This article is contributed by Amelia Wood.
The Atlantic recently made an interesting announcement. Announcing a swerve away from the tried and true models on web writing, the online news association has recently stopped caring about SEO. Instead, the company is focusing on, dare we say it… actual readers, to catapult their articles to viral status, drive links to their site, and increase Google rankings.
This may seem the result of luck. Maybe the paper has such a high status that they no longer need to do SEO behind the scenes to get the articles viewed? Possible. But what’s more probable it that The Atlantic is one of the first to catch on to a trend that has long been brewing. With update after update, Google continues to bat down content mills and SEO-driven companies that focus only on page rank, as opposed to quality. Maybe the time has come where all online publications need to take heed and follow the Atlantic example. Read on for three reasons we should all stop writing for SEO:
1. Social is king
Anyone who follows SEO and Google updates knows that social media interaction is one of the important new factors in Google search rankings. The more “likes” your product gets, the more shares on Facebook, the more re-tweets, what have you, the more your Google ranking will increase. This means something.
Google wants users to have the final say in the content that is relevant to them. So, Google, will protect and promote any indications real people give them about what it is they want to see. If you’re writing content packed with nothing more than keywords and link bait, then you don’t have much of a chance people will read it, let alone share.
2. Google will always win
Never underestimate the most powerful internet company in the world. Google currently runs the web, and what they want goes. If your company isn’t putting out real, quality content, then you will eventually be drowned out by those who do. You may be able to hold your own against Google for a few years, but you will eventually fail unless you begin to give users what they want.
3. It feels better to write and read
This is the least tangible reason to write for your readers, rather than for page ranks, but it is by far the most important. When you create content that has a true purpose, that is an extension of your own opinions or expertise, it just plain feels good. You know you are doing work that has meaning. And, it also feels good to those who read it. Users can spot meaningless content. They are much more likely to pass content on if it holds true value.
Author Bio: Amelia Wood pursues freelance writing projects in the medical billing and coding schools niche. She especially loves hearing back from her readers. Questions or comments can be sent to wood. amelia1612 @ gmail.com.
Credit: Image courtesy of rightsreaders via flickr
