This is part four of a four part post. Click here for part I, here for part II, or here for part III.
“The truth is more important than the facts.”
~Frank Lloyd Wright
I don’t write for SEO, 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 for SEO isn’t it.
Before I began the blog, I did my due diligence.
I read Darren’s book, and clearly understood the importance of SEO and keywords. During my first two weeks of posting, I stuck to the principles. I would outline ideas, title included, draw the keywords I needed, and then scribble around them.
It was backwards.
I knew it, and abandoned the practice my third week.
Writing exclusively for 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, I bring the mop.
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 writing for SEO. 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 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 find myself an expert at nothing. I don’t want to pen lists to tell others how to live their lives better when I’m still working full time on mine. Hunter Nuttall wrote a fantastic piece on building a slow and steady audience. This is an excerpt from that article:
Writer Dad says he doesn’t have a niche, and that’s certainly true in the traditional sense. But I think he has a very specific niche. He’s writing for people who like about 1 post per day, about 500 words, broken into lots of short paragraphs, with lots of interaction in the comments section, and most importantly, his unique writing style. Name another blogger who’s similar. Can’t think of one? That’s because he’s the only one in his niche.
The traffic that drives by Writer Dad could only be described as light. What I do have, is a high percentage of people who stick around. This is as it should be. I’d prefer a smaller, genuine audience, to a large one who slips Writer Dad in their reader because they think it’s something they’re supposed to do.
Without ads, an inflated audience is irrelevant.
When I write, it is because 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.
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. Why would I wish to tie my laces?
Writer Dad
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About Sean Platt
Another truly inspiring post Sean. It’s not that you try to inspire us with your words, but that have an inspiring heart that you are willing to share with us. :-)
Eric Hamms last blog post..Re-Centering: Finding Your Way Back To The Life You Meant To Live
Another truly inspiring post Sean. It’s not that you try to inspire us with your words, but that have an inspiring heart that you are willing to share with us. :-)
Eric Hamms last blog post..Re-Centering: Finding Your Way Back To The Life You Meant To Live
You have a great audience and I am sure it will get bigger. Actually I just recommended your blog to a friend…
Jim Gaudets last blog post..Why are you here?
You have a great audience and I am sure it will get bigger. Actually I just recommended your blog to a friend…
Jim Gaudets last blog post..Why are you here?
Hunter is right, you are the only one in your niche.
I return here daily because I enjoy your crisp writing and I appreciate the value of uniqueness. You are, indeed, a unique blogger, Sean.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Picking the Brain of Naomi Dunford
Hunter is right, you are the only one in your niche.
I return here daily because I enjoy your crisp writing and I appreciate the value of uniqueness. You are, indeed, a unique blogger, Sean.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Picking the Brain of Naomi Dunford
Ellen: It IS Turkish rock star week. That’s funny about the post title. I thought that earlier today. I was thinking that I should have called it
SE I don’t think sO. I will continue to walk forward sure footed. Thanks.
Susan: You are right. I’m guilty of being ignorant myself. You, Michael, and a few others offered valuable insight into the necessity of SEO. I feel like it is only fair that I do a follow up post where I talk about its benefits. Thank you for making your voice heard today. I appreciate it.
Kyddryn: SEO = Search Engine Optimization. It means being mindful of what people will search for, and how the search engines catalogue information. Cussedly lazy… snicker.
Dave: I am the fly in your ointment, brother.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. That is a very kind thing to say.
Jim: Thanks for the recommendation. Parties are fun when there are more mouths to add to the chatter.
Jamie: Thank you. There are few things I’d rather be.
Ellen: It IS Turkish rock star week. That’s funny about the post title. I thought that earlier today. I was thinking that I should have called it
SE I don’t think sO. I will continue to walk forward sure footed. Thanks.
Susan: You are right. I’m guilty of being ignorant myself. You, Michael, and a few others offered valuable insight into the necessity of SEO. I feel like it is only fair that I do a follow up post where I talk about its benefits. Thank you for making your voice heard today. I appreciate it.
Kyddryn: SEO = Search Engine Optimization. It means being mindful of what people will search for, and how the search engines catalogue information. Cussedly lazy… snicker.
Dave: I am the fly in your ointment, brother.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. That is a very kind thing to say.
Jim: Thanks for the recommendation. Parties are fun when there are more mouths to add to the chatter.
Jamie: Thank you. There are few things I’d rather be.
@ Susan, it’s perfectly reasonable to ensure that a certain phrase appears a few times in a post. I wouldn’t even consider that SEO; it’s just natural to include phrases that are relevant to your topic.
What I’m opposed to is letting SEO be the driving force, to the point where the reader doesn’t matter. I’ve heard a number of people say that content quality doesn’t matter, just backlinks. I don’t think that mindset is good for the reader, though it’s good for the SERPs.
