Dive into the world of SEO with proven strategies and tips that elevate your website content to the top of search rankings. This article distills expertise from industry leaders, offering actionable insights to refine your approach to SEO. Discover how to blend the art of storytelling with technical savvy for content that both users and search engines will love.
- Start With Key Information
- Craft Intent-Driven Content
- Answer Real User Questions
- Merge Storytelling With Keyword Insights
- Organize Content Into Clusters
- Write For Humans First
- Use Content Atomization
- Balance SEO With User Intent
- Enhance User Experience With Illustrations
- Focus On User-Friendly Content
- Provide Unique Information
- Use SEO Tools For Optimization
- Combine SEO Structure With User Focus
- Incorporate Keywords Naturally
- Leverage User Behavior Insights
- Map Content To User Intent
- Optimize For Users First
- Optimize For Users First
Start With Key Information
Most website visitors scan, not read, and search engines prioritize content that delivers immediate value. Early in my career, I struggled with high bounce rates on a client’s blog. The content was well-written, but readers left within seconds. After restructuring posts using the Inverted Pyramid Method—placing key information first—engagement improved, and rankings followed.
How to Optimize Content for Users & Search Engines:
- Start with the Answer: The H1 and first 100 words should deliver the core insight immediately. Readers (and search engines) should understand the main takeaway within seconds.
- Use Clear Subheadings: Break content into H2s and H3s that directly match user intent and search queries. This makes scanning easier and helps search engines categorize information.
- Integrate Semantic SEO: Google’s RankBrain and BERT algorithms favor context and intent over repeated keywords. Instead of forcing “best wireless headphones” multiple times, naturally incorporate:
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- “Bluetooth over-ear headphones”
- “Active noise cancellation (ANC)”
- “Hi-Res audio with LDAC support”
Example of Optimized Content Opening
- Bad: “Noise-canceling headphones are popular today. But which ones are best? Let’s explore…” (Fluff, no immediate value.)
- Good: “The best noise-canceling headphones in 2024 are the Sony WH-1000XM5, offering industry-leading ANC and 30-hour battery life. Below, we compare them with Bose 700 and AirPods Max across key factors like sound, fit, and price.” (Direct answer, engaging and informative.)
One major shift I noticed when optimizing content was the impact of FAQ Schema and People Also Ask integration. By structuring answers to real user questions, content not only ranked better but also earned featured snippets.
Optimizing content isn’t about keyword stuffing—it’s about delivering immediate value, structuring for clarity, and aligning with search engine AI models. When content is designed for both scanners and algorithms, engagement and rankings improve.
Ahmed Yousuf
Financial Author & SEO Expert Manager, CoinTime
Craft Intent-Driven Content
My go-to method is intent-driven content structuring—crafting pages around clusters of user questions instead of isolated keywords.
For example, when optimizing a client’s page about “sustainable packaging,” we didn’t just target that phrase. Instead, we mapped out all related queries: “Is biodegradable packaging cost-effective?” “How to recycle shipping materials?” and “Eco-friendly packaging trends.”
By organizing the content into clear, answer-focused sections (with H2/H3 headers mirroring these questions), we satisfied both users skimming for quick answers and search engines assessing topical depth.
This approach avoids keyword stuffing while building topical authority. Tools like AnswerThePublic or SEMrush’s Topic Research help identify these question clusters.
Bonus tip: Add schema markup for FAQ or How-To sections to boost visibility in featured snippets.
One client saw their page jump to the top of rankings within weeks, not because we chased volume keywords, but because we solved real user problems in one place.
Tristan Harris
Sr. VP of Marketing, Next Net Media
Answer Real User Questions
My go-to method for optimizing website content is focusing on clarity and usefulness first, then refining for SEO. One technique that works well is answering real user questions directly in the content.
For example, if I’m writing about “best running shoes for beginners,” I don’t just list products—I include sections like:
- “How to Choose the Right Running Shoes” (educational value)
- “Common Mistakes When Buying Running Shoes” (helps users avoid errors)
- “Top 5 Running Shoes Based on Comfort & Budget” (clear recommendations)
From an SEO perspective, I make sure to:
- Use natural keywords in headings and text (e.g., “best beginner running shoes”)
- Add FAQ sections based on Google’s “People Also Ask”
- Include internal links to related content (e.g., “How to Start Running”)
This way, content is helpful, engaging, and optimized for search engines—without feeling robotic.
