All websites need some sort of text to explains what the website / business / municipality is or does. Copy is also very important to search engine optimization, as search engines cannot “read” images. While there are many professional copy writing services available, you may be able to create meaningful text for your website even if you are not the strongest writer. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you write, or edit, your website copy.

• Content Length – Content length (per page) should be, at a minimum, 300 words in length. It should be a goal to aim 600-1200 words.
• Keyword(s) – Include your focus keyword throughout your copywriting. Your focus keyword should be included in the page title and in headings throughout your copy (just don’t go overboard). Don’t forget to include common alternatives of your keyword as well. For example, if your keyword is “pressure washing” you will want to include “power washing” throughout your copy as well.
• Skimmable Content – Break your content up with headings. Your copy should have a heading every other paragraph or so. Most people don’t read every word on a webpage and instead scan quickly, stopping at headings that catch their attention.
• Lists – Include a numbered or bullet point list in your copy. This is not needed, but helps break up the content to be easier to read/scan.
• Local Keywords – Use geography words in conjunction with your keywords. For example, if your focus keyword is “pressure washing” use “pressure washing in Cityville” or “Cityville pressure washing” in your copy.
• Internal Linking – Mention other pages of your site and include links to those pages. For example, if you are writing about pressure washing a deck, you may mention “after your deck is pressure washed, it’s a perfect time to renew your deck surface with a new deck stain” and link “deck stain” to the deck stain page of your site.
• Keep it Simple – Utilize simple language. You don’t have to be an English scholar to write copy for a website. Website copy should be written at about a 4th grade level and with short, simple sentences.