However, I’m sure you write quality content, so I have no problem with what you do.
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..What Spammers Can Teach Us About Copywriting
@ Susan, it’s perfectly reasonable to ensure that a certain phrase appears a few times in a post. I wouldn’t even consider that SEO; it’s just natural to include phrases that are relevant to your topic.
What I’m opposed to is letting SEO be the driving force, to the point where the reader doesn’t matter. I’ve heard a number of people say that content quality doesn’t matter, just backlinks. I don’t think that mindset is good for the reader, though it’s good for the SERPs.
However, I’m sure you write quality content, so I have no problem with what you do.
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..What Spammers Can Teach Us About Copywriting
All this SEO talk is really making me nauseous. I’m honestly hoping tomorrow is light and fluffy; it would be ok if it were meaningful, possibly dark, and maybe even downright dangerous. Just not SEOesque.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
All this SEO talk is really making me nauseous. I’m honestly hoping tomorrow is light and fluffy; it would be ok if it were meaningful, possibly dark, and maybe even downright dangerous. Just not SEOesque.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
I agree that SEO can dull your writing, but I am slowly learning that it’s actually a good idea to write the post, then when it’s done go over it and make it a LITTLE more SE optimized.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed
I agree that SEO can dull your writing, but I am slowly learning that it’s actually a good idea to write the post, then when it’s done go over it and make it a LITTLE more SE optimized.
Vered – MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed
I don’t know, Vered. Doing that is like doing your hair really nice, then smothering your hands in molasses and running them haphazerdly through your curly locks. It taints the writing. It takes away from your original voice. Your words may have departed your mind untouched and holy, but they are soon hijacked and defiled by ulterior motives, eventually arriving as damaged goods.
This, of course, is coming from someone who is simply too lazy to care about SEO-izing my posts. Not only that, but it’s been a rough day on writerdad.com, what with all the SEO flying around as if the poopsmith were in a drunken rage–so what I’m saying is . . . I’m really tired and should probably go to bed.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
I don’t know, Vered. Doing that is like doing your hair really nice, then smothering your hands in molasses and running them haphazerdly through your curly locks. It taints the writing. It takes away from your original voice. Your words may have departed your mind untouched and holy, but they are soon hijacked and defiled by ulterior motives, eventually arriving as damaged goods.
This, of course, is coming from someone who is simply too lazy to care about SEO-izing my posts. Not only that, but it’s been a rough day on writerdad.com, what with all the SEO flying around as if the poopsmith were in a drunken rage–so what I’m saying is . . . I’m really tired and should probably go to bed.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
It hardly seems needed to leave a post to let you know I have been by again. I like your take on SEO and your take on life. I am eagerly awaiting to hear and learn your next steps in life with the big business change. With so many comments (YAY FOR YOU) I don’t know how you could do much more than blog. :-)
Harmonys last blog post..FRIDAY FIASCO – MY NON-GRATITUDE LIST
It hardly seems needed to leave a post to let you know I have been by again. I like your take on SEO and your take on life. I am eagerly awaiting to hear and learn your next steps in life with the big business change. With so many comments (YAY FOR YOU) I don’t know how you could do much more than blog. :-)
Harmonys last blog post..FRIDAY FIASCO – MY NON-GRATITUDE LIST
Quality nuggets I put in my pocket from this post:
“It takes courage to think differently.” So true. Once I abandoned the idea that I had to write or blog according to “best practices,” I had courage and I did think differently.
“Writing for SEO, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice.” This is the writers most prized possion, in my opinion. It’s all about your voice. And as I’ve told you before, you stay so true to who you are and what you believe in. For this, I have tremendous admiration for you.
“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.” Probably the biggest reason I subscribe to you is that you write in a way that gives me a connection to you. You make the experience personable. You write for yourself first, and because of this, your readers follow you.
I hope one day to have someone like Hunter Nuttall write something as complimentary about me.
B.Wildes last blog post..Being Volunteered to Shovel-out the Barn
Quality nuggets I put in my pocket from this post:
“It takes courage to think differently.” So true. Once I abandoned the idea that I had to write or blog according to “best practices,” I had courage and I did think differently.
“Writing for SEO, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice.” This is the writers most prized possion, in my opinion. It’s all about your voice. And as I’ve told you before, you stay so true to who you are and what you believe in. For this, I have tremendous admiration for you.
“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.” Probably the biggest reason I subscribe to you is that you write in a way that gives me a connection to you. You make the experience personable. You write for yourself first, and because of this, your readers follow you.
I hope one day to have someone like Hunter Nuttall write something as complimentary about me.
