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What is SEO Content Marketing? 6 Ways to Combine Them!

  • Editor
  • March 9, 2025
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Businesses use content marketing to educate, engage, and nurture their audience. However, without SEO, even the most valuable content may struggle to reach its target readers. SEO content marketing combines high-quality, informative content with search optimization strategies.

This approach ensures that content ranks well, attracts organic traffic, and effectively drives engagement. In this guide, let’s explore how to integrate SEO with content marketing and best practices that perform well in search results.


What is the primary goal of SEO content marketing?


What Is SEO Content Marketing?

SEO content marketing is the strategic process of creating, optimizing, and promoting content to rank higher in search engines like Google, attract organic traffic, and engage potential customers. It combines two critical digital marketing elements:

  1. SEO (Search Engine Optimization): The practice of optimizing web pages to improve visibility in search engine results.
  2. Content Marketing: The creation and distribution of valuable, relevant content to attract and retain an audience.

When effectively executed, SEO content marketing helps businesses increase their online presence, drive targeted traffic, and convert visitors into customers.


How Content Marketing Benefits SEO?

Effective content marketing strengthens SEO by earning backlinks, attracting media coverage, and enhancing user experience. Many people separate content marketing and SEO into distinct strategies, but content marketing plays a vital role in off-page SEO.

Backlinks remain a key factor in search rankings. When authoritative websites link to your content, search engines interpret these as signals of trust and credibility.

Although Google has indicated that links are becoming less significant in its ranking algorithm, they still play a role in establishing authority.

Content Marketing & Media Exposure

Beyond backlinks, high-quality content can generate media attention, especially when it includes original data, unique insights, or expert knowledge that isn’t readily available elsewhere.

When reputable publications cite your content, it can lead to:

  • Increased brand visibility
  • More branded searches for your company
  • Higher website traffic

Enhancing User Experience

Well-crafted content provides value to readers. In-depth, informative pieces are more likely to satisfy user intent, keeping visitors engaged and improving SEO metrics like dwell time and bounce rate.


How to Develop High-Impact SEO Content Marketing Strategy?

If your content lacks a clear strategy, it’s time for a focused approach. A well-defined SEO content plan ensures purpose, alignment with business goals, and website growth.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to developing an effective SEO content marketing strategy, explained through an example of a men’s grooming brand launching an online store for razors.


Step 1: Align SEO and Content with a Unified Roadmap

In many organizations, SEO and content teams operate with separate strategy documents that outline their objectives and action plans. To build a more cohesive approach, it’s essential to align these strategies and create a unified content roadmap.

Start by comparing both teams’ strategy documents to identify:

Identify Common Topics & Audience Interests

Start by analyzing the overlapping themes and audience segments that both your SEO and content teams are focusing on. Aligning these efforts helps:

  • Ensure resources are used efficiently by targeting the same audience.
  • Create content that is both engaging and optimized for search engines.
  • Maximize the impact of every piece of content, leading to higher organic traffic and engagement rates.

When your SEO and content strategies align, it increases visibility, credibility, and audience engagement.

Identify and Fill Topic Gaps

Topic gaps occur when one team has valuable content ideas that the other isn’t aware of. These gaps represent untapped opportunities for:

  • New content creation that targets overlooked keywords.
  • Optimizing existing content to rank better in search results.
  • Expanding your brand’s authority on relevant industry topics.

By regularly sharing insights, your team can uncover missed opportunities and develop a more comprehensive content strategy.

For example, if your SEO research reveals that users are searching for “How to Recycle Old Razors”, but your content team hasn’t covered it yet, this becomes a prime opportunity for new blog posts, product pages, or video content.



Step 2: Define Your Goals

Before creating content, it’s essential to define what you want to achieve. Your goals will determine the type of content you should prioritize.

Ask yourself:

  • Are you focused on increasing product sales? If so, you’ll need optimized product pages that highlight features, benefits, and user testimonials.
  • Are you aiming to grow website traffic and ad revenue? In that case, engaging long-form content, videos, and guides that keep visitors returning should be the focus.

