The journalism industry has undergone a rapid evolution. Gone are the days of old typewriters, gin soaked interviews and tobacco-stained papers. The digital platform has nearly wholly consumed the print market, swallowing up its readership and growing to become the global source for information, education and entertainment.

This has left today’s journalists facing a difficult decision. Many may choose to point to SEO and online content as the beast that left traditional journalism in tatters. They can dig their heels in, vainly hoping that one day the glossy magazine covers and the whiff of the ink will come out on top.

But the truth is that simply isn’t going to happen. The change has come and, if you refuse to embrace it, you will be missing out on the many benefits that SEO can offer to writers.

The web has forever altered the face of journalism, but it hasn’t killed it off. SEO is not a burden on creativity, but a way to promote good quality content and help it reach its intended audience. By becoming fluent in SEO and developing your web skills, you can drive traffic to your content and promote your work effectively. Evolve with the industry and you will yield much better results.

In order to not only make yourself a more attractive candidate to potential employers but also increase the reach and popularity of your content, here are a few things you should be doing.

Keep your writing straight to the point

Often writers like to let their creativity reign free, turning their headlines into one-line poems. Writing a flowery or witty headline may be rewarding for the writer, but that’s not the point. A headline is supposed to capture the attention of your readers. If you’re not giving them a quick and direct insight into what they are about to read, then you will inevitably lose eyes on the page.

In a sense, journalism and SEO go hand in hand here. Writing is about delivering something that is interesting and worth sharing to your readership. This is also the crux of content marketing. Just make sure your content grabs the attention of your audience and keeps them scrolling down to the last line.

SEO proof your content

Using some simple SEO tools throughout your work can help you keep afloat in the vast ocean of online content. This does not mean compromising on your creativity. It simply means taking some time to understand what your target readership are actively searching for and then pointing them in your direction.

Most journalists understand that with hard news content, the most important information should go at the start of the article. This is a similar concept to the use of SEO keywords. By doing a little research into what your target audience are actively searching for and then including those keywords early in your work, you will increase your visibility.

Find a permanent online home for your work

An online portfolio will always work in your advantage. You can’t rely on a website to keep your article live forever and the sad truth is that some sites may simply sink and disappear, taking your hard work with them.

Giving your work a permanent home allows potential employers, publications and readers to easily find and digest your work. It is important to structure your portfolio site well so that it is easy to navigate and has an appealing appearance. There’s a variety of blog-building sites out there to help you do this, such as Blogger or WordPress. Both of these services are free to use and can be tailored to suit your needs.

Share your work through social media

Social media has become a powerful tool in our globally connected online world. Make sure you take advantage of it. Twitter is not only a great resource for sharing your work, but is also a fantastic way of receiving feedback, finding original news sources and keeping in touch with your online audience and their interests.