Optimize Articles for Maximum Readership Using Keywords

Everyone wants to have their articles and blogs read by as many people as possible.  You’ve done the search engine submission thing, and you’ve done all the social bookmarking you have time for.  You’ve tried keyword  and hot topic tools and written articles based on what they told you was popular right now.

So what is the answer?

Pictures

Articles without pictures are boring, at least to the casual web surfer.

Image by Migraine Chick via Flickr

Someone who has gotten to your article by putting keywords or key phrases into a search engine might click on the link to your article, and then clink right off if there is no picture to distract their attention from moving onto the next link.  Put one near the top so that the casual websurfer will see it without having to scroll down.  And make sure you use at least one, two is better though.  Keep their eyes moving through your article, a second picture further down will draw their attention and keep them reading at least until they get to it.

Article Length

If you can, try to keep you article somewhere between 300-500 words in length.  Less than that is too short and doesn’t contain enough content, longer than that and search engines like Google will lose interest, making your ranking go down.

Topics

Don’t bother using keyword tools to figure which words people are searching for most.  Instead, decide what you want to write about, and then go to Google and type it in and see what search keywords and key phrases are associated with that topic.  As I said, write about what you want to write about.  To do anything else makes for a dry, boring, article no one wants to read or pass on anyhow.

Keywords and Key Phrases

Once you’ve discovered the keywords and key phrases that people search with for the topic you are writing about, use them in your article.

• Use them in the title
• Use them in the description
• Use them in the headings and sub-headings
• Use them in the body of the article
• Underline and Bold them in the article

As you can see I have done in this article.  This will improve the ranking the search engine gives to your article when people search on a particular topic.

And don’t forget that second picture.  My doesn’t that look refreshing?  Ok who has a glass?