Example: Men’s Grooming Brand

Let’s say you’re launching a premium razor brand and selling products online. Your goal is to drive direct sales while also building brand authority in the grooming industry.

  • Primary focus: Well-optimized product pages with high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and user reviews. These pages should be SEO friendly, ensuring potential customers find them through search.
  • Secondary focus: A blog featuring helpful grooming tips like “How to Get the Perfect Shave” or “Best Razors for Sensitive Skin.” This type of content attracts search traffic and links back to your product pages, increasing conversions.

On the other hand, if the brand relied on an ad-based revenue model, it would focus on entertaining, informative content, such as video tutorials, celebrity grooming routines, or user-generated content to keep visitors engaged and coming back.

By clearly defining your goals, you ensure that every content decision aligns with your business objectives.



Step 3: Design Your Content for Both Users and Search Engines

Creating high-quality content means striking a balance between what your audience finds useful and what search engines can easily understand. To do this effectively, you need to grasp search intent, the reason behind a user’s search query.

Understanding Search Intent

Search intent is what drives a person to type a specific query into a search engine. There are four main types:

  • Informational Intent:  The user is looking for knowledge.
📝Example: Someone curious about different razor blade types might search “What’s the difference between single-blade and multi-blade razors?”
  • Navigational Intent: The user is looking for a specific brand or website.
📝Example: A returning customer who wants to explore your grooming brand might search “[Your Razor Brand] homepage”.
  • Commercial Intent: The user is researching before making a purchase.
📝Example: Someone comparing products might search “Best razors for sensitive skin vs. regular razors”.
  • Transactional Intent: The user is ready to make a purchase.
📝Example: A customer ready to buy might type “Buy [Your Razor Brand] online”.

How can you Analyze Search Intent?

To begin, examine the search engine results page (SERP) for the query, analyzing different content formats and paid advertisements to better understand the intent behind the search.

You can also utilize KIVA (Keyword Intent & Value Analysis) to quickly gain insights into search intent.

Understanding user intent at a deep level requires more than just keyword research, it demands real user insights and behavioral analysis. This is where KIVA comes in.

First, KIVA helps identify the type of query you are analyzing, ensuring you understand its intent and purpose.

KIVA helps brands analyze user intent by categorizing keywords into intent-based buckets.

Secondly, When you enter the seed keyword “eco-friendly razors” into KIVA, it reveals key insights into what users are specifically looking for in the specific location. Here’s what the analysis shows:

user-search-intent

By using KIVA, your razor brand can craft content that directly addresses these concerns, whether it’s an eco-friendly product page, a comparison guide, or a blog post on sustainable shaving habits.

Aligning with user intent ensures better engagement and higher rankings in search results.



Step 4: Maintain Consistent Content Production

Publishing and distributing content consistently is crucial for maximizing your SEO success.

According to Search Engine Journal,

Insights from Google 

Google clarified that posting content daily does not directly improve search rankings. While the frequency of publishing doesn’t influence ranking, having more indexed pages increases the chances of content appearing in search results.

Why Consistency Matters

Although publishing frequency isn’t a ranking signal, industry-professionals recognize its impact. In a 2023 content marketing survey, more than half of respondents reported that increasing their publishing volume helped boost their rankings.

Here’s why:

  • Each new piece of content signals freshness and relevance to both users and search engines.
  • More published content means more opportunities to rank for relevant keywords.
  • Consistently covering niche-related topics helps build topical authority in your industry.

For a sustainable razor brand, maintaining a steady flow of valuable content is essential. Instead of sporadically posting, a structured content plan could look like this:

  • Weekly Blog Post: Articles like “How to Choose the Best Eco-Friendly Razor for Your Skin Type.”
  • Monthly Comparison Guides: “Plastic vs. Metal Razors: Which is More Sustainable?”
  • Quarterly Case Studies: “How Our Reusable Razors Have Helped Reduce Plastic Waste in the U.S.”
  • Ongoing Product Updates: Refreshing product pages with new customer testimonials and sustainability reports.

By publishing consistently, your brand stays relevant, attracts organic traffic, and continues to grow authority in the niche.



