WebRev Blog

We've been talking this week about managing content to attract search engine traffic.  In its simplest form, this is an easy concept.  You figure out what someone who might be looking for your post would enter into the search engines to find that information - then you use that search term in the title of your post and in the body of your post.

But how do you know what your potential readers are REALLY searching for?

If you've been blogging for awhile, check your stats, and find out what search terms have been successful for you in the past, then build on that.  If you're new, or if you're starting a new blogging topic, you'll have to be more creative.

Luckily the search engines are happy to help you out with this. If you'll go to Google, for example, and start entering your topic, Google will make suggestions in drop-down menu form, based on the most popular searches on that topic. 

You can also use the social networks.  If you go to search.twitter.com, and enter your topic, you'll see tweets on that topic, and you'll get an idea of the vocabulary the "twitterverse" is using when talking about that topic.  That might give you some ideas.  Also, if you go to Facebook, or Ning, and do a search for your topic, there may be pages or groups formed around your topic, and this will also give you a better idea of the exact search terms people are likely to be using when discussing your topic.

There are software programs that can be used to suggest keywords for you, but in my opinion, they are a "lazy" and ineffective way to go about this process for most webmasters who actually want to build relationships with their readers. You'll never really get inside the heads of your readers, because the software packages are saving you the time of having to do that.  Also, unless you're trying to attract website traffic in the hundreds of thousands (to attract enough random visitors to build ad revenue), you'll probably be spending money on something that you could fairly easily do yourself for free.

What are your ideas for more effectively using keywords in your writing?

Also see:

• Managing Content to Attract Search Engine Traffic
• Writing Post Titles To Attract Search Engine Traffic
• What is SEO/SMO, and why should I care (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3)
• Making Your Internal Links Work for You - Keywords and Anchor Text

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

This week we're discussing managing content to attract search engine traffic.  One of the most important things you can do to make your posts or articles search-engine friendly is to use your keywords in your post title.

In creative writing it is sometimes common to write a "catchy" title to pique the interest of your reader.  Traditionally, in creative writing (especially in print media), your reader has usually already committed to reading your work, by purchasing the book or magazine that contains the article or chapter or story.  The title is a way to organize content, and enhance the reader's experience.

Blogging is not creative writing, and most of your potential readers literally have MILLIONS of other options to read for FREE.  Unless they are in your immediate circle of friends and family, it's likely they won't even know you exist if you use "creative" post titles that tell the reader nothing about the content of your post.  So, how will your potential readers initially find you?  Most will find you on the search engines or social networks, by searching for specific content.  They will enter the keywords they are looking for, and choose the articles or post that appear most relevant to the topic they are researching.

For example, take the title of this post.  I'm hoping to attract readers who want to know how to write good post titles to maximize SEO.  My chances will be much better with a title like "Writing Post Titles to Attract Search Engine Traffic," than with something creative like "What's in a Name?" which tells search engine researcher nothing about what my post is about.

Finally, it is very important to get to the point, quickly.  A good rule of thumb is to keep post titles to 65 characters or less, or at least include all of your keywords in those first 65 characters (the search engines only display one line of text in post titles). 

Also see:

• Managing Content to Attract Search Engine Traffic
• What is SEO/SMO, and why should I care (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3)
• Making Your Internal Links Work for You - Keywords and Anchor Text

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

I had an e-mail forwarded to me this week by a reader, on the topic of "content management," relevant to attracting web traffic from the search engines.  There are a lot of really complicated and "technical" ways to explain this concept, also known as "SEO" (search engine optimization), but we're not trying to impress anyone here.  Put most simply, you want to use the words ("keywords") on your blog or website that people are searching for on the search engines.

Thankfully, this process has become a lot more simple in the last couple of years.  If your website is set up properly (if you're using WebRevelation, it is mapped properly), the search engines are now crawling all of your pages and posts.  What you need to do when choosing content is to correctly guess what search terms ("keywords") your target audience is going to use, and use those words in your titles, posts and articles.

Nobody understands website building like the U.S. Government.  That was a bit of sarcasm, but US.gov actually does have a good piece on Using Keywords to Achieve Search Engine Optimization:

A keyword is a word that forms all or part of a search engine query—the word or phrase that Internet users type in a search box when they are seeking information in a search engine.

