Everyone is talking about good quality content and how it is crucial for Google ranking and attracting and retaining your readers.
But exactly what is good quality content?
And since it’s so important, how can we achieve it?
What Is Good Quality Content?
“Make your customers the hero of your stories.” ~Ann Handley
In a nutshell, a good (high) quality content is content that gives the reader the information that he/she is looking for when they are searching for a specific keyword/phrase.
But of course as simple as that sounds, it is not.
Many components go into this:
#1 The Depth Of Information
When people search a specific keyword or phrase, they are looking for certain information.
Understanding this is the key.
Once you know what people are looking for, you can create content to tailor to that.
But how do you increase your understanding of your main keywords and key phrases in your niche?
1. Check Quora, Medium, Pocket, and other platforms where you can do your research and make yourself aware of what is currently trending, what kind of information people are looking for, what issues and concerns people have. You can use the insights to generate a good quality content that will provide exactly what readers are looking for.
2. Join groups in your niche on social media. This will also give you great insights into the current issues and questions that member of the groups have.
3. Network with other professionals in your niche
4. Do your research – check your competition
5. Read books
6. Listen to the comments and questions of your readers
#2 Proper Formatting
Proper formatting is extremely important. You could have brilliant text but if it’s hard to read or if it’s not broken into manageable blocks of text, no one will read it.
Make your content appealing and easy to read.
Use attention grabbing headings and subheadings.
Have an interesting title.
Use short but punchy paragraphs.
Use relevant images.
Use lists where appropriate.
#3 SEO
SEO is also very important. You need to keep it in mind so that your post is indexed and then ranked in Google.
Without that, no one will be able to see your post, no matter how brilliant it is.
You can read more about SEO here.
Two Approaches To Quality Content
“You need to create ridiculously good content – content that is useful, enjoyable and inspired.” ~Ann Handley
The way I see it, there are two different approaches to what experts define as high quality content:
1. Results oriented – many definitions claim that a high quality content is content to enable you to achieve what you wanted to achieve, whether it’s answer to your call to action, convert into sales, share your content, etc.
2. Readers oriented – the other approach is giving readers exactly what they are looking for in an appropriate format.
I always go with the second approach. If you give the readers what they are looking for, you will have traffic to your website and you can monetize it in an appropriate way at this point.
Of course both approaches will have some common features, the content hast to be:
- easy to search
- easy to find
- easy to share
- easy to read
- properly formatted
- correct spelling and grammar
- visual aid and images
My Approach To Quality Content
“Our job is not to create content. Our job is to change the world of the people who consume it.” ~Andrea Fryrear
To produce good quality content on your website you definitely need to have the above attributes, but even if you manage to make your content with all the attributes, is it guaranteed to be viewed as good quality content?
I kept asking myself that question over and over again.
What exactly does high quality content mean in my specific niche and how can I make sure to achieve it?
Then I started putting myself in the shoes of my readers.
I took the specific keyword or key phrase and imagined being the person searching the term.
I asked myself.
What would I want?
What would I call a really good article?
- I wouldn’t necessary care about the word count, I would like to see a point clearly explained without too many words
- I would like to see a different angle on the keyword/phrase from the previous 4 or 5 posts. I definitely would not want the same information presented in different words. I would be very appreciative for a unique spin on the topic.
- I would like honest and accurate information that I can trust and rely on
- I would like to connect with the writer on an emotional level so that I would feel that the writer understands me exactly
- I like relevant pictures and other visual aids
- I would like to feel that the content is authentic and real
- if the reader can make me laugh or cry, that would be a bonus
- I would want to feel respected and appreciated
We are not psychics, we do not know what other people think but if we try t o put ourselves in the readers shoes we can get pretty good and accurate at anticipating what exactly the reader is looking for.
From my own experience, nothing more frustrating than when I’m doing research on a topic and every single article that I open contains the exact same information that the ones before. I know, the experts say that it you are pages 2 and lower, your article practically does not exist but that is not what I do. In a search for a unique content, I will go to page 10 and 20 just to try and find a different spin, or different angle, or different information.
Am I the only one doing that?
I don’t think so.
I believe there are other readers that are searching for that unique take on the particular topic of their interest.
So when I write my content, I think of those people.
Why not give them what they are looking for.
A different and unique content that no one else has.
This takes extra work.
Deep research, contemplating, coming up with new takes and approaches and finding supporting research for it, but isn’t it worth it?
Don’t you want to be known as the website or a writer that people go to for a unique content?
I really hope this has helped you. Please try it. Put yourself in the readers shoes and try to give then what exactly they are looking for. And if you incorporate the other attributes in your unique content, a success is guaranteed. you will have returning readers looking for more of that unique and high quality content of yours.
“In a sea of mediocre content, a brave tone can be a big differentiator.” ~Ann Handley