Stop writing for Google, master SEO content writing

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Hi there 👋!!

How is Q1 halfway over!?! Didn’t the year just start?

I have so many things working behind the scenes that I can’t wait to launch here first! Quarterly/monthly live SEO audits, training groups, webinars, in-person events (what!?!), and so much more! Let me know if any of this sounds interesting to you!

Seriously though, this year has been crazy busy. I’ve relaunched the site, newsletter, and my own LinkedIn. Plus, onboarding new customers! Time is absolutely flying! I’m so excited to keep pushing new content here to help you better understand SEO. Because SEO is the foundation of your online growth.

I’ll leave you with a picture of me and my kids this last weekend at church. Oh and don’t go anywhere! Keep reading to learn how to increase your SEO game by writing content for people, not Google!

A bearded man, known as the SEO Marketing Dad, sits on a couch with two young children. Hes smiling broadly under his cap while the children gaze at the camera. His shirt partially reads Operation Team.

This edition is sponsored by:

AltText.ai is a game-changer for anyone looking to save time and make their website more inclusive. They use AI to generate high-quality alt text for images, helping your site meet accessibility standards and improve SEO at the same time. It's a simple, effective way to boost your website's performance and make sure your content is easy for everyone to access.

Meet John.

John sold large equipment for b2b companies. He decided to launch an e-commerce store for his equipment. He did everything he could to find and rank keywords.

Unfortunately, he stuffed keywords into every paragraph, repeated phrases awkwardly, and wrote content that sounded robotic.

He waited and expected results.

But, nothing happened.

His rankings didn't move. His traffic stayed the same. And, worse, no one stayed on his website.

Sound familiar?

I've seen too many businesses make the same mistake. Stop writing for Google instead of people.

But here’s the good news: writing content for SEO doesn’t mean sacrificing quality. When you write for humans first: Google rewards you with better rankings, more engagement, and higher conversions.

Here’s how to do it.

Why Google Wants You to Write for People First

Google has evolved.

Black hat techniques that worked 10 years ago are out. Search engines no longer prioritize keyword-stuffed content. They reward useful, engaging, and well-structured content.

We've seen this play out with Google's Helpful Content Update and the focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authority, and Trust). Websites with high-quality, trustworthy content perform best.

If your SEO content plan focuses on:

  • engagement

  • education

  • problem-solving

You’ll see higher rankings, longer session times, and lower bounce rates.

So, how do you balance SEO and content writing to optimize for both people and search engines?

6 Steps to Master SEO Content Writing

Step 1: Identify search intent

  • Before writing, ask yourself this question: What are my ideal customers looking for?

  • Tools like: Google, Also Ask, and Google Search Console help you find real questions people are searching for.

  • Now answer these questions clearly to match their search intent.

Step 2: Write for people first

  • Skip robotic, keyword-stuffed content. Write it like you say it. Like you're chatting with your friends or family.

  • Use storytelling to help your audience engage with your content.

  • Use headings, short paragraphs, and bullet points for easy reading.

Step 3: Optimize your content without overdoing it

  • Use keywords naturally, and avoid repeating them in every sentence.

  • Focus on semantic SEO by using related phrases instead of forcing exact-match keywords.

  • Add internal links to guide users to other helpful content on your site.

Step 4: Build trust with E-E-A-T

  • Demonstrate expertise with real data, case studies, or personal experience.

  • Add an author bio to highlight your credibility.

  • Use customer reviews or success stories to reinforce trust.

Step 5: Improve your user experience

  • Use clear and simple copy. How do your customers talk? Use that instead of jargon.

  • Break up long text with images, infographics, or videos. Videos are one of the easiest hacks to improving conversions!

  • Double-check that your website loads quickly and is mobile-friendly.

Step 6: Audit, action, analyze

  • Audit: track your site metrics: keyword placement, traffic, conversions, revenue.

  • Action: update outdated content and ensure keywords are in the relevant placements

  • Analyze: continue to keep track of the data and what has been changed.

  • Try and test different content types: videos, webinars, ebooks, tools, etc.

What's next? Time to take action

Open your latest blog post. Read it out loud.

This is a step most people skip but honestly, it may be one of the most important.

Does it sound natural? Is it engaging? Or does it feel like a bunch of keywords mashed together?

If the content is clear, you provide valuable tips, and it is easy to read, you’re on the right track!

If it’s too complex, has too many keywords, or just plain old boring, head back to the drawing board.

Reply and tell me your biggest challenge with SEO content. Let’s solve it together.

John eventually changed his approach. Instead of writing for algorithms, he focused on blogging and SEO techniques that put readers first.

His rankings improved, his traffic grew, and most importantly, his content started converting.

SEO will always evolve, but one thing stays the same: helpful content wins.

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Brand New: Join the Slack community!

I’ve created a Slack group exclusively for business owners and marketing teams to connect, share their SEO challenges, and celebrate their organic growth wins!!! Plus, you’ll get direct access to ME—ready to answer your questions, share tips, and help you tackle SEO like a pro.

Thanks again to my friends over at COMPANY for sponsoring this week’s newsletter.

Want to sponsor a future newsletter or learn more about other sponsorship opportunities with The SEO Marketing Dad? Email [email protected] (or just reply to this email).