website.
The first thing you need to do when considering content is to make it high-quality. People are less likely to share or engage with poorly written or formatted content, so ensure your text is grammatically correct and the spelling is equally accurate.
It’s also essential that your content has a clear message and purpose. If you’re writing for the sake of writing, chances are no one will read it! Remember: if it doesn’t have value, people won’t care.
Ensure that your content is well-researched and factually accurate. You want to ensure that everything in your writing is true and correct—if not, people will notice. If you’re writing about new research findings or breaking news, check the source—make sure it’s credible and legitimate.
Only publish high-quality content on your website or blog—that way, you’ll give visitors something worth reading.
Ensure that your content is helpful for the reader. The goal must be that you want people reading through your posts or articles to have learned something new at the end. Otherwise, they’ll feel like they wasted time reading something that doesn’t help them.
Create Long Content
According to SEMRush’s State of Content Marketing 2020 report, long-form content has proven to be more engaging, shareable, and better for SEO. (source)
It’s clear that readers want to dive into the details of their favorite topics—they want to learn more about them and understand them in depth.
Longer articles mean more detailed information and better engagement with customers looking for something specific or wanting more information about a topic they’re interested in learning.
Long-form content is the king of content. It’s more likely to earn quality backlinks and better SEO results than any other type of content you can produce. (source)
People tend to respond positively to longer content because they know they’re getting something good when they spend time reading and consuming it.
People also tend to like being rewarded for their time investment by giving more information than expected. It is especially true in digital marketing circles where things like SEO rank highly in importance.
Break Paragraphs Into Manageable Chunks
Breaking your paragraphs into chunks can help search engines understand your content topics. Based on artificial intelligence, search algorithms scan content for topics rather than keywords. (source)
Creating a plan and solid content strategy focusing on long-term SEO is essential. The more you can make your site relevant to users’ needs, the better your ranking will be.
The best way to achieve this is through human-readable content that includes valuable paragraphs and subheadings. Good subheadings help search engines determine your content topic without relying on keywords or phrases alone.
Use Subheadings
Subheadings are essential to web accessibility because they allow people with disabilities to navigate your website better and quickly find what they’re seeking.
Subheadings also allow Google and other search engines to understand the type of information within your site. This feat will enable them to return more relevant results during research on those topics.
When writing an article or blog post, you may want to use subheadings to organize your writing. Subheadings can be helpful in any situation where you have much information that needs communication. Still, you don’t want it all in one long paragraph.
For reference, a subheading is a heading that appears under the main title of a document or webpage. You can use subheadings to divide up different sections of a page into smaller subsections for more straightforward navigation. (source)
Avoid Complex Language
Generally, complex language is a big turn-off for readers.
Avoid complex language if you want to make sure your content is as effective as possible.
Content creators often believe that the more complex their writing is, the more intelligent it will sound to their audience. It couldn’t be further from the truth. Using complex sentence structures and jargon can often affect your readers: they’ll become confused by what you’re trying to say and might not even finish reading your work.
Ensure that the language you choose is appropriate for your specific audience. (source) It’s essential to be aware of whom you are writing for, what they expect from your writing, and what the purpose of your writing is.
It’s also essential to think about why you are writing in the first place. If it’s for something like a blog post or an email, you should aim for a more casual tone. But if you are writing a formal report or memo, your tone needs to be much more professional and formal.
The key is to use simple language that’s easy for everyone to understand. It is especially essential when writing for an audience of non-native English speakers. However, it’s also crucial if you’re trying to communicate with anyone who isn’t a graduate student in linguistics.
Add Alt Text To Images
You’ve heard of HTML. When you build a website and add images within the HTML code, you must add an Alt tag. An Alt tag (aka alt text) tells the browser what to print if the image is corrupt or slow to load for the user. Search engines also use the alt text in determining the validity of an image compared to the topic for relevance. (source)
You can use alternative text to explain what the image is and what it’s doing on the page. It would be best if you also wrote it to explicitly describe what is visible in the image—don’t add information about anything that isn’t in the picture.
Search engines and screen readers use this additional information to help users understand the image. It can also help search engines determine whether or not an image would be appropriate for its results page.
Other purposes of alternative text are to:
- Give search engines and screen readers an idea of what your image is about to help them categorize it.
- Provide context for the user who does not have a visual disability but is using a device without an image display.
- Suppose an image fails to load or the user has blocked images. In that case, the browser will present the alternative text visually in place of the image. (source)
Find Guest Post Opportunities
Guest posting is a form of content marketing where you publish your content on someone else’s website, usually as a blog post. It’s a great way to build relationships with other people in your niche, increase your reach, and get more exposure for your site.
You can guest post in many different ways. The most common form is submitting a link to a post on your site and asking them to publish it on theirs. Another form is when you write an original piece for their blog, and they then link back to your site in their post.
Guest posting effectively establishes yourself as a thought leader in your industry. Simultaneously it aids in building relationships with others who are also trying to become recognized as experts in their field.
While guest posting can be effective in many ways, it’s essential to remember that you should never use it to spam a website or publish content that isn’t relevant to the site’s audience or purpose.
What Are The Pros Of Guest Posting?
- Guest posting allows you to build relationships with influencers in your industry and gives them an incentive to share your content when they publish it. This way, you’ll be able to get more exposure for yourself and have a better chance of getting your posts shared by influencers as well.
