Optimizing your content for web searches might seem like an uphill struggle at times, but that doesn’t need to be the case.
Keep reading to learn about 7 tools that will have you writing dazzling copy that hits the first page in no time… and 3 brands that will help you step up your game.
7 Tools for SEO Content Writing
These are the tools top SEO content writers rely on to create content that consistently rises to the top of search engines.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is a WordPress plugin that trawls your copy and tells you where you’re going wrong, including tips for how you can do it better. It uses a traffic light system to highlight any issues, with simple instructions on what you need to do to remedy them.
Simply install the plugin free of charge (or get the Premium version for a one-off payment of $69), and every time you upload a blog post or page to WordPress, it’ll highlight any SEO errors on the page. Yoast SEO returns your keyword density, link issues, meta description optimization, and more.
Unfortunately, it only works on WordPress sites, so if you’re using a pre-built website creator such as Wix or Squarespace, you’re out of luck. However, if you’re a WordPress blogger or use WordPress in your work, then Yoast SEO is the plugin for you.
TagCrowd
If you’re a visual thinker, then you’ll love TagCrowd. This is a nice little tool that lets you create your own word cloud based on a piece of text.
TagCrowd makes it easy to read and analyze your text, testing word density in your own copy, or identifying crucial keywords in that of others. It’s a tool you can use every day, and is well worth bookmarking.
Hemingway App
“There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”
So said Ernest Hemingway, arguably one of America’s greatest novelists. But you don’t need to bleed (or indeed use a typewriter) to write search engine optimized copy with the eponymous Hemingway App.
Simply copy and paste your text into the field provided, and this handy tool highlights any syntactical or grammatical mistakes that you might have made.
Hemingway App uses a color-coded system to indicate long sentences, overly complex lines, use of the dreaded passive voice, and more. If something can go wrong with your copy, it’ll find it and highlight it. With search engines’ emphasis on great quality content, the Hemingway App is a vital tool for writers of any caliber.
While the Hemingway App is great for ensuring your web copy is SEO-friendly, it’s also handy for ensuring your non-crawled text is readable too. Use it to check your email newsletter or print ads beforehand to make sure all your marketing copy is on point.
Ubersuggest
Ubersuggest is a SEO tool from one of the industry’s brightest minds, Neil Patel.
While it’s not as advanced as competitors Ahrefs and SEMrush, it’s gaining new features every day. And since it’s a relatively new tool, you can get it at a fraction of the cost.
Buzzsumo
Part of search engine optimized copy is its relevance and usefulness. Finding out what people are writing and why can inform the direction you take your content, and Buzzsumo can help you do that.
Buzzsumo trawls the web based on the keyword or phrase you enter and returns a wealth of related content. Articles, interviews, videos — it’s all at your fingertips. Each result comes with related engagement statistics from a number of social platforms, helping you identify how popular each one is.
Armed with this information, you can use it to inspire your own content by seeing what subject areas are currently popular with your target audience. Know your audience, and you know what they want to hear!
MindMup
Another one for visual thinkers is MindMup. This is a free online mind mapping tool that’s easy to use and great for planning out your copy before writing.
Having your plan mapped out in front of you is great for visualizing where you want to take your writing, and it can help you improve your writing by identifying any irrelevant parts that might drag your content down.
WordCounter
WordCounter is another vital tool in the SEO content creator’s arsenal. Aside from simply counting words, it also returns reading level, estimated reading and speaking time, keyword density, and more.
And that’s not all! WordCounter also helps writers find grammatical mistakes and poor sentence structure, as well as providing tips on your writing style and choice of words.
3 Brands to Learn From
You’ve got the tools. Now it’s time to improve your strategy. These 3 brands will help you stay on top of what’s working and what’s not in SEO content writing.
Neil Patel
In addition to providing the handy SEO tool UberSuggest (mentioned above), Neil Patel also runs his own blog, sharing his wealth of knowledge and insight on everything SEO.
His blog features a mix of long and short-form articles, videos, podcasts, interviews with other industry experts, and more. From tips on optimizing anchor text to advice on keeping your old blog posts evergreen, Neil has everything you need to boost your web copy’s rankings.
CopyHackers
CopyHackers is another great resource for those who want to bone up on search engine optimized content. The site is full of insights and tips on everything you need to get your web copy seen in search engine queries, along with plenty of actionable advice that you can take away and put to work.
This site has reams of useful articles, videos, and courses, as well as a range of worksheets for you to practice your copywriting skills, entirely free of charge. You don’t even need to provide your email address!
The Copywriter’s Crucible
The best way to learn isn’t by sticking to one teacher, but by absorbing the lessons of many. One of your teachers ought to be Matt Ambrose, publisher of The Copywriter’s Crucible.
Matt has amassed years of experience in copywriting, both for huge companies like Siemens and Technicolor and as a freelancer. He’s learned (more than) a few things along the way and has connections from all over the industry. He shares it all with his readers: articles and interviews with copywriting professionals, and a range of online courses for writers wanting to get ahead.
SEO content writing doesn’t have to be taxing. Learn from the best and use the plethora of online tools out there. You’ll soon see your web content soar to the top of search engines!
About the Author: Kayleigh Alexandra is a content writer for Micro Startups — a site dedicated to giving through growth hacking. Visit the blog for your latest dose of startup, entrepreneur, and charity insights from top experts around the globe. Follow us on Twitter @getmicrostarted.
