In the world of SEO content creation, the 80/20 rule is a guiding principle that helps you prioritize your efforts for maximum impact. Essentially, it means that 80% of your pages should focus on topics with proven demand—topics where you can find quantifiable evidence that people are searching for and engaging with the content. These are your safe bets, where you know there’s an audience waiting.
The remaining 20% is reserved for what I call higher-risk bets. These are your experimental topics, like jumping on a trend or creating a piece of content designed to go viral or attract backlinks. While these might not have the same guaranteed demand, they have the potential to pay off big if done right.
SEE Also
- How you can create content assets consistently and effectively
- How to Write SEO Content: A Guide Using Interior Design as an Example
For this blog, though, we’re sticking with the 80%—the tried-and-true topics. For example, if we’re targeting the keyword “scuba diving Phuket,” this is something we’d build on the homepage, given that it’s the primary keyword for a site dedicated to scuba diving in that region. To rank well, you’ll need a comprehensive piece of content, typically between 1,600 and 2,900 words.
Contents
Crafting an SEO Content Outline
The first step in creating this content is to draft a solid outline. Don’t just jump into writing; that’s a common mistake. Instead, use a tool like ChatGPT to generate an SEO content outline. This outline will include your primary keywords and structure your content in a way that aligns with what’s already ranking on Google.
Once you have your outline, you can decide how to proceed. If you’re confident in your writing skills and are a subject matter expert, you can write the content yourself. However, if you’re not comfortable with writing, you can share the outline with a copywriter. This is where the magic happens—your expertise combined with a copywriter’s skill can produce top-notch content that’s optimized for search engines.
If you’re looking to save time and budget, AI-generated content can be an option, but it’s crucial to use it wisely. Feed the AI your carefully crafted outline and the appropriate word count to get the best results. Remember, the word count is critical; it should be based on the median word count of your competitors’ top-performing pages.
Fine-Tuning and Adding Expertise
Once you have the first draft, don’t stop there. Bring in your expertise to add those unique insights that only someone with real experience would know. This could be a detailed description of a dive site in Phuket that only a seasoned diver would understand. This level of detail will set your content apart from the competition.
If you’re not the one editing, consider hiring an AI content editor who can refine the content further. The goal isn’t just to trick AI detection tools but to create content that’s genuinely valuable, engaging, and reflective of real-world expertise.
Balancing Relevance and Originality
When optimizing your content, aim for a balance between relevance and originality. Tools like Rankability will show you how well your content matches the top-ranking competitors. You’ll want to cover all the essential topics but also add unique insights that your competitors haven’t covered. This originality is what will make your content stand out and ultimately perform better in the long run.
Final Thoughts
In the end, your focus should always be on quality and longevity. Don’t rush the process or cut corners. Treat your content creation with the respect it deserves—whether it’s for your own business or a client’s. By following these steps, you’ll not only create content that ranks well but also content that converts and sustains its rankings over time.
