SEO content over the top? How to tell & fix it!

Over-optimized content happens to even the most experienced of SEO copywriters.

In today’s SEO copywriting how-to, Heather discusses her all-time favorite online writing tip, which is… the easiest possible way to make sure that you’re not over-optimizing your Web content…and how to fix it if you have!

Check it here:

Afraid of over-optimizing your content?

• It’s easy for new writers (or even experienced ones) to push the optimization envelope and accidentally create spammy copy.

I still see over-optimized content out there, especially with new writers who are not quite used to putting keyphases into copy – it’s very easy to add too many!

I also see experienced SEO copywriters lapse into heavy-handed optimization. It well may be they’re just tired and have been churning out a lot of content, and they accidentally add too many keyphrases in their copy. It happens, but…

The end result is the same.  Over-optimized content, which…

–      Throws off the conversion flow of the Web content

–      Makes the copy “sound”/read spammy

–      Is not good for Google

–      And it’s definitely not good for readers!

The easy-breezy secret?

To avoid over-optimizing your content:

• After you’re done writing, print out the document and read it out loud. Don’t do it in your head. Actually read it out loud.
• You will instantly hear if your text is too keyphrase-stuffed, and you can easily start deleting some words.
• Another option – replace them with synonyms.

I recently addressed using synonyms in your keyphrase vocabulary in the SEO copywriting video post, “Keyphrases: why synonyms are your friends.”

By using keyphrase synonyms in your optimization, you’re including different words that help your copy flow more naturally. Additionally, including synonyms is a smart SEO content optimization step.

It’s a win-win for everyone!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s SEO copywriting how-to! As always, if you have any questions, comments, or an idea for the next video post, please let me know! Email me via heather@seocopywriting.com, or find me on Twitter @heatherlloyd!

photo thanks to Dreaming in the deep south (Beth Scupham)