The Google–Human Balance of SEO

Content is king. That has become an old saying by now, but still it is equally true. Google always aims to push relevant content to searchers, so if you write something relevant first and then hone your content to work good with search engines, that will in the end be way more rewarding than trying to “hack” your way in by writing key-word heavy content with lower relevance.

There are many irrelevant sites that pop up when you search at Google. I especially recall some days ago, I was googling for the meaning of a name, and ended up reading a mashup of keywords, essentially saying nothing—it took me a while to understand I was on a baloney site, because the sentences seemed to lead somewhere, but in the end didn’t. That website did make it to Google, and it did get me as a visitor to their site, but it did not convert me into a user/ customer.

The goal for true SEO (which means Search Engine Optimization) is not only to get hits on Google. It is to present yourself in a correct and true way, so that when you reach potential customers or users, they are not disappointed by what they find, and are converted into a faithful follower.

However, there is a balance to find. Google needs attention too.

True SEO: Human first, then Google

In true SEO, the human comes first, then the content is honed to fit Google. When you build a brand, it is more important that the people who see your site actually enjoy it, than it is to get eyes on your site. It may be tempting to compromise for the sake of clicks, but what is your goal—long term faithful followers, or a quick satisfaction for your addiction to views?

When you build a brand, it is more important that the people who see your site actually enjoy it, than it is to get eyes on your site.

If your goal is short term—to catch clicks and maybe put paid ads on that page—and then proceed to let the project disappear into oblivion, then you may forget about the humans—but here at Skylimit Productions, we are all about building a brand long term, and the quick and dirty solutions does not appeal to us.

Newsflash: Humans do not think like Google.

If you want to build and develop a brand, you need to think about the long term consequences of what you do. Every action you do somewhat damages or builds your brand.

Write First, Then Optimize for Search Engines

My tip is. Write your heart out first, then go over everything and optimize it. The heart speaks to humans, and Google don’t have a heart. However, Google are getting better and better at determining people’s hearts.

When you look into SEO predictions for 2018—and what is slowly being given more and more weight in the Google engine—you find a huge human factor. The huge thing in SEO right now is that Google increasingly measures how long people spend on a site to determine the value of the content.

Google is way more human than it once was, but still…

If somebody clicks the first result in a search, and then spends only a few seconds before abandoning it, and then goes back, clicks the second result—and here they spend 3-4 minutes—Google will give that second site a reward.

The huge thing in SEO right now is that Google increasingly measures how long people spend on a site to determine the value of the content.

It is nothing new. Google is developing, and it is developing in the direction we want. Hacks get less and less attractive, and the people who have something of value to say gets more and more space.

As I stated in the beginning of this article, content is still king. Valuable content for your users.

True SEO with WordPress

If you are working with WordPress, I have a favorite tool to recommend to you.

I use WSKO—WP SEO Keyword Optimizer. I wont go into detail explaining it here—they have excellent resources themselvese—but I won’t let you leave this article without any tools to continue in your endeavors.

WSKO enables you to write your articles, and then—once you’re finished—select some keywords you want to highlight, and then it gives you tips how to better use those keywords to be noticed in Google. Then once you see results, you are able to go back and improve your articles as you see how people interact with them.

Good luck in your striving for Google—human balance, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to free up your time and let us do all the work for you.

This one was written by Benjamin Antoni

I am a Brand Strategist with 10+ years of broad design experience, where UX, web and logo design have been my main focuses. My most comprehensive experience is having built the Red Hat Factory brand from scratch, but I also work part time with helping other brands find their identity and grow from there.

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