We have all seen content designed to game the algorithm just to rank on search engines. Now, with generic AI content flooding the internet, we see it even more often.
So, how can you differentiate yourself and stand out?
Simple. By creating people-first content.
So, what exactly is people-first content, and why does it matter? Read on to find out!
People-First Content: Why Is It Important for SEO?
People-first content is created with your target audience in mind. It’s a shift away from the traditional SEO approach of focusing mainly on keywords to emphasize connecting with your audience through value-adding and original content.
Google updated its automated ranking system in December 2022 to emphasize familiarity with the topic covered in a content piece. The primary reason is that users seek expert insights on the topics they are reading.
However, not every topic requires the creator to have formal expertise.
Instead, sharing your first-hand experience could make a content piece very instructive. Practical experience in a topic enables users to trust your content and makes you an authority.
That said, writing people-first content isn’t just good for your audience. It also helps your SEO!
Human-centric content helps your SEO in the following ways:
- Establish your brand as an authority: Sharing your expertise in a topic improves your trust and credibility with your audience. This also contributes to a higher search ranking under the new paradigm.
- Attract quality leads: By offering the authentic content your audience craves, you can gain the best leads from website visitors. The more traffic flows to your site, the better it ranks on Google search.
- Provide a better user experience: Offering technical data that responds to all user queries in one location encourages people to browse your web pages. Factors like dwell time and bounce rate play a role in determining your search rankings.
- Builds brand loyalty: If you are a trusted source of information on a specific subject matter, people will engage more frequently with your content and share the information with their friends. Google considers shares and engagement when ranking your content.
- Display your unique value proposition: As long as your content addresses user pain points, interests, and requirements, it will provide value to your audience. Unique content signals to Google that your site deserves a better ranking.
What Are the Essential Ingredients of People-First Content?
The foundation of SEO has always been to respond to search user queries, and to some extent, this still applies to people-first content.
Let’s examine the core elements of people-first content.
Addressing user needs and pain points
Ensure your content speaks to your audience’s problems, needs, questions, and interests. Research relevant keywords and tailor your content around them for optimal Google search exposure.
Providing comprehensive, accurate information
Offer accurate information that is up-to-date and well-detailed. Don’t regurgitate information already available online, but offer a fresh take on your topic.
Offering unique insights or perspectives
Create catchy and simple topics that are guaranteed to entice your audience. Adopt storytelling techniques, and use interactive content marketing elements and visuals to keep your users engaged.
Creating engaging, easy-to-read content
Distinguish your content from what your competitors offer. Offer a unique take on an exciting topic or provide a fresh perspective that has not been considered before.
Here’s How You Create People-First Content
Google’s guide on helpful content gives us the criteria for how content creators can assess if their existing content is people-first, genuine, and helpful.
Here are five simple steps you can follow to generate people-first content.
Research and plan
Begin by stating your goal for using people-first content. How does it fit into your overall content marketing strategy?
Your goal should include the topic you want to write about, the nature of the content, whether informative or entertaining, its impact on SEO, and its benefits to your site.
Identify your audience and ensure your content plan is tailored to their needs and desires.
Research potential keywords customers are using to search for your type of content. You can use tools like Ahrefs or Semrush to narrow down all the keywords related to your topic. List down the relevant keywords to be used when preparing your content.
Write compelling content
When producing content, ensure you are authentic and transparent in your writing.
It’s easy to use Google AI Overview to get a quick answer. You don’t need clickbait titles or sales language; include personal experiences, case studies, and examples to show authenticity.
Choose a content format that fits your goals. For instance, you can write a blog post, a listicle, or statistics.
Optimize for search engines
Now that your content is ready, it’s time to create a unique URL for the web page displaying it. The URL should be short, include hyphens, and include your main keyword(s).
As you create new web pages, you can link to other pages on your site. Guest blogging to build backlinks allows users to navigate through your site seamlessly and access related information.
Use images and graphics in your content to rank it higher on search results. Finally, include keywords and character limits to your title tag and meta description to help Google understand the contents of your page.
Showcase expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness
The content you create should portray the author’s experience and expertise.
Google’s E-E-A-T (experience, expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness) guidelines provide useful information on what to consider in people-first content.
According to these parameters, your content should demonstrate your expertise in the subject matter and link to a page with your qualifications.
The content establishes you as the go-to source for information about a specific topic, making you an authority in your field. Your website should feature an ‘About us’ page to build credibility, but ultimately, the accuracy of your content builds trust with your audience.
Track and analyze user engagement metrics
At this point, if you want to be sure you are on the right path, you can revisit Google’s helpful content page to review your content.
Assess your content against the questions provided to help gauge if your material is practical and engaging. You can also use external parties to give you an honest assessment.
You can measure your success through user engagement metrics like:
- Pages per session: This is the number of web page content marketing a user views per session.
- Average session duration: Measure the total time spent on your website per session.
- Time on page: This metric helps assess how long a user stays on a specific page.
- Interactions per visit: This involves all forms of interaction beyond simple navigation, such as social media activity, downloads, etc.
Reach Out for Content That Converts
Creating people-fist content is an excellent opportunity to connect with your audience and engage them on a deeper level. This content also enhances your SEO, which allows you to attract more traffic and leads to your site.
If you need help creating crypto content that drives user growth, contact us today!
