Superior SEO (Search Engine Optimization) results don’t happen by accident
Even if you get lucky once in a while and rank well for a keyword or phrase by chance, it is not the best way to build a successful long-term online business. To realize superior SEO results for your blog or web site, you’ll need to plan for it.
The first step in this process is to create that all-important “blazing keywords list” we’ve been talking about all week. Then, it’s time to start creating lots of unique and valuable content around each of the keywords and phrases you’ve targeted. (I prefer to work on one phrase per page or post, but you can work on more than one if you prefer).
Of course, if you’re investing the time it takes to create useful and compelling content for your site, you’ll want to get maximum value from your efforts. To give all that wonderful, keyword-optimized content the best chance of finding an audience, you’ll want to pay attention to several important “on-page” SEO factors. Taking this extra step will establish a solid foundation for the rest of your off-site promotional/SEO efforts.
Here Are a Few On-Page Factors for Superior SEO Results:
- Title Tags
- HTML Heading Tags
- Alt Tags
- Internal Linking Structure
A Couple More On-Page Factors Worth Noting (but Not For SEO):
- Meta Description
- Keyword Density
Title Tags are arguably the most important on-page SEO ranking factor. They help the search engines “define” what a page is about and help web surfers decide if your content is relevant to their search. Therefore, you will want to make sure you include your targeted keyword or phrases – as close to the beginning as possible – in your Title tags. (If you have an established business or brand, you may also want to include that name, as well).
Here is an excellent post that digs deeper into the nuances of how to create effective Title tags: Title Tags Revisited
‘H’ Tags are used to create headings in HTML. They range from h1 (most powerful) to h6 (least) and can be used to organize your content into sub-categories on each page. I rarely use them on this site because frankly, h1 and h2 headings look like crap in Thesis, the premium WordPress theme I use (and love in every other way). However, I did include a couple on this page (see grey text above) to show what an ‘h2′ heading looks like.
(Sorry, the h1 example looked stupid, so couldn’t bring myself to publish it). 
Takeaway – headings are a great way to break up and organize your content. If you use them, incorporate your keywords into them.
‘Alt’ Tags are used to describe images. Adding keywords to your image ‘alt’ tags not only helps the search engines understand what your pictures are about (which can help draw in search traffic via Image Results) – they also help your readers by providing a description if your image fails to load properly.
Finally, you’ll want to incorporate your targeted keywords into your internal linking structure, as well. Whenever you link to a post or page from another page on your site, try to use the keyword or phrase you are targeting for the page you are linking to.
For example, if you are linking from Page A to Page B, you will want to use your targeted keyword phrase for Page B as your anchor text link on Page A. Again, this will help the major search engines identify what the linked to page is about based on the anchor text link pointing into it.
That’s all I’ve got for today – tomorrow, we’ll talk about meta descriptions and keyword density (and what they really mean to you in terms of SEO).
Til Next Time,
PS I’ve added additional sub-categories to the 90-Day Content Marketing Challenge category under the Archives tab (above). If you’re working on a particular Weekly Action Plan, you can now find related blog posts by week (i.e. Week 1, Week 2, etc…).
If you haven’t joined yet, you can do so at any time and follow along at your own pace. Simply use the form below to get started!
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{ 9 comments }
Hi Trish
This is very useful and I’m busy optimizing the content I’ve already got. One other tip I’ve picked up is that it helps to save the image using the keyword you’re using on that page. So for example, I’ve just optimized a page for the keywords ‘emotional eating’ to promote my freebie and have used those keywords in the alt tag but also renamed the .jpg file to emotionaleating.jpg rather that DS009482.jpg for example. It’s supposed to help! If I use the same image on another page/post that is optimized for a different keyword I’ll just rename the image to match.
Agree about the tag – mine look enormous!
Hey Rebecca!
You are correct – I actually have a post planned for next week on images and how to use them to enhance your content/message.
In Google’s webmaster tools, they recommend doing exactly as you suggest – saving your image files with a descriptive name vs. using the generic numbering system you illustrate.
Thanks for sharing that tip!
PS – Great job on optimizing the content you’ve already created. I have SO MUCH clean up on my old content, especially in terms of Title tags and meta descriptions (from the days I used to base my blog posts on this site mostly on inspiration!)
Hi Trish
I’m on a roll! I’ve managed to get my first article written and submitted it to the directories you mentioned in week one. So fingers crossed.
Thanks for all your help – loving the course as it is really helping me to focus.
That’s wonderful – I can’t wait to see how you are doing by the end of the challenge.
Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll talk about how to repurpose your existing content to help with your off-site marketing efforts. So, I think you’ll see lots of opportunities to get more mileage out of your existing content, too.
Thanks for sharing your successes – I appreciate hearing that the course is helpful to you!
Thanks, Rebecca, that was a valuable tip. I have been doing something like that, but not very consciously.
I think I need a clarification. Did I understand the article marketing thing right: you write one article and submit the same article to all directories? I think at least Ezinearticles requires original content…
Actually, Ezinearticles.com does NOT require original content. In fact, they have (or had) a plug-in to auto-submit your blog posts as articles. I tried it, but did not like it because my blog posts are much more conversational and informal than the articles I submit.
Plus, I have been using an article submission service since last November, and they submit directly to Ezinearticles.com and the other directories I recommended in the Week 1 Action Plan.
What Ezinearticles gets funny about is what they consider “derivative content” – where someone basically keeps “spinning” or rehashing the same concepts over and over and over again and calling it a unique article.
Ah, this seems to be one topic that confuses a lot of people, including me.
Yeah, I’ve seen others make that comment, but I know for certain it is not true because I can show you exact articles I’ve personally submitted across multiple directories, including Ezinearticles.com. Plus, I sat in on a teleconference with Chris Knight (founder of Ezinearticles) where he talked about their problem being with derivative content, (vs. non-original).
Here is a link to their plug-in which allows you to auto-submit your blog posts directly to them for approval: http://blog.ezinearticles.com/category/marketing-distribution
Clearly, if they are promoting a plug-in to submit your already published blog posts or articles, they must accept non-original content.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!