Q: Is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) really hard for bloggers?
A: Yes, only if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Today, let’s end all that painstaking pointless Search Engine Optimization problems as I tell you the relatively simple (repeat to yourself, simple) ways of getting your blog picked up by the search engines themselves.
What many of us know and what little percent of us don’t know is that blogs already have built-in characteristics that helps them get picked up easily by search engines. For a fact, blogs are even more loved by search engines compared to websites. This is because search engines, all of them, love texts rather than all that pictures and flash animations that websites have tons of, and obviously, blogs being updated frequently contains a minefield of contextual informations that search engines really do look after for.
Here are the simple and foolproof ways of getting your blog easily picked up by search engines:
1. Make it easier for search engines to find you
It’s the search engine’s job to find your blog, but why make it any harder for them? To do this, submit your blog manually to search engines especially if your blog is new. Of course, there are many softwares and online companies out there who offer to do automated submissions for a certain price, but beware for most search engines (especially the big players such us Google) only accept manual human submissions and consider automated submissions as spamming which could ban you from indexing. You can hire others to do the manual submissions though if you like.
Also, make sure you’ve allowed the search engines to index your content. For blogspot blogs, go to your settings tab and double check if you selected Yes for this option.
2. Keywords are VERY important
3. Supply A LOT of fresh and original content
Content IS king. Content IS food for the search engines. Just like humans, search engines love to feast over delectable, unique and well-presented food— or content that is. So stop making gibberish posts right now and frequently update your blog with heaps of good posts that’ll make search engines come back for more. Duplicate contents are like stale foods. Plus it looks spammy to search engines. Be as unique and good as you can. Search engines will love you for that I swear with my own blog.
TIP: Read Killer Tips to Make Killer Contents if you want to earn how to make great pillar contents. Read the Fast Remedy on Updating Your Content if you're having problems on keeping up with your posting frequency.
4. Optimize your post titles
A post title is like a well-made name. Will the search engine love the name or will it trash it? A good rule that you should remember is it to keep your posts simple enough and not too long. That means keeping it to an ordinary level of language. Even though it’ll make you smart to know and use highfalutic words, you’ll just be another dim-wit if you use deep words and at the same time want a good percent of search engine traffic. This is because people search using ordinary terms. For example: if someone is searching for grand cars, that person (and a whole lot of them) won’t usually type a keyword like ‘ostentacious cars’ on the search engine. He’ll more likely key in ‘flashy cars’ or ‘grand cars’ or ‘beautiful cars’. Sure ‘ostentacious cars’ might deliver you some traffic, but are you content with just a some? Also, remember to use good keywords along with good combinations. Again, I highly recommend the keyword research tool of Keyword Country.
5. Optimize the first paragraph of your post too!
The introductory paragraph plays a vital role on how a search engine will digest your content. It’s like reading a book. By it’s first few chapters, you’re still hesitant if you’ll finish it unless the beginning is really good. Same goes for contents. Make sure that important words (keywords) are in present in here and stress it well so that search engines know that they are important. It’s a simple trick but it does wonders in the long run.
6. NEVER forget to syndicate your blog
Syndication means using a blog tool such as RSS (Really Simple Syndication) for both users and search engines to pick up and follow your blog. Syndication is very important for it alerts and relays your blog’s updates and/or new posts to the whole online community. Many search engines also requires you to give your RSS feeds during blog submissions so that they can follow and keep track of you. You wouldn’t want to ignore them that do you? Many blog formats are RSS ready (Blogger, Wordpress, LiveJournal, Typad etc.) but if you want to optimize your feeds (which is also crucial) then make sure to burn your feeds in a reliably feed syndication service. Of course, it’s no secret that Feedburner offers the best even though it’s already free. It’s now owned by Google for pete’s sake that you can even make money while your at it.
Also, use Google Webmasters for you to make sure that Google keeps a good update and indexing of your blog. You can also use webmasters for checking for broken links nd other problems that hinders SE’s from indexing your blog.
7. Make your links popular
This requires building over time. Link popularity is determined by the number of blogs and sites linking to your site (the more relevant the links are, the higher the points). Nobody keeps track of your link popularity aside from you, except of course if you’ve claimed your blog at Technorati which basically follows your blog and gives you an idea on its link popularity through it’s Technorati Rank and Technorati Authority system. May I tell you that it’s just a pity if you don’t take advantage of the free tools Technorati provides. By the way, don’t forget to add me to your Technorati faves.
8. Get listed in directories, niche directories especially
Directory allows you to have more targeted visitors, increase your link popularity (especially if the directory is a very reputable one) and by making yourself more visible to other bloggers who are in your own niche. First get your blog listed on the big directories such as DMOZ, Yahoo! Directory. Then follow to the niche directories that really specifies for your blog’s topic. Google for these directories as they provide very targeted readers. See StrongestLink's List of Directories.
9. Increase your blog’s PageRank (PR)
The PageRank is a Google system alone used to rank sites (from 0-10, 10 being the highest) according to its importance. It’s just for the search engine of Google, but since Google is accepted as the biggest and most popular search engine on the planet, it’s always a good idea to run after a higher PageRank which basically translates to a higher possibility of ending up among the first page results. Google uses an advance and complex algorithm to determine a site’s PR. No worries though, the secret is just to think about the searchers. Search engines first and biggest priority is to always provide what the searchers are looking for. They formula to a higher pagerank is to always have a reputable site, a collection of top-of-the-line content, an hoard of relevant links directing to your blog, and a good reader base (since search engines follow people). Just remember, never ever spam and never ever participate in automated link building schemes. Go here to check you blog's Google PageRank.
SEO is really easy only if you know what you’re doing. Now you know. In summary, blogs are already easily picked up by search engine because it’s a favorite when it comes to rich content. The only thing left for us bloggers to do is to optimize our blogs. Of course, many bloggers are doing good optimization so optimize yours well and don’t just lag behind. Just get the hang of it and you’ll see good results in the near future. Remember, blogging is a long race and patience is the key!
This is a feature post of Better Blogging for Bloggers, if you found this useful, then please share this post to others by linking to this blog or to this blog post in particular. Also, learn the secrets of blogging by grabbing the free blogging ebook. That and don’t forget to follow me in twitter. Thank you!
