“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
~Victor Frankl
Today’s Deja Vuesday travels back a few months to when I first discussed SEO content. I’ve learned a lot since then, and my perspective has certainly shifted, marking this as a post definitely worth revisiting.
In the comments that day, I first met Susan Green, an excellent copywriter who has helped me on many occasions. She first articulated the value of SEO content that day, and has continued to remind me of its value ever since.
Let’s wind back the clock and see what I once said about SEO content….
I don’t write SEO content or throw attention at keywords. I hope I never feel the need to stray from such straightforward guidelines, at least not while writing for Writer Dad.
I can almost hear the collective gasp from the probloggers.
I’m not trying to argue, merely stating what works for me – writing SEO content isn’t it. Before starting a blog, I did my due diligence.
I read Darren’s book, and clearly understood the importance of SEO content and keywords.
During my first two weeks of posting, I stuck to those principles. I would outline ideas, title included, draw the keywords I needed, and then scribble my thoughts around them.
It was backwards and I knew it. I abandoned the practice of designing my drafts around SEO content by my third week.
Writing SEO content, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice. Now, when I pen a post, I sit at the keys with a vague idea of how I’d like to spit. Words spill. Only when finished, do I read the post to see what keywords I might gather. I then decide on a title, an appropriate quote, and a picture to give all the black and white a little splash of color.
Like advertising, or pretty much anything else, I’ve no issue with SEO content. I understand the mathematics, and am positive that the future will find me developing sites where writing for the deities of search engine optimization is entirely necessary.
When that day comes, I’ll design my words around SEO content accordingly.
The hallways of the internet blare with a billion echoes. Like life, it takes courage to think different. It’s hard to claim a niche when I consider myself an expert at nothing. I don’t want to pen SEO content packed lists telling others how to live their lives when I’m still working full time on my own.
When I write, I want someone to feel a silhouette of my thought. Even with a full understanding that my words will be mostly forgotten within thirty-six hours of broadcast, I write them with everything I have.
My children will one day comb through my archives; I write for them, not the SEO content they will never be looking for.
If Writer Dad is my chance to touch our most local universe, then I wish to use my most genuine voice, rather than one designed to capture the attention of the Googlebots who crawl across my verbiage.
When you have language, you can skip rope. Do I really want to skip with SEO?
Content comes first.
Writer Dad
Update: I’m now a ghostwriter who pens fantastic SEO content and blog posts for a living. Click here to hire a gifted ghostwriter.
About Sean Platt
This is a refreshing view toward blog writing and I could not agree more. The creative process should not be “forced” or the writer risks losing authenticity and intimacy with the reader.
There are too many blogs out there that seek to increase reader subscriptions while pretending to provide useful information for “personal development.” This is ironic.
There is a difference between captivation and theft. Unfortunately, there are few blog writers who seek to capture attention with the genuine motivation of providing useful and thought-provoking information while there are many who seek to steal attention with the sole purpose of increasing the RSS number.
I appreciate this post and am more thankful today that I recently added Writer Dad as one of the few blogs I read.
“The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard
This is a refreshing view toward blog writing and I could not agree more. The creative process should not be “forced” or the writer risks losing authenticity and intimacy with the reader.
There are too many blogs out there that seek to increase reader subscriptions while pretending to provide useful information for “personal development.” This is ironic.
There is a difference between captivation and theft. Unfortunately, there are few blog writers who seek to capture attention with the genuine motivation of providing useful and thought-provoking information while there are many who seek to steal attention with the sole purpose of increasing the RSS number.
I appreciate this post and am more thankful today that I recently added Writer Dad as one of the few blogs I read.
“The highest and most beautiful things in life are not to be heard about, nor read about, nor seen but, if one will, are to be lived.” ~ Soren Kierkegaard
I couldn’t agree more. It’s hard enough to write well without peppering one’s post with all of the right phrases for the topic.
Mike Goad’s last blog post..Yellowstone National Park…. and a cool video, too!
I couldn’t agree more. It’s hard enough to write well without peppering one’s post with all of the right phrases for the topic.
Mike Goad’s last blog post..Yellowstone National Park…. and a cool video, too!
Hey Writer Dad! SEO is a lot of work and a lot of fun. I have to recommend Naomi Dunford’s ebook SEO School, available at IttyBiz. It’s the only SEO reference I’ve purchased, and after applying the information to my sites, I’ve seen a drastic increase in traffic and revenue. Every week when I check my stats I’m surprised and impressed at how well it works! Good luck to you!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Why Proofreading Matters
Hey Writer Dad! SEO is a lot of work and a lot of fun. I have to recommend Naomi Dunford’s ebook SEO School, available at IttyBiz. It’s the only SEO reference I’ve purchased, and after applying the information to my sites, I’ve seen a drastic increase in traffic and revenue. Every week when I check my stats I’m surprised and impressed at how well it works! Good luck to you!
Melissa Donovan’s last blog post..Why Proofreading Matters
“Only when finished, do I read the post to see what keywords I might gather.” – This was not such a bad idea. I still never construct an entire post around a keyword, unless I am writing for someone else.
“Only when finished, do I read the post to see what keywords I might gather.” – This was not such a bad idea. I still never construct an entire post around a keyword, unless I am writing for someone else.
Thanks so much for the mention, Writer Dad! I’m glad my comments on SEO have been helpful to you.
