I've been writing SEO content for clients as a freelancer since 2007. Following is one of the most common mistakes newbies in my SEO writing course make.
Writing on the Wrong Keyword
What do I mean by this?
Well let's say your client is a wedding photographer in Atlanta. So, one of the keyword phrases that may commission you to write on as a freelance SEO writer is " Wedding Photographers in Atlanta ." But when you write the article / blog post, you use "Wedding Photographer in Atlanta" (singular version) as your main keyword phrase.
So what's the problem? In a phrase, "time and money."
Clients go through a lot of trouble doing exacting keyword research because they know which keyword phrases are driving the most traffic. So if they've hired, for example, a web analytics firm, they've likely sent thousands of dollars to know which keywords they need to rank for to bring in the most convertible traffic – ie, web surfers they can turn into paying customers .
And by the way, the web analytics firm will likely be the entity hiring you, the freelance SEO writer, to produce the content. These firms can give you a lot of work, but if you write an article using the wrong keyword, it can get you fired before you ever get in the door good .
So, be sure to note when you receive an order what the main keyword phrase is and center your copy around that.
How Google Has Changed the SEO Writing Game
Google algorithm changes like Penguin 2.0 and Hummingbird have made writing straight "keyworded" content with a specific keyword density a thing of the past.
For example, when I first started out in 2007, I used to get orders from clients with lists of keywords and they'd say something like, "Give me 500 words on 'Titanium Wedding Bands for Men' with a 5% keyword density.
Nowadays when I receive SEO writing jobs from clients, they'll say something like:
Our blog is all about Titanium jewelry for men. We want a series of articles that focus on our wedding bands for men. The keyword phrase we're targeting is 'Titanium Wedding Bands for Men.'
It's understood that the keyword density should be between 1 and 2 percent, and that secondary and tertiary keyword phrases will be used to round out the article. Enter the age of themed SEO content .
Conclusion
Writing SEO content is easy; it really is – IF you know some simple foundational rules. With your specialized knowledge, you can earn a great living as a freelancer in this technical writing niche because thanks to "content marketing," the need for qualified professionals is growing by leaps and bounds.