Step 5: Continuously Analyze and Improve

To maintain a successful SEO content strategy, it’s essential to regularly evaluate your site’s performance. Conduct content audits and SEO audits to determine what’s working and where improvements are needed.

Several SEO tools and website graders can help track key success metrics, such as:

  • Page views: Check in Google Analytics under Behavior > Site Content > All Pages to see which pages attract the most traffic.
  • Backlinks: Use Ahrefs, Moz, or Semrush to track inbound links and domain authority.
  • User engagement: Monitor comments, shares, and likes using social media analytics and Google Analytics (under Engagement Reports).
  • Conversion rates: Check-in on Google Analytics (Conversions > Goals) to analyze how well content drives actions like signups or purchases.

Refining Your Strategy Based on Insights

Your analysis should focus on two key areas:

Identify What Works and Do More of It

  • Look for trends in high-performing content.
  • If your eco-friendly razor brand sees high engagement on video tutorials, prioritize more video content.
  • Adjust your editorial calendar to invest more in content formats and topics that resonate with your audience.

🔍 Facts: Blog posts that include at least one video generate 70% more organic traffic compared to those without.

Update and Optimize Older Content

  • Content that ranks but isn’t fully optimized presents an opportunity.
  • If a blog post originally targeting best reusable razors” is unexpectedly driving traffic for “plastic-free shaving”, re-optimize it by adjusting the title, headers, and keywords.
  • Small tweaks can lead to significant traffic gains.

Keeping Your Site SEO Optimized

Regular site-wide SEO assessments ensure that both your content and technical elements remain aligned with Google’s best practices. Free website graders and SEO auditing tools can provide instant insights into overall site health, helping you maintain strong search visibility.

By continuously analyzing, refining, and updating your content, your razor brand can stay ahead of trends, improve rankings, and provide a better user experience, driving long-term SEO success.



🔍 Facts: 72% of companies state that SEO content marketing contributes to increased lead generation.


Proven Best Practices for SEO Content Marketing Success

To ensure your content is unique, valuable, and optimized for search engines, follow these key best practices:

1. Conduct Thorough Research to Plan Your Content

Start by performing keyword research to understand what your audience is actively searching for. This helps you:

  • Identify the language and search terms your audience uses.
  • Align content with search intent to attract relevant traffic.
  • Ensure your topics address user needs effectively.

2. Create High-Quality Content Focused on E-E-A-T Framework

Google prioritizes helpful, reliable content, so focus on producing material that is engaging, informative, and well-researched. A good benchmark for content quality is Google’s E-E-A-T framework:

  • Experience: Does the content reflect real-world knowledge? (e.g., firsthand experience with sustainable razors).
  • Expertise: Is it created by an industry expert? (e.g., dermatologists or grooming specialists).
  • Authoritativeness: Is it backed by credible sources? (e.g., sustainability reports or dermatologist recommendations).
  • Trustworthiness: Does the website have a good reputation and secure browsing?

3. Distribute Content Across Multiple Channels

To maximize visibility, share content beyond your website using:

  • Social ads: Run targeted ads on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to reach eco-conscious consumers.
  • Email newsletters: Send curated content to subscribers, promoting new blog posts or product updates.
  • Organic social posts: Share educational content on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to engage with followers.

By leveraging multiple distribution channels, your content reaches a broader audience and nurtures potential customers through the buyer’s journey.

4. Measure & Analyze Performance

Tracking SEO and content performance helps you refine strategies based on what’s working. Use tools like:

  • Google Search Console (GSC): Monitor clicks, impressions, and ranking changes. Go to “Search Results” under Performance for key insights.
  • Position Tracking Tool: Provides a high-level ranking overview for all tracked keywords. Review ranking trends over time and adjust strategies as needed.

Neuro SEO Content Marketing: Using Cognitive Science to Boost Rankings & Engagement

While SEO content marketing strategies mostly focus on keywords, backlinks, and search-intent, they neglect the neuroscience behind user engagement and decision making.

Google’s algorithms are evolving to prioritize human-like content consumption patterns, making it essential to align content with cognitive psychology principles.

