Content optimization for improved find-ability in the search

A search is only as good as the content it is supposed to find. In this article, we'll explain what you need to consider when providing content. This will increase the chances that your users will find the content they are looking for.

Files

For files, i.e. documents, images, videos or similar, the file name is important. It is the business card of the content and should be named so precisely that your users find the content. It is advisable to take the perspective of the searcher: What term would he search for? Because: The author often has a different perspective on the files. For him, technical terms are logical, a user would probably search with completely different terms.

Content

With the contents in Haiilo it depends particularly on a good keywording. Whether it is news that is published via the blog app, knowledge content that is provided with the wiki app or other apps that contain text: Good keywording is the be-all and end-all for a well-functioning search. There is an easy way to make content findable and that is via hashtags (#).

Keywording in texts with the use of hashtags

What applies to texts on websites also applies to content in Haiilo. It is worthwhile to place various keywords in the text. One thing is particularly important and applies equally to files as well as content: Take the perspective of the searcher. What would users search for without prior knowledge of the subject matter? What terms would they use? These terms must be included in the text.

Hashtags are especially helpful for grouping content on specific topics. That's why it helps to place a few hashtags at the end of the text, for example. Especially if there are different spellings or terms for a subject and you can not fully accommodate them in the text, hashtags help. Maybe you know the principle from Instagram and Co. There, authors collect hashtags with different terms at the end of a text to make the post easier to find.

Don't use the hashtags to include as many terms as possible. The rule is: less is more! Focus on the really important and, above all, appropriate hashtags.

 

Tips:

  • Keep the goal in mind
    Keeping both the content and the target audience in mind will make it easier for you to find hashtags: What topics or categories does this post cover? Is it in a specific geographic area? Are there brands or companies? What would your users type in to find the post?
  • Keep it clear
    We recommend 2 to 3 hashtags per post. This way, there is not an overload of information for users to filter from. One strategy is to mix popular hashtags that appeal to a wider user base and more targeted, less popular hashtags to promote new topics.
  • Dare to use big and small
    #aSentenceasHashtag can also work and make a long hashtag easier to read. Keep in mind that spaces don't work.

Headings

Headings are especially important for orientation. In the search results list, the title is always displayed and is something like the business card of the content: The headline expresses what is in the text and should arouse curiosity. A suitable description is therefore important. In addition, it is also important to use subheadings within the text. They help users scan the text for the first time and give it a structure. 

Our conclusion: 6 tips

  1. Write the keyword once in the title - as close to the beginning as possible.
  2. Make sure that the keyword appears three to four times in the article.
  3. Bold the keyword once
  4. Write the keyword in one of the used images or graphics as an alt tag
  5. Use the keyword as the name of the image
  6. Use hashtags

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