Caveat For Writers: SEO Rears A Deadpan Content!

Anti-SEO 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) may favor small and big digital businesses. However, it does no good to the writers. It's the optimization of the search engines but the death of the writer's voice. How? We will discuss the top 5 reasons why SEO sucks if you truly think you are a writer, especially a blogger. 

SEO settings may indeed make people flock to your blog. But is that enough for you to fill your pockets as a writer? Yeah, it may be, but odds are that your blog will lose its unique personality. It may not come off as spun content, but it will lack the voice of an author that is you. If you are a pure writer, your soul may warn you. If you aren't, then skip reading this immediately. This ain't for those faint-hearted peeps who just want to make bucks by following the latest but soul-sucking SEO trends. 

Recently, the non-fictional, content, or even fictional writers leaped into this SEO thing. The thought behind it was to find some side hustle that will help to fund the literary or creative work. Some of them continued to walk on the relentless path of SEO writing. While some like me never mind backing off and opting for SEOless writing again. 

I love those rare ones who say, "SEO is Dead." Unfortunately, it isn't dead. It is blooming. However, it isn't alive as it contains the rules that please algorithms but not humans. I must say, it is undead. SEO is a zombie created by some greedy human to impress google. What is Google? It once used to be a man behind a machine. Now it seems like a machine behind a man!   

So, why SEO is a pain in the neck for creative bloggers or bloggers in general? Let's get to some practical answers below.

1. Keyword Stuffing:

Even if keywords are like a master key to rank your stuff on page 1 of Google, your stuff may not be of any value. It may not connect real people who are in front of screens. 

I gave a sample test to confirm my position as a writer for an e-commerce business. I had a liking for that type of opportunity and never thought that I would renounce the offer later. One of the most common mistakes many clients make while they put their details on job boards is that they forget to mention this - 'SEO required.' That's what happened to me. I applied for a content writer position, and I was called to give a sample test. I was amused. But then, at the bottom of the instructions, one point hit me hard. They wanted around 20 to 25 keywords in their article of 1200 word-count! 

Yet, I decided to give it a try. But while I went through research, I found out that the given keywords are irrelevant to the title of that sample article. Plus, the keywords were way too much. Via Skype, I informed the client that I don't want to stick in this rut stuffed with keywords. It was so overwhelming that I even denied the money I was about to get to give the sample test.

 I don't recommend you to act exactly like me - denying the money. (Though you can) But even if more people attract to your content with the help of SEO, that isn't enough. In fact, that isn't necessary. If SEO-rich content has no value or doesn't connect with the readers, then folks can't stay on such posts for too long. 

After all, will a writer spend time adjusting the write-up to fit a large number of keywords? Or will he/she do deep research on the topic, pour out their heart, and connect with real humans? What about the writer's freedom of expression? What about the free-thinking that makes their writing stand out? 

My advice, particularly to e-commerce sites, is to hire writers that can provide effective content. These sites are mainly in the business of attracting algorithms. However, if what they provide is useful to people, real customers can connect with them anyway. 

No need to always be in rush to rank first on google by writing to lick the robotic shit known as SEO. Such sites should at least keep the writers away from the SEO business. Someone who only loves to play with keywords will do this job effectively. Not the writers! 

 

2. Keyword Distribution - Min And Max Limit 

A content writer may get hit by the instructions such as keyword limit - minimum and maximum. This is as tedious as keyword stuffing. 

They put a limit on keyword usage. Not only that, they see whether you have distributed the keyword evenly throughout the article. 

Oh heck, A writer can't even decide his words for the article? All this monkey business turns a writer into a puppet. Naturally, even before the invention of SEO, if you give a product and ask me to write on it, what do you think I'll do? Without any conscious effort, the product's name (one of the keywords) will get repeated throughout the write-up. 

So, why make simple things complex? And the other keywords don't make sense. Just because they rock the rankings, they shouldn't be forced down the writer's throat. 

Another most mechanical way of writing is to include a specific number of keywords in the first paragraph. The SEO tycoons make life hard for a writer. They fool the writers by calling SEO "The Art and Science of modern content." Moreover, they pay more to the SEO writers than the writers. (writers - the authentic ones) When you think to make an impressive start in the introduction, you are bothered with the number of keywords to place in the first paragraph. 

Art is a free expression of emotions. In other words, you can exhale the inhaled information by creatively knitting the words. But the keywords stuffing, minimum & maximum usage, or distribution isn't an art. 

It isn't a science. It's just a pressure job that requires writers to grind away. Later, the writers become one with SEO. They even proudly update their LinkedIn bio, mentioning themselves as SEO writers. That's cringe!

3. Readability For SEO 

I pity the users of SEMrush and Yoast SEO. I can write a separate article to roast the Yoast. 

This readability thing is a pain in the arse for any creative writer. 

 Some clients know nothing about readability. They just want writers to turn the red light next to readability green. Some Clients will emphasize lowering the Readability to 50. That's B.S. Even Reader's digest as per the info on Wikipedia scores 65. The same Wiki says 72.83 is the average Flesch score for Harry Potter. Did J.K. Rowling keep the score at the back of her mind while writing the novel? I don't think so. Or else the name of the novel would have been, 'Harry Scorer.' 

(The above image is the screenshot of the formula on Wikipedia)

What the heck did I just type? 

Oh yeah, that's the formula for Flesch reading-ease score test. Yes, the previous sentence was plagiarised. Anyways, are you kidding me? Do you still wanna be a writer after reading that formula to calculate readability? First of all, the readability checkers are either useless or complicate the simple things. All you need to know is this - Write without any errors, and Write engagingly. 

4. Keyword Research 

Keyword Research seems to me like a topsy-turvy process! It's like, you force food through the bottom and let it out through your mouth! Instead of pouring your heart out, you search the popular keywords. You find the most licked keyword and plan your blog around it. Why don't you let what you are good at come out naturally? Then it can be popular because it's unique. If you don't have a story to tell, then observe, research, digest, and write something. But don't let those keywords linger at the back of your mind only to impress the search engine. Don't force them in. 

It's like you want to eat mushrooms, but only because everybody is eating cake and because it's most liked, you too plan to go for cake. 

5. The Titles - Oldies Vs Newbies 

Have you ever noticed the headlines for an article in the newspaper? Also, read the titles of articles on the internet. What's the difference? The major difference is the forceful use of some words in the title of the online article because they are the "keywords." 

I remember the early days of journalism. The news or articles had quite impressive headlines. However catchy the keyword inserted seemed at the beginning of this SEO thing, now it looks repetitive. 

Titles starting with, '5 most..., Top 10..., Best places...., etc,' may get you more traffic but compared to the vintage titles they aren't captivating. Instead of putting this write-up's title this way - 5 annoying things the SEO writer faces or 5 disadvantages of SEO for writers, I put it differently. (Scroll up to see the title). I had to insert the word 'SEO' in the title even if I wasn't willing because this is about SEO. Anti-SEO - I must say. I found the given title more interesting. Without giving a damn about inserting keywords, I just tried to be creative. I hope it is creative. 

In this continuous race to rank high on google, creativity is absent in the titles too, and not just in the whole write-up.  

What to do Instead? 

1. Write for people having flesh and emotions 

2. Write as you talk to your friend

3. Write what you are good at 

4. Research-digest-write-repeat 

5. strengthen the marketing and promotions 

The above five points for effective writing will be discussed in part 2 of this lengthy write-up. So to conclude, SEO is like a man who rarely hits the gym but relies on protein powders just to show off his muscular body at some beach. Real writing is like an Olympic athlete's hardly gained fit body which is more flexible and agile!