In going through other folks’ blogs and thinking of their pains and how I could help them, I thought I could offer a short version of what I would suggest them to do, or what I would do as far as search engine optimization on their blogs and website. I write a lot of blogs about the more in depth meanings of a lot of these points, so if you want more explanation, there are many internal links within this blog, so check them out.
You ready for this? Check out these SEO tips that YOU can do, today, on each and every page, or blog you write to help search engines find you, thus improve your search engine rankings which helps your website be more visible online:
- Create a catchy title for your blog – the point is to get folks to READ your blog and if they aren’t interested in the heading (like a subject line in email – you got to get them to open it), they won’t read the blog!
- Important stuff at the top – you will lose folks quickly so be sure you have the most important stuff at the top, in case you lose them early on.
- Keyword rich content – hopefully your content will naturally have your keywords in it, since you won’t be writing about underwater basket weaving if you are a pipe builder, but be sure to use variations of your keywords. Remember, content is king, so be sure to have plenty of it!
- Images – be sure you add images that relate to your content and alt tags that describe the picture. Folks scan when they read and if there is an image about a bear and you are writing about building a bridge, you will lose them quickly. That’s kind of a no brainer, but keep in mind the reader will start to create thoughts when they see the images.
- SEO plugin – If you have a WordPress site, be sure to use a plugin for your SEO, it just makes life easier. There are several out there – WordPress SEO by Yoast, SEO WordPress, SEO Ultimate, All in One SEO Pack and Jetpack to name a few. Any of these should make it easier for you to just insert the meta data/tags – title, description and sometimes keywords
- Title tag – add a unique title tag (no, this isn’t the headline/title) for each of your blogs/pages. This is a descriptive 60 characters that explains what the blog is about that is also intended to encourage the reader to click to read your blog!
- Description tag – add a unique description about that blog. It helps tell the search engines what your page is about to help show up in the search results, which in turn is to encourage the reader to click through to read.
- Keyword tag – not all plugins have this, and it isn’t as important as it used to be because folks tended to be spammy, so I would suggest added 3-5 long tail keywords that are relevant to that blog and it wouldn’t hurt to include some geographical tags if you are more of a local business.
- Use links appropriately – internal links take the reader from one page to another ON your site whereas external links take folks off your website. When they leave your website, be sure those links open in a new window or tab so they don’t forget about your website.
- Keep it clean – it’s silly to say this, but a nice clean blog which includes some white space, paragraphs broken up by header tags (headlines explaining what the following paragraph is about) or bulleted/numbered points, pictures, bold/italics or color to emphasis points but not excessively really helps the reader skim and enjoy the parts of your blog they are interested in
It’s overwhelming to think of going back and optimizing every page or blog that you have written, but if you start now and work these tips with each blog you do then update maybe 1-3 more each time you are blogging, that will help you catch up. There is no sense in spending the whole day catching up, because who has time for that, plus the search engines like to see recurring activity on your website, no one and done, one night stand dealios! LOL
If you have any questions about any of these tips on search engine optimization, want more tips you can do for your website or just want someone (hopefully me) to do it for you, contact AVB and I would be happy to discuss these options with you!
By now you know I love how easy you convert tech stuff into understandable transactions. By now you should know I read a lot of sm stuff to learn how to sm market my products and by far, you are one of the few that makes sense. This should be a great opt-in and if it helps in marketing, use my point, maybe in your opening paragraph. Not only is it insanely easy tips but insanely easy to understand which does come before doing.
In terms of my own blogging, I often get carried away by my topic so I might not always apply these tips. Printing it out!
I appreciate that Roslyn, you have always given great feedback. I am so glad to know that how I put it across is helpful and understandable because writing the blogs would be pointless if folks didn’t understand, right? Thanks again and glad it’s helpful!
Kristen — your info is GREAT!
But, now I have A LOT of work to do to make my blog posts more SEO friendly and optimized. I’ll be reading more of your content for more excellent tips! Thanks.
Thanks Cathy… but the work you do will be valuable past the time it took you to do it. Let me know if you need my help.
You are a major reason I love this inner circle so much.
There’s massive learning on many fronts when we decide to offer services. You’re doing the right thing.
Thank you!
Awwww, thanks so much Sharon, so nice to hear. There IS massive learning on many fronts. I have learned a lot too! Thanks!
You soooooooooo called me out last week on the faux paus I committed where I hadn’t been checking off the box when inserting a hyperlink so a new window would open rather than taking the reader completely away from my site. I only recently took over setting up my blogs myself in WordPress and apparently forgot about that little detail. Thanks for keeping me on my toes!!!!
I Helped you out… calling you out sounds sooo harsh. I was just trying to help, especially in that post… you don’t want folks leaving your site and going to the cruise page and not come back to yours… they’d win! Glad to help
Thanks for posting this very informative article. The importance of the SEO cannot be overemphasized,
You are welcome Lorii
Such a valuable post, Kristen. I’m just starting with my blog, so it won’t take me long to catch up, but I never knew before WHAT to do. Thank you!
Then you’ve got it made Carol! You have NO catch up, just stay on top of it. Don’t forget to use the categories and the tags! 😉
I actually don’t think i’m doing 6 and 7, Shocking! I am going to look into this tomorrow and see if i have been missing. I generally just concentrate on Yoast and put what they need in there and i check if it’s any good by the green lights they give you.
Hmmm, yea, you might want to check on them… all! Atta girl! The green lights are just telling you that you are using the focus keyword YOU put in there. If your blog is about bears and you put foxes in the keyword focus and include it in the meta and at least once in the content, it should be good… so the point is… be sure you are natural, and focus on the keywords that are appropriate for THAT blog! 😉
You just explained things SO EASILY! While I do many of these things, I was never sure how the tags on WP differed. Thanks for sharing your tips, my go to WP gal!
Awesome Holly… glad I could help explain things better for you! 😉 YAY ME!
Thank you for the valuable tips Kristen. I’m going to use them straight away 🙂
You are welcome Andy and I hope you are able to use them
Great information AND easy to understand — a two-fer! Love the idea of geographical tags for bricks ‘n’ mortar businesses. I think that’s something many people don’t think about. And yes, going back and making all your recommended changes is overwhelming; I like the idea of just doing a few at a time as you create new material. Doesn’t seem quite so bad doing it that way!
Awesome Jackie and yes, geo tags are great for the locals. It’s harder to make use when you are a national biz such as yourself and me! 😉 Thanks, slow and steady, right? 🙂
Kristen,
You have some excellent tips that are easy to do for the SEO Process. I am on the way there and starting to implement. I asked you about header Tags and How can the header tags to look as if they are bigger than the rest of the headlines? I will contact you soon., When you come back . IF you can post your email. I can write you to see if you can check out the site and Do a job for me. It is always a pleasure learning and reading your posts.
Lori English
Thanks Lori. I am glad you are implementing in it.
I have plenty of blogs on header tags, headlines, meta description tags and even meta title tags.. please do a search on my site for those or schedule a consult and I’d be happy to schedule that.
I’m printing this and going through to ensure I”m on track. I recently started adding SEO keywords and spend more time when I blog to ensure I follow the steps you recommend here. Thanks for these valuable SEO tips!
Thanks, Kristen. It’s always good to have a refresher to make sure we are staying up-to-date on SEO.