Search Engine Optimisation is a 21st century Digital Marketing Skill that

What is SEO and Why is it Important?

SEO is the acronym for Search Engine Optimization. It is the process of making changes to your content to make it visible to search engines (Google) or to be more direct, to make it rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs)

This is a great way to market your content organically (for free). Just do the right thing and you can promote your work without spending a dime.

There is no human behind Google managing how your content appears on the results pages. But Google has site crawlers, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and every form of technological advancements you can think of for the web. All these works together to help improve the rank of your blog post or your website.

I'm using Google cos it's the most prominent search engine. We have others like Bing. Also, Google is the champion for anything SEO.  Let's just say whatever SEO tactic you are playing works for Google

Has anyone here ever searched for something on Google and went all the way to the 13th page for answers? For me, an unwritten rule of the thumb is that if it's not on the first page of Google, it does not exist.

Of course, that's not true. But if I search for something and it does not pop up on the first page, I rephrase my query and search again. There's a very thin chance that I would check the second page, let alone the 13th.

So, this is the fight. To be on Google's first page, so that whenever anyone sends a query, their site would pop up

Imagine if you had a business but when people search for your product, you aren't on the first page. Do you think they will start looking for you? Nope. Your competitors would be on the first page and would get those customers that could have been yours.

You could try too. Try as much as you can and it doesn't make the first page. It's not magic, it's a process.

For some, it might take years, especially if they have strong competitors


Content Writing Crash Course
*two weeks, after which you get a certificate.

There'll be classes and tasks wit

If you fail to meet the deadline or you turn in a shabby work or show any sign of unseriousness, I'll have to remove you.

*Here's a little background information about me if you're curious:*

I've been writing for the Web for 5 years now and it's one top skill I have today and also make a living from. Ideally, I'd charge a fee for this class but this is in-house training that I'm 

What you'll learn are things that you're expected to use consistently and master over time. Two people can write for 5 years and the results will be different. Because one grew in their craft and the other didn't. Revolving around one circle in your craft can end now.

Types of Blog Writing

There are different types of writing but in this article, we shall be looking at the common writing formats engaged in blog posts.
Creative writing
Review writing

1. Narrative Writing

This is just story writing. In simple terms, to narrate something. This is often used know fictional and non-fictional stories but beyond that, if have to narrate something, it falls under this category. Like every story you've ever read, it always has a beginning, an interval and  an ending. Or it won't even really have an 'ending' How many of you have read a narrative writing with an open ending? Like, the writer just leaves you to conclude it in your head? Yup. It's sometimes like that with Narrative writings. Especially for fictions. It's also a brilliant way to write a sequel to the story because they left an open ending. So, if they decide to write a sequel later, it'd flow seamlessly
 

2. Expository Writing

This is used to explain ANYTHING. It could be a person, animal, place or thing. From the word "exposition". The dictionary meaning of exposition is "a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory" So, if you want to provide information about something or someone, this is the form of writing you use. Do your research and everything and inform your readers about what you're writing about. For example "What is COVID-19" This article could be a form of expository Writing. That's because you are informing the audience what this virus is all about, how it started, etc. You're not necessarily giving your opinion on this. You're just gathering as much information as you can about this subject, so you can inform your audience. You should notice the difference with Narrative. Narrative is most times from the author's opinion/perspective. But for expository, not necessarily.

3. Persuasive Writing

From the word "Persuade", the author/writer is simply trying to persuade the readers to agree with them on something. Maybe there's an argument on Twitter about gender roles and I want to write about it. But the purpose of this writing is to persuade people to agree with me that the gender roles we inherited from our forefathers are irrelevant today and should be demolished. For me to be able to write about this perfectly, I must have understood the other side of the argument. What is their argument? That women belong to the kitchen. Why do they think women belong to the kitchen? Because "it's oUr cUlTuRe" So, I already know all that before writing anything. I am fully aware of the other side. But with my writing, I want to win my readers to my side. I want to let them know that we can look at it from a different angle. This is me trying to persuade them. Your work should not basically contain counter points? That's an example and one form of persuasive Writing. And with that example, I'm actually not "countering points" but trying to lecture and perhaps convince my readers to take an action.Maybe to quit thinking that we are bound to forever stick to culture and that culture was made for man and not man for culture? Let's use another example. I'm writing an article to persuade people to do something. Not necessarily to counter anything now but to push them to take an action. For example, TMO Join us page. When you read that page, what's one thing it's pointing you to? Trying to persuade you to join TMO. So, me as the author starts writing... And as you read, you realise you're not in Lagos where almost everything happens. But I'm telling that if you're not in Lagos, we have a link for Ibadan and for Osun and Ondo and Ogbomoso. Okay, now that you have decided where you belong, I'm asking you to click a link. "Click on your location and fill the form". So you click. What did I just do? Persuade me to join TMO

4. Descriptive Writing

This is simply a form of writing that is used to describe anything at all. Take for example, if you saw a mango tree with two horns, and you decide to blog about it, you have to describe it in a way that an average reader gets to picture it in their mind/head. If you have ever read a book and you feel like you can see everything happen. Like, you're watching a movie, then you have seen descriptive writing at work. It brings writing to reality such that you know what Clara in the book looks like with her long hair and blue eyes. You can see her sitting in the corner of her room with her skirt raised - just the way the writer describes it.

Although it wasn't until recently that I found out that there are people who can't capture images in their minds. 

What can be done to such people? - Nothing. It's so bad that the writer uses all the figure of speech that they can to get you to capture what they are trying to describe.

