Throughout this Blog Series on SEO we’re going to take a look at some of the most important elements of your blog’s information and data, especially the information that the search engines care about.
As I mentioned in the practical introduction to SEO the more you know about search engines the more adequately you’ll be able to leverage and manage them well for your advantage!
As a result I’ve created a new tool that’ll help you visually see a number of the elements that a search engine sees – this way you can start thinking like a Search Engine a tad bit more.
My goal with this series is to break down the barriers that stand between you and your understanding of how SEO is not only important to your efforts as a blogger but how you can use this new found understanding to actually begin to develop a strategy for execution to take your blog way above (literally) your competition.
My hope is to keep it as non-technical and as practical as possible (as I do in my other Blog Series) because not every blogger has the technical chops! I may provide some more technical and development-related information but don’t feel bad if you choose to skip over those areas – you won’t be required to know them in detail to make a difference on your blog!
So why spend the time learning more about SEO? You see, it’s no secret that the best and most effective bloggers out there dedicate time, resources, and even money to search engine optimize their blogs.
As a seasoned Professional Blogger I will be the first to tell you that SEO is a core part of my strategy. Makes sense since I make a Full Time Income from blogging, right?
In fact, I spend a good deal of time on each of my blog posts simply optimizing the titles, content, links, and more to make sure that every single blog post that goes out has the potential to be #1. For example, if a blog post takes two hours to write I probably spend at least 30 minutes on just optimization alone! When was the last time you spent that much time on just optimizing your blog post before publishing?
And why shouldn’t you, right? If you think that your blog posts and content are that good (which most of them are) then why not spend the time to understand SEO the right way so that your blog posts have the most potential to be found by the right (and growing) audience?
Sounds obvious, doesn’t it? Yup, it does. Here are some other benefits of spending your time learning more about SEO and how it can affect your blogging efforts:
You’ll rank higher in organic search results.
You’ll get more traffic to your blog.
You’ll get more readers to your blog.
You’ll earn (and keep) more subscribers via RSS, Twitter, Facebook and more.
Your financial earning potential for your blog can increase dramatically.
So far I see nothing negative here! So let’s get started, right?
As you can see the temporary home office space is still evolving, thanks to you guys! Had some great ideas about the desk situation and more than a few of your recommended that I try the Standing Desk experience before I commit to it – so that’s what I’m doing.
I threw together my P90X Yoga Mat and an old Ikea Coffee Table and it seems like the right height for now. Check out this video of me talking about it for a bit:
I’ve already asked you for ideas about my future office desk for a problogger and showed you the general state of things (for a while, I’m afraid) but my wife and I were talking about wall color for the office because I’m just not sure if yellow is my color.
Do you have any thoughts around wall color? It need to provide creative energy but can’t make me mad (like the color red).
Love your thoughts! If you’ve got a picture of your current office wall color (or wall paper – does anyone do that anymore?) I’d love to see it!
My view is a lot better than the previous views that I’ve had historically. It’s a beautiful day in Candler Park and I’m enjoying a nice warm cup of coffee and a homemade sandwich.
How’s your day going? What’s your view? I can’t wait for the weekend!
A simple call to action at the end of your comment field.
Sometimes the most simple additions to your blog are the absolute best – no need to get overly complicated, right?
For example, I’ve been running a small call to action at the end of the comment box here (see image above or check out any post) on TentBlogger to help remind people that the should Subscribe via RSS or even the Newsletter if they feel like it!
It didn’t take me long to realize that writing faster would be the key to blogging success and I wrongly thought that all the passion and ideas would easily bring all the necessary components to write often and with speed – boy was I wrong!
Writing was way tougher than I realized it would be. I knew what I wanted to say, but turning a blank document into a blog post was a process that could literally take hours – not good if I had to also find the time to promote my blog, interact with other blogs, engage on Facebook, Twitter, and all of the other things that my blog needed (like a little code, development, and design love now and again)?
So after envying people who could write 3,248 posts in a year , I read every book and resource I could get my hands on. And a few months later I had managed to slash my writing time by 30 – 50% with one powerful idea: Having a writing process.
I had the pleasure of guest posting over at Smashing Magazine today covering a topic that is near and dear to my heart: WordPress!
It was a 4,000+ word post which highlights how some of the better known WordPress Theme Shops use a model of service and support to engage their existing audience as well as attract new clients and buyers.
As you can see I’ve carved out a little area in the corner (for now) to actually do some work but the area is still in a state of chaos! But at least I can sit down (kind of, my seat is half-way on a raised marble floor attached to the fireplace).
Slow progress...
The previous blog post (Part 1) started some conversations around desks and standing desks in particular. I’d love to hear your thoughts about desks in general and the types that you use in your office, corporate and home!
Links to suggested purchase options would be much appreciated as well as reviews from people you trust (or your own)!
A number of you have been waiting patiently for this new Blog Series to start and I’m glad to share with you that the core posts have been drafted and are waiting publishing dates in the very near future!
As I’ve done historically with my other series this post will serve as a table of contents for the series as I publish and craft the content for you.
Here’s what you can expect in this group of blog posts: Practical overviews of the important elements of SEO for bloggers, tips and tools for optimizing your content, strategy for maximizing your search engine optimization efforts, and things to be cautious of and to avoid when architecting your content.
