Writing engaging and high traffic content is always a challenge. It’s even more difficult if your topic seems a little boring. However, every web page is important and is capable of driving organic traffic to your website, no matter what the topic is! At least one person will always be interested in what you have to say, and if you do it write, many, many more!
Here are a few tips on how you can write engaging content that will increase your website traffic:
It Starts with Research
Every web page tells a story. It has a beginning, middle, and an end, and hopefully your readers have learned something by the end of it. Many people tend to fall off when they are unable to effectively connect with each part of the web content to keep them on a page.
Do this to keep the reader interested:
First, you need to do your research, find your sources, and read up on differing viewpoints and opinions. Producing good web content is all about research, research, research! You need to be well-informed if you’re going to write a compelling, helpful piece. And again, don’t make the mistake of only reading or using other sources that back up your own statements. See if you can locate other facts and opinions out there as well. Addressing differing viewpoints will help you become a better writer, but will also allow your readers to get the most information possible.
Once you think you’re piece is done, review it for any possible mistakes or last minute changes you want to make. Research, write, review…repeat!
The way an article is written (I’m talking tone, mood, vocab, all that stuff) will also make it easier or harder for readers to connect. Remember to write for your audience! If you want to drive organic traffic to your website, your web page content (not matter the topic) needs to appeal to your audience. Write in the second person (I, us, you, we etc), using everyday words and terms. You want your article to sound like everyday conversation as much as possible. Write like how you would speak in everyday life.
The Components of Quality Website Content
1. Use a Great Headline
When online searchers see your result pop up in a SERP, the headline is one of the major aspects that will encourage them to click on it. Since your page is competing for rank against many other articles under the same keyword(s), the headline needs to stand out from all the rest.
Here’s a few headline writing tips to keep in mind:
- Use numbers (it sets an expectation for the reader)
- Use powerful adjectives (it will get the attention of the reader)
- Use dashes, capital letters, colons etc (these will make your result look different from others and draw the scroller’s eye)
2. Introduce Your Characters
Just like in the beginning of a good book, you’re introduced to the main players of the story, the setting, and are given some background on them. This helps to establish a basis of understanding for any other information and developments that come later. You need to do the same with any writing you do on your website.
Whenever you write about a product, service, or involved industry topic, make sure you start by introducing the basics first. Set the stage so to speak, that way you and your readers are on the same page (pun intended). Once you establish the basics, you can move on to more involved concepts, discussions, and examples.
3. Write in a Familiar Tone
The way you write will either push your readers away or draw them in.
What does this mean?
For example, if you use fancy vocabulary words and only write in the third person, it can sound like you are talking down to your audience. Visitors will either struggle to understand the content on that page or even worse, they may become offended and leave your site all together.
To avoid this type of situation, use everyday jargon in your page content and use second person words to make your reader feel like they are a part of the conversation. This makes you appear to be more open and approachable as a writer, and as a business. People need to like you if they’re going to support you and continue to view your web pages.
4. Make Them Think
Any content you add to your website needs to serve a purpose. Your web page wont gain any organic traffic if it doesn’t actually help your readers in some way. It needs to answer a question, solve a problem, educate your readers, or inspire them to complete an action on your website. If you have nothing of value on your website, no one will bother to visit your site and stay on it. Make your content engaging through your word choice, backlinks, media (images, infographics, videos etc.), and your general content layout.
Your readers will want to be “rewarded” for spending time reading your web page content. Why should they take the time to read your blog article or web page? Ask yourself that question before you hit the “publish” button every time.
If you can’t explain why the content you have written is important to the end user, rewrite it until you can explain the value of it.
5. Promote it
Your website and web pages won’t have any organic traffic if your target audience don’t know they exists. You need to promote your content! Get people interested in the content you’ve created by posting about it, adding internal links to other relevant pages on your website, and consider reaching out to local newspapers, podcasts, and magazines too.
If you have a variety of social media accounts, make sure to publish your posts (with a hyperlink to the original web page on it) or share it in online groups or forums you belong to as well. Contact any local parties that may be interested in either hosting your article or doing an interview about the piece you wrote. Being published by other sources will also help your rankings in Google as well!
High web traffic starts with creating and publishing high quality, engaging content. By following the tips above, you can turn any topic into a compelling story!
In Conclusion
No matter what the topic of your web page content is, it can bring new visitors to your website. The 5 content writing steps above will help you construct your content into an engaging and informative piece that your web visitors actually want to read.