Keeping the attention of your followers is just as important as being listed on the first page of Google’s search results. Leading UX Designer Steve Krug wrote, “The fact that the people who built the site didn’t care enough to make things obvious–and easy–can erode our confidence in the site and the organization behind it.” In other words, your brand will end up suffering if your content isn’t understandable. That’s how powerful neglecting to use SEO and UX together can be.
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Overall, your brand’s positioning on Google will ultimately rely on the combination of SEO and UX writing. To be a good SEO writer, it’s important to use keywords related to your particular niche in your writing. However, if your site is hard to navigate, disengaging, or not mobile-friendly, users won’t have a reason to stay. As technology continues to advance, it’s important to understand why SEO and UX writing go hand in hand.
What is UX Writing?
UX, or user experience, “refers to the singular and accumulated experiences that occur for users as a consequence of them interacting with an object in a given context.” In short, it’s how a user interacts with anything. From playing a game to driving a car, what we experience as humans can be positive or negative. Those experiences are what help shape our decisions, and in marketing, positive decisions are usually profitable.
In the same way, UX writing puts on the user’s shoes and formats content accordingly. What will the user find helpful? What kind of words will the user understand? By using helpful phrases, clear language, and concise explanations, a user can find the information they need quickly and efficiently.
In the end, that’s the goal. Whether it’s through email campaigns, blog posts, or web navigation, your content should be easy to understand. If you’re focused on optimizing your content by answering their questions, you’ll find continued success with your customers.
Pro Tip: Find the type of questions your customers are asking by perusing online forums, competitors, or related search results.
Influx of Mobile Users
There’s hardly a debate between the impact of mobile phones on marketing and advertising. According to the Pew Research Center, the share of Americans that own smartphones is now 81%, up from just 35% in 2011. Having information within fingers reach has become a normalcy for our society, and it’s important for us to remember that in our content creation. With mobile-friendliness now a ranking factor for your website, UX optimization (page speed, mobile design, phone integration, etc.) is key.
SEO Value of User Experience
In the end, search engine optimization is based on relevant keywords and user experience. Compared to past SEO practices that relied on keyword stuffing, Google’s last few algorithm updates have evolved to place more weight on the actual functionality of your website.
To increase the ranking of your website, technical SEO and UX and have to be used together to provide quality content. According to Co-Founder of seoplus+, Brock Murray, “Think about how you can help your users have the best possible experience while truly pondering what value you can provide to them during their visit. ”
Preparing for the Future
Since the beginning of web development, the goal has been to help users accomplish tasks efficiently. With so many options on the market, your content matters. If you’re focused on helping your customers have the best experience possible, you’ll see continued success no matter what Google update may come in the future.
Connect with our content experts to learn more about the impact of user experience on your search rankings.
Ashlee Visser is the Content Manager at ITVibes, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Humanities from Thomas Edison State University. With a strong focus on organization, she excels in content management and website writing. Ashlee’s passion for writing is evident in every project she undertakes. When she’s not busy managing content, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their growing family.