- Guest posting also helps increase your visibility. It makes you more visible in significant publications you might not have been able to get published before. It can help lead the way to more extensive opportunities in the future.
- By writing for other publications, you’re also building up a reputation as someone who knows what they’re talking about in the industry. This act develops what we call E.A.T., or Expertise, Authority, and Trust. All essential if you want people to trust your brand or product and buy from you.
What Are The Cons Of Guest Posting?
- It’s hard to get noticed. While guest posting has been around for a long time, it’s still not as easy as it could be. Getting accepted is competitive and requires writing an excellent piece that stands out from the crowd.
- In return, you have to offer value for being featured on another site’s blog. Sometimes, this means writing about topics you don’t care for or are interested in learning. Suppose you’re trying to promote your own business. In that case, this can be challenging if you don’t know much about the niche or industry that interests people there.
- Many other writers could fill the same role on different sites, so when someone accepts your work, it doesn’t mean they’ll always have room for more posts from you in future months (or even years).
Use The Google Search Console
When you want to know what Google thinks of your content, Google Search Console is where you need to look. It helps you monitor, maintain, and troubleshoot your site’s performance in Google Search results. (source)
It’s a great way to ensure your site gets the visibility it deserves. Or rather, it’s excellent at providing data on how often people find your content and click through to your pages.
The information from Google Search Console can help you optimize your site for better placement in search results. It also offers insight into how many clicks your pages receive from various search queries. The data can be helpful if you’re trying to track down which posts attract the most attention from visitors.
Using the Google search console lets you do the following.
- Analyze the traffic coming to your website from Google search. See where your site ranks on search results pages and what keywords lead people to your site.
- Monitor server errors, site load issues, and security issues like hacking and malware.
- See which keywords people use to find you, and then use those keywords in your content to attract more customers and encourage them to take action.
Use The “Skyscraper Technique”
The Skyscraper Technique is a link-building strategy where you find high-ranking content with tons of backlinks, capitalize on its weaknesses, and develop a better piece of content. (source)
This way, you can leverage the existing authority of that content to get your piece of content linked to by the same people who linked to the original.
Suppose you can build something better than what’s already ranking well on Google. In that case, you’ll have an advantage over your competition because Google will rank your site higher than theirs.
To do this, you must find a piece of content linked to many other sites. The more links it has and the higher rank it has for its keyword, the better. You then look at what those other sites are linking to understand why they chose those links over yours (or your competitor’s).
Then you create a new piece of content that addresses those concerns and includes them in your post. Finally, submit your content on each site where people are linking back to the original piece so you can get additional links from them.
This method works so well because it allows you to piggyback off other people’s work while still giving them something valuable in return. The extra traffic will also help them rank higher in search engines than they might have been able to do on their own.
What Are The Pros Of The “Skyscraper Technique”?
- The Skyscraper Technique can earn you high-quality backlinks, increasing your site’s overall authority. (source)
- Perfecting content already performing well is a great way to provide high-quality content that is relevant and useful for your readers. Focusing on a few key areas allows you to create content that meets their needs and builds trust with them over time.
- This methodology can help you overcome writer’s block. It works by taking an idea you’ve already written or read about and then building on it to create a new post.
What Are The Cons Of The “Skyscraper Technique”?
- This technique doesn’t allow for much creativity or flexibility. You’re putting yourself inside someone else’s head and trying their ideas on for size instead of creating something new from scratch.
- The skyscraper technique sacrifices user experience and value for more content. While ranking highly in search results might work well, users likely won’t click on these pages because they’re incredibly long and challenging to navigate.
- This technique requires you to create high-quality content that will attract links from other websites. That means you need to know how to write compelling content that people want to link to their content. It would be best if you also came up with ideas for topics that are original and interesting enough to attract links.
To wrap this up, here’s a concise summary of the notable information stated in this article.
Summary
Writing an article with a catchy title will help people find it on search engines. If you have much information in your article, break it up into sections using subheadings so that readers can quickly identify where they are when they read through the content. Have internal links in your article to link related topics together so that readers can find more information on those topics.
Get started with Hyperwave Content’s Marketing Services today!
Sources
Our writing continues to be industry-leading with our transparency of research sources. Why? Because it’s fair for you to know where we found our information.
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- Headings and Subheadings | Health Sciences Website Content Guide | West Virginia University. (2022). West Virginia University.
- WooRank. (2022). Title Tag | How to Use Title Tags for SEO.
- Kezić, G. (July 29, 2022). The Skyscraper Technique 101: What Is It and How to Pull It Off. Play Media.
- List of Reliable Websites for Research & Examples of Credible Sources. (March 18, 2022). Knowledge Base.
- Author Removed At Request Of Original Publisher. (November 8, 2016). 13.2 Using Language Effectively – Stand up, Speak out. Pressbooks.
- Coleman, B. (September 3, 2021). Blog SEO: How to Search Engine Optimize Your Blog Content. HubSpot.
- McCaughna, T. (May 26, 2022). Boost Your Content Reach with Shoulder Niches. Freshwater Agency.
- Moz. (August 17, 2022). Alt Text: Why It’s Important For Accessibility & SEO. https://moz.com/learn/seo/alt-text
- Martinez, J. (June 22, 2021). The Skyscraper Link Building Technique. Redefine Marketing Group.
- Moz. (2022a, June 23). What Are Keywords And Why Are They Important For SEO?