B.Wildes last blog post..Being Volunteered to Shovel-out the Barn
Hunter: I couldn’t agree with you more. I think you expressed that in your comment better than I did in my post.
Oktober Five: I hope I was fluffier for you today. Sorry for such a technical week. I promise next week will be more fun; except for Wednesday when I’ll be talking about poverty. That won’t be fun at all, but at least it won’t be about SEO.
Vered: It’s like seasoning. Just a dash or you dim the dish.
Harmony: Some days it is very difficult, but you guys read and comment; you deserve my time. One of my most loyal readers pointed out that I seemed to be rushing through answering my comments the last two weeks. She was correct. I’ve cut my comments on other blogs so I can do my best job here. I’ve felt really good about it this week.
B. Wilde: Thank you for all your compliments. I’ll continue to give you reasons to enjoy the time you spend reading. I was reading Hunter’s article without knowing that was at the end. It caught me by surprise, right in the stomach.
Hunter: I couldn’t agree with you more. I think you expressed that in your comment better than I did in my post.
Oktober Five: I hope I was fluffier for you today. Sorry for such a technical week. I promise next week will be more fun; except for Wednesday when I’ll be talking about poverty. That won’t be fun at all, but at least it won’t be about SEO.
Vered: It’s like seasoning. Just a dash or you dim the dish.
Harmony: Some days it is very difficult, but you guys read and comment; you deserve my time. One of my most loyal readers pointed out that I seemed to be rushing through answering my comments the last two weeks. She was correct. I’ve cut my comments on other blogs so I can do my best job here. I’ve felt really good about it this week.
B. Wilde: Thank you for all your compliments. I’ll continue to give you reasons to enjoy the time you spend reading. I was reading Hunter’s article without knowing that was at the end. It caught me by surprise, right in the stomach.
@WD: It was way fluffier. It was perfect. Thank you.
@WD: It was way fluffier. It was perfect. Thank you.
I’m late to this conversation, and hate to admit the fact that I don’t have time to read all the comments before mine. So, I may be echoing something already said:
I think any true writer needs to write with the process of formmulating his/her craft, first and foremost. Writing for SEO takes your writing from CREATIVE writing to TECHNICAL writing…not neccesarily bad, if you WANT to be a technical writer…but devastating if you want to be a CREATIVE writer.
Save the concern over SEO for your tags. There’s plenty of opportunity to get good, strong, SEO terms in your tag section.
Another hint (courtesy of my nearest and dearest): keep up the good work with your blog entry titles. The importance here for SEO is huge.
Lastly, if you are able to replicate words within all three: title, blog post content and tags…that’s where you’ll see the greatest returns in terms of SEO.
But, no matter what: stay true to your craft!
Kimmelins last blog post..McCain-Obama Debate Number Two: My Two Cents
I’m late to this conversation, and hate to admit the fact that I don’t have time to read all the comments before mine. So, I may be echoing something already said:
I think any true writer needs to write with the process of formmulating his/her craft, first and foremost. Writing for SEO takes your writing from CREATIVE writing to TECHNICAL writing…not neccesarily bad, if you WANT to be a technical writer…but devastating if you want to be a CREATIVE writer.
Save the concern over SEO for your tags. There’s plenty of opportunity to get good, strong, SEO terms in your tag section.
Another hint (courtesy of my nearest and dearest): keep up the good work with your blog entry titles. The importance here for SEO is huge.
Lastly, if you are able to replicate words within all three: title, blog post content and tags…that’s where you’ll see the greatest returns in terms of SEO.
But, no matter what: stay true to your craft!
Kimmelins last blog post..McCain-Obama Debate Number Two: My Two Cents
Oktober Five: Glad I came through for you. Phew!
Kimmelin: Good job Kimmelin, you did indeed bring new points to the table. I’ll take your advice about the keywords, and I’m in no danger of ignoring the craft. To that I promise.
Oktober Five: Glad I came through for you. Phew!
Kimmelin: Good job Kimmelin, you did indeed bring new points to the table. I’ll take your advice about the keywords, and I’m in no danger of ignoring the craft. To that I promise.
Heh. I was reading something along the same lines earlier today: 7 SEO Lessons: SEO for Humans Instead of Spiders is Not About Google and Content is King.
It’s a darn long title but gets the point across. Jacob Morgan echoes the point by writing for personality.
Keep writing. Keep being you, not a spider.
Ari Herzogs last blog post..How I Moved From Blogger to WordPress
Heh. I was reading something along the same lines earlier today: 7 SEO Lessons: SEO for Humans Instead of Spiders is Not About Google and Content is King.
It’s a darn long title but gets the point across. Jacob Morgan echoes the point by writing for personality.
Keep writing. Keep being you, not a spider.
Ari Herzogs last blog post..How I Moved From Blogger to WordPress