No matter what update Google does - Panda, Penguin, Petunia, or Potato - good SEO is going to be the same. The best practices five years ago are still the best practices, and they will still be the best practices five years from now.
SEO is all about communicating with search engines. It's about telling the search engines what you're writing about so that the people who want that information can find it (and you).
It's that simple.
Why Do YOU Need to Know About SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. In short, SEO can help your site to show up closer to the top of search engine results.
SEO is a great way to get found, to broaden your audience.
Good SEO means that more people will find you. If they like your voice, if they like what you have to say, they'll keep coming back.
What Can Good SEO Do For You?
SEO first came on to my radar in 2009. I started optimizing my posts, and I increased my traffic from search engines tenfold in 12 months.
From February 2009 to February 2010, I saw a 900% increase in traffic.
Need any more convincing?
The Basics of Good SEO
Good Writing
Are you tired of hearing that Content is king? It still is.
Write for your readers first. Write good posts that are useful. Write things that people will be searching for in the first place.
Make sure your writing is good, clear, and concise.
Think about SEO only after you've written a killer post.
Searchable Posts
Some posts are less searchable than others.
When I post craft tutorials and recipes, I definitely spend the time to include good SEO.
When I write personal stories, post pictures of my kids, or lists like Things I Enjoy, I don't bother. The odds are low that anyone would search for those posts or that people searching would be interested in what I've written.
Write Good Titles & Headings
Your title and headings should reflect your post. Period.
The title and headings should not be cute, clever, or a play on words. They should reflect the content of the post.
The content of your post should include the keyword phrase - the words someone would type into Google if they wanted to find your post - often (but not so much that they're annoying your readers or distracting from your message).
Use Smart URLS
The URL of your post should reflect the title, headings, and content of the post. This is a really simple change to make, and it will help a lot.
This is a setting, usually called Permalinks.
Bad URL - https://feelslikehomeblog.com/?p=134Good URL - https://feelslikehomeblog.com/heart-shaped-pancakes
My URLs have the month and year in between the blog address and the post name. There are drawbacks to doing that, but it's okay to have them in there.
Want to learn more about SEO?
I've shared the slide shows that I present at blog conferences. If you want more SEO help, read 10 Tips for Improving Your Blog's SEO and 10 More Tips for Improving Your Blog's SEO.
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Cat @Breakfast to Bed says
I had no idea you could even change that!!!!! FANTASTIC!!
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
You sure can. Now, a word of warning. Don't change it more than once. All of your existing links will break because you've changed your URLs. It's still a good move to make, especially if your URLs were numbers or codes, but don't keep changing it to see what you like best. 🙂 Make one change and be done.
Lolli @ Better in Bulk says
You were the one who taught me SEO originally, and I have to thank you! I am still working on creating consistent "killer content." I find that I too often get lazy....
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
Absolutely. It's like being a mom in so many ways, don't you think? Like, I can do this half heartedly and get it done, or I can spend the time and energy to do it perfectly. Sometimes, we don't have the time and energy, and that's the end of the story. But when you do have the time and energy, the payoffs are great.
jodifur says
SEO sometimes feels like a game to me. I need to stop thinking of it like that and not to start looking at it as a way to improve my blog.
Angela England (@AngEngland) says
Don't think of it as a game. Any more than using a GPS to find the fastest route instead of the "shortest" route is a game. It's a way to get where you want to be (Readers visiting your site who WANT to be at your site) faster and more effectively.
Bad SEO doesn't just hurt traffic, it is also unkind to your readers. If I'm searching for something, I want the title and intro to clearly reflect what the post is about so I don't waste my time clicking through to something that won't give me the information needed.
Think of it as telling Google what you're talking about, so the people who WANT to read you can find you.
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
Very well said, Angela. Thanks for joining in!
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
Exactly, Jodi.
Cindy says
Content, I can do. I'm afraid I pay so little attention to SEO that I'm relieved you put content first on your list. That means I can skip the rest, right? 😉
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
I didn't say that. 😉 There are a couple of very simple things you can do that will bring readers in. I'm willing to bet that people are out there searching for the things you're writing about.
Cindy says
And what would you charge a friend for a consult? ;0)
Marcie W. says
Thank you for this, and of course, your top 20 tips! It's so appreciated 🙂
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
You are welcome 🙂
Becca Bernstein says
Like Cindy, I've been a writer all my life and the story was my main focus. Foolishly, I filed SEO under a technical art--a study onto itself. And while it is, that doesn't leave me off the hook for implementing all the tricks and doing the due diligence in each communication. This post is a good kick in the butt!
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
I'm glad. It can be a study in itself, but all of us can use some of the basics to bring in readers who are interested in what we have to say. At this point, roughly 60% of my page views come from Google. Can you imagine doubling your current traffic?
ConnieFoggles says
I've been slowly working on SEO. My worst enemy is keyword phrases. But, slowly I'll get there. Your tips put it into perspective with easy to follow instructions.
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
I'm glad, Connie. What bugs you about keyword phrases? Is it coming up with them? Using them naturally? Maybe I can help.
ConnieFoggles says
Coming up with them. I write a blog post and then get to the All In One SEO plugin with no idea for my keyword phrases. Ugh!
Diane says
Thank you for this easy to understand info!
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
You are very welcome. 🙂
Dakotapam says
Thank you for this. I try to work on SEO, and then I sort of forget. all of the SEO type plug ins seem to make it more complicated than it really has to be, right? I'll keep reading and working! Thanks for the time to put together the tutorials!
Shannon says
Such a great post and so helpful. I am still struggling with good use of SEO but I'm starting with very baby steps.
Jamie says
I'm learning lots hopping around to all these great posts. Thanks for sharing so much information! Now I've got a question that will surely expose my ignorance -- How do you know what keywords people are searching?
Feels Like Home Blog┞¢ says
You can use Google's Keywords tool. If you search for that, you will find it. The first SEO slideshow that I shared has an explanation of the keyword tool, if you need help with it.
Limited Edition Carpe Diem says
It is amazing how many things you can find online, without even really trying. Thanks for sharing this!
popcosmo says
Thank you! This is a great post and a wonderful starting point!