Contents:

• What is an SEO editor?
• Why work with an SEO writer?
• How to make a good editorial brief?
• How long does SEO copywriting take and how much does it cost?
• Do SEO web writers write for Google or for readers?
• Can an SEO copywriter finish writing a text I've started?
• Does the freelance web writer produce unique content?
• Can the SEO copywriter also take care of the meta description tags?

What is an SEO editor?

An SEO writer is a special kind of writer.

For one thing, he belongs to the sub-branch of web copywriters. His expertise consists of writing content while taking into account the particularities of reading on the Internet.

Indeed, internet users are not novel readers. They don't expect the plot to unfold gradually and suspense to build up. On the contrary, they want to get straight to the point! A visitor only gives you a few seconds, especially if he is new to your site. Thus, the web writer strives to write punchy texts, capable of holding the fleeting attention of Internet users.

The SEO copywriters also master the codes of writing on the Internet. But take their expertise a step further. They don't just write for the reader, but also for another type of visitor: search engines.

When he writes, the SEO web writer always has in mind SEO good practices, meaning the optimization of organic traffic (if you are a regular of this blog, you start to get used to it!). His articles are therefore written to optimize your visibility on Google, Bing, Yahoo! This is achieved by using relevant keywords and rigorously structured texts. Title tags, meta description, h1, h2, h3, SEO-friendly URL... He masters all the basics of on-page SEO, which you can also learn !

Why work with an SEO writer?

To increase your website's traffic, of course!

The traffic coming from search engines, also called organic traffic, represents an important part of your total audience. It is therefore essential to take care of it, otherwise you will be invisible to Internet users. As the saying goes, "If you need to hide a body, hide it on the second page of Google, because nobody ever goes there. "

And you certainly know: your SEO strategy will rely mainly on your content. It is your content that will allow you to attract more visitors. Provided that it is well referenced on search engines, and interesting enough to bring value to your readers.

The SEO writer will therefore have two essential contributions for your company. First, he will offer your site a prominent place on Google and its peers. Secondly, once your visitors are lured in, they will be attracted by quality content and will naturally be directed to other articles. This will increasetime they spend on your site, which will be beneficial for... your SEO.

How to make a good editorial brief?

The SEO copywriter may be an expert in wording, but he still needs information from you! So be precise in your requests, to avoid any unpleasant surprises. After all, you wouldn't walk into a bar and just ask: "Give me something to drink! "You might end up with lime juice”. The same principle applies to content writing.

First of all, note that there is nothing to stop you from just giving very brief instructions to your SEO web writer. The disadvantage of this method is that it is difficult to be sure that your provider has understood your request. And then, how can you blame him for not having respected your requirements if you did not express them to him?

This is why the editorial brief was invented. This document is the equivalent of the specifications for web writing. The more precise it is, the more you will be sure that your SEO writer has understood your request. But also think about his well-being and don't overwhelm him with a 70-page brief. Stick to 6-7 pages maximum.

So what should go into a good editorial brief? Here are a few things you can include, as much as possible, of course.

Company information

Don't write a ton, but introduce yourself quickly. This will allow the SEO writer to understand the context of your approach. Take the opportunity to explain the overall objective of the mission.

Target audience

You certainly have an idea of the audience you are targeting. Is it B2B or B2C? Is it a predominantly young audience? A specific professional population? This will allow the writer to adapt his style to your targets. In addition, don't hesitate to give him information on the tone you want him to use.

Details of the assignment

It's time to get to the crux of the matter! Provide your SEO writer with all the information they need to do their job. For example, if you're writing product pages, give them a list of the items, with their properties, photos, etc. For a blog post, specify the subject, the title, the identified keywords... You can also ask him to participate in this research work. Moreover, if you can, do not hesitate to provide him with examples of sources, to facilitate his research work.

Content characteristics

This part completes the previous one. It allows you to indicate, among other things, the desired number of words, the structure of the text (if you have defined it), any additional content to be written (meta description, excerpt ...), the words to avoid or to use... Finally, this is an opportunity to tell your writer your requirements in terms of SEO: main keywords, secondary, lexical field...

How long does SEO copywriting take and how much does it cost?

This is probably your main question: how much will I have to pay for my SEO optimized article? And how long will I wait? Of course, the answers to these questions depend directly on the previous part. The higher your expectations, the bigger the bill. And the time frame will depend on the complexity of the work to be done. But these elements will also depend on the solution you choose. Because there are several possibilities.

