SEO Content Strategy: How To Get Started With SEO As A Beginner? 

SEO is a tool-based algorithm. It has ample uses in content moderation. The seo content strategy is the approach of sorting content by topic. Above all, the goal is to drive higher website traffic.

But as a beginner, getting started with SEO can feel overwhelming. And, a guide can help in treading through this SEO territory with ease. 

So, in this blog, I am going to provide a complete guide on “How to create an SEO content strategy?” by focusing on— 

• Its importance in marketing, 

• How to create the strategy, 

• Best tools to help with SEO strategy, and more. 

So, keep reading to know more! 

Why Is It Important To Create An SEO Content Strategy? 

In the US, businesses spend more on content creation than Mr. Beast for his videos. Already, 46% of companies have planned to increase their content creation budget. 

Finding Topics With Search Traffic Potential 

As we know, the US business environment is more competitive than ever. In a nutshell, most companies must resort to content marketing to remain relevant in the market.

A viable content strategy is crucial for improving website traffic. A content strategy for seo needs is the backbone of your digital marketing approach. You need topics that match the interests and ideas of your prospects in the market.

Use of tools like Ahrefs Keywords Explorer

Ahrefs can analyze the strength of your backlinks, in real time. It can also find ways to improve your web page ranking.

You can also find the best-ranking keywords with tools like Ahrefs. To know more about the best keyword research strategies, read the article on Top 13 B2B SEO Strategies to Boost Your Growth!

Choosing The Right Targeting Keywords 

Targeting keywords can make your content more relevant. It might improve the ranking of the search engine results pages. As a result, your intended audience can see your content as well.

Analyzing Competitors’ Keywords For Inspiration 

 Sites like Semrush offer templates for searching competitors’ keywords.

You can easily use those to find the relevant keywords that help competitors to gain traffic. To begin with, create a list of your competitors.

As a beginner, you must recognize the keywords gap in your content.

How To Create Content Pillars? 

You may use search volume and current competition to list 10 to 15 short-tail keywords. But there are two criteria.

Ensure that the target audience is searched profusely for these keywords. Also, confirm that all keywords align with your business and seo content strategy.

The individual keywords you searched for are called content pillars.

How To Create Content Clusters? 

The keywords should lead the way in developing a robust content strategy. In the same vein, you should select topics that match the interests and ideas of the target audience. It must cover their pain points as well.

Defining main topics and content pillars

The main topics formed from the keywords would become your content pillars later.

You can also make a content map by syncing the content pillars. 

So, what would happen to the long tail keywords?

Those keywords can be used as short chunks of content.

You may also link back the long tail keywords with a pillar page. To learn more about a pillar page, read the Best Tips on Improving Your International SEO for Better Ranking and Traffic!

How To Choose Content Types? 

Your content is not a keyword-dumping ground. You must render meaning, sense, and flow in the content. Who would bother reading an abstract chunk of words, even if you’re ranking within the top five Google search results?

So, you must understand that a concrete content strategy in seo marketing is much needed.

Choosing Topics To Resonate With The Audience 

It’s crucial to link your content type with the readers’ preferences. However, your selected content delivery channel will influence certain content types. For example, Twitter has a 280-character limit.

According to Semrush’s State of Content Marketing: 2023 Global Report, the audience liked videos and short articles the most. So, most seo content strategy use these two content forms.

But it rests upon you. Whether you’ll stick to these two or include long blog posts, case studies, and others in your content repertoire rests on your seo content strategy.

Top 10 content types for effective content marketing

Semrush reports that the following are the most loved content types:

• Video
• Short articles (under 280 words)
• Long blogs
• Case studies
• Infographics
• White papers
• Success stories
• Online events
• Gated content

How To Mix And Match Content Types For Maximum Engagement? 

Content mix and match is an excellent skill to have. It lets you convert long blogs into smaller social media posts and infographics.

You can also capture the main takeaways from any content to reframe it into something else. However, you must ensure that your preferred content type is the most engaging.

Why You Need To Optimize Content? 

By optimizing content, you can improve the SEO rankings of your website. When you insert relevant keywords using optimization techniques, customers can easily find the content they desire.

Optimization Techniques For Content 

Optimization helps you to expose your content to the broadest possible target market. Moreover, Search Engines understand your content better when it is optimized.

That’s why experts say optimization and backlinking with pillar texts are the two fundamentals of seo content strategy.

If Google finds value in your article, it will be placed on the top page. It will only help you to attract organic web traffic.

Using content templates for structured and optimized drafts

It is better to use a content template to keep your content consistent and SEO-friendly.

To make it SEO-friendly, you need to have a specific format. Till your content follows the same template, it will attract organic reach.

Using Effective SEO Tactics And Best Practices 

A significant part of content optimization is training editors. But you must pick the aspects on which you want to train your editors.

Experts say that most editors need training to sort the best keywords for headers and sub-headers. I feel that editors play a crucial role in shaping the length and quality of meta descriptions.

At the same time, they play a pivotal role in managing links within context. So, that’s another area where you can train your content editors.

Google’s focus on creating relevant content for people, not just search engines

Google’s algorithm focuses on making the content more user-intent focused. Experts now say that content should not be only SEO-friendly. 

What can you do about it?

As a content strategist, you can try to match the needs and interests of your audience. It is advisable to use those keywords that cover these areas aptly.

What Tools Help With SEO Content Strategy? 

Creating an SEO content strategy is not a simple task. So, here are some tools that help users create a content strategy efficiently— 

• SEMrush — Provides a comprehensive SEO platform with diverse tools. So, users can have a single app for managing all the different aspects of SEO for their websites. 

• Ahrefs — Similar to SEMrush, Ahrefs, too, comes with a complete suite of SEO tools that identify internal linking opportunities, search keywords, and analyze website performance. So, users can have an all-in-one tool for SEO strategy. 

• Surfer SEO — Provides insights about on-page SEO optimization by analyzing the structure, keywords, and headings, with data-driven recommendations. So, users get both analysis as well as solutions. 

• Clearscope — Offers semantic keywords using natural language and machine learning technology. So, it is easier for users to optimize the web content with the best practices of semantic SEO. 

• Google Search Console — Moreover, this tool is a comprehensive analytics tool offering insights about crawlability, search queries, and the site’s overall health. So, users can monitor the insights and adjust their SEO strategies accordingly. 

• Google Analytics — Provides a comprehensive analysis of the audience engagement with the websites. So, it analyzes the bounce rates, conversion rates, and organic traffic to help users understand how the target audience is behaving. 

• Google Keyword Planner — Offers a complete list of the search volume and Cost-per-click (CPC) details for each keyword. So, users can decide which keyword to use for better ranking and also for Google Ads. 

• Screaming Frog — Finally, it offers a crawler that identifies the technical SEO issues with websites. So, users can find the root cause behind the failing SEO strategy and rectify it to improve the overall performance. 

Creating An SEO Content Strategy The Right Way 

In conclusion, some key points regarding effective SEO content strategy have been identified. Firstly, your seo and content strategy rests primarily on discovering the right target audience.

Secondly, content seo strategy also depends on conducting keyword research and developing a list of suitable content ideas.

In your content strategy seo plays a significant part no doubt. But, your content should also be optimized, according to the needs and expectations of the customers.

For best results, you can also continuously update user experience, content strategy, and seo.

Before leaving, I would once again pester the need of back linking your pillar content with the canopy of short blogs.

Your final goal should be providing valuable and engaging content to the audience.