You’re probably well aware how important your digital strategy is, and a website is a major part of this. Ranking well in search results, driving traffic to your website, cultivating leads, increasing conversions, and growing your customer base — these are all business successes directly related to the quality of the content on your website.
But it comes down to more than just writing content. It’s about producing quality content matched with strong storytelling that aligns with your company goals, satisfying your audience, and meeting business requirements. And this is exactly where an SEO content writer comes in.
A quality SEO content writer can help your content — and your business — stand out.
But with so many freelancers, agencies, and platforms out there, how do you even begin choosing the best SEO content writer for your needs? That’s exactly the question we’ll tackle in this quick guide.
What Does An SEO Content Writer Do?
Before we go into why you should hire a content writer for SEO and some of the key qualities you should look for, let’s take a closer look at what a professional SEO content writer even does.
An SEO content writer isn’t the same as a standard content writer.
While both will have the skills to craft exceptional content, an SEO blog writer is more specialised in creating SEO-optimised content that engages readers and ranks well in search engines like Google. They rely on content strategies that evaluate search intent and then write content that targets search-specific keywords to rank well according to search engine algorithms, but that also remains informative and valuable to humans — i.e., your audience.
In short, the best SEO content writer has the skills to write for both humans and algorithms, consistently juggling SEO / GEO trends and technicalities while having mastered expert storytelling techniques.
Benefits Of Hiring A Professional SEO Content Writer
In order for your content to align with overall goals and push your company forward, you’ll need both an SEO expert and a great writer.
An SEO content writer masters both fields.
- Expert SEO: There’s no point in crafting content that no one will see. If you’re relying on content marketing to help your site rank in search engines (and thereby drive traffic and get more leads), you will need to work with a content marketer who truly understands both SEO (search engine optimisation) and GEO (generative engine optimisation). This means that your writer will need to understand technicalities like doing keyword research and running competitor content gap analyses, while being able to craft content that meets keyword and SEO targets.
- Expert writer: But, you also need a writer who can blend that technical SEO focus with master storytelling. After all, you’re creating content for humans and not just machines, and people coming to your website will have to engage with the content presented. This is particularly important in more complex fields, like engineering, where complicated subjects have to be presented in a way that’s easy (and perhaps even enjoyable) to read.
Finding that magically gifted writer can be difficult (more on this in the next section). but your business will reap the benefits once you’ve found the right fit.
Expect improved search rankings, better engagement, higher conversion rates, and consistent quality output, all while saving time and effort.
Key Qualities To Look For When Hiring An SEO Content Writer
Before you go ahead and hire just any freelance SEO content writer you may have found online, it’s important to ensure you’re hiring the right content writer — someone who can work well with you and your company in the long term.
So here are a couple of key qualities you should consider:
- Communication: This is likely true of any team member you hire, but paying attention to communication is paramount. How well and how clearly does the content writer communicate? Does the communication style match yours? You’ll be spending a good amount of time discussing briefs and strategies, so great communication will matter.
- Strong writing skills: It goes without saying that your chosen writer will have to have strong writing and storytelling skills. Perhaps the content you’re planning is inherently interesting, but perhaps you also have some content requirements that could be complex or tedious. Your writer will need to be able to transform even the most mundane topic into something engaging.
- SEO knowledge: Of course, your chosen SEO blog writer will have an expert understanding of the latest SEO and GEO trends, with knowledge of how to do keyword research and identify content gaps, and how to marry this knowledge with interesting content that ranks well in search engine results pages and AI overviews.
Looking at a chosen writer’s portfolio and writing samples will give a good indication as to the quality of their work, but it’s also worth considering reviews and testimonials, if available.
Particularly with writers, it’s also worth considering their overall attention to detail and particular areas of interest. Ideally, you’d find a writer interested in your company’s field of operation, though this isn’t always possible.
Finally, you may also need to make some decisions about whether to opt for a freelance SEO content writer or if you’re better off working with a professional content agency, which might have access to a number of the best SEO content writers in the field.
There are pros and cons to both.
For example, a freelance SEO content writer will be great if they can join your team on a more semi-permanent basis and you only have a few content needs.
But, if you’re looking for a wider variety of content (which may require different skill sets) or require a large output of quality content, working with a content writing agency may be a better option.
Working with an agency will also mean you’re covered if your preferred writer is on sick leave, maternity or paternity leave, or on holiday.
How To Get The Most From Your SEO Content Writer
Regardless of whether you decide to work with a professional SEO content writer agency or opt for a freelance SEO content writer, there are a few things you can do to get the most from your chosen writer (or writing team).
At the top of the list, of course, is clear communication. Sitting down with your chosen SEO blog writer and walking through your company goals and requirements will go a long way in ensuring an effective collaboration. After all, how would your blog writer know what the ultimate aim is if you don’t take the time to explain it? You know your business best, and the writer is coming in to help you achieve your goals.
You’ll also need to provide clear briefs and give the writer the opportunity to come to you with content strategy and project ideas. They’ll be spending a significant amount of time investing in your content direction, and, in many ways, there has to be room for two-way communication. After all, they’re bringing in a unique set of skills that you need.
Finally, you have to leave some room for feedback. Even the best SEO content writer won’t nail every single brief, especially if they’ve just started working with you or there was room for interpretation in the brief. But by taking the time to give constructive feedback, your chosen writer will quickly learn the ins and outs of your business.
Find The Best Content Writer For SEO
Finding the right SEO content writer can make all the difference.
Focus on finding a writer you get along with and can communicate clearly with, and one who has both the SEO and storytelling skills to engage readers and propel your business forward.
At PrecisionSEO, we pride ourselves on providing a team of professional SEO content writers across a range of industries, and you’re guaranteed to find the best SEO content writer to suit your needs.
