You just finished writing a blog and hit the "post" button.
Great! Your words are now one with the blogosphere. What's next?
Well, if you want to truly get the most out of your blog post you will need to keep some basic search engine optimization principles in mind when writing. Things like:
-- Keyword insertion into the blog title.
-- A descriptive permalink URL for your blog that also includes keywords.
-- Header tags with keywords you are looking to optimize against.
-- Links with appropriate anchor text, as well as imagery with appropriate ALT text and keyword rich titles.
And so forth..
Adhering to these search engine optimization principles, normally reserved for web site copy or web site navigation, will help your shiny new blog post strut its stuff when Google comes a knockin. But the process of applying search engine optimization to your blog doesn't end there.
Hopefully, you are utilizing Google Analytics or some other web site analytical package to track the traffic coming to your blog posts. And, if you are really serious about your making your blog post as optimized for search as it can be, you will have some sort of keyword tracking and competitive search engine optimization program in your blogging toolbox - I prefer RAGE SERank or Web Site Auditor / SEO Spy Glass.
Routinely check the rankings of your blog posts for your targeted keywords and phrases in Google, Yahoo and Bing. Look at the blog posts that outrank yours (because likely your post will not be strong enough initially to outrank other blog posts or web sites which have been out there longer) to get ideas. What do their titles look like? Who is linking to their site? How dense is their copy with keywords?
Here are some things to check and tweak:
Keyword Density - how focused is your blog post on a particular topic? Are you liberally utilizing targeted keywords in your post title, headers and copy?
META data - These tags, hidden to a browser but visible to search engines, still make a difference. Make sure your meta description and meta keyword tags are filled out for each blog post. Don't overdo these, just use the keywords which are really relevant to your blog post.
Back Links - Who is linking to your competition? Are there article sites out there that are on-topic for your blog post that you can request a link from?
Social Media - Don't overlook the importance of sharing the link to your new blog post to your Twitter or Facebook friends. If you're active on Digg or Delicious its worth submitting your page link as a new bookmark.
After you have re-evaluated your post and its standing in search engine rankings, put it away for a few days -- just don't forget about it entirely. Come back and see how your efforts to increase keyword density and inbound links has improved its search engine ranking. Remember that while a blog post is born when you click that "post" button, it will live on for years in the dusty databases at Google HQ.
Most will simply birth their blog and leave it at a doorstep - but not you! You'll continue to clothe and feed your blog post. One day, it will graduate college, get a high paying job at an advertising agency and drive a beamer. If you work hard enough on it, it might just take care of you one day when you get old.
Seriously, apply search engine optimization to your blog post - its worth it!
William brings 10 years of interactive marketing experience to Off Madison Ave and serves as the agency’s Search Marketing Manager. In addition to his responsibilities managing pay-per-click and search engine optimization for clients, William also works with clients to develop innovative ways of using Facebook for marketing.
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3 comments so far
Roger Hurni says:
Great info Will. It's has really changed my outlook and style of blogging. Thanks.
Seo Companies says:
Thanks for given this nice post...
seo los angeles says:
thanks for the tips! I am certainly going to try some of these out for my blog!