The battle for online visibility rages on. People can’t engage with your content if they can’t find it online, which is why SEO and algorithm-first content have taken priority in recent years. But remember, algorithms aren’t buying from you—people are. That’s why, in an era of navigating algorithm updates and SERPs, you need to create content with a people-first mindset.

It’s easier said than done. But making a few conscious decisions early in the writing process can help you focus on what your audience needs and wants to know. Let’s explore further.

What Is People-First Content?

People-first content is the concept of putting the needs and interests of your human audience first. While SEO and rankings should still be part of the content creation process, they should be treated as a second priority.

Ultimately, your goal is to create content that resonates with real people, addresses their problems, and provides valuable solutions.

In the current state of content marketing, where consumers are constantly bombarded with advertisements and promotional messages, people-first content stands out by prioritizing empathy, authenticity, and relevance. It’s not just about pushing a brand’s agenda or manipulating the search rankings, but genuinely understanding and addressing the pain points and interests of the target audience.

Why You Need People-First Content

Years ago, blogging was about building genuine connections with an audience on a shared interest or topic. It didn’t take long for companies to see the impact blogging had on search rankings, which is why many companies have forgotten the people-first element that makes blogging special in the first place.

By prioritizing people-first content, you’re not only boosting your SEO efforts but also establishing trust and credibility with your audience. Think about it — engaging stories, authentic experiences, and valuable insights are much more compelling than generic, robotic content. 

Plus, when you create content that genuinely serves the needs of your audience, they’re more likely to stick around, advocate for your brand, and ultimately convert into loyal customers or followers. And all that loyalty can have a positive impact on your organic search rankings.

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How to Write a Blog Post for People First, Algorithms Second

Blogging has become SEO-first, which helps users to find blog content via search. But that’s no excuse to let the user experience fall by the wayside. Here are some ways you can prioritize your human audience while letting SEO become a natural by-product.

Write Content with Authority

Blogging is often considered a numbers game: the more blog content you have, the more ways you can connect with your audience and the more keywords you can rank for. AI tools have made it easier to churn out high volumes of blog content.

But blogging isn’t always the numbers game you might think it is. Anyone can write a generic blog article, but without expertise and authority, your content will fail to build trust and connect with your audience. There’s nothing special to set it apart because you haven’t invested time and thought into it.

A better approach is to focus on quality over quantity and enlist the help of an expert. Not just an expert writer, but an expert in your industry who can talk about a topic with authority.

Having first-hand expertise in your blog article automatically makes it better than the majority of generic drivel that’s already published. It also adds more value to the reader because your content comes from a place of experience and proficiency, not just theoretical knowledge.

Answer Real Questions from Your Audience

Great content solves problems and answers questions. Finding these questions can take a little digging, especially if you want to make your content relevant to your unique audience.

To find out what your audience wants to know, you can:

• Use tools like Answer the Public to find common questions
• Search the People Also Ask section on Google’s SERPs
• Ask your customer service or support team about the questions they receive
• Check online reviews or social media to see what others are saying
• Use social listening tools to keep tabs on online conversations

When you can deliver the answers people seek, the value of your content skyrockets—and that can have a positive impact on organic rankings.

Include Relevant Sources and Links

Adding external links and data points matters in SEO, but it matters more to your human readers. They want to trust what you’re telling them is true, and links to sources provide instant validation.

Unlike algorithms that can automatically check a site’s domain authority (DA) rating and other “invisible” quality signals, your readers gauge content quality based on what they see. The casual reader won’t check a website’s DA or spam signals; instead, they’ll judge a source based on how it looks, the number of ads, publishing date, spelling and grammar, and other factors they can see at a glance.

When choosing sources to link to, make sure you choose sites that appear trustworthy. Regardless of DA, traffic, or other ranking signals, your content needs to instantly gain the trust of your audience. The sites you link to are a direct reflection of you.

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Add Eye Candy for Instant Appeal

Similar to links and sources, eye candy matters to search algorithms, but they matter more to your human readers.

Long walls of text aren’t compelling to read and can make your content appear unfinished or dull. To capture your readers’ attention, sprinkle eye candy throughout your content, such as:

• Charts and graphs
• Infographics
• Blog images
• Bold fonts
• Lists
• Videos
• Interactive polls
• Downloadables
• Callout boxes

Content shouldn’t just say what’s on your mind. It should tell a story, complete with illustrations that bring your ideas to life. 

Include Original Stories

People-first content stands out. It has a special spark that blogs on similar topics can’t replicate. One of these sparks comes from original stories. 

If you are including original stories and examples in your blog articles, your content won’t sound like everything else that’s been published on the topic. Stories can also help to build blog credibility and demonstrate your expertise.

Here are some ways to create original stories for your blog articles:

• Interview subject matter experts for their hot take on a topic
• Use original business data or research
• Talk about first-hand experiences

Stories bring your ideas to life and add context to your content. It helps the reader see things from your perspective while demonstrating your expertise on a topic. 

Don’t Force the Language

When writing algorithm-first content, keywords get the bulk of the attention. However, some keywords don’t naturally fit within the content, and most of the time, readers can tell when a keyword has been forced.

Example: freelance writer gigs remote

That’s a real keyword we found while doing keyword research on the topic of freelance writers. 

It makes perfect sense when you type it into Google. But copying it word for word in a blog post doesn’t translate.

Your writing should make contextual sense to the reader. Sprinkle in keywords where they make sense, but don’t overdo it, and don’t force it.

Get Expert Help in Creating People-First Content

Writing for people first has become something of a lost art in the digital era. But making your audience your top priority can also benefit you in terms of SEO and organic rankings. If your content is helpful and well-written, it has a better chance of being read, shared, bookmarked, and revisited, all of which can indicate high quality and make the algorithms work in your favor.

Get expert help crafting content that works — Read samples of our work and see how we can elevate your people-first blogging strategy.