Google's off-quoted recommendations

Google's oft-quoted recommendations for getting your blog posts ranked is that you need to compose abundant, premium, and important content. That's excellent suggestions and, without great content, everything else you do to enhance your SERP position is mostly a lost effort. There are several points to follow in addition to producing premium content that will offer your posts an increased reader. We're going to take a look at ten fundamental SEO methods that every blog writer, author, and editor ought to understand when they are developing content for the web.

Keywords Matter, But Don't Overdo It

 

Google's algorithms have begun leaps and bounds, and they can do all sorts of smart semantic analysis to determine exactly what your content has to do with; however that does not indicate you can disregard keywords. Keywords in the text represent browse questions, and although Google will match inquiries with synonyms and other variations, you're more than most likely to rank greater if you consist of specific match keywords in your text, so make certain you do your research study ahead of writing  and have a clear concept of exactly what individuals are looking for.

On the other hand, do not overdo, and things as lots of same keywords may produce uncomfortable reading and the days when keyword stuffing would ensure a location in the SERPs are well in the past.

Do not Neglect Long-Tail Keywords

 

While you absolutely wish to strike the most popular keywords in the specific niche you're targeting, the impact of long-tail is far larger than you 'd anticipate. If you overlook the long tail, you're discarding valuable traffic that is most likely to be less fiercely contended for.

Take notice of Titles And Subtitles

 

It's especially essential that you put keywords in a familiar position in H1 and H2 tags. Once again, do not overdo it, however, make certain that your target keywords discover a location in your article's titles and subtitles. 

Get Your Meta Tags In Order

 

 Some parts of the page are offered more weight by Google than others, and amongst the essential locations for optimization are meta tags that do not appear in the page content at all.


Technically, the title tag isn't really a meta tag; it's an HTML component; however, we'll handle it here instead of in a different area. The title tag figures out the text that appears in the blue link on the internet search engine entry and is meant to be a concise summary of the content. It must be not more than around 70 characters, and ought to include the article's main keyword, plus other keywords. Do not just make it a list of keywords, since that looks bad in the SERPs.

The meta description tag is a real meta tag

 

It takes place in the page's head area in addition to the title tag. The meta description tag is generally utilized by the search engine that appears beneath the blue link in the SERPs. The description tag most likely isn't really as substantially weighted as the title tag; however, it's great practice to make sure that it includes a concise summary of the article that lies between 160 characters and consists of the pertinent keywords.
 
If you're utilizing WordPress, an SEO plugin like the one from Yoast makes both of these tags quickly editable.

Grammar And Spelling

It might look like good sense; however, there's lots of content out there that tosses care to the wind and makes no effort to comply with the grammatical standards and the favored spelling of the marketplace it's focused on. Grammar and spelling matter: Google does not wish to send its users to websites where the posts appear like they've been composed for a lolcat meme. That said, an inaccurate usage of the subjunctive or the periodic split infinitive aren't going to matter at all; however, it is reasonable, adhere to basic grammar and run a spell checker over your content before releasing it.

Usage Relevant Categories And Tags

Tags and categories might be a relatively small signal for the online search engine; however, it's worth ensuring that your content is arranged correctly.
 
Publishers tend to put in a lot of effort when it comes to inbound links; however, appropriate citations with links to high-quality sources of info are a signal to Google that your content is most likely to be premium.

Enhance Your Images

Images provide a great chance for making more usage of your keywords, which can be positioned in:
 
Filenames
Alt text
Captions
Image titles
 
Once again, do not go overboard and things unimportant keywords into your image's metadata simply because you can.

Usage Google Authorship

While Google Authorship isn't presently utilized a ranking signal, it does have a result on click-through rates due to the fact that it supplies the info Google has to show abundant bits, consisting of author names and images. Some plugin will assist you to establish Google Authorship on your WordPress website.


WordPress is a relatively secure platform for SEO out-of-the-box, and while there are unlimited tweaks and optimizations you can make to a website in order to enhance its SEO efficiency, these standard actions will guarantee that your posts will make an excellent showing when they are released and into the future.

The 8-Step Formula for Writing an Amazing Blog Article

Have you ever sat in front of a screen thinking, “What the heck am I going to write?!”

You know that content marketing is effective. You know that you need to do it. Sometimes, though, it’s tough to actually make it happen. 

Along with the feeling of writer’s block is the experience of taking way too long to write an article. I know writers who spend ten hours on a single article. When it takes this long to produce a piece of content, it’s easy to get discouraged and give up on content marketing altogether.

Is there a secret to publishing high-quality content in less time? I believe there is. One of the reasons why successful people can do so much in a shorter amount of time is because they depend on systems.
A system or process for completing a given task is a formula-driven way to achieve something. Such an approach may sound boring and difficult, but in reality, it makes jobs easier, faster, and far more efficient.

