How I Work
(Blog Posts)
Hiring a freelance writer is easy. But finding one who suits your brand, voice, and style is tricky. To help you get to know me, here's an insight into how I work.
​
(Specifics will vary depending on your style guide and SEO strategy.)
How I Optimise Your Content
​
Fulfilling Search Intent
​
Search intent is the most important thing to focus on in SEO writing. If a reader comes to your site because they’ve Googled a question and doesn't get their answer immediately, they'll click back.
​
For example, if they asked, "When do babies roll over?" They won't read through three paragraphs about what a developmental milestone is or why babies develop at different rates.
​
Of course, if all I do is answer the question, it will be a pretty short article. I mean, "6 to 8 months" isn't going to keep them on your page for long, either.
​
So, after I've told your readers what they need to know, I'll follow-up with what would be nice to know. And I'll keep them on the page with hooks, humour, and valuable content.
Check out this example. See how I get straight to the point?
SEO Headings
​
Researching headings is as vital to a successful post as researching keywords. I find the most effective headings are the long-tail keywords related to your topic.
Done right, they'll hold attention and bring in more readers.
Yes, the search volume for long-tails is lower, but the engagement is through the roof. Plus, they're low competition. Win-win!
​
Keyword Research
​
Of course, I don't ignore short-tail, high-search volume keywords. And, happily, they're much more fun to include than they used to be. The days of cringey keyword stuffing are, thankfully, long gone.
Instead I:
-
Include your target keyword in the first 150 words.
-
Ensure a keyword density of between 0.5% and 2%, depending on your strategy.
-
Use keywords naturally.
-
Seamlessly blend in semantically related terms. If there's another way to search for something, I'll find it and use it.
​
External Links
​
It can be nerve-wracking to link to an external site. Will your readers leave forever?
​
No, not if you do it well.
​
I never link to competitor sites or anything that's particularly easy to read. Instead, I link to reputable journal articles, publications, and books.
These strengthen your site in Google's eyes without the risk of losing your visitors.
Check out this example: See my work at the top, and the journal article it links to below.
Why would anyone want to trawl through 30 pages of a dry journal article when I've summarised it in a friendly and accessible way? They won't!
​
Heading Hierarchy
​
When you assign a header tag to your text (H1 to H6), you're helping Google figure out what your page is about. This helps it to send searchers your way.
At first glance, they're pretty simple. But as they're so essential, they deserve some thought and optimisation.
I use them to:
-
Break-up text.
-
Make your content scannable.
-
Provide extra structure.
-
Hold reader interest.
-
Integrate long and short-tail keywords.
-
Answer frequently searched questions.
Without them, all you'll have is a big block of unbroken text. The horror.
Overall, headings are a great combo of straightforward, reader-friendly, and super effective. What's not to love?
​
Snippet Friendly Content
​
Another great reason why I concentrate on your headings is snippets. Those highly coveted featured snippets that pop up on Google and reel in readers by the thousands.
Here's a selection of some I've written:
Snippets are a team effort, but for my part, I optimise headings using long-tail words. Then, I fulfil the search intent with a numbered list, bullet points, or a few short sentences. You don't get much more than 50 words in the average snippet.
It sounds simple, but getting it right is tricky. If you manage it, though, the payoff is huge.
​
How I Write Content That's Reader Friendly
​
Of course, it's vital that Google finds your site. But it's just as crucial that your readers like it too.
A reader-friendly site:
-
Ranks higher on Google.
-
Attracts repeat readers.
-
Generates subscribers.
-
Gets Calls to Action clicks.
-
Increases page authority.
To keep readers happy, I focus on four main areas:
​
Value
To ensure your article provides value, I conduct a lot of research. Rehashing bad advice mashed together from other sites won't help anybody. Plus, an AI tool could do it much faster.
​
For example, I recently wrote an article about cleaning gaming monitors. If I had just relied on Google's front page, I'd have recommended screen cleaning solutions or vinegar.
​
However, after digging, I discovered the manufacturer only recommends a dry microfiber cloth or distilled water at a push. Destroying your reader's $1,000 piece of kit is a surefire way to lose clicks. Unless you count the one used to get to your page to send a very angry email.
​
Readability
​
Readability is more straightforward. I never use more than three sentences in a paragraph or a long word when a short one will do. I also use Hemingway to check your article scores a grade 5 or lower.
​
Quality
​
As an ex-teacher, quality is an easy one for me. I'm practically my own built-in editor. However, it's always tricky to spot mistakes in your own work. Our brains paper over the cracks.
To get around this, I use Grammarly premium and read-aloud software. Listening back to your work doesn't just help catch mistakes. It also makes it easy to pick up on overused words and dodgy structure.
​
Writing in Your Niche
​
My SEO blog post portfolio mostly consists of:
-
Health
-
Parenting
-
Lifestyle
-
Cleaning
However, I'm a research geek, so I'm comfortable covering a wide range of topics.
For example, check out my YouTube script portfolio. I've written about everything from ultra-high-speed cameras to rabies and the treasures of Tutankhamun to the mind-control fungus that infects ants.
​
Hiring Me
​
If you’ve stuck with me this far, I must be the right fit for your project! Get in touch. I’m currently taking on new long-term clients, and I’d love to chat about how I can help your site.
