There are various things I tried for a successful SEO of my blog (believe me, it has been hard to write down a list of 'things to do' to bring up a post I write on in the number one, two or three position of Google or Bing search results). Now that I have written down 50 posts on my blog TekBlogger in less than a 50 days and most of my posts have shown up in Google organic results and have been on the top for an average of say around seven days, I have already learned a lot about SEO. I went through several blogger tips about better optimization of my blog with respect to SEO but never earned a position in the Google ranks. But as and when I hit the right track (I realized this when I saw my post on Blogger vs. Wordpress in the second position on Google search), I started making notes on what different I had done in writing that very post. I found many things were same as I had done for my other blogs but what was significant, I am sharing here. Now, these points come straight from my small diary 'Things to Remember" that I maintain for TekBlogger.
- The first thing I do, is not new to any blogger who emphasizes SEO for his blog. KEYWORDS. Yes, you got it right! But there is something important that I will mention. Nearly a month after I started using Google Webmaster tools, I saw a column that mentioned the density of keywords specific to my blog. Yes, its not only important to use keywords in your blog but also to use them very often.I am talking about simply filling up your post with important keywords but use them effectively all through your post. When I talk about more keywords, I am indirectly referring to another important point and that is the length of the post. Put in as much relevant text as possible. Use very important keywords in the title of your post. Crawlers love text and don't emphasize on pictures and graphs. Another important thing that I do before writing my posts is the search for appropriate and relevant keywords for the topic that I write. I personally use, "Google Adwords Keyword Tool", for this purpose. I think of several keywords before writing the post and find suitable matching and correct keywords matching the theme of my post. I now make another list that contains the correct keywords. I put in as many of these keywords into my post and as many times as possible without making the post too monotonous. Another thing; I have been advised to search for competition in choosing keywords and chose those that have lesser competitors, but up to now, I have not taken this precaution and have found no harm done due to this (please understand this is my personal view, if you heed to marketing Gurus, they will advise you to take this precaution, I believe trying has no ends!!).
- Another important thing I have learned is:"learn from your competition". I am always in the lookout for things which have brought someone else's webpage on the top of a search result and not mine. Was it a better implementation of keywords, a better use of language, more text, more outbound links, more links leading to the site,or whatever..I always analyze that after I see my post on the search results. After all, there has to be some reason why the page was shown before mine!! Once you get into such practice, I think you will better understand SEO.
- Although, as I have read in recent articles related to SEO, I have come to know that meta tags do not play an important role in SEO now, but I have still not stopped myself from using this very old method of optimizing my page. As for those of you unaware of the meaning of meta tags and what they do to add to the optimization of a web page, let me just give a brief simple definition. Meta tags are HTML tags that help the search engines identify the keywords, titles and descriptions of the page. They can be included by using the simple HTML tags.
- I always remember the primary goal of search engines which is to provide very relevant content as per the keywords that have been searched. They do so by matching the most relevant content related to the keywords entered by the user. Try including as many keywords as possible in the beginning of the post. The first paragraph must contain dense population of the important keywords related to the post. This lets the search engines get a basic impression about the content of your post (Again, this is only my point of view, and experience).
- Try to make points in your blog, e.g., I could have written this post all in one but I made it up in points, and also try to make sub headers, (fill these sub headers with important keywords too, it worked for me). This also helps the reader understand you well. I suggest, write a good introductory paragraph (200-250) words and divide the rest of the content into easily readable, user friendly, logical paragraphs. Make points as I suggested.
- Again, I say, make use of other good well known sites to promote your links. Good backlinks to your site are always helpful in ranking your posts above some others. Try including your blogs in popular directories. use blogcatalog, interact with users, use twitter updates, bring in traffic to your blogs. I somehow feel, if search engines realize your site or blog gets a descent amount of traffic for every post you publish, they consider you and your post more important and it certainly has an effect on the rankings. Since SEO has no boundaries and you can always push yourself to the limits in doing an SEO for your blog, try doing it. You will see good results.
- Have you ever been to alexa.com? It is not a perfect judge of your web performance or of your website but still tells you much about your traffic rank. One thing I noticed was this. As and when I had no links leading to my blog, the alexa rank was too much, not to my satisfaction. But then I started leaving links to my posts and blog everywhere on the internet, I saw a terrific improvement in my alexa rank. Now this tells me so much about the liking that search engines have for links leading to your blog. This tells the search engines a bit about the popularity of your blog around the internet. Yes, but keep in mind that posting relevant links will help, e.g., try answering in Yahoo answers and leave behind relevant links leading back to your blog as resources.
- Another important thing is to always keep updating your blog. I have already mentioned this fact in my blog several times before an I will mention it again, adding content continuously to your blog keeps the search engines checking and visiting your blog regularly and this makes them aware of any changes to your blog. Make it a habit to update your blog on a regular interval. If its daily, keep posting daily, If weekly, make sure you have ready content every week.
- I have already written a post on microblogging that emphasizes the importance of small regular posts that effect your online business. Keep posting on microblogs every small change that you make to your blog (I hear Google and MSN both have decided to use tweets in search results).
- The most important point now, the use of proper tools. I do not insist on buying tools to enhance your SEO, but do use tools for keyword research and analysis of your blog. If you are not spending on SEO, you can always trust Google adwords keyword tool for keyword analysis and Google analytics for your blog performance analysis.
These were some of the points I follow, and believe me, I am still not spending a penny for SEO, but am thinking of doing so, because proper SEO of a blog as old as one month is consuming around three to four hours everyday. Though the work does need a professional touch, but still I think you can at least lie in the top three if you work on the tips I work on. After all, I am still a learner!!! Cheers!
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