Umair Ahmed Qureshi
SEO Specialist | Organic Growth Marketer | Content Marketing, Mozn
Merge Storytelling With Keyword Insights
To optimize website content for both users and search engines, one approach that I’ve found successful is merging human storytelling with AI-driven keyword insights. We craft narratives that connect emotionally with the audience while seamlessly integrating keywords that improve search visibility.
For a client in the e-commerce space, we created a series of product stories that not only ranked well but also increased conversion rates by 15% in six months. Another technique I frequently use is ethical link building. By focusing on creating high-quality, shareable content, we earned authoritative backlinks from respected industry sites. This not only bolstered our clients’ search rankings but also improved their brand authority.
One of my favorite success stories involved a technology client who saw a 30% increase in organic traffic after implementing a strategy centered on white-hat link building and multi-format content creation.
Wayne Lowry SBS
CEO, Scale by SEO
Organize Content Into Clusters
One of the most effective methods I use for optimizing website content for both users and search engines is content clustering.
This approach organizes content into interconnected groups around a central topic, enhancing user experience and lending itself well to search engine visibility.
1. Start with a Pillar Page
A pillar page is a long-form piece of content that covers a core topic comprehensively. For example, if the central topic is “Single-Origin Coffee Beans” the pillar page acts as a hub, offering an overview while linking to more specific subtopics.
This design helps users quickly find the information they need and establishes your site as an authoritative resource for search engines.
2. Create Supporting Cluster Content
Cluster content consists of individual pages or articles that explore specific subtopics related to the pillar page.
For example:
- “The Best Single-Origin Coffee Regions”
- “How to Brew Single-Origin Coffee for Maximum Flavor”
- “Single-Origin vs Blended Coffee: Key Differences”
Each cluster piece links back to the pillar page and related content, creating a strong internal linking network. This improves navigation for users and helps search engines understand the relationship between your pages while simultaneously building topical authority.
3. Match Content to User Intent
Content clusters work best when each piece addresses a distinct user intent.
For example:
- Informational: “What is Single Origin coffee?”
- Navigational: “Best Single Origin Coffee Beans”
- Transactional: “Buy Single Origin Coffee Beans”
By aligning content with user intent, you can meet searchers’ needs at every stage, increasing engagement and conversions.
4. Use Data to Refine Clusters
Analytical tools available to us, like Google Search Console and GA4, can help you track how users interact with your content clusters. If certain pages perform well, you can expand those topics.
If others underperform, use that data and insight to make refined changes to your clusters, to better meet search engine and user intent.
Elliot Stanion
Deputy Head of SEO, The SEO Works
Write For Humans First
I always write for humans first, SEO second. One trick? Use Google’s “People Also Ask” section as a guide—it literally tells you what users want to know. Answer those, and you’ll rank naturally without stuffing in keywords. I also make sure the content is structured well-short, clear paragraphs, easy-to-read headings, and a conversational tone. If your content feels effortless to read, people will stick around longer. And let’s not forget internal linking—I always add relevant links to keep users engaged and help search engines understand the site’s structure. It’s a win-win.
Ankush Kumari
Web Content Writer | B2B Content Writer | SaaS & Tech Industry Expert | SEO Content Strategist | Driving Organic Traffic & Leads, Digital4design
Use Content Atomization
My secret weapon is content atomization—breaking broad topics into ultra-specific, interconnected pieces. For instance, a fitness client’s pillar page on “weight loss tips” was underperforming because it was too generic. We split it into granular subtopics: “meal prepping for night shifts,” “low-impact workouts for joint pain,” and “stress-eating solutions,” each as standalone pages.
Each piece linked back to the pillar page (and vice versa), creating a topical hub that satisfied niche user intents and signaled SEO authority. Internal links used descriptive anchor text like “meal plans for irregular schedules” instead of “click here.”
Over time, this structure dominated long-tail searches and kept users engaged longer. This approach is gold for agencies: It turns one piece of content into a scalable ecosystem that serves both users and algorithms.
