Why you need a SEO copywriter

Stop! Before you read any further, answer a question: how long do you expect it will take you to read this page? 5 minutes? 90 seconds? 10 seconds?

Another question: are you actually planning to read the page, or just skim the main points?

If it’s the main points you want, here they are:

* Most people don’t read web pages, they skim.
* To get your message across, you must be engaging and succinct.
* Web copywriting is a specialist skill.
* SEO copywriting is similar, but with keywords.

Ah well, it looks like I’ve covered the key points already. Suffice to say that web copywriting isn’t like writing for a newspaper or a magazine. You can’t simply cut and paste the content of your brochure onto your website. People won’t read it.

SEO copywriting is web copywriting taken a stage further. Yes, it’s got to be authoritative, compelling and concise. But it also needs to incorporate your target keywords without looking “spammy”.

For instance, if I were optimising this page for the phrase “SEO copywriter”, I would try to squeeze in a couple of mentions of “SEO copywriter”, but not to the point where it became irritating.

Some people make the mistake of trying to "write for Google" by cramming their pages with keywords. This is a bad idea for 2 reasons:

1. When human visitors read the copy, they don't like it, and go elsewhere.

2. Google is getting clever at spotting web pages stuffed with keywords, and is working towards a real understanding of what's written on web pages. When this happens – it's known as the semantic web – well-written pages will triumph over "spammy" ones.

Anyway, here’s what some clients say about my SEO copywriting:

“We needed the copy for our new website written quickly. Mark did a great job – he researched the subject thoroughly and was always easy to work with. The results couldn't be better. It may seem simple to write a few words, but Mark proves that good copywriting is a real art.”

- Margaux de Rooy, Director, Pumulani

“Mark has helped us with our websites - from checking work I have written, to writing all the text in two new websites. He is quick, efficient and professional. But more than that - he is personable and extremely helpful. He will go into great detail with our webmaster on techincal discussions. I personally find him fun to work with and cannot recommend him enough. I have passed his name onto a number companies who have all been grateful for the contact.”

- Jo Pope, director,
  Robin Pope Safaris and Safari Houses of Africa

And if you’ve got this far I would say it’s taken you about 90 seconds. Thanks for reading.