As an SEO Article Writer, How Do You Decide What to Write When Clients Give You Keywords?
A student in the SEO course asked me the following question recently. It’s a question I’ve been asked quite a few times over the last year or so. We’ve covered this before here on this blog in the post, SEO Copywriting Question: An SEO Writer Asks, “Do Clients Tell You the Kind of Content They Want?” But, as info gets buried and it’s the new year and a lot of newbies are just starting out, I thought it a good idea to go over it again.
Following is this student’s exact question – and my answers.
First Question from Student in the SEO Course
Hi Yuwanda
I really like the [SEO] course and I’m learning a lot. I’m getting ready to write the two articles to send to you for review and I have one question:
Although I understand the keyword research, how do you actually research for what to include in the article’s body itself. In particular, for subjects you might not know about (such as mortgages, weddings, or whatever). Would you just go online and look for information on the topics and then decide what to include?
For example, if you saw something interesting about exotic weddings such room decorations or going to a particular island to get married, would you just include it because it seems interesting? Or places that have great low rate mortgages because that seems it would appeal to people? Or, would it all be based on what comes up on the keyword list?
This is all I don’t understand so far.
Thanks,
MK
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My Answer
Good question.
To answer — usually, the client will provide you with a primary keyword phrase. So, type that into Google’s keyword research tool to find other (secondary) keyword phrases. Depending on the keyword phrase, you’ll find a few or many more phrases you can use to round out an article.
Have a good weekend, and good luck finishing up the remainder of the [SEO] course.
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After I sent this email to him, he sent in a follow-up question.
Second Question from Student in the SEO Course
[RE] “…you’ll find a few or many more phrases you can use to round out an article.”
I’m a little confused, because I’m understanding “round out” as putting the finishing touches on an article after just about all of it has already been written. Do you mean you can use the few or many more phrases to start and build the article from scratch? Wouldn’t more research be required, especially if the writer isn’t familiar with the subject?
I’m perplexed about how to start articles, make them interesting and get them to the point where they can be rounded out according to what I think rounding out means. How does it work?
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My Answer: 3 Ways to Find Ideas for What to Write When Clients Give You Keywords
M-:
Sometimes clients will give you ideas on what to write about; other times they’ll give you free reign to write on what you want when they forward keywords to you. So, write content that is helpful to their readers. If you don’t have any ideas, ask clients to give you some, eg, “Are there frequently asked questions that your customers have that I can address in the articles you want me to write?”
You can also do research on competitor sites to see what kind of content they have to get ideas for your client articles. Or, you can look at answer sites like Answers.yahoo.com or answerbag.com to see what types of questions users of a particular product/service are asking to get ideas for articles.
In short, there are tons of ways to get ideas about what to write on when client gives you a set of keywords.
As for when I say “round out an article,” I mean use secondary keyword phrases to keep from having to repeat the primary keyword phrase a jazillion times, that’s all — nothing more, nothing less.
Hope this insight helps.
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Related Posts
SEO Writing Tip: Why I Write with Google’s Keyword AdWord Tool Open at All Times
SEO Services: How SEO Copywriters Should Handle Optimizing for More than One Keyword Phrase
Your Freelance Writing Goals: How’s It Going?
I’m off track so far this year as I haven’t been able to adhere much to my daily, time-blocked schedule. It’s driving me crazy because I don’t function well without a regimented schedule. I still have some non-work stuff to get off my plate, so I decided to just go with the flow this week and next week and will get back on track the week of the 23rd.
If you’re off track with your freelance writing goals, how do you plan to get back on track this year? Please share in the comments section below.
Best,
Yuwanda
P.S.: In One Week, Train for a Career That Allows You to Earn Enough to REALLY Quit Your Day Job: Get SEO Copywriting Training Today.
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