Content development is the foundation of any successful website. At Thrive Web Designs, we get plenty of clients who have questions when it comes to crafting new content for their new website. Depending on the content you need, your industry, and how it should be presented, there are quite a few things that need to be taken into consideration. That’s why we’ve put together the following content development tips to help you craft the bread and butter of your website.
Determine the Purpose of Your Content
You can’t develop great content without knowing why you’re writing it. Are you selling products, or are you trying to attract new clients? Once you determine the purpose of your content, you’ll be in a good position to write it. However, before you do anything, you need to research your intended audience and gain a good understanding of what they are looking for in a company like yours.
Research Your Intended Audience
When crafting content for your website, it’s important to remember that you are writing for people you plan on doing business with. What you write and how you say it needs to depend on the following:
Their level of expertise.
Depending on your industry and the people you’re dealing with, you’re going to need to match the language and knowledge of your intended audience.
What they want to know.
Write about what they want to know. This is essential when it comes to an effective website. If you can answer the questions of your intended audience better than your competitors, you’ll increase the chances of converting them into customers.
What they search for.
Understanding what your customers search for on major platforms like Google is essential. This allows you to write and optimize content that will land them on your website.
Their interests
Writing about what your customers are interested in will keep them engaged with your website. This will also increase the chances of them telling their family and friends about your business.
Research Competitors & Influencers
Successful content development depends on a well-rounded view of the competitive landscape. That’s why you should take the time to research competitors and influencers. This will provide you with important insights that will impact the content you write. Here’s why:
- Potential customers are viewing other websites, too. That’s why it’s important to gain a sense of what they are getting from your competitors and influencers. Doing so can help you develop a better content strategy for your website.
- Lay of the land research will help you identify important industry trends. Instead of being the last to know, you can stay on top of strategic shifts and competitor tactics.
- You can use competitor data to boost your website’s performance. Take the time to research the keywords others are using to rank for. This will help you set realistic goals to measure for each month.
- Competitors and influencers can provide you with inspiration. What they provide online can be an important source of information you can draw from.
This critical phase of research will help you evaluate your options before you get started.
Plan A Content Wireframe
Before you start writing, it’s important to plan a content wireframe for how all the pages on your website will work together. This is true whether you are redesigning a current website or creating a brand new one. A content wireframe can be a simple as sketching out a list of pages with notes on what they should include.
Keep in mind that website content comes in a wide variety of forms. From landing page content to blog posts to sidebar blurbs, it’s important to understand the purposes they serve.
Write Content For Each Page
Next, it’s time to start writing web page copy. It’s important to understand that every page will have different goals. Make sure these pages serve their intended purpose. For example, the homepage of your site serves as the main introduction of your business. That’s why you should craft content that provides important information about who you are and what you offer.
Beyond your “About,” “Services,” and “Contact” pages, you may have specific landing pages designed to bring in searchers. That’s why it’s important to choose good keywords and use them throughout your content to boost SEO (search engine optimization).
Edit The Content You’ve Written
Once you’ve written the content for your website, it’s important to let it sit and rest for a few hours or days. This will allow you to come back to it with fresh eyes and correct any issues you may find. These include:
- Common typos
- Word improvement
- Rewriting
- Strengthening
- Links
Furthermore, you may be surprised at what you find. This is also a good time to optimize your content for SEO.
Optimize Content For SEO
Depending on the purpose of your content, it’s important for users to be able to find certain pages through search. That’s why you should always use the best SEO practices to help your website rank for certain keywords. This includes using primary keywords throughout your content naturally. A keyword density of about 1-2% is perfect, as this provides Google with information on what a page is about without overstuffing. Overstuffing keywords can actually penalize your website, affecting its ability to rank.
In addition to incorporating keywords throughout your content, you can also use them in:
- Page titles
- Subheadings
- Title tags
- Meta descriptions
- Image alt tags
Thrive Web Designs
By following the steps above, you can craft great content for your website that will attract potential customers and important search engines like Google. To learn more about the professional web design and content development services we offer, contact Thrive Web Designs by filling out our online form or give us a call at (208) 391.2504. Together, we look forward to building something great!
