SEO Copywriting Services - How to Choose
Are you looking for an SEO copywriting service to help improve your search engine visibility? If so, here are some of the criteria you should consider. Print this page and use it as a checklist when screening SEO copywriting providers.
If they say three years or more, keep them on your shortlist and move on to the next question. If they only have one or two years of SEO copywriting experience, you should seriously consider scratching them off your list. It takes several years to develop the skills needed to call yourself a professional SEO copywriter. After all, you're really balancing two things at once -- you are writing effective web copy for people, while optimizing it for search engines as well. It takes time to learn this balance.
If they provide samples, read through them with an eye out for two things. First, make sure the content is well written, easy to read, informative and engaging. Secondly, make sure it is tightly focused around a certain topic and phrase. These are the fundamental skills every SEO copywriting service should have, so it's something worth reviewing. If they don't have any samples to show you, scratch them off your list. No samples means no experience.
An SEO copywriting provider should work with you to develop topic ideas for your website content. Those topics should be based on (A) your business model, (B) your target audience and (C) a thorough round of keyword research using tools like WordTracker and Keyword Discovery. If an SEO copywriting service says that it's your responsibility to come up with a list of key phrases, scratch them off your list. Keyword research should be part of the service they provide.
To achieve success in search engine optimization, you need more than good copywriting skills. You must also know how to build link popularity, how to optimize website structure, and other key skills. An SEO copywriting expert should understand how these things work together to produce solid rankings. And he or she should have a few success stories to share from past experiences.
The field of search engine optimization is open to anyone. You don't need to pass an exam or attain a certificate. Any John or Jane can put up a website and offer SEO copywriting services, regardless of their true experience.
You've probably seen the work of amateur SEO writers in the past. It's pretty easy to spot. These people crank out poorly written content that's over-stuffed with keywords to the point of sounding ridiculous. You read it and say, "Did a six-year-old write this content?" This is the work of a writer who thinks the search engine is the target audience. They don't realize that the search engine is merely a tool used by the target audience.
Of course, you can easily avoid this kind of copywriting service by performing some due diligence beforehand. The questions listed above represent the bare minimum. Ask the questions I've provided, review samples of the company's past work, and speak to them on the phone to see if they understand the big picture of online success. Trust your instincts and be a smart shopper.
1. How long have you been writing for the web?
If they say three years or more, keep them on your shortlist and move on to the next question. If they only have one or two years of SEO copywriting experience, you should seriously consider scratching them off your list. It takes several years to develop the skills needed to call yourself a professional SEO copywriter. After all, you're really balancing two things at once -- you are writing effective web copy for people, while optimizing it for search engines as well. It takes time to learn this balance.
2. Can I see samples of your copywriting work?
If they provide samples, read through them with an eye out for two things. First, make sure the content is well written, easy to read, informative and engaging. Secondly, make sure it is tightly focused around a certain topic and phrase. These are the fundamental skills every SEO copywriting service should have, so it's something worth reviewing. If they don't have any samples to show you, scratch them off your list. No samples means no experience.
3. How do you come up with topics / keywords?
An SEO copywriting provider should work with you to develop topic ideas for your website content. Those topics should be based on (A) your business model, (B) your target audience and (C) a thorough round of keyword research using tools like WordTracker and Keyword Discovery. If an SEO copywriting service says that it's your responsibility to come up with a list of key phrases, scratch them off your list. Keyword research should be part of the service they provide.
4. Do you have SEO copywriting success stories?
To achieve success in search engine optimization, you need more than good copywriting skills. You must also know how to build link popularity, how to optimize website structure, and other key skills. An SEO copywriting expert should understand how these things work together to produce solid rankings. And he or she should have a few success stories to share from past experiences.
Conclusion and Going Forward
The field of search engine optimization is open to anyone. You don't need to pass an exam or attain a certificate. Any John or Jane can put up a website and offer SEO copywriting services, regardless of their true experience.
You've probably seen the work of amateur SEO writers in the past. It's pretty easy to spot. These people crank out poorly written content that's over-stuffed with keywords to the point of sounding ridiculous. You read it and say, "Did a six-year-old write this content?" This is the work of a writer who thinks the search engine is the target audience. They don't realize that the search engine is merely a tool used by the target audience.
Of course, you can easily avoid this kind of copywriting service by performing some due diligence beforehand. The questions listed above represent the bare minimum. Ask the questions I've provided, review samples of the company's past work, and speak to them on the phone to see if they understand the big picture of online success. Trust your instincts and be a smart shopper.
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posted by Brandon at
3:55 PM
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