If the phrase Search Engine Optimization hasn’t sent you running for the hills already, than you better cover your ears. It’s time to implement SEO in your blog! This process can be very pleasant when guided with the proper information.
Blogs are a wonderful way for one to create validity and exposure within your industry. However, they serve no purpose floating around cyber-space, nowhere to be found. For this reason you must not only advertise your blog on networks such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you must OPTIMIZE.
Using Search Engine Optimization (SEO) within your blog is a similar process to optimizing website. As we know, website are an extension of your business and should represent who you are and the story you wish to tell. In the same respect, blogs should represent your ideas and provide valuable information to your audience. Once this fundamental foundation is set in place, you are ready to optimize.
Search engines spider or crawl blogs in the same manner they crawl websites. The best advantage you have in your blog is frequency. If you are using your blog correctly, you are updating on a consistent basis, which search engines love. Mark your calendar, decide how often you are going to post to your blog and be consistent. Remember your subscribers; they are waiting for your message – don’t disappoint them.
In addition, the content you post should also be relevant and titled with interesting keywords, also known as linkbating. These keywords should be strategically placed throughout your article. Search engines will pick up on keyword stuffing and you may be reprimanded or removed. I assure you, internet death is fun for no one.
Things to Remember:
•Proper consistency and relevance will outweigh the length
•Remember your archived items – you may want to repost articles if a topic becomes relevant
•Use relevant and catchy blog titles
•Maintain keywords throughout your article/blog – do not overwhelm the reader or the search engine
Each blogging platform is different. Working with an agency or individual who knows the ins and outs of blogging platforms can streamline your experience. With the rise of blogging and SEO in the past decade, becoming acclimated has proven to be a learning curve for most of us. However, take it from a former rookie, it can be done!
Happy Optimizing!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Wake up and Smell the Blog! EVERYONE’s Doing It!
With the number of blogs on the internet reaching into the millions, you may be saying to yourself, “what’s the point” “won’t I just be another number” “who’s going to want to read my blog anyways”. And with thousands of new blogs popping up each day, it may seem like an impossible number to stand out in. However, for organizations with a client base, it may be easier than you think.
Some individuals use blogs as a personal soap box - chatting about politics, private endeavors or what they had for dinner last night. While this application of the blogging platform may appeal to some readers, it is far from where your business/company blog should be. Think ‘news worthy’! Your blog should consist of mini, relevant articles that are deemed informational. NO ONE wants to read a full-page advertisement! Blog about something interesting such as current trends in your industry, helpful tips or common issues.
Blogs should be targeted and tailored specifically for your target market. They should be informational and have the ability to stand alone. These platforms should be thought of as just another extension of your business a form of print collateral, if you will, aimed at serving your clients.
When developing your blog, you may want to designate one individual from your organization to write or proof all blogs. This will ensure the over-all tone of your blog posts remains consistent. Speaking of consistent, If you say you’re going to produce a monthly/weekly (whatever the case may be) post, please please please ACTUALLY do it! There is nothing worse than having a live blog with one or two posts from last quarter.
May I also suggest using an online newsletter, such as Constant Contact to drive clicks to your blog. You may post the same articles from your blog to your newsletter, send it off to your email list and watch your site visitors’ increase. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the Spam Act prior to commencing your email campaign. Providing ‘link text’ or ‘hyperlinks’ on social networking platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, etc is also an effective way to drive readers to your blog.
Some important things to remember while blogging:
• Be Informative
• Be Consistent
• Be Relevant
• Be Creative
So if you’re an organization on the verge of blogging, wake up and smell the coffee! This perhaps one of THE most economical ways to gain exposure!
Stay tuned to learn about the benefits of blogging and how to incorporate SEO! For more information, contact me at mprice@lanex.com
Some individuals use blogs as a personal soap box - chatting about politics, private endeavors or what they had for dinner last night. While this application of the blogging platform may appeal to some readers, it is far from where your business/company blog should be. Think ‘news worthy’! Your blog should consist of mini, relevant articles that are deemed informational. NO ONE wants to read a full-page advertisement! Blog about something interesting such as current trends in your industry, helpful tips or common issues.
Blogs should be targeted and tailored specifically for your target market. They should be informational and have the ability to stand alone. These platforms should be thought of as just another extension of your business a form of print collateral, if you will, aimed at serving your clients.
