Here are 3 Simple Steps that will hugely improve your content

It can be pretty difficult to capture people’s attention and keep it with content nowadays. Fresh and compelling content is so frequent that it can be a battle in and of itself to maintain interest both in the short and the long-term.

So, I thought that I’d share a few simple tips that can help you capitalise on a reader’s initial interest and, importantly, maintain their attention long into the future.

Nothing is ever really timeless in the digital realm, but, thanks to the folks at Google, there are a number of easy things that you add to your own content that’ll add not only value but also give it a welcome boost in terms of SEO (search engine optimisation) — and give your content more legs, which is always good in our book. 

Google’s ability to differentiate between good, bad and terrible content is not only becoming more sophisticated, but it’s also more ruthless. If you’re not establishing an effective and practical approach then you will be penalised by the search engine.

By following these 3 simple steps you’ll be able to enrich your copy, ensure a better reading experience and make your site stand out — while also boosting your sites Google ranking:

1) Utilise video content

As the old saying goes, ​‘A picture’s worth a thousand words’. Put simply, the longer people spend on your webpage the better it is for you. Why? Because more trust is built up with Google, meaning that the amount of time spent on a single page can enhance your overall authority.

You only need to take a look at the rise in the popularity of Instagram and Snapchat to see that video content (however brief) really is the king! 

Rich video content can impact your brand and/​or business massively. By efficiently (and effectively) communicating your core messages and values in an engaging and succinct way. 

TLDR; The longer people stay to view your video content the more your site standing and authority will increase in the eyes of Google, plus it helps to break things up nicely, which is always a good thing.

2) Use animation effectively

Animation can be an incredible addition to any website. Pretty much every web designer would tell you that animation helps to create a sense of motion — a journey of sorts that helps to deliver a unique flow to the user’s experience. This can be in the form of gifs for banner animations or even transition effects while browsing a webpage.

The majority of modern websites will feature some form of animation. The trick is gauging what the ​‘correct’ use of animation is and how it can benefit your site. If you go too far it can be distracting and look unprofessional, but if you use animation as a means of bringing elements of your site to life and visually enhance the user journey, you’re onto a winner. 

A great example of site animation without being too over the top would be Apple’s website. Not only does it look sleek and professional, but the use of animation enhances the user experience and makes them want to scroll to the bottom. 

It utilises animation as a means of informing you exactly how its products work with simple and smooth animations that seamlessly add to the overall experience. This, in turn, increases trust and strengthens Apple’s brand further — with the belief being that if the website is this seamless then surely their iPhone is going to be just as good?

Animation can be broken down into 3 simple categories:

Micro-interactions — these small animations add to the ​‘feel’ of a webpage, making interactions seem more tangible and responsive. For example, think about when you click on a box that hovers or moves somewhat when you click on it, that’s a micro-interaction.

Transitions — this makes the whole navigation process much smoother. Whether that’s going from one webpage to another or as a response to a click or tap on the screen.

Visual effects — sometimes known as ​‘parallax scrolling’ (fancy, right?). This delivers a nice visual effect as you scroll down the page. This ​‘transitional animation’ can be showcased in many ways, such as the flashy approach as shown on the Apple site, something smooth and effortless like Orus Executive Search.

Here’s an example of how a simple animation can bring an image to life, slight visual flourishes draw the eye of the reader and emphasise where the focus should be, which in this case is that of a particularly refreshing summer drink.

3) Optimise copy to ensure SEO discovery

SEO is a tricky and somewhat mysterious subject that’s always changing. Whether that’s to adhere to the rules of Google’s search algorithms or the clever use of keywords, it’s definitely not a one size fits all approach. Our top tip when it comes to SEO would be to have patience. SEO is complex but its really just about keeping on top of it, making tweaks here and there and ensuring your content is always in tip-top shape. Do all that and you’ll see results in no time. 

Keyword research is vital, these are the search terms that people use when they’re searching for information. Keywording should be relevant and not too generalised. For example, you can always check your headlines with this free-to-use analyser from CoSchedule which checks the strength of your page headline focusing on key areas with a clear breakdown of its impact.

When researching, put yourself in the shoes of a user and try to make it as simple yet as general as possible, while keeping in mind that the most common keywords are going to be hard to rank for.

An example of SEO research simplicity would be searching for something like, ​‘best SEO tips for beginners’ rather than ​‘search engine optimisation for your site’. These simple keyword search terms are highly effective, precisely because of their simplicity.

It will become more apparent which keywords are most beneficial to enhancing your SEO ranking once you get stuck into the research.

Read more about how you can optimise SEO for your site at Search Engine Watch.

The best thing about SEO is that all the jargon and information you need is literally at your fingertips, right here on the internet. There’s a ton of info about cross-linking, back-linking and upside-down-linking (that’s not a thing but it sounded fun). 

It can all become a little overwhelming in the end but the key thing to remember is to keep it simple and relevant.

Should you need any help with improving your site content, why not contact us we’re on hand to help assist in your needs. 

If you’d like to speak to someone, feel free to give us a call on 01539 722 712