Recently, I spoke to a potential client interested in my search engine optimization (SEO) copywriting services. She was worried that by optimizing her site for the search engines, it would sound like an advertisement, but I assured her that if the copy is written well, site visitors won’t even know it is optimized!

By adding appropriate keywords to all of your online copy (Website pages, blogs, newsletters, articles, e-mails, case studies, etc.), you have a much better chance of “being found” by the search engines and potential customers looking for your products and services.

It’s a very cost-effective marketing tool that your competitors are probably using right now. (See http://www.practicalecommerce.com/articles/918-Chart-of-the-Week-SEMSEO-Most-Important-Marketing-Tactic.)

But SEO is not just a matter of finding keywords on free services like WordTracker, http://www.wordtracker.com and KeywordDiscovery, http://www.keyworddiscovery.com, and plopping them into your copy. It takes a little more time and effort, so you may want to get help from a pro, http://www.seomoz.org/blog/what-makes-seo-sem-so-damn-hard.

In fact, a good SEO copywriter can help you:

  • Find the right keywords for your business or organization;
  • Insert the appropriate number of keywords into your copy;
  • Create pertinent codes in your copy for the search engines;
  • Write content that provides valuable information to your target market;
  • Monitor results and make changes on a regular basis; and
  • Build awareness online.

Good SEO provides information and value. And the search engines recognize blatant keyword use—so if you don’t think SEO will work because you want to stay honest and avoid “advertising” your business, you are missing out on a cost-effective opportunity to build buzz and sales. Instead, find a good SEO copywriter who can help optimize your copy the right way!