search
6 Simple SEO Steps
I am no SEO expert. But I know the basics, and have achieved some small wins on the SEO front.
The keywords I have reached top result on Google for do not have amazing traffic, but for my personal and professional goals, they are very helpful.
What I Do
- Place keywords in site/page titles, page descriptions, and meta data
- Link to my blog from my all “outposts” (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc)
- Link to my blog using my target anchor text from as many relevant websites as possible
- Write guest blog posts for others
- Recruit others to write guest blog posts for me
- Occasionally write “how to” or list posts that are more likely to get linked to
The largest lesson here is to get as many links as possible (with your target anchor text when at all possible).
The more remarkable and unique your content, the more link you will get. The more lesson based, educational your content, the more link you will get. The longer you deliver quality content and build relationships with other bloggers, the more link you will get. If you ever wonder what content does this best, check sites like Digg or Tweetmeme and look for trends.
Try not to focus too much on SEO. Focus on quality content and the SEO will follow. But, it does not hurt to target some of these simple steps along the way.
What I Do Not Do
- Consciously think of keywords while writing
- Pay attention to keyword density
- Comment on blogs for SEO value
- Submit my blog to any directories, networks, blog sites
- Pay for links
Photo Credit: Katie@!
SEO, Social Media Skills
Guest post by SEO Professional Corey Creed. Corey blogs at The Jungle Map and teaches Internet Marketing Classes. Find him on Twitter at @CoreyCreed
To start with, thank you to Jason for letting me do a post on his site about Search Engine Marketing (SEM). I appreciate the opportunity and always enjoy our conversations, Jason. I hope everyone will take a moment to read Jason’s post on my site as well.
Below are a few points that I think Social Media professionals need to know about Search Engine Marketing.
1. Search Engines are for finding things
Sounds obvious, right? But it is a huge difference between social media and search engines. The reason we use search is to find. In other words, we are looking for something. People do not want to be on Google. They use Google to get to where they really want to be.
If you are into social media, you need to realize the difference. The attention you attract to a business or website in social is like talking with your friend about a product. Search is more like walking into a store and asking a store clerk about a product. There is a different intent.
2. Search Engines are all about Keyword phrases
If you work with social media, you likely have your own blog. (See the next point.) If you are writing, don’t sabotage yourself. You’re already writing. Why not use the keywords you want to be found for in Google? To be even more specific, do yourself a favor and use the Google AdWords Keyword Tool and figure out which phrases get typed into Google. Then use them from time to time, especially in the titles.
3. Search Engine love blogs too
Many of my friends that are into social media will all say that the blog is the center of it all. This doesn’t mean you need a blog to use social media effectively. But most do feel that a good blog is an extremely important and central pivot point to effective use of social media.
You use social media (facebook, twitter, etc) to draw attention to your blog, right? Let Google do the same thing.
How? Use the keyword phrases we talked about above. Use them in the title, and in the copy in a way that makes sense. It does not guarantee rankings, but it does improve your chances dramatically.
PS: Don’t forget to check out Jason’s post about Social Media for SEO professionals on my blog, too!
SERIES Social Media Skills — Advertising, SEO, PR, Graphic Design, Copywriting, and more…