When I reread your original post on the topic, I found myself feeling just as strongly as I did the first time. If bloggers stop looking at SEO strategies as a form of selling out, they’ll realize its potential usefulness — to bring in tons of traffic and potentially generate substantial revenue as well.
Thanks so much for the mention, Writer Dad! I’m glad my comments on SEO have been helpful to you.
When I reread your original post on the topic, I found myself feeling just as strongly as I did the first time. If bloggers stop looking at SEO strategies as a form of selling out, they’ll realize its potential usefulness — to bring in tons of traffic and potentially generate substantial revenue as well.
I keep back-burner-ing everything on my to-do list that includes the term SEO. In part, I avoid looking into it because it represents just one more thing to overwhelm me as I try to stay on top of the most basic things (being a mom and wife, meeting client deadlines, writing a few posts a week on my blog, responding to comments, and reading other blogs I enjoy.)
The other reason I probably avoid it, even though I know it would be good for me to look into it, is that I have this love-hate relationship with blog stats. I care deeply about having more readers, but I also resent the fact that I care. I worry that I will loose everything I have to offer as a writer and person if I begin thinking too much about my audience and what I think they want to hear.
I’m sure, though, that there’s a way to strike a balance–to be true to my voice and my stories, and to make the most of any key words that are in them. You’ve inspired me to learn more and try to find that balance.
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)’s last blog post..Why we must be together today
I keep back-burner-ing everything on my to-do list that includes the term SEO. In part, I avoid looking into it because it represents just one more thing to overwhelm me as I try to stay on top of the most basic things (being a mom and wife, meeting client deadlines, writing a few posts a week on my blog, responding to comments, and reading other blogs I enjoy.)
The other reason I probably avoid it, even though I know it would be good for me to look into it, is that I have this love-hate relationship with blog stats. I care deeply about having more readers, but I also resent the fact that I care. I worry that I will loose everything I have to offer as a writer and person if I begin thinking too much about my audience and what I think they want to hear.
I’m sure, though, that there’s a way to strike a balance–to be true to my voice and my stories, and to make the most of any key words that are in them. You’ve inspired me to learn more and try to find that balance.
Kristin T. (@kt_writes)’s last blog post..Why we must be together today
Okay, now you are #1, you showoff.
Good job.
Okay, now you are #1, you showoff.
Good job.
I’m agree totally Writer Dad. Sometimes I wonder if I have writer’s block or SEO block. When I stop thinking about the keywords and just write, the message flows better. Then, when I’m happy with it I ice the cake with keywords. Much more authentic.
I understand that bloggers read blogs for information and to learn something, but I also know that it is also about the connection they feel with the blogger. There are so many of the same ideas being written about and when they are written in an authentic voice they are easier to “hear”.
Davina’s last blog post..How Curious Moments Add Value
I’m agree totally Writer Dad. Sometimes I wonder if I have writer’s block or SEO block. When I stop thinking about the keywords and just write, the message flows better. Then, when I’m happy with it I ice the cake with keywords. Much more authentic.
I understand that bloggers read blogs for information and to learn something, but I also know that it is also about the connection they feel with the blogger. There are so many of the same ideas being written about and when they are written in an authentic voice they are easier to “hear”.
Davina’s last blog post..How Curious Moments Add Value
Kent: What a wonderful comment. It’s true. I’ve only recently understood how little value the RSS number has as a metric. I appreciate that WD is one of the few blogs you read. That means a lot.
Mke: True that.
Melissa: Bought it, read it, loved it, applied it. Naomi’s awesome. I wouldn’t be the “best writer on the net” without her. : > )
Vered: It’s the best way to do it, I believe, if you want your copy to sound natural.
Susan: No doubt. It’s a tool, it should be used well and not abused.
Kristin: I use to have the same love hate relationship with blog stats. Now I pretty much ignore them. I knew I was putting out excellent content, but I couldn’t get a Digg or a Stumble for the life of me. I wasn’t writing top ten lists, or the kind of posts that get that sort of attention. I made a conscious decision to stop focusing on it, and believed good things would happen in due course. I do believe, however, that some clever SEO might speed the process.
kittytown: Snicker.
Davina: They are FAR easier to hear, there isn’t any doubt. We’re intelligent people and we can usually spot the difference. The trick is to find that spot in between writing for people and helping people find your words to begin with.
Kent: What a wonderful comment. It’s true. I’ve only recently understood how little value the RSS number has as a metric. I appreciate that WD is one of the few blogs you read. That means a lot.
Mke: True that.
Melissa: Bought it, read it, loved it, applied it. Naomi’s awesome. I wouldn’t be the “best writer on the net” without her. : > )
Vered: It’s the best way to do it, I believe, if you want your copy to sound natural.
Susan: No doubt. It’s a tool, it should be used well and not abused.
Kristin: I use to have the same love hate relationship with blog stats. Now I pretty much ignore them. I knew I was putting out excellent content, but I couldn’t get a Digg or a Stumble for the life of me. I wasn’t writing top ten lists, or the kind of posts that get that sort of attention. I made a conscious decision to stop focusing on it, and believed good things would happen in due course. I do believe, however, that some clever SEO might speed the process.
kittytown: Snicker.
Davina: They are FAR easier to hear, there isn’t any doubt. We’re intelligent people and we can usually spot the difference. The trick is to find that spot in between writing for people and helping people find your words to begin with.
A look at some design and seo implications of duplicate content, … Search engines may be able to recognize….