How to write an article

that is good for seo

[Jemado]

Now I’ve finished my layout for my new website, it’s time to write some good content for my visitors. I want to split my content into a few categories so that every subject has it’s own page. I guess this is also good for my seo.
Am I correct that It’s true that you have to put the most keywords of the subject in the first and last lines of the text? And are there more tips that I can use before I start writing?

[Sweeets]

Hi Jemado

Don't worry about theories like "put[ting] the most keywords of the subject in the first and last lines of the text". They are nonsense. Likewise keyword density and proximity.

Simply create concise, informative copy that contains the keywords you wish to rank for throughout - as they naturally would occur - and your site will benefit.

Tips:
Make sure you place text links throughout your copy to link to other pages using the most beneficial 'anchor text', i.e. use the keyword for the link destination page as your link text (again, as you might naturally).

Use header tags. H1 should be the main subject and contain the main keyword/s, H2 the subheader, and so on. Use CSS to control appearance.

Don't just think about the main keyword but related keywords - make sure you include language which is richly topic-focussed.

There's a few to get you going - hope it helps!

Rachel

[Kufu]

Use CSS to control appearance.

Do not use CSS to resize the H tag.

[Prolific]

Do not use CSS to resize the H tag.

There is nothing wrong with resizing the H1 tag. Google won't penalize you. There are very few sites that use the standard size for the H1 tag. Just stay away from making it 1px with white text on a white background and you'll be fine :)

[Kufu]

Google won't penalize you.

No it won't penalize you but you also won't get the benefit of the H tag.

[caveman]

Don't worry about theories like "put[ting] the most keywords of the subject in the first and last lines of the text". They are nonsense. Likewise keyword density and proximity.

I agree that this is good advice generally. Write what makes sense and you can spend less time worrying about SEO, and more time worrying about content creation.

As for kw's in the last line of text, never heard that one. :)

But, it is NOT true that kw density and proximity are nonsense. Quite the contrary. Things like that are what people talk about when referring to a "game of inches" - which is what it's come to in the toughest categories. Everything counts when it's crunch time. It's not JUST about links now.

No it won't penalize you but you also won't get the benefit of the H tag

Don't know where that conclusion came from but it's patently untrue. Tons of great Web sites control Hx with CSS. Thanks to CSS, the days of elephant sized Hx are long gone.

[Sweeets]

OK, OK - so keyword density and proximity are not 'nonsense', but people spend WAY too much time calculating whether the keyword density makes up 4.2% (or whatever) of the copy. The point is to write in a natural way, that's all!

SEO should never be at the expense of good copywriting.

[topr8]

>>which is what it's come to in the toughest categories. Everything counts when it's crunch time.

yes i agree, but of course not everyone is working in the toughest areas.

[webdoctor]

Google won't penalize you.

No it won't penalize you but you also won't get the benefit of the H tag.

Is there any evidence that Google does this? I'm extremely sceptical of this theory...

Googlebot has never retrieved external CSS files on any of my sites - so how is Google supposed to know what size my H1 headings are sized at?

[caveman]

Well said Sweets.

And to topr8's point yes, links and other things certainly count a lot...more then whether your kw density is 4% or 6% I imagine.

The only reason I made the points as I did is that IMO, people have gotten so obsessed with links these days that they might in some cases actually benefit from paying a bit more attention to on page stuff. :o

[ronburk]

And are there more tips that I can use before I start writing?

Possibly of interest: [webmasterworld.com ]