Matt Harrison
Svp of Product and Client Experience, Authority Builders
Balance SEO With User Intent
My preferred approach to content optimization for websites is to balance SEO best practices with user intent. I focus on producing valuable, well-structured content that organically aligns with what people are searching for rather than merely stuffing keywords. Strategic use of long-tail keywords is one method that is quite effective.
For instance, I optimize for something like “best running shoes for flat feet 2025” rather than “best running shoes.” This increases the likelihood of ranking higher with less competition in addition to attracting a more niche audience.
By using bullet points, short paragraphs, and subheadings to break up the text, I also make sure it is readable. Users stay on the website longer when the format is clear and engaging, which signals search engines that the content is valuable. Finally, I always include internal links to direct users to relevant information, which simultaneously enhances user experience and SEO.
Robin Khokhar
SEO Specialist, Tricky Enough
Enhance User Experience With Illustrations
When it comes to optimizing website content for both users and search engines, my go-to approach revolves around enhancing the user experience while improving engagement signals for SEO. Here are two specific techniques I’ve found incredibly effective:
1. Adding High-Value Illustrations with AI
A great way to boost content quality is by adding relevant illustrations that make complex topics easier to understand. One of the best free tools for this is Napkin.ai. Here’s how it works:
- Simply copy and paste a section of your blog post into Napkin.ai.
- The AI will analyze the content and generate a custom illustration that visually represents the concept.
- You can then download it as a PNG and insert it into your blog post to enhance readability and engagement.
These illustrations break up text-heavy content, making it more digestible and visually appealing, which keeps readers engaged and improves user experience—both of which positively impact SEO.
2. Embedding a YouTube Video for Increased Dwell Time
For pages or blog posts that are already performing well, one of the best ways to maximize their impact is by embedding a relevant YouTube video at the top of the page. Here’s why this works:
- When users watch a video before scrolling, they tend to stay on the page longer.
- This can increase the average time spent on the page by up to 3x, signaling to Google that your content is valuable.
- YouTube videos also increase engagement, giving visitors an alternative way to consume your content while boosting your visibility on both search engines and YouTube.
By combining these two tactics—AI-powered illustrations for clarity and videos for engagement—you’re not just optimizing for search engines but also enhancing the overall user experience.
Nicolas Gorrono
Director, AI Ranking
Focus On User-Friendly Content
Optimizing content for users naturally aligns with search engine optimization because search engines are designed to prioritize valuable, user-friendly content. If your content satisfies users, search engines will follow. Here’s how to achieve both:
Optimizing for Users
- Credibility & Expertise – Clearly establish who you are and why your content is trustworthy. This includes author bios, credentials, or references that validate your expertise.
- Clear Intent Matching – Answer the user’s question directly and concisely without unnecessary storytelling. Modern SEO favors clarity over fluff.
- Depth & Comprehensiveness – Cover the topic thoroughly, ensuring users don’t have to look elsewhere for missing details. Use supporting data, examples, and visuals where needed.
Optimizing for Search Engines
- Semantic Optimization – Instead of keyword stuffing, use related terms and natural language to help search engines understand context.
- Technical SEO & Crawlability – Keep the website structure clean and easy to navigate, both for users and crawlers. If using client-side rendering, implement dynamic rendering or rehydration to ensure smooth indexing, as per Google’s recommendations.
- Topical Authority – Build a strong topical context by interlinking related content and covering a subject in depth. This helps search engines, especially AI-driven ones, recognize your website as a reliable source.
By focusing on these elements, you create content that not only ranks well but also keeps users engaged and satisfied.
Deepak Ranjan
SEO Expert & Owner, Crunchwiser
Provide Unique Information
Our one go-to method for optimizing website content for both UX and SEO is always having one piece of information that the competitors don’t. Based on our results, both users and Google seem to like it.
You wouldn’t need to spend too much time to make it happen, use a tool such as Frase to quickly scan the headers from the posts on the first page and look into what is essential to cover and find gaps that you can utilize.
Aleksa Filipovic
Content & SEO Manager, MeasureSchool
Use SEO Tools For Optimization
When optimizing website content for both users and search engines, my go-to method involves using Seobility SEO Checker followed by Ahrefs for deeper analysis. This two-step process ensures that the content is user-friendly while also optimized for search engine visibility.
