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 SEO Writing Strategies for Graphic-Oriented Sites
by: Karon Thackston
As a copywriter,
I’d love to tell you that every site on the Web needs tons of copy.
However, the simple truth is not all do. Many sites simply produce
better sales when they use more graphics than words. Since search
engines are hungry for words, you simply have to use copy if you plan to
get ranked high. Quite a dilemma, isn’t it?
So what do you do
if you’re a graphic designer, if you sell jewelry, or if you have
another site that needs more pictures than copy? Don’t despair. There
are some strategies that can help you reach a happy medium satisfying
both your visitors and the engines.
1. Use
Descriptions - Place keyworded descriptions under each graphic
on your pages. Just a sentence or two for each one can add up and give
you enough room to achieve good keyword saturation.
2. Break
the Copy Into Sections - Instead of having all 250-350 words of
copy in one place, break your copy into small sections. For example,
place a headline and three sentences at the top of the page, a few words
under your bottom navigation bar, and a short paragraph above your
“Order Now” link. The engines will find the words regardless of where on
the page they are, but your visitors won’t be overwhelmed by seeing all
the copy in one place.
3. Don’t
Neglect ALT Tags - Don’t abuse them, either! ALT tags
(technically known as image alt attributes) are designed to give short
descriptions of graphics on your page. They are read to those who can’t
see well (when they use special text-to-speech software). Abusing ALT
tags by stuffing them full of arbitrary keywords or extremely long
descriptions is frowned upon by the engines. However, feel free to
assign a short keyword phrase that describes each graphic you have.
4. Go
Below the Fold - Copy can always be placed “below the fold.”
This term is used to describe the section of your index page that is not
visible when the page first loads. In order to see it, the visitor would
have to scroll vertically. If you’ve designed your index page to be
fully visible without scrolling, consider using the space below the
design to insert your copy.
5. Use the
Sidebar - If your site design uses a sidebar for the navigation
links, use the empty space for short bits of copy. Even the statement
“Order ________ Now” will give you one more instance of keyword
placement.
6. Create
Bulleted Lists - Many people don’t perceive lists as copy. For
this reason, you can use bulleted lists (or numbered lists) where
traditional “sentence” copy wouldn’t work. Tip: Instead of creating a
list that reads:
We meet all your
____ needs by:
- offering the
lowest price.
- providing
first-rate service.
- shipping your
order in just 24 hours.
Create a list that
reads like this:
At ABC Company, we offer you:
-
the lowest price on
______.
-
first-rate service.
Ask us any questions you have about ____.
-
shipping of your
_____ in just 24 hours.
See the difference?
More keywords in the same amount of copy.
If you use a little
creativity, you can get enough keyword saturation in your copy without
it cluttering up your site. This is sure to please both the search
engines and your site visitors.
Which words make
*your* customers buy? Let Karon show you. Boost your sales and your
search engine positioning by learning to write strategically created
copy that hits a nerve and makes the sale. Get the details now at
.
About The Author
Copy not getting
results? Let Karon provide search engine copywriting, catalog
copywriting, or other types for you. Just visit
. You can also learn to write your
own SEO copy that impresses the engines and your visitors at
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