In this article, here’s the system that I use for writing a blog article in sixty minutes or less.

1. Pick Your Topic Ahead of Time

One of the best things that I’ve ever done is decided ahead of time what I’m going to write on.
I used to sit down and try to decide on my topic and write it in the same session. That killed my productivity. I don’t rely on an editorial calendar, per se, but I do have a list of topics and titles that I work from in order to make my process fast and simple.

When it’s time for me to write, I pick a title from the list and get to work. One of the benefits of having these topics ahead of time is that my subconscious mind is working on the topics even when I’m not writing. By the time I sit down to write the article, I’ve already been thinking on the topic. I’m better prepared to write faster, clearer, and better.

Often, when I’m mapping out my titles and topics, I jot down a few ideas under each title. Sometimes, it’s a link to an article that inspired me, an image that caught my attention, or even a few ideas that I have.

The more that I trace out some points for each title, the faster the writing process goes. I have to be careful not to write out the whole article, however, since this will distract me from the task of coming up with topics.

2. Write Three Paragraphs for Introduction

The first thing that I do when writing an article is to create the introduction.
Some writers prefer to keep their introductions and conclusions as the last task. For me, the introduction helps to set the stage and define the progress and flow of the article. Getting an article down helps me to write the rest of the article.

How do you write an introduction? Keep it simple.

• Paragraph one: Try to get the reader’s attention and share the big idea for the article.
• Paragraph two: Try to emphasize the need for the article. Prove to the reader that they need to read this.
• Paragraph three: Explain the big idea of the article. Take a look ahead at what the reader is going to experience and learn.

That’s it. Now, you’re ready to dive into the rest of the article.

3. Create Five Main Points

This is your outline — five main points.
Why five? It’s a random number. You need as many points as it takes to prove your point and get the idea across. Make it twelve. Make it twenty. Whatever. The point is, you need some structure in order to create an article.

An article without an outline tends to ramble. The reader may get confused, bored, or simply frustrated. Make the outline clear, and then you’re ready to fill it out with content.

I often fall back on the technique of numbered content topics. One reason I do this is because readers tend to enjoy them more. Another reason is that they are easier to write. I’m not spending all my time figuring out how to approach my topics. Instead, I have a plan already traced out in the topic or title — five reasons why…, ten ways to…., six techniques for…

Readers like this approach because it’s clear and organized. If they prefer, they can simply skim the main points to get the gist of the article.

For your part, you can load the article up with deep content and research, but you’re frontloading the most valuable and action-oriented portions of the content directly into the outline.

4. Share One Piece of Research in Each Point

Now that you have your points clearly laid out, focus on the research element.
Conduct a few Google searches that pertain to your topic. Find some good case studies, examples, papers, news articles, or other high-quality content that proves your point.

This is the meat of the article, and it’s important not to simply neglect it. Discerning readers want you to back up your claims with actual research.

Because this is the meat of the article, it’s also the place where you will tend to spend the most time. To avoid getting bogged down, you may need to limit yourself to citing or discussing just one research source — a single case study, for example. Yes, the internet is full of potential helpful information, but tracking down all of it will take you too long.

5. Add Images to Prove Your Point

Break up your content with a few relevant images. The quickest way to find images is Google’s image search.

Search for an image by entering the keywords that are relevant to your article or topic.
For example, here I search for “content marketing.”

 

This is a broad query, so I need to narrow it down. An easy way to do so is simply to click one of the categories at the top of the image search page.

By funneling my search into a specific area of research, I can gain a valuable amount of visual data to back up my points.

Notice that these are images that I’m citing within my article as part of my research. These images are not intended to be the creative lead for my articles.

Every article should have some images, so use the ones that are best for your audience and that fit within your budget. Be aware of copyright laws, and always cite your sources.

6. Create a Conclusion

Sometimes, I write my conclusion before I write the article. Though it seems counter-intuitive, doing so helps me to keep my thoughts focused. Just as often, I write the conclusion at the end.

I don’t try to get cute. I call the conclusion “Conclusion,” and leave it at that. This makes it simple for the user. They know exactly where and how the article will end. It also makes it easy for me. I’m not wasting my time trying to think up a creative twist. I just bring everything to a conclusion.

7. Write Three Concluding Paragraphs

My conclusion consists of three paragraphs on average. There is a way to write a conclusion that doesn’t sound lame or weak.

The best approach is to summarize your article, keep it short, and just be real. Avoid the trap of stuffing your conclusion with all the things that you wish you had said in the article. It’s a conclusion, so use it to put on the brakes and stop the article.

8. Close With a Question

If you’ve read any of my other articles, you’ll notice that I usually end with a question. I’ve found that this is a helpful way to encourage readers to think. It has the double benefit of providing me with an endpoint, too.

Conclusion

This is a formula-driven approach to writing an article. Are you allowed to break the formula? Absolutely. When you choose to color outside the lines, you’re simply expressing the kind of creativity that makes your content more valuable.

