Good quality and unique content is a paramount requirement of SEO. But why exactly is that?
Ranking the content on Google nowadays is a lot more difficult than it was 10 years ago. It used to be that a blogger or website would use adequate keywords, and their content would show up in the SERP (search engine results page).
Today around 60% of marketers depend on unique content to bring leads. So, what exactly is it? How does it impact Google ranks? Most importantly, how do you write unique content? Let’s find out.
Defining Unique Content
The defining trait of unique content is something that’s 100% original, plagiarism-free, and inimitable. If you Google something and see 10 articles with the same topic, then you’re seeing a severe case of not-so-unique content.
But even then, it’s not that uncommon. That’s one of the main reasons websites with unique content tend to garner more audience and attract more traffic.
Since unique content’s main trait is also that it’s not plagiarized or duplicated, it’s preferred by Google or other search engines.
So to keep things straight, here are a few traits of unique content:
- It’s plagiarism-free;
- The topic is unique and unmatched;
- It employs all the SEO’s bylaws;
- It’s industry/niche-specific;
- It is actionable;
- It’s informative.
Next time you see a blog that captures your attention, see if it has all these qualities.
Chances are, it would because that’s the only way a website or blog stands out in today’s landscape of monotonous content and topics. This also tells us why unique content is important.
Suggested Read: 7 Traits of High Quality Content Useful Tips to Improve Your Writing
Why Unique Content is Important In Google’s Rankings
Ranking good content in SEO is the aim of every marketer and business. But, getting there is another ballgame entirely.
That’s why it’s important to understand the importance of unique content. So, here are five main reasons unique content is important in Google’s rankings:
Higher SERP Ranking
SERP or search engine results page features top-of-the-line content. Nowadays, Google’s advanced algorithms are clever enough to fish out only the type of content that fits their mold. That’s why you don’t see many lackluster or low-rated websites on the top.
The reason behind that is simple, the more unique content you post, the easier it is to get to the top. Remember, Google prefers originality and informative value. Both these qualities are present only in unique content.
So, when a website posts content that fits this standard, they’re automatically a contender for the highest ranks in SERP.
Credibility among the audience is one of the key factors of any website’s authority. Suppose you see a website ranking higher in SERP because of their unique approach to content. In that case, you know their content is solely responsible for their high ranks. Here’s how:
- The audience is attracted to unique content;
- The more audience clicks on a link, the more Google pays attention to it;
- The more an audience trusts a website, so will Google.
So, when you establish credibility and website authority with your content, you naturally move up in Google ranks.
Attracts Organic Traffic
You can add all the SEO elements to your content, such as keywords, backlinks, On and Off-Page SEO elements, et cetera. However, it’s all futile if your content isn’t unique or plagiarism-free. That’s one of the main requirements to attract traffic.
As mentioned above, it’s important for content to be outstanding in various ways for it to make an impact. So, when your content is unique and original, all the SEO elements come together and help you generate organic traffic—through search engines, backlinks, guest posting, etc.
Plagiarism is a major problem in the online world, as some experts report that around 29% of all website content is duplicated or plagiarized. [1]
However, these are the same websites and pages that are nowhere to be found in the first 10 pages of SERP.
Other plagiarism-related issues include:
- Lost credibility among the audience;
- Possibility of Google blacklisting your website;
- Losing domain authority and backlink quality.
Therefore, unique content isn’t only important to stand out in SERP; it’s a necessity to avoid plagiarism or duplicity-related issues.
Ensures Audience Retention
The most important factor for many websites is retention. If a website isn’t retaining its audience, then Google might not rank it higher. Simply because Google’s algorithms would think it’s a website that doesn’t feature original content.
So, when you post original content, it improves traffic and retains the audience. That’s the type of website Google prefers to put atop its search results. Therefore, ensuring audience retention that you write quality and unique content is important.
How To Write Unique Content?
Now that you know the benefits, you’d want to know how you can write original content. Here are some notable tips.
Pick Outstanding Topics
The first thing you’ll have to do is pick a unique topic(s). The more unique your topic is, the lesser chance of plagiarism there will be. Moreover, most original content on Google stems from the exclusivity of its topics. So, pick something that stands out naturally.
Read More: How to Write a Good Title – Easy Tips for Attracting Readers on Blog Posts and Articles
Be Original
The next thing you’ll have to do is be original. Since content features many things, such as subheadings, images, backlinks, and keywords, they can all be duplicated. That’s something you need to avoid and be original in all these aspects.
Paraphrase When Needed
The final thing is to paraphrase content if you’re using another author’s work. Online paraphraser allows you to avoid plagiarism and ensure the originality of the content. So, what you can do is go to a paraphrasing tool:
Besides that, using a paraphrasing tool gives you an edge in various aspects, such as:
- Rephrase content in a unique voice
- Improve content fluency
- Make content fresh by avoiding plagiarism
Therefore, paraphrase when needed and preferably use a tool to paraphrase efficiently.
Conclusion
These are some of the key aspects of writing unique content. Not only is it important to go with something original in terms of topic, but also original in terms of the content itself. Therefore, a writer must understand this to stand out in Google’s ranks.
References:
[1] On-Page SEO Study – Analysis based on over 4 billion issues – RavenTools
