SEO copywriter: what is it and what is its value?

An SEO copywriter has an important function in the SEO world. These copywriters write creatively while applying the technical knowledge of SEO to create content that is attractive to both audiences and search engines. This improves a website’s online visibility.

What is SEO?

SEO – also known as search engine optimization – is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of a Web site or Web page in the unpaid results of search engines. These are often referred to as “natural,” “organic” or earned results. Proper application of SEO increases the amount and quality of traffic to a website. For this to happen, search engines must better understand a Web site’s content and a Web site must be relevant to users.

The core of Seo includes:

  1. Keyword optimization: identify and use relevant keywords and phrases so that the website better matches users’ searches.
  2. Technical SEO: improve technical aspects of a website, think loading speed, structure and mobile viewing. This helps both search engines and users navigate a website better and faster.
  3. Content quality: relevant content that is constantly up-to-date attracts and is more likely to retain visitors.
  4. Link building: getting quality backlinks is important. This indicates to search engines that others find a Web site’s content interesting.
  5. User experience (UX): optimize a website to provide a positive and seamless user experience. This includes easy navigation and relevant information.

SEO is an ongoing process. Search engines regularly update their algorithms. The way people search and interact with online content is also evolving. A good SEO roadmap requires not only technical knowledge and writing skills, but also flexibility and adaptability. SEO copywriters must constantly adapt content to the latest trends and best practices.

What does an SEO copywriter do?

An SEO copywriter writes and optimizes web content to make it more findable in search engines. These SEO specialists use relevant keywords and create engaging and valuable content for readers. They also modify the structure and metadata of the text. This results in better performance in search engine rankings.

The importance of copywriting

Copywriting does not just include writing. It is a specialized form of writing in which the copywriter creates content with the goal of attracting search engine traffic. Copywriters need to have a good understanding of how search engines like Google work and what people are looking for when they ask questions online.

Core SEO copywriter tasks

  1. Keyword research: SEO copywriting is all about finding the right keywords to rank higher in Google. SEO copywriters understand what words phrases audiences potentially use to find information online. They also use various tools and techniques to identify these keywords and integrate them into content.
  2. Creating engaging content: using keywords is not enough to improve SEO. SEO copywriters write content that is informative and relevant to the target audience. They write attractive headlines, compelling body text and interesting call-to-actions.
  3. Search engine optimization: SEO copywriters must not only write content, but also optimize for search engines. They have to write the right words in the right place. They should also create good meta titles and descriptions. Moreover, SEO copywriters are responsible for ensuring that content is well structured and easily indexed by search engines.
  4. Analysis and adjustment: after publishing the content, the SEO copywriter analyzes the performance of the content using various tools – think Google Analytics. They use this data to make any adjustments to the content.

Tips for SEO copywriting

The table below lists my most important tips for SEO copywriting. For each tip, I indicated the priority (a number between 1 and 100).

No.SEO copywriting tipsPriority
1Use relevant keywords95
2Focus on quality92
3Know your target audience90
4Focus on user intent88
5Optimize for mobile87
6Be authentic86
7Write engaging headlines85
8Write longer content84
9Analyze your results83
10Use natural language82
11Keep learning81
12Make your text readable80
13Optimize your meta descriptions78
14Avoid keyword stuffing77
15Use variation in keywords76
16Add internal and external links75
17Use alt text for images70
18Use local SEO (if relevant)69
19Update old content68
20Use of social media65
Top tips for SEO copywriting.

The above priorities are subjective and vary depending on the specific needs and strategy of an SEO campaign. Take a balanced approach that considers all aspects of SEO copywriting.

Summary

In the world of SEO, SEO copywriters are indispensable. SEO copywriters combine their writing skills and knowledge of technical SEO to help brands strengthen their online presence. They also help increase visibility and achieve a company’s goals.

Senior SEO-specialist

Ralf van Veen

Senior SEO-specialist
Five stars
My clients give me a 5.0 on Google out of 77 reviews

I have been working for 10 years as an independent SEO specialist for companies (in the Netherlands and abroad) that want to rank higher in Google in a sustainable manner. During this period I have consulted A-brands, set up large-scale international SEO campaigns and coached global development teams in the field of search engine optimization.

With this broad experience within SEO, I have developed the SEO course and helped hundreds of companies with improved findability in Google in a sustainable and transparent way. For this you can consult my portfolio, references and collaborations.

This article was originally published on 27 March 2024. The last update of this article was on 27 March 2024. The content of this page was written and approved by Ralf van Veen. Learn more about the creation of my articles in my editorial guidelines.