There are so many blogs, articles, and social media posts vying for attention, how do you create content that stands out?

The answer lies in understanding what your audience truly wants and delivering it in a way that works for them.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, following a set of golden rules can help you craft content that not only attracts readers but also keeps them coming back for more.

Having written more online articles than a candy shop has hundreds and thousands, here are my golden rules to make the effort you put into content creation worthwhile.

Give the People What They Want (And Make It Juicy)

First things first, your content needs to serve a purpose. It’s like making a sandwich – nobody wants just two slices of bread! You’ve got to stuff it with the good stuff that your readers are craving.

Start with an intention – what do you want this piece of content to do
Know your ideal client like they’re your BFF
Write specifically for them
Do your keyword research (free tools like Ubersuggest and Google Trends are your pals here)
Make it thick and juicy – in-depth articles are the crowd-pleasers

Write for Your Reader, Not Your Ego

Remember, you’re not writing a love letter to yourself. Your content should be all about your reader.

Draft an outline to keep your thoughts organised
Focus on evergreen, comprehensive tutorials
Link to other valuable content (including your own)

Give Google What It Wants (But Don’t Be Creepy About It)

SEO is important, but don’t go overboard. It’s like seasoning your food – a little goes a long way.

Optimize for phrases, not single keywords
Include your target keyword(s) in your headline, page title, and URL slug
Keep your URLs short and sweet
One main keyword per page (don’t stuff ’em in like you’re playing keyword Tetris)

Make It Easy on the Eyes

Nobody likes a wall of text. Break it up!

Use unique page titles and meta descriptions
Optimize your images (filename, alt text, description)
Make your content scannable with headers, bullet points, and short paragraphs

Call to Action (CTA) – Make It Crystal Clear

Don’t leave your readers hanging. Tell them what to do next!

Use strong, clear CTAs
Guide them to your product pages or get them to subscribe

Promote, Promote, Promote

Writing great content is only half the battle. You’ve got to get it out there!

Share on social media
Link to your content in guest posts, press releases, interviews, etc.

The Golden Rule of All Golden Rules

Don’t steal content. Seriously. It’s not cool, and Google will put you in the naughty corner.

Remember

Creating great content is like cooking a gourmet meal. It takes time, effort, and a dash of creativity. But when you nail it, your readers (and Google) will keep coming back for seconds!

Need more help? That’s what we’re here for at Help Me Net. We can help you whip up content that’s so good, your readers will think you’ve hired Thomas Keller as your content chef!

The Golden Rules for Creating Quality Content That Connects