If you've been reading this Content Mastery Guide blog for awhile, you know where I stand on search engine optimization (SEO). After all, this series is all about social media writing, and social media is all about building a network of people who enjoy reading and sharing your work with their networks.
Yet, I also know there is lots to be said for using SEO techniques to get your work into the hands of more people who need it.
While it's important to use the same language your ideal client might type into a search engine, SEO should never come at the expense of quality writing.
Trying to force particular keywords into a blog post or title can result in awkward (or just plain bad) writing – especially if you're trying to slip them in after the post is written.
Writing for the search engines, trying to get clicks or traffic at any cost, defeats the purpose of content marketing because you will repel your reader instead of attracting them. What is the gain of getting more clicks if people only leave again because you've failed to make a meaningful connection with your writing?
Warning: Indulging in this social media writing sin will diminish the quality of your content, and can make the writing process much more difficult and time-consuming for you.