Content is to search engine optimization what grass is to the food chain. Web content is at the core of all search optimization related activities, with the ultimate hope and goal that it’s the most useful, original, meaningful content that will rank highest in search engine results. You may come across posts that advocate particular tactics and techniques to place well in rankings for your key terms, and many of those tactics will be useful. But the truth is, if you create good content, much of the SEO momentum you achieve can happen naturally. After all, the terms we may want to rank for might differ, but the reason we [should] all want to rank is because our content is bringing value to people, and we want to share that value with them.

So, what makes for good web content?

1. It’s something we haven’t read/heard before.
2. It’s presented in a way we haven’t seen.
3. It provides easy to remember takeaways.
4. It makes us want to discuss it with our friends and colleagues.
5. It’s on-topic and presents a clear reason to watch/read.
6. It’s well constructed, edited and named.
7. It’s worthy of further contemplation. (Makes us think)
8. It makes us want to take action – share, comment, learn more.
9. It takes a firm stance. (Isn’t wishy washy)
10. It makes us feel something.

Before you worry about optimizing content, worry about quality content. Employing SEO tactics around content that doesn’t meet the criteria above is like giving a car that doesn’t run a new paint job. High quality content will be shared and linked to across the Web. Give your content legs and let it do some of the work for you.

What else do you think makes for high quality content?