Dopamine-Driven Content: How to Create Addictive SEO Articles

The brain releases dopamine (the “feel good” neurotransmitter) when encountering novel, emotionally engaging, and rewarding content. SEO content that triggers dopamine keeps users hooked, reducing bounce rates and improving rankings.

SEO Strategy:

  • Use storytelling with cliffhangers to keep users reading longer.
  • Incorporate reward-based phrasing (“Here’s a secret trick…” “You won’t believe this…”) to trigger curiosity-driven engagement.
  • Personalized content loops (interactive quizzes, customized recommendations) increase dopamine hits, making users return.

SEO Impact: Higher dwell time, lower bounce rate, and more engagement signals to Google.

Brain Friendly Formatting: Structuring Content for Cognitive Ease & SEO

The brain processes visually structured information 60,000 times faster than plain text. Google also prioritizes scannable content in ranking algorithms.

SEO Strategy:

  • Use the “Z Shaped Reading Pattern” place the most critical SEO keywords at the start and end of sections, following how the brain naturally scans pages.
  • Dual coding method: Combine visual elements (icons, graphs, bolded keywords) with text to enhance information retention.
  • Apply the Serial Position Effect (users remember the first & last items best), strategically place CTAs and key SEO points at the beginning and end of your content.

SEO Impact: Users stay longer, remember more, and interact better, leading to improved ranking signals.


Case Study: Successful SEO Content Marketing Campaign

AppSumo’s strategy was a textbook example of SEO content marketing. Their collaboration with Omniscient Digital focused on producing high-quality content that was optimized for search engines while also being valuable to their audience.

How AppSumo Used SEO Content Marketing to Achieve Growth

Here’s how their approach aligned with SEO content marketing principles:

Keyword Research & Search Intent Optimization

  • They identified high volume, low competition keywords related to digital tools, entrepreneurship, and software deals.
  • This ensured their content matched what users were actively searching for, driving qualified organic traffic.

Creating High Value, SEO Optimized Content

  • They produced in-depth guides, listicles, and tutorials focused on software deals and productivity tools.
  • Content was structured for readability, engagement, and search engine discoverability.

Consistent Publishing & Content Expansion

  • Regularly updated and expanded content to maintain relevance and improve rankings.
  • Created pillar content and supporting blog posts to strengthen topical authority.

Strategic Internal Linking & Backlink Building

  • Implemented internal linking to boost SEO and user navigation.
  • Earned backlinks from authoritative sources, increasing domain authority and ranking potential.

Data-Driven Optimization & Performance Tracking

  • Analyzed search rankings, CTR, and traffic patterns.
  • Continuously refined content based on real performance insights.

Results 

  • 843% increase in organic traffic
  • 340% growth in revenue from organic sources
  • Improved brand visibility and engagement in search results

This case study clearly showcases how SEO and content marketing work together. By focusing on targeted keyword research, valuable content creation, and continuous optimization, AppSumo successfully grew its online presence without relying on paid ads.


Explore More SEO Guides


FAQs


SEO helps content rank in search results, while content marketing provides material for SEO to optimize. Without SEO, great content may go unnoticed due to a lack of visibility.

Track organic search traffic, keyword rankings, and user engagement using analytics tools. Regular monitoring and optimization help refine your strategy for better results.

Traditional content marketing focuses on engagement and brand awareness, while SEO content marketing is optimized for search rankings and organic traffic. SEO content uses keywords, search intent, and ranking strategies to improve visibility.



Conclusion

A strong SEO content marketing strategy combines keyword research, high-quality content creation, and continuous optimization to improve search visibility and audience engagement.

Aligning SEO with content marketing ensures your efforts drive organic traffic, brand authority, and conversions. Regular analysis, backlink building, and multi-channel distribution enhance long-term success.

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Editor
Articles written2524

Digital marketing enthusiast by day, nature wanderer by dusk. Dave Andre blends two decades of AI and SaaS expertise into impactful strategies for SMEs. His weekends? Lost in books on tech trends and rejuvenating on scenic trails.

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