When developing your blog, you may want to designate one individual from your organization to write or proof all blogs. This will ensure the over-all tone of your blog posts remains consistent. Speaking of consistent, If you say you’re going to produce a monthly/weekly (whatever the case may be) post, please please please ACTUALLY do it! There is nothing worse than having a live blog with one or two posts from last quarter.
May I also suggest using an online newsletter, such as Constant Contact to drive clicks to your blog. You may post the same articles from your blog to your newsletter, send it off to your email list and watch your site visitors’ increase. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the Spam Act prior to commencing your email campaign. Providing ‘link text’ or ‘hyperlinks’ on social networking platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, My Space, LinkedIn, etc is also an effective way to drive readers to your blog.
Some important things to remember while blogging:
• Be Informative
• Be Consistent
• Be Relevant
• Be Creative
So if you’re an organization on the verge of blogging, wake up and smell the coffee! This perhaps one of THE most economical ways to gain exposure!
Stay tuned to learn about the benefits of blogging and how to incorporate SEO! For more information, contact me at mprice@lanex.com
Friday, April 16, 2010
SEO: Staying Cutting Edge in a World of Change
Understanding current trends and knowing when to follow these trends is a crucial part of any marketing effort. In the internet world Search Engine Optimization (SEO) has become not only a trend but a necessity. Google is constantly changing its algorithm, the mathematical formula used to calculate search engine ranking, and it’s almost impossible to know their exact formula. Subsequently, we must attack the matter of optimization strategically.
One must first recognize that the element of optimization is composed of multiple facets. Some of these facets include:
Content Content CONTENT – Not everyone may consider themselves to be a ‘writer’. However, this is an essential element when considering your success in search engine ranking, so if you’re not into writing, pass it onto a colleague or hire someone to do it for you. In this case, the premise that ‘more is better’, absolutely applies to your success - with the understanding that your content MUST be relevant and contain keywords related to your product or business.
Meta Tags – Search Engine will use these ‘properly named’ tags to categorize your site. These will not boost your search engine ranking, but appropriate categorization is vital.
Submission of a Site Map – This is something you should do, no matter the size of your site. This will ensure that Google or other search engines know of all your pages.
Image Labeling – Use ALT tags to label your images. This will assist in directing traffic, related to your keywords within the tag, to your site.
Page Titles – This is quite possibly the simplest of notions when it comes to SEO. Labeling your pages correctly will give search engines a broad overview of what each page is about. Essentially, consider your website as an outline, page titles being your categories, meta-tags being your subtitles and your content being your central message.
Although there is still some debate as to what is actually accounted for by Google in terms of optimization, it is generally accepted that these key elements are specifically related to their algorithm. If you are working with a marketing organization or a freelancer to assist you in the optimization of your website, it is important they understand the crucial elements of an all-encompassing Search Engine Optimization campaign.
Happy Optimizing!
One must first recognize that the element of optimization is composed of multiple facets. Some of these facets include:
Content Content CONTENT – Not everyone may consider themselves to be a ‘writer’. However, this is an essential element when considering your success in search engine ranking, so if you’re not into writing, pass it onto a colleague or hire someone to do it for you. In this case, the premise that ‘more is better’, absolutely applies to your success - with the understanding that your content MUST be relevant and contain keywords related to your product or business.
Meta Tags – Search Engine will use these ‘properly named’ tags to categorize your site. These will not boost your search engine ranking, but appropriate categorization is vital.
Submission of a Site Map – This is something you should do, no matter the size of your site. This will ensure that Google or other search engines know of all your pages.
Image Labeling – Use ALT tags to label your images. This will assist in directing traffic, related to your keywords within the tag, to your site.
Page Titles – This is quite possibly the simplest of notions when it comes to SEO. Labeling your pages correctly will give search engines a broad overview of what each page is about. Essentially, consider your website as an outline, page titles being your categories, meta-tags being your subtitles and your content being your central message.
Although there is still some debate as to what is actually accounted for by Google in terms of optimization, it is generally accepted that these key elements are specifically related to their algorithm. If you are working with a marketing organization or a freelancer to assist you in the optimization of your website, it is important they understand the crucial elements of an all-encompassing Search Engine Optimization campaign.
Happy Optimizing!
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