3 SEO Tips to Help Your PR Content Rank Highly With Google's Latest Update Google's latest rollout continues the company's commitment to rewarding high-quality, user-focused content with higher rankings.

By Brian Pittman

This story originally appeared on PR Daily

Shutterstock

Google's Panda 4.2 algorithm rollout, which began over the weekend, continues Google's commitment to rewarding high-quality, user-focused content with higher rankings.

Here are three easy tips for optimizing your PR content for better results:

1. Go long.

Many PR pros got used to writing short content because press release services provided a surcharge if copy ran over 400 words. Google now scans short content and assumes it doesn't contain much useful information. The result is that shorter content doesn't rank as well.

It's now better to "go long," says SEO-PR Chief Executive Greg Jarboe, citing a favorite football phrase. "Go ahead and write 600 to 800 words—whether for a press release, blog post or summary of a white paper behind a paywall."

2. Use synonyms.

Google will penalize you for keyword stuffing, which is using the same search term repeatedly in copy. It rewards what has always been a good writing practice: the use of synonyms.

"If you're going to use one word or phrase in the first sentence, use a variation in the second sentence or graph," Jarboe says. "Google understands what synonyms are and rewards them as good writing that's more likely to be of interest to readers. The result is a higher ranking."

3. Get visual.

You're missing a huge SEO opportunity if you aren't adding photos and videos to your content. Over 55 percent of Google search results now include videos and over 40 percent include photos, according to Jarboe.

The most important element to optimize in photos is your caption. Make sure to plant your two- or three-word key phrase at the beginning of your caption copy, Jarboe says. "The same rule applies to YouTube titles. They can only be 100 characters long, so make sure your key phrase is at least in the front third of your title."

Jarboe's big SEO takeaway for PR pros is that your normal writing skills are more of an asset now than ever before, because Google rewards well-written content. So, stop writing for what you thought Google wanted—and start writing well again.

Brian Pittman is a consultant to Ragan Communications and webinar manager for PR Daily’s PR University.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

'Now Accepting Applications': Elon Musk Is Opening a New Preschool in Texas Called Ad Astra. Here's How to Apply.

The school got an official permit last month to operate with as many as 21 students.

Business News

A New Hampshire City Was Named the Hottest Housing Market in the U.S. This Year. Here's the Top 10 for 2024.

Zillow released its annual lists featuring the top housing markets, small towns, coastal cities, and geographic regions. Here's a look at the top real estate markets and towns in 2024.

Business News

'We're Not Allowed to Own Bitcoin': Crypto Price Drops After U.S. Federal Reserve Head Makes Surprising Statement

Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Bitcoin and rate cuts have rattled cryptocurrency investors.

Business Ideas

Is Your Business Healthy? Why Every Entrepreneur Needs To Do These 3 Checkups Every Year

You can't plan for the new year until you complete these checkups.