SEO Writing vs. Content Writing: What’s the Difference

Have you ever wondered about the difference between SEO and regular content writing? As someone in both trenches, I’m excited to break it down for you.
For someone who hasn’t experienced both, you will be indoctrinated. 😉 

Let’s examine how these two writing styles can make or break your online presence.

Seo Content Writing vs. Content Writing

Let me simplify this for you: SEO Content sounds repetitive, while content writing is more like telling a story with a natural flow.

I wouldn’t say SEO writing is quality content for typical readers; for Google, yes, maybe due to its structure and flow, but it’s more like a strategic marketing approach that repeats primary and related keywords in the article.

Content writing is like using Grammarly or writing in your notebook or Google Docs without rules, guidelines, or strategy. Just your powerful words and imagination.

SEO writing optimizes content for Google using tools like SurferSEO or ChatGPT to generate search-optimized phrases. It’s essentially MARKETING in one word.

Content writing is about sharing experiences, building trust, and making connections without worrying about rules. It focuses on engaging readers, while SEO writing prioritizes search engine rankings by following specific guidelines.

Details below:

SEO Writing

SEO writing is creating optimized content with the help of a robot to be recognized by a robot ( Google ).

SEO Writing involves strategically incorporating keywords and related terms to make Google recognize and treat your content like a VIP. You secure a particular spot on Google’s first page when you earn that VIP treatment.

Every SEO writer dreams of making it to the top 5, let alone the ultimate aspiration to claim that prestigious TOP 1 position. You’re an excellent SEO writer when your articles sit on Google’s first page. ( several factors to consider, too.)

The main goals of SEO writing include:

• Research and use keywords and phrases that people search for related to your content topic. This helps search engines understand your content’s relevance for those searches.
• Adding related or secondary keywords to the primary keywords for a wider topic.
• Creating catching and informative meta titles and descriptions to get clicks on your site in search listings.
• Use proper heading tags (H1, H2, H3 to H5) to structure your content so users and search engines can understand.
• Adding internal links between related content to establish relevancy and authority on a topic.
• Optimizing page speed and technical SEO factors like image alt text, site architecture, and structured data markup.
• Producing high-quality, helpful content that answers search intent to satisfy users.

The aim is to help search engines properly index and rank your pages for relevant user queries by implementing optimization best practices ( SEO ) across your content. Quality content focused on human readers is still vital; SEO best practices amplify it. 

Fun Fact:

SEO Writing is essentially Content Writing, but it takes a step further when you write on WordPress and adhere to basic SEO suggestions from plug-ins like Rank Math and Yoast SEO. This approach enhances your SEO score, which both clients and Google value.

SEO Writing is Content Writing until your client wants you to use SurferSEO and tells you to follow suggested terms and their frequency and improve the SEO score. 

Content Writing

Content writing is writing for humans through sharing personal experiences, ideas, and perspectives without keyword research or SEO strategies. 

I encourage writers to rely on their judgment and skills when writing content. Humans have a clear advantage over machines. While Google’s algorithms may be highly technical in determining content rankings, humans still possess the unique ability to recognize originality and make significant connections.

Although writing tools and Google’s ranking techniques currently dominate the internet, it remains crucial to prioritize human effort and creativity over Artificial Intelligence. That’s why it’s called artificial in the first place. 

Factors are at play when you want your regular content to rank on Google.  I’m not saying to throw your SEO-crafted content under the bus. I’m trying to elevate your content by infusing life, facts, and research into your work. 

Be authentic and connect with your readers by studying your audience. Deliver content that is concise, high-quality, and irresistible to readers. Attack into the optics, conduct thorough research, study real-life cases, and go out there to gain firsthand experience of what you’re trying to write about. Embrace a holistic approach that engages and captivates your audience. 

Is SEO Writing Better than Content Writing?

Quick Answer? – Depends!

SEO Writing is the preferred approach if you’re solely concerned with rankings. However, content writing would be best if you’re a diverse entity seeking high-quality and engaging content without considering its position in Google. Ultimately, you are the best person to determine your priorities.

While SEO writing focuses on delivering top-notch content with targeted keywords to win over Google’s heart, is it better than content writing? Hmm, I wouldn’t be so quick to say yes.

I have used the Surfer SEO tool for four years to optimize my content. It is a valuable tool for SEO writing, but I wouldn’t suggest it when you’re a content or creative writer. The Surfer SEO tool provides words or phrases with frequency based on how often you include them in the draft to achieve content optimization and a high score. 

However, when proofreading, I often find repeated phrases and keywords that sound unnatural when reading the final text. Also, getting a high score on SurferSEO doesn’t guarantee SERP’s visibility. This tool is built for search engines and should also guide humans in writing content for search engines. 

Although these blogs created via SurferSEO are already good enough to be published for Google to take notice, there are still factors to consider, which will be discussed in a separate blog: Why blogs aren’t ranking on Google.

In a Nutshell

Once you’ve breathed life into your content and your objective is to secure a spot on Google’s first page, it’s time to apply your SEO strategies and techniques. Combine engaging content with strategic optimization to meet your readers’ and Google’s needs and aspirations.

As the saying goes, “We’re a jack of all trades, master to none.” You can finally say, “I’m a jack of all trades, master to SOME.” Embrace your diverse skills and areas of expertise, acknowledging that while you may not be a master of everything, you have mastered skills in Content writing and SEO writing.👍