Writing platforms

There are many websites specialized in web writing: Redacteur.com, Textbroker, Scribeur... Each platform has its own particularities, but the principle is much the same. First, you order your texts directly, by detailing your needs. Then, a web editor registered on the site books the mission and takes care of your order.

The advantages of this method are clear: the prices are (very) low and the deadlines are (very) short. In some cases, you can receive your content in just a few hours.

But this is obviously not without its drawbacks. The main problem is that you don't know which writer you are dealing with. And you should know that skills are very uneven in this business... Especially considering the low pay, there is little chance of uncovering a diamond in the rough. But if you are lucky, you will get quality content, written by a competent SEO writer. If you're not so lucky, you'll receive a text that is not very relevant, contains mistakes and doesn't really meet your needs.

Web writing agencies

By web writing agencies, we also mean communication agencies, marketing agencies... In this case, you call upon a professional team, who will take your challenge on. This can include content writing only, or other subjects such as web design, SEO optimization, and full marketing strategy also... For your texts, the agency can use internal web writers or partners previously identified.

The advantage of using such a company is mainly in the quality obtained. In general, a web writing agency will indeed do its best to meet all your requirements. Moreover, you don't have to look for your SEO writer yourself, which saves you time.

On the down side, the price is at the top of the list. Because you pay not only for the web writing service, but also for the support of the agency, which must also be paid. Moreover, this solution is not really suitable if you have punctual needs.

Freelance SEO writers

This is the most direct solution: call directly on an individual who will take charge of writing your web content. The freelance writer must be able to invoice you, via an appropriate legal structure.

The advantage of this method is that you deal directly with your provider. You are thus free to set the rate, deadlines, format, etc., with your SEO writer. In addition, you can ask him for examples of articles, to get an overview of his work. It is therefore the most flexible solution, particularly suitable for small businesses and limited budgets.

The major drawback is that you will have to find your dream writer on your own. And there is a lot to choose from. Before starting a collaboration, it will be necessary for you to take time to select your provider. For example, you can use online platforms that list freelancers. In addition, do not hesitate to ask for recommendations from your professional network. And above all, a little advice: if you have "got hold" of a good writer, do your best to keep him.

Do SEO web writers write for Google or for readers?

Both, sir!

As we have seen, the SEO writer is able to optimize your content for search engines. By inserting relevant keywords and structuring the content so that it is easily indexed.

But a quality SEO writer is above all a quality writer. He must have an advanced mastery of the given language, to produce content that is pleasant to read. A series of vaguely related keywords is indeed of no interest and your visitors would not be mistaken.

And the behavior of Internet users will have a direct influence on... your SEO! Because Google's algorithms particularly take into account user experience. So, if your visitors leave your pages quickly and don't come back, your site will end up sinking into the depths of the search results.

Therefore, a good SEO copywriter must combine technical and literary skills. Ideally, it's a cross between Larry Page (founder of Google) and Master Capello.

Can an SEO copywriter finish writing a text I've started?

Absolutely. If you have already started writing a text, you can entrust the rest of the writing to a web editor. He will then focus on following the tone used, while optimizing the content for SEO.

You can even go further and ask your provider to rewrite a text entirely. The goal of the maneuver is to write about the same topic, but with the objective of making the content more visible on search engines.

Does the freelance web writer produce unique content?

Yes, it is absolutely necessary. Because Google severely punishes duplicate content. In order to rank high, content must be unique. Therefore, this is the ABC of the SEO writer: find the wording perfectly adapted to your needs, without recycling texts already produced. So don't hesitate to run the texts you receive through online plagiarism detectors.

Can the SEO copywriter also take care of the meta description tags?

Of course. All copywriting work can be entrusted to your provider. Just be sure to make this request explicit when negotiating. And don't forget that any task deserves to be paid.

However, Google has confirmed that it does not take into account the meta description for its search results ranking. On the other hand, it will be the best way to encourage users to click on your link. All the more reason to entrust it to an SEO writer.

Conclusion

To conclude, it is better to use an SEO writer for your strategic content. Indeed: although it would be tempting to minimize your costs by not looking at the content’s quality you order, in the end it does not pay off in terms of SEO. And this is all the more true if organic traffic from search engines is vital for your business. That's why we hired a copywriter for this article.