Well this topic seemed to raise a lot of questions.
SEO wasn’t something I was familiar with until my blog was around 10 months old. I had no clue what it was, what it meant and how to use it. Even if I should use it. I don’t think I had even come cross the acronym ‘SEO’ before!
What is SEO?
SEO stands for search engine optimisation. When you use SEO, it means you use certain techniques that help your blog posts rank higher in Google/search engines.
Search engines are such a powerful way of getting traffic, but it can be difficult to get in those top 3 search results, or even on the first page. There are many factors that influence where you sit, such as Page Rank, how many times the page has been shared on social media and the SEO.
You might have had this explained to you, but still a little bit confused.
SEO is about keywords.
Basically, words or phrases that people might search for when looking for something that your post offers.
If you write a post about a new Mac eyeshadow, you may want to target the keywords ‘mac eyeshadow’, for example. This is so when somebody Google’s that phrase, your post with the review will be higher in the search result than if you didn’t bare in mind any SEO techniques when writing it.
Using SEO is NOT about manipulating search engines or being spammy. You should target keywords that are only relevant to your posts and you should not unnaturally stuff keywords into a post so that it looks spammy or ruins the quality.
Benefits of Using SEO.
So, in the chat some people did say that SEO is important if you want to become a professional blogger. I can’t say I agree with this entirely, although it’s a must for professionals, hobby bloggers may also want to learn the basics too!
SEO is important if you want to gain new readers, get traffic and grow your blog. This relates to all levels.
The benefits of using search engine optimisation are that you have the chance of getting targeted traffic. This means that people who are LOOKING for a post like yours, a review of the new Mac eyeshadow, for example, will find your review easier.
These people may then become regular readers, share the post, follow you and help your blog grow.
Most importantly, these people find the information they are looking for. Which is what search engines are all about.
People pay writers/SEO’s a lot of money to write content for their websites that target keywords to help generate traffic and sales of their products.
It’s important to note that some people will use ‘black hat’ SEO, which is an attempt to manipulate search engines to get traffic. People buy links, stuff keywords into pages, hide keywords in invisible text, use keywords that are not relevant but are popular, such as ‘lose weight fast’ or terms of a sexual nature that people may search for. These are bad news and not only lead users of search engines to irrelevant and mostly poor quality content, but can get you removed from Google’s search engines. Which you do not want. Yes, there are other search engines but Google is the most powerful and most used one out there.
But SEO is scary and complicated, Corinne.
It can be scary and complicated, but it can also be easily explained and broken down.
I’m going to do what I did last week, with the post about getting personal on your blog, and write a post with the best, simplest ways you can use SEO techniques to help get your blog a bit of extra love in search engines.
In the meantime, you may want to check out the following posts:
SEO Tips For Your Blog
How to use Google Webmaster Tools for your blog
Understanding Google PageRank
6 Ways to Increase Google PageRank
6 MORE Ways to Increase Google Page Rank
I’ll aim for Friday, again, so while I get writing – you check out the chat:
Q1. Search Engine Optimization. Do you think it’s important to learn about? #socialbloggers
@bloggerforums A1: yes I think it’s important to know about SEO! #socialbloggers
— Jessica ThePyreflies (@thepyreflies) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A1 I didn’t but now having read about it I feel I need to learn! #socialbloggers
— Adele (@AceSparklestar) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums So important! It can make such a difference. No good having amazing content if no one knows it’s there xoxo #socialbloggers — Sweetheart Fashion (@SwtheartFashion) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums depends on what your blogging for, for funsies no, for careers or as an online CV yes #socialbloggers
— Fashion Worked (@fashionworked) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums definitely if you’re looking to increase traffic or learn marketing skills #socialbloggers — Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 23, 2014
@SwtheartFashion yes I agree! You have to make sure your stuff is easy to find 🙂 #socialbloggers
— Jessica ThePyreflies (@thepyreflies) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums Yeah, I think it’s important to know about SEO specially if you want to blog professionally #socialbloggers — Sarmistha Goswami (@sarmistha_LBF) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A1: If your goal is to grow your blog, then YES, most definitely! #socialbloggers
— Little Miss Katy (@MissKatyEnglish) August 23, 2014
Q2. Do you implement SEO in your blog posts? Why/why not? #socialbloggers
@bloggerforums a2 unsure how to do and need advice do label pics though x — Georgie (@georgienyc32) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A2 to be honest I hadn’t really thought about it before this chat, but after reading your post i’m definitely going to start!
