If you’re new to internet marketing and trying to learn, you’ve probably read one thing so much that you’re just about tired of seeing it. You know, something along the lines of “Content Is King” or “You really need quality content!” I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. The only problem is that although we may talk about quality content quite a bit, it’s hard to figure out what quality content REALLY means! So, today I figured we’d go over a few misconceptions about “quality content”, what that term really means, and things you can do to make sure that your content is considered quality.
Common Misconceptions About “Quality Content”
When I first started in the world of internet marketing, I got thrown for a loop. I read on one site that one thing meant quality content, only to read another site that completely went against everything I had just learned. Over time, by incorporating the different things I’ve learned, I’ve been able to pinpoint some serious misconceptions surrounding the term “quality content”. Here they are…
- Quality Content Will Include Your Keyword X Number Of Times - This idea comes from the fact that Google and other major search engines used to index largely based on your keyword density. These days, search engines are much smarter! As a matter of fact, over the years, search engines have learned that keyword density was a way shady marketers gamed the system. So, they’ve started to penalize sites for trying to do so. Simply put, if you’re focus is on how many times you use a specific word or phrase in your content, you’ve got it all wrong!
- Quality Content Should Be X Number Of Words - I used to believe this to the T! However, when you really think about it, you can’t put a word count on quality content, it’s absolutely, utterly, beyond a shadow of doubt impossible! Think about it, wouldn’t it take more words to thoroughly explain how to replace a transmission in your car than it would take to thoroughly explain how to change an air conditioning filter? Focusing on making sure your articles are long enough can lead to filler content and an overall poor user experience. So, if you’re focusing on word count, it’s time to stop!
- Quality Content Requires The Use Of Keywords In 1/3 Of Headings - I can’t tell you how many times I’ve come across this one; and the truth is, it couldn’t be more incorrect! Of course, you want to show up for keywords, but following specific guidelines like this is just going to lead to a less than natural feel for your readers. Who in turn won’t be inclined to share your posts, link to it from their blogs and sites, or read much more than the page they landed on! Keywords are awesome, but you can’t focus on them; when you write naturally, you’ll include your keywords anyway…trust me on that one!
What Does The Term “Quality Content” REALLY Mean?
Now here’s the big question. Believe it or not, the answer is incredibly simple! Quality content is content that’s written to serve a purpose; it’s written in a natural way, and keeps the reader engaged until the end. Quality content isn’t written for search engines and pays no mind to the most recent “tricks of the trade”. Instead, quality content is written with a focus on the audience it’s intended for; and it shows in every sentence!
Step By Step Guide To Quality Content Creation
Step #1: Figuring Out Your Topic - When you prepare to write your next piece of content, the first step is always to figure out what your topic is going to be. It’s important that content has purpose. So, what I try to do is find a common problem. For instance, we all know that content is important, but figuring out the true meaning of “quality content” and how to incorporate it in your website is a bit more of a problem. So, that’s the purpose for writing this post.
Step #2: Do Your Research - Next, it’s time to spend a little time browsing the web for articles, posts, videos, and any other content associated with your topic. Take notes and figure out what key points most people agree on, where many people disagree, and if and where there are any gray or unspoken areas surrounding the topic.
Step #3: The Planning Phase - Now that you’ve got a good idea of the content that’s already out there surrounding your topic, it’s time to plan your post. In your plan, you want to make sure to outline the specific problem, any conflicting data you found, and the unique approach you take to solving the problem. Plan out what sections, titles, and subtitles would be needed to provide this information.
Step #4: Write Your Content - Finally, it’s time to start writing. Using the information you’ve learned, start filling in the sections you’ve planned out. When doing so, keep this in mind…
- Keywords Happen Naturally - If you focus on keywords, your post is going to be blatantly unnatural. Don’t worry about keywords. Instead, worry about addressing the topic in an easy to read and understand way. If you do so, keywords will naturally come out in your content
- Make Your Post Fun - Few people actually want to read a boring, data only type post. Instead, what’s going to keep your audience coming back is your personality. Make sure that your personality shines through your writing!
- Be Unique - If you’re simply providing the same information that people can already get elsewhere, there’s no reason for them to come to your site. So, it’s important that you add a unique approach or point of view surrounding your topic.
Final Thoughts
As everyone already knows, content is king. Great content will keep your current readers coming back, inspire them to share your site with their friends, and lead to links from credible resources around the web! Following the steps above, you should be just fine when creating future content for your site! I’ll see you tomorrow for the next tip from ControlYourCity.com!
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