What Does SEO Mean To You?

 

Part One

It used to be when I heard the term "SEO", my brain went numb and I couldn't blog for hours...that's how terrifying something unknown to us can be. I thought I'd give you a little peek into what I learned about SEO (Search Engine Optimization) at Bloggy Bootcamp in St.Louis last April...

By the way: If you are ever able to attend a blogging convention, I highly recommend it. Attendance will help you gauge where you are in your blogging journey. If you have been blogging for a while and know your terms and feel like you're doing everything they say, then it's time to move up to the next level! If you're new and busy absorbing every detail...then you're in the right place. Plus it's great to be seen by other bloggers! It's super cool when you are handing out your bloggy business card and more than one person says "Hey, I read your blog!". It makes you feel fabulous!

Anyway...back to SEO. As you know, SEO means Search Engine Optimization. Which, in turn, means that you are making your blog as magnetic and searchable as possible to the search engines out there...basically Google friendly. When I say magnetic, I mean that everything on your blog will guide the search to you. It's actually much easier and simpler than you might imagine to make your blog a Google magnet! And, as writers of blogs we are natural optimizers. Most of us write because we love it and we want readers to love it too...we're not writing a bunch of keyword phrases about a popular subject just to get traffic to the blog...that would be annoying and you wouldn't last long.

Here's what I learned:

1. Create Shareable Content.
We all do this one way or another. We've been on at you for years now to make it pretty, write well, keep blogging. Make your blog purposeful. Make sure your Google site search is enabled. Located under your Basic Settings:

Importantly, you should already be set up to automatically share your blog posts, via Twitter, Facebook, and RSS. If you are unsure about this...leave me a comment and I will get back to you with details.

2. Know the trends.
Not always the easiest task, unless you have time to read every single blog you subscribe to. Of course, you may want to buck the trend and start your own!
How to learn about trends?
a. Do a key word search. This is available via Google and it's free.
b. Use Google Analytics keyword reports.
c.  Research Adwords, what are readers looking for?

3. Create a content series.
This might be something you do every week or every month. If you're a food blogger, every Friday you might write about what party you're planning for the weekend and have recipes of what you're serving or how you're decorating your tablescape. In this post, every Friday you will use similar terms...and a "keyword phrase" of your own invention, such as Friday's Perfect Party Recipe Preview. Then when someone searches for perfect party recipes your blog will pop up in the results.(Hopefully.)
Another option would be starting a LIST of cool things you link to each week.


4. Build DEEP LINKS within your blog.
Did you know Google crawls links? And text links are even better that image links!
When you write a post, refer to previous posts and link to them if they are relevant, of course. You could always say something like: "Hey, if you liked this post then you might want to read this one." And link to a popular post from your blog.

Okay...I think I've scared you enough for today...more on SEO next time around! Any questions so far, just leave a comment and I will reply!

If you want to read more about SEO try these articles from the web:
SEO Tips for Blogger Blogs
SEO Content Beginner's Guide