We hear it all the time, quality content is essential for successful websites. As Google places a higher degree of significance on website user value in its algorithm updates, worthwhile and informative content is being rewarded with higher search rankings. So what does this mean to webmasters and marketers who are looking to improve website performance by improving content? The first step is to consider what constitutes “quality content”.
According to guidance on building high quality sites from Google’s Webmaster Central Blog Spot, there are a few things you can consider when determining whether your content is quality content:
- Are articles written by an authority who knows the topic?
- Does the site have duplicate articles on the same or similar topics?
- Does this article have spelling, stylistic, or factual errors?
- Are the topics driven by genuine interests of readers of the site?
- Does the article provide original information and analysis?
- Does the page provide value when compared to other pages in search results?
- Is this the sort of page a user would bookmark, share with a friend, or recommend?
These considerations will not only lead to content with SEO appeal, they will help you develop content that is useful to your audience. The next step is to make that content compelling and memorable for users.
In a recent Content Marketing blog post, author Barry Feldman provides an interesting perspective on creating educational content that is unforgettable. He applies five basic successful classroom tips as content development strategies.
Here is a quick highlight of those tips and what you can take away from them for your own content creation goals:
- “Funny teachers rule” – Whenever possible make your content entertaining. Action Idea: Add a little humor to dry copy or include some fun snap shots with team bios
- “Let students get their hands dirty” – Let users interact with your website. Action Idea: Use online tools and demos that allow users to input details about their questions
- “Predictability is poisonous” – Use a variety of content types to convey your message. Action Idea: Write blog articles, post videos, or develop infographics to explain benefits
- “Encourage field trips” – Take users out of the ordinary with interesting backdrops. Action Idea: Tell a conversational story to present a case study or create a news story video
- “Remove the stress” – Make it easy for users to find what they need on your website. Action Idea: Organize your page content according to what your customers most often want to know