In the article "How To Create Compelling Content That Ranks Well In Search Engines" by Brian Clark, he sums up what good writing contains into three main concepts; keywords, content, and links/legitimacy. His three main concepts revolve around pleasing search engines such as Google. In his article, Clark elaborates on how Google's search engine works and how it can be tweaked to allow individuals' websites to establish top ranks. Clark described this as Search Engine Optimization, SEO. The idea of SEO centers around three main points. The first of these is keywords. Good online writing always contains good keywords which can be defined as key phrases relevant to what people in a particular niche are searching for. Without keywords, in particularly, key phrases, some websites would not be able to reach out to their target niche and prove that they have content that the niche may be interested in. But, having keywords is not enough. Keywords get traffic on websites, but content is what keeps users. Clark emphasizes the importance of content and not just a website stuffed with keywords. Content is what keeps users. Once users see the content and are interested and attracted, the website has a high possibility of this user becoming a long term consumer of their content. This leads to the final element that makes good writing, links/legitimacy. Any website can have all sorts of content that attracts users, but good websites have content that can be traced back to links and legitimate sources. This shows that their information does not just appear out of thin air.
Adding on to Clark's article, Deanna Zandt writes about social networks and the extent of influence these new technologies have on people's lives in her talk, "How you will change the world with social networking." Zandt describes how these new technologies do make a difference on a micro level and how it later on extends to the macro level. For example, during her talk, Zandt mentions the "16 & Loved" campaign. She explained that this campaign was established to reach out to women who had abortions and to tell them that they were not alone. On a micro level, each of these women who were brave enough to come forth and tell their story were personally affected by the campaign. It changed them individually. But as a group, they transformed the campaign into something on the macro level because each one of these women came together and raised awareness for so many more women in society. They raised awareness and reached out to many more women. As Zandt states, this raised awareness was do in large part to social networks. Because of these social networks like Twitter and Facebook, people were able to reach out to all the other people in their lives. In many ways, this ties to what Clark article is about because websites need users to share these sites in order for them to be successful. With the help of social networks, it makes sharing this information a lot easier. It also makes social networks a powerful resource.
Both readings go hand in hand with each other when describing what is needed in order to be considered "good" writing/ content online. They also clarify on what is considered "bad" writing online. Two websites that fit the description of what is considered "good" online writing are the Thought Catalog and HelloGiggles. These two websites in my opinion are considered good online content because they embody not only creative content, but they contain issues that attract their niche audiences. Thought Catalog is a website filled with user submitted content about current trends as well as creating writing pieces. HelloGiggles is a website targeted towards females in their teens and 20s, even 30s with articles that include DIY tutorials to pop culture and entertainment. Most importantly, the articles on these websites link to their sources.
Two examples that are on the opposite spectrum of the Thought Catalog and HelloGiggles are The New York Post and Who's Dated Who? Unlike the above websites, these two sites are filled with content where the sources are constantly unknown or based on assumptions. Although the NY Post is a newspaper, it is not known to be the most legitimate news source because of it's racy headlines. These headlines are what attract readers' attention. They also indulge in celebrity gossip for which the sources are unknown as well. Much similar to the NY Post, Who's Dated Who? is structured the exact same way, except the sources of the site's content is completely unknown and oblivious to the user. But, regardless, these two sites are frequented by so many individuals everyday. Why?
Links:
- http://scribeseo.com/seo-copywriting/
- http://www.deannazandt.com/presentations/claremont-mckenna-college-how-you-will-change-the-world-with-social-networking/
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