6 steps to optimize any content to perfection
Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2025 3:39 am
When people talk about “optimizing content,” they usually think of technical tasks that require SEO best practices and relevant keywords .
In today's digital world where content is king, there are other factors that are much more influential when it comes to optimizing content. In fact, optimizing content is less a matter of keyword presence or metadata and more a matter of trust, purpose, quality, and authority.
1. Build trust
You’ve probably heard a lot of references to the fact that “content is king.” Well, let’s go a little further and focus on a powerful truth: “trust is king (or queen) .” This doesn’t mean that trust replaces content, in fact you can only create trustworthy content . That’s why you’re right if you still say that “content is king,” but only if it generates trust .
TWEET IT: “Content is king,” but only if it generates trust. #Trust is the only way to achieve conversions and sales.
Trust is the only way to achieve conversions and sales, but how do I build trust through content?
• Using the right words. These range from connectors such as: “in accordance with”, “as a result”, “caused by”, “consequently”, etc. to more specific words such as: “authentic”, “best-selling”, “certified”, “cancel at any time”, “risk-free”; “results”, “try before you buy”, “verify”… among many others.
Words build trust and these are the ones that work.
• Being objective. Objective content is written in a non-aggressive, balanced and objective manner.
As MarketingProfs notes, “Most consumers (74%) say they generally trust a business’s material as long as it appears objective and isn’t explicitly trying to sell a product or service.”
It's all about creating intent. If a user has the intention to buy, for example if they make a transactional enquiry, it's because they're waiting to be sold a product or service. Not providing a call to action, in this case, can be frustrating.
• Build trust with user-generated content. Many consumers only trust architects email database content if it has been created by other users.
Amplify your content marketing efforts through user-generated content such as magazines, forums, reviews, feedback , case studies, social discussion, etc.
• Build trust by sharing research, metrics, and case studies . One of the best sources of trust is knowledge. We trust people who possess knowledge and wisdom: professors, authors, researchers, etc.
How do you confirm your knowledge? Simply by producing facts – research, figures, statistics, case studies, etc. – If your content is well-founded and has good information and data, people trust it.
2. Participate in the intentions
We live in an online world where users know what they are looking for and search engines are doing much better at meeting their needs with the results they deliver. But where does your brand fit into this? Your website and online presence needs to align with the purposes of your target audience and this should be your focus.
How do you create content that matches user intent? You do this by identifying users' questions or concerns and creating content that can answer them or interest them .
Content needs to speak to user intent. Users want what they want, and your content needs to deliver that or they'll leave.
In today's digital world where content is king, there are other factors that are much more influential when it comes to optimizing content. In fact, optimizing content is less a matter of keyword presence or metadata and more a matter of trust, purpose, quality, and authority.
1. Build trust
You’ve probably heard a lot of references to the fact that “content is king.” Well, let’s go a little further and focus on a powerful truth: “trust is king (or queen) .” This doesn’t mean that trust replaces content, in fact you can only create trustworthy content . That’s why you’re right if you still say that “content is king,” but only if it generates trust .
TWEET IT: “Content is king,” but only if it generates trust. #Trust is the only way to achieve conversions and sales.
Trust is the only way to achieve conversions and sales, but how do I build trust through content?
• Using the right words. These range from connectors such as: “in accordance with”, “as a result”, “caused by”, “consequently”, etc. to more specific words such as: “authentic”, “best-selling”, “certified”, “cancel at any time”, “risk-free”; “results”, “try before you buy”, “verify”… among many others.
Words build trust and these are the ones that work.
• Being objective. Objective content is written in a non-aggressive, balanced and objective manner.
As MarketingProfs notes, “Most consumers (74%) say they generally trust a business’s material as long as it appears objective and isn’t explicitly trying to sell a product or service.”
It's all about creating intent. If a user has the intention to buy, for example if they make a transactional enquiry, it's because they're waiting to be sold a product or service. Not providing a call to action, in this case, can be frustrating.
• Build trust with user-generated content. Many consumers only trust architects email database content if it has been created by other users.
Amplify your content marketing efforts through user-generated content such as magazines, forums, reviews, feedback , case studies, social discussion, etc.
• Build trust by sharing research, metrics, and case studies . One of the best sources of trust is knowledge. We trust people who possess knowledge and wisdom: professors, authors, researchers, etc.
How do you confirm your knowledge? Simply by producing facts – research, figures, statistics, case studies, etc. – If your content is well-founded and has good information and data, people trust it.
2. Participate in the intentions
We live in an online world where users know what they are looking for and search engines are doing much better at meeting their needs with the results they deliver. But where does your brand fit into this? Your website and online presence needs to align with the purposes of your target audience and this should be your focus.
How do you create content that matches user intent? You do this by identifying users' questions or concerns and creating content that can answer them or interest them .
Content needs to speak to user intent. Users want what they want, and your content needs to deliver that or they'll leave.