For those of you who weren’t able to attend the Independent Fashion Blogger’s Evolving Influence Conference this past Monday in NYC, I will be rehashing some of the crucial points that I found very helpful in pulling together a bunch of savvy bloggers to discuss the business of blogging.
Today, I focus on the importance of using keywords, tagging and paying attention to your Search Engine Optimization (SEO).
All of these things actually flow together- the better use of keywords (which you also use in your tagging), the better your SEO. This is going to become increasingly important when Google releases its new search engine Google Caffeine- where the reliance on a strong string of keywords will produce better results and basically a new algorithm.
Translation: identify what your blog is about and start simply stating it. Of course you should continue to write eloquently and with as many poetic analogies as you like, but do make sure the topic you are speaking on is clearly identifiable.
Not sure where to start? Have a look at your Google Analytics under the ‘Content’ heading in the left sidebar. There you can select ‘Top Content’ and see ‘Entrance Keywords’ to have a look at what is driving readers to your site and getting the most hits. From there you can see how people are categorizing your content and where you may want to focus. That said, don’t let this run your content- write what you feel and it will attract the right readers. This is just a good tool to check in on where your site is being positioned out in the WWW.
Okay, so keep all of that in mind when you write your posts. Use those keywords either directly in your titles and post, and certainly in your tagging. I always feel like tagging is a pain, but it should be the first thing you do when you are fresh with excitement for your new post because it leaves the longest tail, and that tail becomes very valuable as you build your presence online. Add other tags when you’ve finished writing your post that you may not have included initially.
I hope you find this useful. Putting a little energy here can go a long way, so develop good habits for forming keywords and proper tagging and watch your SEO rise.