Keyword phrases must be carefully selected and placed strategically throughout your web pages to draw users to your content...(more)

Can it really be that simple?  Yes, but be aware that a lot of webmasters and bloggers already have this principle figured out, and are using it effectively.  That means that there is still a lot of competition for that coveted "front page" of the search engine results pages.  This week, we're going to discuss some very basic techniques you can incorporate into your content management that will help you become more successful in attracting web traffic from the search engines.

Tomorrow, we'll talk about strategically using your titles.

Before, then, you might want to review my series from last February, What is SEO/SMO, and why should I care (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3), and Making Your Internal Links Work for You - Keywords and Anchor Text

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Last Spring, I wrote about a lesson I learned the hard way about letting Facebook download my e-mail contacts.  Well, apparently, I wasn't the only one unhappy with what Facebook was doing.  Google decided to block this handy-dandy "feature."

Now, as TechCrunch is reporting, Facebook has found a work-around Google's block, by "allowing" users to download their own contacts to their own computer, then upload that file to Facebook - all in a couple of clicks (in a similar way to the way photos are currently uploaded). 

Both companies would like for you to believe they have the users' best interest at heart. [Insert laugh track here.] 

We are in the information age, and information is power.  Follow the money trail, and remember, the social networks, search engines, and online e-mail providers do not  work for the users, who are using their services for free.  I'm sorry if this sounds cold and cynical, but the only value you (or I) provide to these social networks is our personal information - and that of our contacts.  The social networks get their money from their advertisers and investors, who want that information.  The networks are simply a conduit.  Think about it - if the largest search engine and the largest social network are fighting over YOUR contact information, it must be pretty valuable.  Guard it wisely.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

Well, there have been rumors, but now it's Facebook Official.  Facebook has added the search engine, Bing.com, to its growing list of Instant Personalization partners.  If you've been following any of my advice regarding privacy over the last several months on Facebook, these changes won't apply to you (yet).

Also, if you have a wide range of friends with a wide variety of likes, dislikes, political views, religious beliefs, and social preferences, this probably won't be useful to you, either. However, if you have a rather public profile on Facebook, and if you're using your hotmail / live spaces e-mail on Facebook, and if you're logged into Bing using that e-mail, and if you mostly hang around people (at least online) who are just like you, then here's something you might like.

(Whew!  That was a lot of "if's" wasn't it?!)

In our continuing celebration of International Facebook Month (I made that up...mostly), and in an effort to make your search results on Bing more relevant to you, the search engine is incorporating what your friends "like" on Facebook in your search results.   Here's a demo:

Also see:  Neowin, TechCrunch, and Mashable, all reporting from the presser.

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. 
 

This week we're discussion online research.  Yesterday, we talked about researching people; today, let's talk about topical research.

To begin a topical study, the first thing you want to do is find out what others have written on the general topic.  This is done online by entering your topic into a couple the various search engines (Google, Bing, etc.)  Check Wikipedia to find out what the "common wisdom" is on your topic.  As you read and skim, begin to accumulate a list of "keywords," relating to your topic, then run the same searches on those keywords.  Be sure to search the "news," and "blogs," section of your search engine, especially if your topic relates to current events.

As you enter your keywords into the search engines, the engines will suggest related and similar search terms that others have entered.  These may give you ideas for additional keywords, and search terms. 

Usually, your goal is to narrow your topic down to a subject that you can cover well within the space requirements you're working with, and to choose a specific topic about which you'll be able to find information online, but about which you'll be able to give a unique angle, or "take."  So, keep in mind that if you enter your topic, and there are 500M search engine results pages (SERPs), it's likely that topic has been covered ad naseum.  Get more specific.

You will want to link to reputable sources when you write on your topic.  As you research, make a note of which websites and blogs keep appearing near the top of the SERPs - these are likely the recognized experts in their field (unless, of course, they have either bought their space on the search engines, or in some other way artificially elevated themselves to their "peer reviewed" status - use your common sense).

Along with expert references, you may want to begin collecting illustrations, graphics, photos, and multi-media, if available to include with your presentation.  For more information, see Where can I find good content for my blog?

Also see: The National Archives: Research Tools and Ways to Search Online

Jennifer Pointer (e-mail) is a trainer and tech writer in Tulsa, OK. She promotes a simple, a low-tech approach to effective online profile management, search engine optimization and social networking. Her weakness is the mocha frappuccino.