Search engine optimization (SEO)
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SEO
SEO stands for search engine optimization. It is where a site editor, site manager or content provider maximizes their site or their posts so that they are noticed by the search engines (Google, Yahoo, MSN etc.)
You’ll find if you search the internet there are millions of places to find information on SEO. It is not our intent to rewrite the book on the topic and of course we know there are many schools of thought as well but we hope to provide you with some basics to get started. So for all intents and purposes this is a quick SEO primer.
We are going to cover the basic things you have control over on your blog and give you links to other resources to help you understand SEO in more detail if you like. We’ll also share some links to tools that will help you to analyze your blog and its readership.
For a broader definition of SEO visit Wikipedia.org's Search Engine Optimization.
SEO Shortcut
1. Post title 100 chars max and first 3 to 4 words keyword dense
2. Abstract/teaser 200 words max, 2 to 5 sentences as one paragraphs
3. Post Body 250 to 5000 words, 1 to 3 keywords/keyword phrases per every 100 words
4. Post Tags/Keywords, Comma Separate 100 chars max
Title
Your post title is one of the ways you can reach the search engines so you want it to be productive. It needs to be to the point and contain a keyword or key phrase. Think about what you would type in the search to find information similar to your blog post. I know, we want to be clever sometimes but the reality is the search engine is clear and concise and so are the users who are trying to find content.
Here are some great articles on writing SEO friendly post titles. Depending on the type of blog you are writing there are good tips in each to make you consider the importance of writing the right blog title.
Post
Keywords are key to optimizing your post for the search engines and unlike your title where you should use a keyword or phrase at least once; you should considered distributing keywords and keyword phrases throughout your text so many times per every 100 words. The number of times per every 100 words is known as keyword density.
There are different thoughts on the ideal keyword density percentage but anywhere from 1-3% is a fair start and manageable, 3-5% or more is a bit more work but could be rewarding. Percentages are based on 100 words, so 1% is a particular word or phrase used once per every 100 words. 5% would be a keyword or phrase used 5 times for every 100 words. It sounds easy when put like that but consider that you might be trying to squeeze one or MORE keywords or phrases in almost the same space throughout your post.
There is a downside however to making your content overtly keyword rich. The search engines frown on keyword stuffing. Some say that the number is around 8% density which could hurt your ranking. Try to fit the word cat in to the first two preceding paragraphs and you’ll know that it isn’t easy writing readable content “stuffed” with keywords. Even the savviest of writers complain when confronted with such a task.
Here are links to a few articles on keywords.
Categories and Tags
SEO capabilities extend to your use of categories and tags. For many bloggers categories and tags are overlooked or misunderstood. They are not just functional for the look and accessibility of your blog content; both entities are talking to the search engines as well.
Learn the differences between the two and their importance of being used correctly in the following articles.
Comments
Comments are an extension of your blog, whether they are comments on your own blog, or you represent yourself commenting on other blogs. So a discussion on blogging SEO is not complete with reference to the importance of comments.
We’ve gathered a short list of articles that touch base on which blogs to comment on, and if you should exclude nofollow blogs from your comment list or care if commenting helps your page rank or not.
Backlinks
If you want more people to find your blog and would like a better page rank, you are going to need backlinks. Search engines view backlinks as a way to measure your site's importance. Building backlinks can be as easy as leaving comments at other sites and forums that are relevant to the content you publish. Writing guest posts for similar blogs is another way to get a backlink.
A good blogger shoots for a number of backlinks to leave everyday or week via comments and social networking or by writing articles for other websites.
For more information on backlinks visit:
Other SEO Exercises Important to Your Blog
We came across a few more articles and while they could easily fit into any section of this Wiki, we found that they were well suited discussed on their own.
We hope that after you’ve read through the Today.com Wiki on SEO that you will take Lorelle’s Blogging Challenge and find the Top 10 Keywords for Your Blog.
You’ll also want to check out Stephan Spencer’s Twelve SEO Mistakes Most Bloggers Make. A few of these mistakes won’t apply since we don’t use particular plug-ins but a good number of these mistakes are worth a look-see.
And when when we are out there, let's keep our wits about us and not try to spam the internet. Here are some great tips from Deb Ng at Freelance Writing Jobs, 17 Tips for Promoting Your Blog Without Being Spammy
Tools
Many of the articles discuss tools used to research keywords or measure keyword density in content. Here are some links to a few productive SEO tools.
Keyword Suggestion Tools
- Wordtracker Keywords – free keyword suggestion tool
- Keyword Discovery – free search term suggestion tool
- Google Adwords Keyword Tool – get new keyword ideas
- Wordtracker Keywords – free keyword suggestion tool
Keyword Density Tools
- Live Keyword Analysis – Find your post content’s keyword density on the fly
- Keyword Density Analyser - Find your site's keyword density by URL
- Live Keyword Analysis – Find your post content’s keyword density on the fly
If you have time you can seek out some more free SEO web-based tools recommended by Ann Smarty at Search Engine Journal:
Know Your Blog Stats, Know Your Blog
The most important tool of all is to familiarize yourself with your blog’s statistics. Your Today.com blog stats area is complete with Page Requests, Referring Sites and Search Terms. Review your stats regularly to find out what is working for you and also to find out what you could be offering your readers who found your site looking for something.
Ask a Question or Share Your Knowledge
Join other bloggers in the Today.com VIP Forum to discuss SEO as it relates to your blog. Seek or share tips in the forum's Blogging Lab.
