Content Writer Tells All

Up Close & Personal with Los Angeles Content Writer, Amber Khan

I have been a content writer for years.  In those years, I have made many mistakes, but I have also learned great things.  Years back, I may have been a meager amateur, but now I am an SEO and content writing jedi!   In this article, I want to let you in on a few things I have learned after writing content for hundreds of websites.  Hopefully, you can utilize this knowledge and reach jedi status, too!

SEO is something, but it isn't EVERYTHING.
Yes, it is important that you have a solid search engine optimization strategy.  Any good content writer will tell you this.  However, a great content writer will tell you that while SEO matters, it isn't everything and it certainly doesn't make your website more desired by users. 

Many website owners optimize their sites to get web traffic, but not so many take the time to make sure that their content is fluid, professional and worth reading.  You may get users to click on your url via search, but what happens after that point?  Do they stay or so they go?  You see, SEO is not enough.  You must have text, photos, videos, blogs and knowledge-based articles that keep users planted on your site and click-click-clicking!

You're just a link away from the page rank of your dreams.
Links still matter in search engines like Google, Yahoo! and MSN.  Having other websites link to your site can increase your page rank IF the websites have: high page ranks (think PR5 on up), a lot of traffic or a link to your site that is not generic, but keyword relevant. 

To elaborate on the first point, let's say a website like Yahoo!'s front page links to your site.  Yahoo! has a PR9 (page rank ranges from 0 to 9), which means that the link to your site will be highly regarded by search engines and boost your placement quite a bit.  This type of link is highly coveted and truly is the cream of the crop.  In this scenario, you will need a single link instead of hundreds.

Content writing should never be an afterthought.   
All too often, people do not see the value in hiring a professional content writer. Either they think that the content writer's rates are too high or they underestimate the value of great web content writing.  To me this is asinine.  Would you let your intern or a college student write a marketing piece for your company that is expected to be viewed by thousands of people?  I highly doubt it.  Then why would you let just anyone write content for your site when it is viewed by numerous people each and every day?

The truth is, your website is only as good as your content.  Your content helps your page rank, can increase your web traffic and is responsible for attracting users.  To summarize - your content will make or break your site.  So, before you decide to write your content yourself or let an amateur write your web pages, consider working with an experienced content writer.  You will benefit in the long-run!

This article was written by Amber Khan, founder of Star Content.