SEO stands for "search engine optimization." It’s the marketing strategy that allows the search engines, such as Google, to find your website and its content. Being aware of these strategies is essential to having the search engines not only find your site, but to also categorize and index your content. This is how your content is made available to online searchers.
This strategy is part of inbound marketing. It’s using content, in this case your blog posts, to attract people and businesses to what you’re offering.
Below are four of the fundamental SEO blogging tips to get you going in the right direction.
1. Use keywords.
A keyword, according to Techopedia.com, “is a particular word or phrase that describes the contents of a Web page.” They help search engines, like Google, match a page (your blog post) to a relevant search query.
Use your keyword in your article title and within the first paragraph of your post.
You can add it a couple of more times throughout the post, just don’t overdo it. Search engines frown upon keyword stuffing.
Try a keyword search tool to find an effective keyword. One that offers 30 free keyword searches is http://www.wordstream.com/keywords.
Another option is to input a ‘word or phrase’ that’s relevant to your blog post topic into Amazon’s search box. See what keywords suggestions Amazon offers in its dropdown box.
2. Opt for long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords are words that will move you away from highly competitive keywords.
As an example, a highly competitive keyword is "health." In a recent Google search, the keyword "health" came in at 3,500,000,000 (3.5 billion) results. That’s a whole lot of competition. This means 3.5 billion bloggers are using the keyword ‘health.’
Long-tail keywords narrow the playing field. The keyword "multiple sclerosis and weather," came in at 972,000 (under 1 million). That’s a HUGE difference.
3. Write for your reader.
More important than keywords, your article needs to be an informative, engaging, and understandable.
Today’s effective marketer needs to create shareable content. Your readers need to feel motivated to ‘share’ the post with others.
4. Work the social networks.
Share your blog post links to Twitter, Facebook, GooglePlus, Digg, StumbleUpon, etc. You should also inform your groups. Get the word out. And, be sure to have a SHARE button so visitors can share the post also.
I hope these four SEO tips help you get your visibility and website traffic soaring.
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Karen has published 12 writing and marketing eBooks, the most recent, Article Marketing: Increase Website Traffic with Properly Formatted and Search Engine Optimized Content.
In addition to this, Karen’s website, Karen Cioffi Writing and Marketing, was named Writer’s Digest Website of the Week, June 25, 2012.
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Thanks for sharing.
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