Optimize Your Web Content to Engage Residents

Good written content for your website is equally as important as good design. The content of your site is what draws people in, informs them, and encourage them to engage. But unless you put in the work to make sure your web copy is also Search Engine Optimized (SEO), no one will see it.

After over a decade of building SEO-friendly government websites, we’ve learned a few things about how you can optimize your websites content. So, here are our tips for search engine optimized content.

Research Your Audience:

Don’t just publish required content like meeting minutes and agendas on your website, make sure to publish content that is relevant to your audience. Research your audience to better understand what questions they have. Then create content that answers those questions.  Don’t forget to also research what words your audience is using to find the information they are looking for. Be sure to incorporate the keywords not only in the body of your text, but also in headings, tags, and meta descriptions.

Keep It Simple:

Studies show that the average time someone will spend scrolling on your site to find what they are looking for is 3 seconds. Meaning your audience wants simple and scannable. Make the most sought after information on your website accessible on the homepage. Features to help with this include: a latest new modules, a frequently asked questions module, and a calendar module. Write short sentences and paragraphs. Use headings and subheadings to make it easier for people to skim through and find what they’re looking for.

Use the Inverted Pyramid:

The inverted pyramid model follows the rule that all the content that is most important to your audience should be first. Then additional details can follow. Also, use different type styles and formatting to create a visual hierarchy that represents the content hierarchy.

Make It Visually Interesting:

Visual reinforcement of your content helps keep things interesting for your audience. So, use pictures, videos, diagrams, graphics, etc. Just make sure they actually fit with the content, and reinforce the text on your page. Check out our tips for finding high quality stock phots for your website.

Use Social Media:

Share content from your website on your social media platforms, or share updates from social media to your website. And, encourage your audience to share your content by adding like and share buttons to your blog posts, videos, and announcements. Check out the helpful tips for integrating social media into your website.

Contact the SEO experts at GovUnity to start optimizing your website today.