Keys to SEO success

Keywords (actually keyword phrases) are the words you use in your business to attract your target market, audience, and/or niche. These are the carefully researched phrases and terms that you use in all of your writings so your content shows up in search results. Think of them as the words that your potential customers/clients are typing into the search field when searching for answers. It is particularly important to use keywords in the title of your post because the title of your post will also show as the title in the search results (there are ways to modify this, but that’s another post).

2. Write WordPress blog posts that matter

First and foremost, your content has to answer the questions that your target market (or niche) has. People search the internet for information and solutions to their problems. Provide answers to their problems and there is a high probability that even a random search will result in your post showing up in the search results.

3.  Write your headlines so they include your keywords

WordPress offers a very simple method for creating headings and subheadings. The option is in your WordPress editor and are called H1, H2, H3 etc (the dropdown menu is beside the “Paragraph” option).  Each heading is a different font size and, depending on your theme and/or your theme tweaking ability, they can also be from different font families. (I suggest only using H2 and smaller because the title of your pages and posts are already H1 and you won’t be competing with the post or page title).

4.  Write your headlines so they include a benefit.

It’s from copywriting 101. Include a benefit in your headline wherever possible.  Why would someone want to read your post (or even the next paragraph)? How will it benefit them? Does it save them time? Are there tips that can be read and then implemented quickly? Will reading the post save them money?  Spell it out in the headline.

5. Use keywords throughout the post

And use your keywords early in the post. The first sentence is optimal, but at the very least, use your keywords in the first paragraph. You don’t necessarily have to use the same word over and over (which could be detrimental to your SEO efforts) because synonyms will also be recognized by the search engines.

6. Break up your writing with subheadings (paragraph subtitles).

SEO writing includes a technique where you break your content up with subheadings.  The search engines bots look for anything “unusual” in your post. Subheadings are “unusual” and they cause the search engine bots to pause and take notice.  They also make your writing easier on the eyes of your audience by providing some white space where the eyes can rest.

Have you taken the necessary time to do your keyword research?

Keyword Research Using Wordtracker’s Free Tool

One of the most significant keys to success is getting website traffic.  The more visitors you have, the better your sales and profits.

For maximum results, create a traffic and SEO strategy.  Outline your plan and your goals and then take the necessary action, but begin with keyword research.

Presumably you have a niche and you know your keywords, and regularly conduct keyword research to stay on top of what’s popular.  Right? If not, here are several tools that are great for not only doing your keyword research, but for learning everything there is to know about keyword research.

Enjoy,
Kathleen

We all know that images are extremely important little additions to your WordPress posts, pages and sidebar.  They create interest, allow the eyes to rest in big blocks of content, and generally create visual appeal. And they are easy enough to add to a page or post.

But if you’ve ever tried to figure out how to write the code to add an image to your sidebar, then you know how frustrating  scary this can be. It IS code after all!  And who knows, maybe you’ll take down the whole internet if you get it wrong. Right?

Well here’s a crazy simple way to do it that will leave you smiling all the way to your dashboard.

1. Create a new post (do not publish)
2. Change the editor from visual to HTML
3. Upload a photo into the post

before you forget, delete the fake post you just wrote.

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Have you stumbled upon a website (WordPress or otherwise) where you, shockingly, see the content that you sweated bullets over while writing it? I know I have, and I’ve had a few clients tell me that they’ve seen their content out there on other sites as well.

Most people are pretty honest and wouldn’t think of stealing your content, but unless you take measures to prevent someone from copying and then pasting your content onto their site, your site is free game for the dishonest of the world.

But there is a solution to prevent those who are brazen enough to copy and paste  plagiarize your content. It’s a very simple little WordPress plugin called Blog Protector that:

• disables right click on your site.
• disables selection of text on your site

No more highlighting text, copying and pasting  stealing from my site.

To install Blog protector, go to Plugins –> Add New.  Then type “Blog Protector” in the search box. Install it and voila!  Just one more level of protection for your business.

