This document provides tips for writers on search engine optimization (SEO). It notes that 30% of traffic comes from search engines, with 82% from Google. Keywords are crucial for SEO and should be researched and included in titles, content, and other elements. Title tags should be concise, newsworthy, and keyword rich. Content is the most important factor, and should be written to be valuable and shareable. The three main factors for SEO are using the right keywords, having compelling content, and gaining incoming links from other sites.

1. SEO for Writers

2. IF PEOPLE CAN’T FIND IT IS
DOESN'T’T MATTER

3. By the numbers
• 30% of traffic is delivered by Search Engines
• 82% of that traffic is delivered by Google
• On a large school website w/ 1,000,000 visits
per month that is 300,000 visitors

4. The Goal

5. How do we get there?

6. Keywords are crucial - do your research. Use in title
and throughout the content.
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal
http://www.google.com/insights/search/
Think common natural words not academic talk or FIU lingo

7. Title tags and headlines are the hook
Great title = concise, newsworthy and keyword rich
8-12 words at very most, 1-2 keyword phrase – remember, we
need to to retweet
Use actual headers for subheads, not just bold

8. Link Keywords, not “click here” or “download”
Link within site to related articles or other sites with
relevant content

9. Links from outside
Hard to do but not impossible
• Guest blog for other sites
• Comment on other sites and include links
• StumbleUpon, Digg Reddit (not every post, think pitching)

10. Use Keywords in image/ video filename and alt tags

11. Number
1

12. Content is KING
Write content that people want to share and link to that
contains relevant keywords throughout
500 words post, 2-4 keyword mentions, word count half that
of conventional writing

13. When it comes down to it, SEO
is really as simple as 1, 2, 3
• First, you need the right keywords, so you understand the
language your readers, customers, or clients are using
when they search for you.
• Second, you need compelling content that people love
and search engines know is relevant to those searchers.
• Third, you need incoming links so search engines treat
your site as a trusted and relevant source.

14. Resources
• Keyword tools
http://go.fiu.edu/cf3
• Writing for web handout
http://go.fiu.edu/cf4
• Beginners guide to SEO
http://go.fiu.edu/cf5