SE-WHAT? SEO means search engine optimization and it can do wonders for your blog and your audience reach. Okay, I know what you’re thinking: “How am I supposed to know how to do SEO? I’m no marketing strategist!” No worries, I gotchu! And it is simpler than you think. Just a little background, Google has something called spiders, which seek out relevant information when someone makes a search. There is an algorithm that Google uses to find the most relevant information and SEO allows bloggers to optimize posts so there is a better chance someone will stumble across your blog. Get it? Good! Lets get started:
#1: Meta Tags!
Meta tags are not as confusing as they sound. Whether you are using Blogger (like me) or WordPress (what I wish I used), adding a meta tag to your blog is crucial. In Blogger go to settings – search preferences – meta tags. This is where you can edit your blog description that will appear on the SERP page (search engine results page). This part is important! Write well and concise sticking to what your blog is about using key terms like a DIY craft and cooking blog.. blah blah blah.
#2 Alt Text
Say what? Yeah alt text is a thing and it is super important if you put pictures in your post. Since Google can’t technically see a picture and figure out what it is about, you have to add alt text to the picture so the spiders can tell your picture of your homemade chocolate fudge cookies is about how to make those homemade chocolate fudge cookies. On Blogger click on your picture, go to properties and add the alt text that correlates to the picture and your post. Example: easy chocolate fudge cookies recipe for beginners. Note: there is also Title Text which is not as important for search engines, but it is a way to label your pictures. If someone decided to pin your picture, that is the text that would appear.
#3 Internal Links!
Google LOVES internal links within your posts and it is often overlooked in the blogging world. Side note: internal links are links within your post that direct readers to other pages or posts on YOUR blog hence why they are called internal. If you are doing a post on how to style scarves in the winter, direct readers to your post on the best winter boots and easy winter make up look. You can also tap into your top landing pages. Just make sure your links are natural to the reader and you aren’t just listing a ton of links on your page. There’s gotta be flow!
#4 Decrease Bounce Rate
Unless you know how to use Google Analytics (which I recommend learning at some point), you probably have no clue there was even such a thing called a bounce rate. A bounce rate is the amount of visitors who navigate away from your blog after viewing only one page. High bounce rates are bad and the average for a good blog is around 65%. I have come across some blogs where the loading time is horrendous and this is a huge aspect for your bounce rate. If it takes a long time to load all of your extravagant content, people are going to hit the back button faster than you can say “no, don’t leave!”, so make sure you have a fast loading time! Another tip is to not have all your content on one page (aka the home page). Your home page can have all of your most recent posts with a small snippet from the post, but incorporate a “continue reading” button, which will direct the visitor to a new page with the entire post. There are infinite way to lower your bounce rate so I recommend checking out this article.
Unless you know how to use Google Analytics (which I recommend learning at some point), you probably have no clue there was even such a thing called a bounce rate. A bounce rate is the amount of visitors who navigate away from your blog after viewing only one page. High bounce rates are bad and the average for a good blog is around 65%. I have come across some blogs where the loading time is horrendous and this is a huge aspect for your bounce rate. If it takes a long time to load all of your extravagant content, people are going to hit the back button faster than you can say “no, don’t leave!”, so make sure you have a fast loading time! Another tip is to not have all your content on one page (aka the home page). Your home page can have all of your most recent posts with a small snippet from the post, but incorporate a “continue reading” button, which will direct the visitor to a new page with the entire post. There are infinite way to lower your bounce rate so I recommend checking out this article.
#5 Search Description on Your Posts AKA Meta Description!
On both Blogger and WordPress it is super easy to add a quick search description to your blog posts (it is called a Meta Description on WordPress). Your search description should contain keywords that are present throughout your post, use action-oriented language, keep under 155 characters, and be specific/relevant. This will help Google find your specific posts so make sure your description it is good!!
I hope some of these tips help all you soon to be SEO experts!
xoxo
Olivia
Awesome post chalk-full of some really amazing tips! Thanks for a great post. SEO can be quite confusing to many, but you definitely broke it down in a really understandable way!
Rae | Love from Berlin
Thanks for sharing these amazing tips. I don't know much about it, so it's really helpful!
xo
http://thepinkporcelaindoll.blogspot.com
Thank you so much! These are really helpful. I did use some of these.. but I should start doing more š xx
http://beautypeptalk.blogspot.hr/
great tips! thanks for sharing!
I'm so glad I could help, Carina! XO
Thanks so much, Rae! XO
Ohh, these are great tips! i haven't read something like this before. Thanks for the ideas! š
Have a beautiful day!
xoxo,
SHAIRA
http://www.missdream-girl.blogspot.com
Thanks for sharing this great information with us. I have been confused with SEO myself. This really helps clarify it.
Kathy
http://www.glamsimplified.com
This is really a helpful post!
Comfy Christmas X Banggood Wishlist ~ Styleccentric Fashion' | BLOGLOVIN
XOXO Alyssa
Great tips!! Thanks for sharing.
Xo
http://www.sweetsimpleday.com
I liked the post š
*XoXo
Helena Primeira
Helena Primeira Youtube
Primeira Panos
Wow, these tips are awesome! Thanks for sharing them, especially the bit about bounce rates. I learned something new today! š
xo Kiki
http://colormekiki.com/
Wow this is so helpful!! Thank you for the post Olivia š I'm going to bookmark this and probably refer to it regularly!
http://www.northleftcoastblog.com
Yay! I am so glad I could help! XO
You are so welcome! Thanks Kiki! XO
Every little bit helps as I like to think! XO