Many times we get caught up in writing for a specific group, whether it be for search engines, linkbait, or subscribers. This can lead to several problems down the road.
Writing for...
Search engines - Writing for search engines is using SEO techniques within the title and finding keywords you will easily rank for.
Linkbait - Writing for linkbait is writing articles which you believe has a chance at getting picked up in social media or baiting other blogs to link back.
Subscribers - Writing for subscribers is when you publish articles specifically for your subscribers. This can be answering questions, following up posts, year in review posts, or link posts highlighting other websites.
How to get around this by alternation.
Writing linkbait everyday is a sure-fire way of annoying subscribers, and writing an SEO based article has its own limitations. The problem isn't necessarily the writing, but a basic SEO rule. Classic SEO tells us to have only the keywords within the title, since any additional words take away weight. Obviously, for blogs this is a problem. Having an article titled 'Love Quotes' isn't nearly as enticing for subscribers or linkbait as 'Top 100 Love Quotes from St. Peter'.
Writing specifically for subscribers also has its faults. Gaining new readers can become difficult by catering only to those already subscribed.
Go around the hump
The easiest way to get around this is by combining as many as possible. When answering a readers question, stretch it out into an entire article. While you are at it, go ahead and sprinkle some SEO in the title. Why not turn it into linkbait too?
What?!?
Although classic SEO doesn't cater to linkbait, it is best to do so. The positives of writing a linkbait article with keywords far outweigh the negatives.
As for catering to subscribers, it doesn't always have to be writing articles directly at them. Write something new and exciting. Show something they haven't read or seen elsewhere. Tell them about the latest, newest news with your own spin. Don't just regurgitate articles other blogs threw up last November.
Of course, this doesn't mean all articles must be this way. Mix it up! One day, linkbait, next day, SEO, next, subscribers.
In short, combine your strategies and diversify. It's like the old saying, don't put all your eggs in the same basket.
Gary R. Hess is the author of Internet Marketing and Publishing Nerd. Be sure to check out his article on What Bloggers Can Learn from Angelina Jolie. |
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