SEO practices tailored for news publishers, focusing on Google News, Discover, and real-time indexing.
Why Journalistic SEO Matters
Journalistic SEO matters because it directly aligns with a search engine’s goal of providing the most helpful, high-quality, and trustworthy content. When a search engine’s algorithm evaluates a webpage, it looks for signals of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-E-A-T). Journalistic SEO is a content strategy that is built on these principles. By creating content that is well-researched, original, and newsworthy, you are signaling to search engines that your website is a high-quality resource. This can lead to higher rankings, more organic traffic, and a strong brand reputation.
Across Different CMS Platforms
The principles of journalistic SEO can be applied to any CMS.
WordPress
WordPress is the most popular platform for journalistic SEO. Its flexible nature and vast ecosystem of plugins make it easy to create and manage high-quality content. You can use plugins to manage your headlines, schema markup, and other technical details, while focusing on the content itself.
Shopify
Shopify is an e-commerce platform, but you can still use journalistic SEO to build trust and authority. A great way to do this is by creating in-depth blog posts about your products, your brand, or your industry. This can help you attract organic traffic and build a strong brand reputation.
Wix
Wix has a streamlined, user-friendly system, but you can still apply the principles of journalistic SEO. The best way to do this is to focus on creating high-quality, well-written content that provides a great user experience.
Webflow
Webflow gives you a high degree of control over your website’s design, which is perfect for journalistic SEO. You can create a beautiful, modern, and clean design that is easy to read and navigate, which is a key part of providing a great user experience.
Custom CMS
With a custom CMS, you have the most control but also the most responsibility. You can build a content management system that is perfectly tailored to your journalistic SEO strategy, with a focus on a clean, modern design and a simple, user-friendly interface.
Across Different Industries
The principles of journalistic SEO can be applied to any industry.
E-commerce
E-commerce sites can use journalistic SEO to build trust and authority. A great way to do this is by creating in-depth product reviews, buyer’s guides, or articles about the history of your brand or your industry.
Local Businesses
Local businesses can use journalistic SEO to build a strong reputation in their community. A great way to do this is by creating content about local events, news, or people.
SaaS Companies
SaaS companies can use journalistic SEO to establish themselves as an authority in their industry. A great way to do this is by creating in-depth case studies, original research, or articles about the latest trends in your industry.
Blogs
Blogs are the most natural home for journalistic SEO. A great way to do this is by creating original, well-researched articles that provide a unique perspective on a topic.
Do’s and Don’ts of Journalistic SEO
Do’s
- Do focus on original reporting. This is the core of journalistic SEO. Create content that is unique and provides a new perspective on a topic.
- Do build a reputation as a trusted source. This is a key part of your E-E-A-T.
- Do prioritize user experience. A great user experience is a key part of journalistic SEO.
Don’ts
- Don’t use keyword stuffing. This is a dated tactic that can harm your SEO.
- Don’t use thin content. Thin content is a clear signal of a low-quality website.
- Don’t use fake news or misleading information. This can lead to a severe penalty from search engines.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to check your facts: This is a major mistake that can harm your site’s credibility.
- Using stock images: Using original images is a great way to signal that your content is unique.
- Ignoring the importance of a headline: A great headline can attract a lot of organic traffic.
FAQs
How is journalistic SEO different from content marketing?
Journalistic SEO is a type of content marketing that focuses on creating newsworthy, original, and authoritative content. It is a more specialized approach than traditional content marketing.
Can a website with a low domain authority use journalistic SEO?
Yes, a website with a low domain authority can use journalistic SEO. By creating high-quality, newsworthy content, you can attract links and social shares that can help you build your domain authority.
Does journalistic SEO help with my E-E-A-T?
Yes. Journalistic SEO is a content strategy that is built on the principles of E-E-A-T. By creating original, well-researched, and trustworthy content, you are signaling to search engines that your website is a high-quality resource.
What is an example of journalistic SEO?
An example of journalistic SEO is a news article about a local event. This is a newsworthy topic that can attract a lot of organic traffic and links.
Can a website use both traditional SEO and journalistic SEO?
Yes. The best SEO strategy is a combination of both. You can use traditional SEO for your technical details and on-page optimization, and journalistic SEO for your content strategy.