WordPress 3.3, also known as “Sonny”, has been named to honor of the great jazz saxophonist, Sonny Stitt (all major releases are named in honor of a famous Jazz musician) .

WordPress 3.3 offers added simplicity to the dashboard area in terms of tips, navigation and uploading media. This will be an especially welcome change for the new user and their experience in getting to know WordPress.

To quote the people from WordPress:

For Users

Experienced users will appreciate the new drag-and-drop uploader, hover menus for the navigation, the new toolbar, improved co-editing support, and the new Tumblr importer. We’ve also been thinking a ton about what the WordPress experience is like for people completely new to the software. Version 3.3 has significant improvements there with pointer tips for new features included in each update, a friendly welcome message for first-time users, and revamped help tabs throughout the interface. Finally we’ve improved the dashboard experience on the iPad and other tablets with better touch support.

For Developers

There is a ton of candy for developers as well. I’d recommend starting your exploration with the new editor API, new jQuery version, better ways to hook into the help screens, more performant post-slug-only permalinks, and of course the entire list of improvements on the Codex and in Trac.

They’ve also created this quick video that gives a really good overview of the changes.

Need help updating your site to the new version?

Contact me via the form below. It goes directly to my personal email address.

PS:  Tomorrow, December 15th  is the last day to enter the draw to win a complete WordPress Website from The Savvy VA. Click here to find out more: thesavvyva.com/wordpress-website-giveaway/

Imagine getting the:

1. Genesis Framework for only $45.

2. Most Genesis / design combos for a song (save close to $20).

3. StudioPress Pro Plus All-Theme Package at 25% off. This means you’ll get the Genesis framework AND every design (Child Theme) they’ve ever made AS WELL AS every design they’ll ever make in the future!  You’ll save more than $74 on the cost of the Genesis Framework, and over $875 off the retail price — (and that’s just the existing 43 designs)!

Just use the code THANKS at the check out and get the savings automatically (25% on anything and everything at StudioPress.com).

This deal ends promptly at 7:00 pm Pacific time on Monday, November 28, 2011. Hurry up and claim your new WordPress theme before the code expires!

Your WordPress site is a go-to place for your clients. You post great, instructional content and people come back time and again. They read your posts and follow along as best they can under the circumstances.

But it’s not easy to go back and forth between your site and theirs as they complete the steps. 

Now imagine them being able to print your content as a PDF and have your content at their fingertips in under 30 seconds!

How cool is that!

First a little history… There have always been plugins that allow the visitor to print your content. Add to any, Add This, and Share This type plugins come to mind. But they don’t allow for your document to be printed out as a super organized and branded PDF.

Print Friendly Button

Print Friendly (the name of the plugin) is a great little addition to your WordPress site if you want your content to be printable in a really nicely formatted style. (And with your domain name at the top and bottom of the printed document.)

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It’s as simple as this:

Your visitor clicks on the Print Friendly button, a new window opens where they’ll see the following 3 options:

1.  Print (your blog post) as a PDF

2. Save to their computer as a PDF

3. Email it to someone as a PDF

They can also choose the font size (save paper), as well as choose to print with images intact or to remove the images in your post.

And that’s it — another simple and easy way to make your content even more user-friendly (and share-able).

To have this or any other plugins installed on your site, contact me today.

A WordPress theme is a collection of PHP and CSS files that change the appearance of your site without changing the content, which is stored in a database. This allows you to easily change the presentation of your website by switching themes, while the content remains.

To use a metaphor, the Theme system provides a “skin” your website while WordPress is providing the “bones” of the site in its underlying code.

Read the rest of the article here:

http://www.hyperarts.com/blog/intro-wordpress-theme-frameworks-child-themes/

I’ve been using this plugin for over 3 years and it has never failed to be useful. It’s one of the simplest plugins to use and once you get your feet wet with it, you’ll find a ton of uses for it.

What are some of the best uses for this plugin?