— HELENA (@helenacterry) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I do indeed, I would love to grow my blog and get my posts out there. Slowly but surely #socialbloggers — Charlotte Goodayle (@The_Goodowl) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A2. I do some of the time but not all, really need to get into the habit of remembering to do it more! xoxo #socialbloggers
— Sweetheart Fashion (@SwtheartFashion) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I don’t think about it much, but I make sure I use keywords and my title is clear. I also think of tags too. #socialbloggers — Lissy Beauty (@LissyBeautyBlog) August 23, 2014
A2. I link similar posts & try to optimise my URLs. I’m lazy with alt text though. #socialbloggers @bloggerforums
— Alice Adores Apparel (@AliceAdores) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I use wordpress and use the yost seo plugin! I can totally recommend it! #socialbloggers — Carolin (@oliveappleblog) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums Add alt tags to images and link old posts to encourage readers to stay on my blog longer. What else can I do? #socialbloggers
— Cliona Hill (@ClionaHill) August 23, 2014
Q3. What SEO techniques do you use? #socialbloggers
@bloggerforums I’d love to know the hidden secrets as it were #socialbloggers — Matthew Pike (@mat_buckets) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums titling images & making sure the blog post title is descriptive.Try to get keywords in the first sentence too #socialbloggers
— Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A3: Keywords. And not just in my post but also on the title. Also, alt tags. #socialbloggers — Somdyuti Datta Ray (@hellodyuti) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I use appropriate tags and alt img tag to improve SEO #socialbloggers
— Sarmistha Goswami (@sarmistha_LBF) August 23, 2014
Q4. Do you use any tools to help you with SEO? #socialbloggers
@bloggerforums hammer? — Fashion Worked (@fashionworked) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums not really tools, but useful SEO websites that give good tips and tricks #socialbloggers
— Joelle (@Joelle_o) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums At the moment no… would be good to find out about ones you can use for Blogger though 🙂 xoxo #socialbloggers — Sweetheart Fashion (@SwtheartFashion) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I use Google Analytics but I’m sure there’s MORE tools. #socialbloggers
— Tamera D. (@Thalookbook) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums I can recommend Yost SEO for wordpress! easy to use and helps to improve your seo #socialbloggers — Carolin (@oliveappleblog) August 23, 2014
Q5. Do you think using SEO ruins the quality of blog posts? #socialbloggers
@bloggerforums SEO is a whiny kid , haha! But you can focus on both by some tricks and they’re hard :/ #socialbloggers
— Noor Unnahar (@Noor_Unnahar) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums Q5 no, good SEO is nothing without a good blog, great content and catchy headings 🙂 #socialbloggers — Tanja Mortensen (@TanjaMortensenn) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums A5. Not at all 🙂 If used correctly I think they can only enhance them! xoxo #socialbloggers
— Sweetheart Fashion (@SwtheartFashion) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums not at all! But write the post first, then think about improving it with SEO techniques #socialbloggers — Alison Hope (@AlleyHope) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums you should not exaggerate with SEO and keep things with the flow of your blog.
— Carolin (@oliveappleblog) August 23, 2014
@bloggerforums If the posts/heading are splashed with key words ONLY then may be yes. But I only use tags to improve my SEO #socialbloggers — Sarmistha Goswami (@sarmistha_LBF) August 23, 2014
I just had a 3 hour intro to SEO in my internship last week and it was super interesting and helpful! I think what I found most important and didn’t know before was about no follow links and alt attributes for pictures!
I would have loved to have been a part of that, I bet it was awesome!
Thank you for sharing this information.
http://tifi11.blogspot.com
How does tilting photos effect it, is it because people are more likely to click on it?
Amy at Amy & More
Titling photos helps because it will add to keyword density and also pull up the image in the image search on Google.
I haven´t heard about SEO before but it was a very interesting post. Now I will take into account when I write the title of my posts. Kisses:)
Thank you for the tips! I don’t know much about SEO at all, but would love to learn more as I continue to grow my blog. I love all of the feedback from #socialbloggers, and I’m definitely going to read through all of the articles and links you’ve provided! Thank you for clearing the air about a topic I didn’t understand very well!
The What’s In Between
No problem! Hope it helped and hope my series I’ll be posting about it will help you even more!
Useful tips
Very interesting
Kisses
Maggie D.
The Indian Savage diary Fashion Blog
I don’t worry so much about SEO, but it is something I want to explore more.
All useful tips. I wish I knew more about SEO, I need to read and learn. The trick with most things to do with enhancing my blog is trying things out so this is how I will learn Lucy x
Thanks a lot for the helpful information
Ciao
It’s not something I use but I can see the advantages and may use it in the future.
I’ve known more about it for a while now but still always forget. I’m refreshing my blogging attitude though so maybe I will try it more! xo