How to Build Authority With SEO Content

Search engine optimization, better known as SEO, is a crucial component concerning online visibility — and content is still king.

According to recent data, 57% of SEO experts rank content creation and marketing as the number one way to drive search results and organic traffic. By including SEO in your strategy, you gain the power to reach people based on what they are actively searching for — and in this case, those searches are likely related to your product or service. It's a great way to grow your audience, boost brand awareness, and then achieve greater authority based on the quality of the content you publish. 

So, what is the link between SEO content and authority, and how do you leverage that relationship to grow your brand and maximize your ROI? This guide tells all. 

Building Authority With SEO Content: 4 Tips

As reported by Search Engine Journal, there are three pillars — authority, relevance, and experience. Authority, in this sense, refers to the weight given to a page concerning a specific search query. Google prioritizes pages most likely to satisfy the user to provide reliable information. So, building authority also relates to your ability to create and distribute engaging, quality content. The end goal is to influence and build trust with a defined audience.

The following tips are intended to help you optimize your content, focusing on the potential of SEO.

1. Explore Different Types of SEO Content

Blog posts and articles are a crucial component of any content marketing strategy. However, they are not the only option. You have plenty of options to engage your audience, from listicles to in-depth guides, product pages to video content. 

As you build your content plan, focus on short- and long-form content, pillar and evergreen content, data-led resources, and thought leadership pieces. While each of these will require a slightly different approach and have its SEO considerations, the underlying objective remains the same. Informative, reliable, fresh content will help you rank and build authority. 

You should also take stock of old content. Refreshing popular posts and resources based on your latest keyword research can help you increase conversion potential. Tuning up older content allows you to update links, highlight recent trends, etc. Again, it's about staying relevant among your loyal readership while achieving a higher ranking on search engines. If you upload a lot of video content, consider adding transcripts. That written content will help you rank better for relevant search queries. 

Read more: The Top 7 Most In-Demand Content Types

2. Structure Content for Readability and U/X

Discovering what keywords to use and where to place them is just the beginning. The structure of your content also matters. 

When creating content, you must consider not just Google but your readers. Content should be easy to navigate and understand, divided by headings and subheadings, followed by short paragraphs and bulleted lists where relevant. When you optimize your content for humans, it becomes search engine-friendly in the process. 

While this concept seems simple, writing well-structured text is not easy. For this reason, among many others, partnering with a professional freelance writer can be an excellent investment. They have the experience and access to tools to help your content rank and build authority. When developing ideas to outsource, craft a detailed content brief that includes any relevant SEO research.

Tip: Use tools like Yoast to conduct a readability analysis. 

3. Avoid Black Hat SEO Tactics

You may think the more, the merrier concerning keywords. However, keyword stuffing can have the opposite effect. Keyword stuffing is a negative ranking factor. 

Examples include:

• Unnecessarily using words or phrases — always avoid repetition 
• Adding keywords even if they don't fit the content of the content
• Using blocks of the same keyword 
• Including keywords that aren't relevant to the topic

Search engines will penalize you, and this strategy will likely drive away visitors. 

Here are some tips:

• If you want to include a list of keywords, consider adding additional content. Increase the volume of quality, reader-focused material. As you distribute keywords throughout long-form content, density will naturally increase. The more useful and engaging the content is for the reader, the higher the probability it will rank. Aim for a density below 2%, yet a minimum of 0.5%.
• Always prioritize quality. Keywords are important but should never be forced. Informative, well-written content should always be your most significant driving force. Let keywords flow naturally and include related keywords.
• Use keywords in the right places, including your page title, in at least one H2 or H3, your first paragraph, and your meta description. 

4. Create Strategic Internal Links

When you add internal links, you connect one page on your website to another. This strategy can help encourage readers to stay on your site for longer — it's also an effective approach when including targeted call-to-actions (CTAs).

For SEO purposes, this strategy will help search engines better understand the structure of your site and how your pages relate to one another. In the eyes of Google, this supports authority building. 

Discover these resources to learn more:

• Guide to Internal Linking for SEO
• Scripted 3.0: External Links and Internal Links

Tip: When it makes sense, include keywords in your anchor text — the "clickable" words that bring you to other internal pages. Keep anchor text short and relevant. Also, add authoritative external links. This step shows Google you're using trusted sources. External stats and data will also make the copy more compelling and informative for the reader. 

Benefit From a Partner Like Scripted

SEO content creation can be overwhelming and time-intensive. To ensure the greatest possible ROI, you must work with experienced writers who understand the value of quality and consistency. 

Scripted is an end-to-end content solution that works exclusively with Subject Matter Expert writers who will effectively represent your brand. Plus, the all-in-one platform provides advanced content creation technology to take your content to the next level. 

Ready to get started to improve your ranking? Start your free 30-day trial to see the difference that quality SEO content makes.