This is where "Imagery" also applies. If you're a poet, you should know what Imagery is - a visual description. This type of writing can be used in any form of writing at all. Because at some point, you'll always have to describe something

This should have a medical condition (Aphantasia) and the funny thing is that they think it's the same for everyone else until they meet someone who tells them that's a thing. And they are like "wow! You visualize things in your head?". It’s like being blind except it’s the mind’s eye that’s blind.
 

Objective Writing

This form of writing can be verified through evidence and facts. It is also referred to as the formal way of writing.

If you are to write a random article on the web, you use objective Writing. By writing this way, it simply means you are not biased. You just present the writing with facts. You won't write now and say the ideal sleeping length should be 2 hours because you sleep 2 hours. Instead, Objective Writing would say 6 to 8 hours. If you're writing a fictional book or a superhero movie, you can make 1 hour of sleep normal. Nobody will fight you - but objective writing won't do that.
 

So, if I ask you to write about the benefits of Oranges, you know where it falls under?
[4/27, 6:58 PM] +234 814 902 2642: Yes

Objective
[4/27, 6:59 PM] +234 816 649 3548: Can it be expository too? Since you’re gathering information as well?
[4/27, 7:00 PM] +234 818 802 6026: Ma, what's the difference between objective writing and expository writing?
[4/27, 7:02 PM] +234 904 046 8046: I don’t think it’s expository since you are well aware of the ‘normal sleep time which is 6-8 hours”

Expository is basically enlightening the public about something they do not really know about.

Please note that one form of writing doesn't necessarily have to stand alone.

Remember how I mixes Descriptive with Narrative? By using a fictional book.

A fictional book can be narrative and also have some forms of description (imagery) in it.

Expository Writing relies on facts, statistics, reasons, principles, everything you need to gather information about what you're writing.

Objective is something you write that can be supported with facts and evidence.

Now, apart from the fact that these two can both be used in an article, tell me where either of these should fall mostly under:

1. Benefits of Oranges
2. The origin of Oranges
[4/27, 7:07 PM] +234 812 600 4758: 1...Objective

2....Expository
[4/27, 7:09 PM] Teefaith TMO: *Subjective Writing*

We just discussed Objective. So, let's see this as the flip side.

While Objective can be backed up by facts and evidence, Subjective is *based on personal opinions, beliefs, perspectives, emotions, judgements, etc*
[4/27, 7:12 PM] Teefaith TMO: See these two statements:

1. You have just one life. Once you're dead, that's the end. No second chance.

2. You live forever. You can never die. Christ already died your death, so you don't have to die ever again 🌝.

Which of these two is subjective?
[4/27, 7:19 PM] Teefaith TMO: Number 1 is *Objective*
Number 2 is *Subjective*

Why?

I just explained that subjective is based on personal opinions, *beliefs*, etc.

And as Samson puts it "only the believer in Christ Jesus partakes of this". There's a condition to it.

In formal writing, everyone dies. Unless you add that condition to it, what you just presented is based on your belief. And FYI, not everyone believes what you believe.

So, that statement is *subjective to something*. Subjective to the fact that you have to be a believer. And in the actual sense, you'll actually die and leave this Earth.

Objective says what it sees with no condition or exception. Everyone dies.
This subjective approach helps the reader to see what goes on in your head and mind. It helps the reader know the kind of person you are.

If you write number 2 in an article, I'll assume you're a believer in Christ Jesus.

Apart from belief, remember I also mentioned other things such as personal opinions, perspectives, emotions, judgements...
 

Subjective Writing

This is based on a particular belief. Maybe mostly the Yorubas believe that. That's a particular tribe that ties meaning to that. In personal blogs, do we all agree that the subjective form of writing is mostly used? Because it is my blog! I write what I want, my belief, the Yoruba reincarnation, whatever. My blog subscribers would get to know more about my personality based on what I write.
 

Creative Writing

Get creative. Informal writing. Just explore as much as you want. Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, crime, biographies, screenwriting, etc. They all fall into this category. Even the content used for YouTube videos fall under creative writing. If I have a channel that talks about food recipes or DIY. The content I'll have to create to make that video happen can be described as creative writing and this is hot stuff these days. Not everyone will be a creative writer, so they'll always need someone who has the brain and can put in the work. The script for Money Heist is creative writing. Not anyone can write that script. It took an extra talent.
 

Review Writing

People review anything these days. Books. Movies. Songs. Blogs. Videos. Anything at all. There are also reviews for .phones. Laptops. Blenders. This is beyond the feedback you get on your service and product. It could be an entire article on its own which people get to read and decide whether or not to still purchase that thing, listen to that song, watch that movie or buy HP laptop or Macbook. Some companies pay people to write review articles.

Some people get free phones just to write a good review about that phone and share with their audience.
So, if you get a free phone and you're asked to write a review about it, you'll have to do what you can to convince people that the phone is good, right?
Talk about the features. Highlight every brilliant about the phone.

At this point, you might not even be presenting facts, you just want to convince people that it's good.

In this case, creativity is your focus. It's art for you at this point. The Dictionary meaning of Creative is _"relating to or involving the use of the imagination of original ideas to create something"_

Original ideas. Create something.

I don't know how else to explain it but it's definitely not _any type of writing_

Creative writing can be subjective, yes.

If you look at some movies (which came from screenwriting- creative writing), they use personal opinions, beliefs, etc. Not necessarily things that are based on facts (objective).

An article can be creative or objective. It can also be both creative and subjective, yes. But don't stress your brain by trying to create a new term with "creative objective" and "subjective creative"

Copywriting 

This is simply writing something for the main purpose of advertising or to market something.

You're pushing your reader to a *call to action*. That's *Persuasive*

It's also you getting creative with your writing as you try to mix your knowledge with what the brand is about and also try to devise the best way to persuade your audience.

That's being *creative*!

Conclusion

There are