Seobility SEO Checker is my first tool because it provides a comprehensive, easy-to-understand overview of a webpage’s SEO. It checks critical on-page elements such as title tags, meta descriptions, header tags, and alt text for images, helping identify missing metadata or broken links. This is crucial for ensuring that content aligns with SEO best practices, improving both search engine ranking and user experience. Seobility’s user-friendly interface makes it simple to identify areas that need attention without being overwhelmed by too much data.
Once I’ve addressed basic SEO issues with Seobility, I turn to Ahrefs for a more in-depth review. Ahrefs excels at providing detailed insights into backlinks, keyword rankings, and more technical SEO aspects like crawlability and indexability. Its site audit tool identifies complex issues, such as duplicate content or slow page load speeds, that can harm both user experience and SEO performance. Ahrefs also helps me analyze competitor sites, revealing keyword opportunities to optimize content for higher search engine rankings while ensuring that the content remains relevant to users’ queries.
By using Seobility for an initial SEO audit and Ahrefs for a deeper dive into technical and competitive factors, I can create content that satisfies both search engines and users. This combination allows for a well-rounded optimization strategy that improves rankings and enhances the overall user experience.
Paul Griffiths
SEO Services, The Laughing Professor
Combine SEO Structure With User Focus
Creating content that ranks well on search engines while keeping users engaged is a fine balance. Our go-to method combines SEO-driven structure with user-focused content. We use SEMrush for keyword insights and ChatGPT for content ideation, but the real success comes from how we refine and tailor this content to suit both audiences.
Rather than just stuffing keywords into a page, we focus on search intent—what users are actually looking for. Using SEMrush, we identify high-value keywords, but we prioritize those that align with customer queries and buying behavior. For instance, instead of generic terms like “metal cutting machine,” we optimize for specific product-related searches such as “best CNC fiber laser for sheet metal.” This ensures our content ranks highly while being relevant to the reader.
One technique we’ve found highly successful is optimizing content structure. Search engines prioritize well-organized, scannable content, and so do users. We implement:
- Clear heading hierarchies (H1, H2, H3) to improve readability and indexing
- Short, engaging paragraphs that keep users engaged
- Bullet points and bold key phrases to highlight essential details
By making our content digestible and structured, we not only improve rankings but also enhance user experience, keeping visitors on the page longer.
We utilize ChatGPT for brainstorming ideas and drafting content quickly, but the key to success is in the human touch. AI-generated content provides a solid foundation, but we refine it with industry expertise, customer insights, and technical accuracy. This ensures our content remains authoritative, engaging, and tailored to our audience.
A simple yet powerful technique is strategic internal linking. By linking related pages—such as blog posts to product pages or guides to case studies—we:
- Guide users to relevant information, improving their experience
- Boost SEO by distributing authority across key pages
This method helps users discover more of our content naturally, increasing engagement and time spent on the site.
Our best-performing pages always follow the same principle: write for the user first, then refine for SEO. By prioritizing useful, well-structured, and intent-driven content, we create a website that ranks well, drives engagement, and converts visitors into customers.
The takeaway? The best SEO strategy is one that enhances user experience—not just search rankings.
Dave Hargest
Marketing Manager, Selmach Machinery Ltd
Incorporate Keywords Naturally
I prioritize creating content that naturally incorporates relevant keywords while maintaining readability. For instance, when I optimized a local bakery’s website, instead of stuffing “best cupcakes in Chicago” repeatedly, I wrote engaging stories about their baking process, customer favorites, and seasonal specialties while strategically placing keywords in headers, meta descriptions, and throughout the content. This approach resulted in a 40% increase in organic traffic while keeping bounce rates low, proving that content can effectively serve both search engines and human readers.
Abdullah Prem
Digital Marketer, BloggersNeed
Leverage User Behavior Insights
My go-to method for optimizing website content for both users and search engines is to create structured, informative content that aligns with user intent and incorporates relevant keywords naturally. One effective technique is to develop comprehensive service pages that address common client questions and highlight the unique aspects of the services offered.
For example, when optimizing the website for one of my clients, a luxury home staging business, I focused on enhancing the “Home Staging” service page. I structured the content with clear headings such as “Our Home Staging Approach,” “Benefits of Professional Home Staging,” and “Our Portfolio.” This organization made it easy for visitors to navigate and find the information they were seeking.