• quickly add your YouTube videos to build traffic (instead of sending people to YouTube, send them to your site to view it)
• interlink to articles, posts, or pages within your own site (huge SEO purpose!)
• add news articles (back up your information with up to the minute information)
• add Wikipedia articles (excellent as a reference)
• search and add Google content (easily find relevant information on Google)
• recommend a book (your own?)
• add an image or two (“decorate” your posts to create interest)

Check it out here:

For help installing and setting up this plugin, contact me via the form below:

I have been using Bluehost as my web hosting company for over three years. I am a very happy customer mostly because their support is second to none.

In fact, I am so happy with Bluehost that when the Canadian dollar was only worth 60 cents, I stayed a loyal Bluehost customer. If you do the math, I paid about $150 Canadian per year for hosting! It was a killer, but I gladly paid for the security that comes with being their customer.

I have never seen a sale this good in the time I’ve been their customer.

Honestly, if you need hosting to get your WordPress site online, click this link to go and see not only the details of their sale, but why I appreciate this company so much.

You won’t be sorry because if you sign up for their superb hosting between now and October 24th,

you pay only $3.95 per month. 

 This promotion is available for any new hosting account but hurry, this offer ends October 24th

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE DETAILS AT BLUEHOST.COM

Warmly

PS: I am a proud affiliate and will receive a commission if you purchase hosting via this link.

is a series of steps that you, the WordPress site owner, take to move your site up in the search results of the search engines. As I mentioned in Part 1, ideally you want to  increase your rankings so that your site shows up on the first page of the search engine results.

What Steps Can You Take To Optimize Your (New) WordPress Website?

1.  Keywords

Know the search phrases and words that your prospects type into the search engines to find the products and services that you offer. This is imperative — not an option.  If you missed the Free Keyword Research Tool and Tutorial from Part 1, you can GET IT HERE

Once you know them, use these words on your pages and in your content. There are entire books and  online courses about how to find and use keywords. A little research will pay off nicely.

2.  Good Content

Search engines look at the content on your website. They scan your content looking for keywords, keyword phrases and other relevant words and terms. Often people mistake the meaning of this and load their content with their keywords and phrases, even to the point of making their content nonsensical. But the search engines have very complicated algorithms to rate the quality of the content too. Search engines want to ensure that they are sending people to quality websites. not just those that are packed with the right keyword/keyword phrases.

3.  Linking

Another element that search engines look at are the links to and from your website. They look at incoming links – links from other websites and blogs and they look at internal links – linking within your own site (from one page to another within your site).

a. Incoming Links

Quality content helps create incoming links. Here’s what Google says about building incoming links to your site:

Create unique and compelling content on your site and the web in general

• Make videos, do original research, and post interesting stuff on a regular basis. If you’re passionate about your site’s topic, there are lots of great avenues to engage more users.
• Teach readers new things, uncover new news, be entertaining or insightful, show your expertise, interview different personalities in your industry and highlight their interesting side. Make your site worthwhile.

• Participate thoughtfully in blogs and user reviews related to your topic of interest. Offer your knowledgeable perspective to the community.

• Provide a useful product or service. If visitors to your site get value from what you provide, they’re more likely to link to you.Source:  Google | Webmaster Central Blog  You can click this link for more information

Social networking, guest blogging, and article marketing can all have a profound effect on the number of incoming links. Build relationships online to motivate people to link to your website.

b.  Internal Linking

Internal linking means that you have links from one page or article to another on your own site. Internal linking is perfect for situations where you have content that you want to draw attention to AND rank well in the search engines. Just create a link to it from other content or pages. For example, in my opening paragraph above you’ll see that Part 1 is a hyperlink to the first blog post in this series.

If you want have a sales page to a product or service and want it to rank really well in the search engines, then create a link to your sales page from your contact page, from your landing page, and any other pages that it makes sense to link to.

Keywords, Linking and Good Content are simple steps you can take to increase your ranking in the search engines. It’s not magic or difficult. Give them a try and come back to post your results here. We’d love to hear about your success.