SEO Content Writing: Treat Your Homepage Like A Landing Page

SEO content and copywriting is an important factor in the ranking and the success of a website. It shouldn't just be undertaken for the purposes of the search engines, but the end-user too. Usability is a key factor successful website SEO.

As you may or may not already know, there’s a much wheeled out adage around the corners of the internet that harbor SEOs and that is "Content is king".

"Content is king" is an age-old and much clichéd maxim based on the idea that the more unique, informative and fresh content you have in your web pages, the better for your website.

You see, Google appreciate a good read as much as the next man, and if you’re providing this on your website it saves them both time and money that would otherwise be spent down their local bookshop. This leaves them with time on their hands to engage in more worthwhile pursuits, such as a spot of horticulture, basket weaving, brass rubbing, or the formulating of plans to take over the world.

If you’re keeping Google happy, then you're on the right road to success.

The more well-written content, the better, and if it’s regularly updated to boot, then you’re onto a winner from the off. Google doesn't just like a good read, they like their read to be regularly updated and added to.

Complying with this wish will show commitment and instills trust and confidence in your website, suggesting that you are serious about your endeavor and not just in it on the off-chance of a quick earner.

This is one of the chief reasons that SEOs applaud and actively participate in blogging. It’s a wonderful device for not only providing fresh, informative content that will be of use to others - building a community around your brand and services; but also for keeping a regular supply of new material flowing through your website.

And that’s "Content is king" in the smoothest of nutshells: Well-written content and lots of it = A factor that bears a direct relation upon search engine rankings.

But you must be careful not to over-egg the pudding, so to speak. In the instance of your homepage it can be tempting to take the idea a little too far. And even if you're providing plenty of information that is both unique and well written, there is the danger of overwhelming a potential customer and not getting your point across at all.

A case of not being able to see the wood for the trees.

Roughly 16% of all people actually read what’s on a webpage. The other 84% just scan and take away from it what they specifically want, largely ignoring the rest. For that reason I can insert something like Their Satanic Majesties Request into this sentence and only 16% of you will have noticed.

Being a man involved in copywriting too, I know the importance of the message and how getting it across in the plainest of terms drives sales writing. So if you have gone overboard with the your homepage consider shipping the text back to its bare bones, ensuring you don't lose the idea of what it is you're trying to get across. From here begin rebuilding and concentrate on the benefits to the end-user that your website or product or services offer, as opposed to losing them in a mountain of words. Keep the rest of your site, your blog or whatever for the more lyrical waxings. The homepage should always be considered as you would any landing page, and kept relevant and to the point, like a finely honed arrow-head. It should offer the user the best ROI - the investment being their time - and if you’re not getting your point across in the first paragraph, there’s every chance they’ll quickly be looking elsewhere.

Nick James writes for Essence SEO, a company offering UK SEO services.