In each section, I provided detailed explanations of the company’s staging process, the advantages of their services, and showcased examples of their work. I ensured that relevant keywords like “home staging in Boston,” “professional staging services,” and “staging for vacant homes” were included naturally within the content.
Additionally, I incorporated internal links to related services, such as “Interior Design” and “New Construction & Remodels,” to guide users to other relevant areas of the website and improve overall site navigation.
By creating well-structured, keyword-rich content that directly addresses potential clients’ questions and needs, I enhanced the website’s SEO performance while providing valuable information to users, leading to increased engagement and conversions.
Allison Fraser
Owner, Allison Design Co.
Map Content To User Intent
Optimizing website content for users and search engines starts with understanding user behavior. One proven technique is leveraging Session Replays and Heatmaps to analyze how visitors engage with your site. These tools discover friction points, helping refine content placement, navigation, and readability.
Additionally, content should be structured for engagement and SEO-break up long paragraphs, use scannable headings, and integrate strategic keywords naturally. Creating pillar pages with topic clusters enhances authority and discoverability, ensuring content ranks while remaining valuable to readers.
For technical SEO, focus on Core Web Vitals like site speed, responsiveness, and stability. Compress images, enable browser caching, and optimize mobile usability to enhance the user experience.
Finally, user-generated content (UGC) can increase credibility and organic reach. Encourage customers to share their experiences and integrate these testimonials into blogs and social media. Authentic storytelling builds trust and engagement, driving higher conversions.
By combining data-driven insights with strategic content enhancements, brands can maximize impact and visibility.
Gurpreet Kaur
Content Head, BOTSHOT
Optimize For Users First
Instead of just diving straight into keywords and backlinks like most people, the real magic for me has been intent mapping—and trust me, it’s been a game-changer. I take a close look at what kind of intent each page should serve: informational, transactional, or navigational. Then, I build the content to match that intent exactly.
For example, I once optimized a product category page that wasn’t converting well. Instead of just stuffing it with product descriptions, I added FAQ sections directly targeting common pre-purchase doubts (based on actual user queries we pulled from search data and customer service logs).
Conversion rates shot up by 18% in 3 months. The kicker? It also improved organic rankings because we naturally covered questions users and search engines cared about.
Here’s my advice: don’t just optimize blindly—align content to user intent and support it with internal links that nudge them further down the funnel. It’s like giving users the map and search engines the landmarks.
Stephan Baum
Managing Director, Brussobaum
Optimize For Users First
Fundamentally, we know that what search engines really want is for their users to be happy with the web pages they serve. This is because happy users are returning users, and returning users are more opportunities for search engines to show ads.
So optimizing content for a search engine in 2025 is first and foremost optimizing for a person. Forget optimizing for search engines. If we can optimize for a person, then the search engine will be happy with the content.
For this reason, I never optimize the content for a search engine. I simply optimize it for a user, and as a result, it performs well in search engines. This approach has been successful across all my clients over the past few years.
The only search engine-focused optimization that I actually do is choosing the target keyword and positioning it within the Page Title and Heading of the content, and these target keywords are decided based on keyword research in tools such as Ahrefs. Beyond this, the content text, images, and subheadings, etc., are all optimized only for people.
Optimizing for people means understanding the true nature of what the reader needs, and comprehensively informing the user in the chronological order that makes it easiest for them to understand.
One tip I can share is that you should always give the user the main answer they want first (near the top of your content). Don’t make them read reams of preamble to get what they want. They will get bored and click back. We live in an era of instant answers and your content is now competing with AI answers, so content must answer the question or problem upfront and center. Then you can expand on that answer through the remainder of your content.
Fion McCormack
Owner
Greg Grzesiak is an Entrepreneur-In-Residence and Columnist at Grit Daily. As CEO of Grzesiak Growth LLC, Greg dedicates his time to helping CEOs influencers and entrepreneurs make the appearances that will grow their following in their reach globally. Over the years he has built strong partnerships with high profile educators and influencers in Youtube and traditional finance space. Greg is a University of Florida graduate with years of experience in marketing and journalism.