Web content comes in a huge number of different guises. As web content writers we're only going to look at some of the more prominent styles of text based content. Text based content, like video or images, has its place and (dare we say it) its limitations. In terms of SEO, though, nothing gets crawled, indexed, and ranked quite as effectively as well optimized textual web content. This is because Googlebot and the other search engine bots are predominantly text crawlers and while the search engines are gradually coming round to the indexing of other media, text remains the msot successful.
If you offer pages of flash content, or video feeds, then you need to ensure that these pages are coupled with alternative text and relevant text that the spiders and bots can index. Below are some possible ideas for textual web content that you can include on your website.
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- Articles are versatile creatures; they can be short or long, and convey any of a number of different messages. They can also be included on your site, or used externally to promote your brand, your products, and your pages.
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- A blog, or web log, is a frequent publication of ideas, thoughts, or information. Initially the blog was used to publish personal thoughts on the Internet but more recently has become a beneficial and viable method of marketing a business online.
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- The FAQ page is sometimes seen by Webmasters as being a necessary evil; a page that has to be included but serves no real content. However, when used effectively they can reduce otherwise unnecessary customer contact, answer vital questions, and provide you with a point of reference when answering queries.
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- Another type of web content page that is sometimes overlooked as being an ancillary page. However, a glossary offers genuinely useful information in a simple and convenient format. And, it acts as link bait to generate links from other websites.
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- A knowledge base is essentially a directory of articles or web pages that informs and educates readers. They can be used to target a large number of different keywords, build trust, and improve your image as an authority on a given topic.
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- News articles are topical and timely pieces. They inform your reader, give visitors a reason to bookmark or subscribe, and can get you significant traffic and links. Again, they can be used externally to drive even more traffic.
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- A press release is a newsworthy announcement of an event or happening. Press release topics can include the launch of a new product, a special offer, a new project, or anything that is considered newsworthy to the public.
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- No ecommerce site or catalog would be complete without product descriptions. While most manufacturers provide content that can be used towards this end, unique content will serve you better in search engine results. Product descriptions also allow you to target very specific keywords and generate very active traffic to your website.
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- A review is an in-depth view of a product, service, or any other item. Reviews should be honest and can be used to target very specific keywords.
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- A white paper is a highly authoritative and well written guide. It raises issues or questions about any topic, addresses those issues, and attempts to answer them in a coherent and sensible fashion. White papers offer authoritative voce to your website and can build trust between your site visitors and your service.
