There is enough evidence spread around us that testifies to the fact that SEO and content marketing can work hand in hand. The methods not only complement each other but can also perform very well together. If you look closely at the marketing methods and analyze its elements, you would discover that SEO and content marketing is a perfect match. Therefore, it will not be wrong to say that these marketing methods are like the two sides of the same coin. The closeness of the two marketing methods is such that it might appear that content marketing is all about SEO and vice versa. Before you try to understand what makes these methods almost interchangeable, we will first explore why people often get confused with it.
Content marketing and SEO lacks integration
The fact that content marketing and SEO exist as separate entities are what often confuse people. People look upon these methods like two different marketing tools, which it is but there is an underlying connection between the two. Inability to discover the hidden connection only adds to the confusion. However, the truth is that despite appearing different, the two methods blend with one another and also can cohere and overlap. It is ridiculous to think that someday one method would eliminate another. This can never happen because of the interdependent nature of the methods. The success of content marketing depends heavily on SEO, and it is never possible to create a wall between the two, forget about one method of eliminating the other. Marketers need to have an eye to identify the apparent disconnect and work towards using the methods in conjunction with each other.
There is an overlap
If you are wondering how it is possible to integrate SEO and content marketing, then you should look at the areas that overlap. Once you can identify it, easier it becomes to work out ways of integrating these methods. Despite the points of differentiation between the two methods, it is never possible to separate these completely. Content marketing takes a more holistic approach and has a wider perspective while SEO is more technical and takes a narrow approach. However, to integrate the methods you should aim at broadening the SEO approach. This is possible by infusing the SEO technicalities into content marketing to drive it towards success.
SEO and content marketing can hold hands
If you look at the roles of SEO and content marketing, you will discover that these methods complement each other in a very interesting manner. Think about a couple where one spouse makes a demand, and the other fulfills it. To run SEO effectively, you have to create customer engagement which is only possible by publishing high-quality content. Just imagine a scenario when SEO does not have any content, and you would well understand how and why these methods rely on one another. Conversely, if you want to market the content well, you have to attract viewers by earning high ranks in search results which is only possible by embracing SEO. The application of SEO finds its meaning in successful content marketing.
Keywords – the link between the two marketing methods
Keywords are central to SEO because it holds the key to gain high search rankings by enhancing visibility. You have to research keywords to identify the most potent ones and then use it. So, where will you use the keywords? Content is the only place for making proper use of keywords. Keywords play the most vital role in content marketing and popularizing content, and it is not possible to create compartments for these methods. There will be occasions when one process flows into another to find its true meaning.
Backlinks – The common thread
Even today, backlinks are the backbone of SEO, and it would remain so in the coming years too. SEO success depends on creating an impressive backlink profile of high-quality backlinks. For creating a backlink repository of good links only, you have to launch a backlink campaign by craftily creating impressive content that enjoys wide sharing. Without quality content, you just cannot think of building a healthy link profile that is all important for earning higher ranks in search results. No other methods of link building can provide the just rewards as content marketing can. Stellar content attracts high viewership, and the quality compels others to link with it thereby opening the gates for links to flow in.
SEO optimization boosts user experience
SEO involves lots of technicalities besides making use of keywords, backlinks, and content. From utilizing proper tags to enhancing Metadata, optimizing the robots.txt and creating a strategic sitemap, there are almost endless technicalities that come into play. The technicalities aim at providing a better user experience which matters a lot when you are marketing the content. If user experience is poor, viewers would not have a look at the content. Therefore, for tasting success in content marketing, you have to pay attention to SEO. No matter how good the content quality might be, its visibility and consumption would depend on proper optimization of the website features that brings the web page in focus. Unless content marketing supports SEO and vice versa, succeeding in online marketing would remain a pipe dream