Essential Content Elements for Semantic Search
Writing for semantic search is concept based and structured.
Writing For Machines Is Over
When writing for semantic search key concepts are the main element of each content piece. Clarity and relevance to a site visitor's query help organic search.
Write for people as if you are having a conversation. Your content is the beginning of a dialogue between you and your site visitor.
Sequence makes a difference in how your site visitor discovers your material and differentiates your business from others in the same industry.
- Topic/Overview - Clear and focused
- Romance but not bombast
- Pertinent details explained – focus on benefits
- Special features
- Additional features/you may want to know
- Summary with a little more romance
- Call to action
Time Stamp of Key Elements
3:04 Background in writing.
6:56 Search changes constantly.John Mueller announcement that HTTPS will be search by default.
7:10 Richard Hussey quote: Before you just had to write about something. Now you have to say something useful. The basis of writing for semantic search.
7:50 Goals for writing. Think of your writing as one half of a dialogue in a conversation. You are starting a conversation.
10:18 Semantic search definition
12:30 RankBrain impact on quality writing
13:34 Writing for machines is over; write for people using natural language
16:30 Semantic writing - everything you say is connected to the identity and character of your business
18:00 Your character character comes across and is important to establish trust in your business.
18:33 Key concept as the core of each content piece
22:57 Relevance above ranking: retrain your brain to think about the relevance inside your content
24:40 Speed and detail accuracy of quantum computing will make details and relevancy even more important
28:00 The Praxis - How to actually write and construct the content:theme, vocabulary, title, headers, sentences, paragraphs, sequence, tone
36:37 Examples of what to do and what to avoid
41:21 Proof your work: grammar, reading level, internal relevance
42:00 Structured data
44:02 Follow up activities
47:00 Results of semantic writing
48:15 How to find a semantic writer
51:05 Question: Everyone in a specific industry gets the same question. Differentiate yourself.
52:34 Question: How do you check that your copywriter didn’t still content? Online plagiarism checkers.
53:30 Question: Tool for phrases for user intent. CISE, Conceptual Intelligence Search Engine.
55:02 Question: If I write one topic for a page, how do I tell about two subjects? Write one content piece for each and have them link to each other.
56:21 Question: How do search engines “know” sentiment? Sentiment mining is through the responses, positive, negative, and neutral to content pieces.
59:31 Question: When telling a story, should I use first person? If you are a one person business the first person makes sense. Tell the story relating a customer experience with your business and how you solved a problem.
Slides
If you have more questions about writing for semantic search, contact me.
Zara Altair
zara@actationnow.com