How to Optimize Search Engine Marketing for WordPress Blogs

Friday, May 30, 2008
Related Tags: search | blogs | optimization | wordpress | marketing
 

Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • WordPress blog, spreadsheet program or pen and paper to track

How to do SEM for Blogs

  • Step 1:
    Check your current search engine position for your blog’s keywords. Consider the blog’s niche theme, blog posts, tags, and categories to create a list of keyword phrases. A tag cloud will visually show the most common topics or keywords on the blog. Search for each keyword phrase on the popular search engines like Google, MSN, and Yahoo to check and track the ranking for your blog.
  • Step 2:
    Review the competing websites that are listed on the first page of the search engine results. Study the competition (other websites and blogs) to determine why their search engine rankings are higher. It may be the age of the blog, titles, page names, and the overall effectiveness of the blog’s search engine optimization. Do not copy other blogs but use them as guidelines to experiment with your search engine marketing.
  • Step 3:
    Learn search engine optimization (SEO) or hire an SEO writer. Depending on your business model, you may be writing all the blog posts or you may prefer to hire a freelance writer. Provide quality content on your blog on a regular basis that is optimized for search engines.
  • Step 4:
    Network with other bloggers to increase back links to your blog. By visiting and commenting on other related blogs, you will build immediate back links that will improve your search engine rankings. Also, other blogs’ visitors may go to your blog from other blogs if you post a useful comment with your blog address.
  • Step 5:
    Track and test different search engine optimization tactics one at a time. Use a spreadsheet program or pen and paper to keep track of your current and future search engine position for your keywords by date and method used.
  • Step 6:
    Repeat Steps 1 to 5 and your blog will be optimized for search engine marketing over time. Search engines prefer older blogs that have aged for at least a few months, and have many quality back links from related websites and blogs.

Tips & Warnings

  • Focus on building many quality back links long-term and one at a time through various methods such as article marketing, forums, commenting on blogs, directories, etc. For WordPress blogs, consider adding a plugin to help with search engine optimization.
  • Do not grow too fast in an inorganic way - Search engines will penalize your blog for suspicious marketing activity such as automated submissions.

Resources


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