Take the article you’re reading now, for example. I’m all over the board, breaking half the rules I just explained! That’s because I’m using the formula as a guide, not as a lawbook.

Follow the rough process. It will enhance your productivity. But take your own approach. It will expand your creativity. Both productivity and creativity are essential elements of great content.


CREDIT: searchenginejournal.com
AUTHOR: Neil Patel  

Third-Party Content Can Be A Key Component Of Marketing On Facebook

When you don’t have the resources to drive your social media marketing with exclusively owned content and five pieces of new content per day, there is a wealth of third-party content that can just as effectively help reinforce your brand’s identity — I would say actually do a better, more “authentic” job of letting your customers get to know you and your brand. And it isn’t simply content curation, but a much higher art form. Just finding and sharing someone else’s article isn’t enough to build your brand. Here are five things chief marketing officers need to know about making third-party content a driving force in their content marketing strategy.

Ain’t No Party Like A Third Party To Shape Your Brand Identity

Whether it’s the photos on your Facebook news feed or the art hanging on your wall, what you share says a great deal about your personality. This is no different for a brand, or, more specifically, a company’s social media marketing strategy. A company that exclusively produces original content might earn itself some sort of bragging rights, but curating content from a diverse pool of trusted and informative third-party sources will garner more respect and attention from followers than most original content. By sharing content from third parties, you and your brand are acting more human — these acts of sharing are little daily votes that let your fans and followers know who you are and what you stand for. They allow you to share your “single-minded value proposition” through little snackable pieces of content built by others. And the content can be varied — it could be a blog post about an area you care about, a picture of someone using your product in a novel way, or even a critical review in which you acknowledge your own shortcomings. The biggest thing is that there are other things happening around your customers and fans that involve you and your brand: You need to join them in their world.

It’s Not Curation Without Voice

Social media is still about people — their personalities, their views, and their conversations. Technology can help discover and curate, but it can never replace the nuance of the brand’s voice — a voice that needs to be approachable, authentic, and human. Whether it’s inserting a personal anecdote or cat GIF, people want to see that these brands they’re following aren’t spambots pumping out mindless recycled content. They want to hear what the brand stands for, what it cares about, why it exists for them. Just adding, “Interesting,” “Good read,” “Check this out,” etc., is lazy and ultimately detrimental to a brand’s social media following. If consumers want an RSS, they can easily find one to sign up for on their own. Successful marketers present the story as only a piece of the big picture, adding the “why” or the “how” to show that this makes a difference for the reader and ultimately furthers the brand’s goals.

Enable Technology To Enable People

It’s no secret that it’s tough to staff a 24-hour, always-on-call social media team. Most community managers at brands big or small have long lists of tasks to perform on a daily basis, and finding great news, stories, and studies to share on their social networks from the millions of sources on the Internet, 10 to 20 times a day, is just one of them. Your social media team is probably pretty good and talented but most likely overworked. Technology can help them. Whether it’s more efficient curation and publishing tools, or just the freedom to take advantage of mobile applications to keep up with the always-on social stream, enabling your team with the right tools can make them more effective (and happier).

Your Third-Party Sharing Can Shape Your Owned Content Strategy

In nearly any field or art form, compiling material from other sources can result in great success for you or your brand and, in turn, help further your original content. The Huffington Post has become one of the most-visited websites based on a foundation of sharing content from other sources, while mash-up artists like Girl Talk, with dozens of layers of blended samples, continue to sell out venues around the world. These disparate pieces of third-party content end up shaping the brand’s concurrent or eventual original content — whether it’s a headline on an original HuffPost story or a musical composition based on an original melody and chord progression. For marketers, the more content you share, the more you begin to understand what your community responds to, just like a dance artist would gauge fans’ reaction to a sample they’ve been using. Marketers should use the data learned from third-party sharing — clicks, comments, number of retweets, number of new or lost followers, etc. — to help shape any owned content creation initiatives. Remember that you are sharing content for your fans, not you.

Curation Is Not A Four-Letter Word

A logic gap still remains with many companies when it comes to sharing content that they did not independently produce. Whether it’s due to fear, accountability issues, the “we’re better than that” mindset, or other issues they may have, companies need to get over it. The biggest and most revered news outlets in the world, such as General Electric, make third-party content an instrumental component of their content marketing strategy. Companies that are unable to accept the idea of content curation will eventually face a harsh reality: Audiences don’t discern between what is first-party and what is third-party — they only discern between what’s interesting and what isn’t. If you’re producing the latter, your social media practice may be doomed.

Credits: adweek.com


Author:
Joe Doran, co-founder and CEO of Rallyverse, is a seasoned and accomplished senior executive with 15 years of experience managing digital media, advertising, and social media solutions in high-growth companies such as Microsoft, General Mills, and Media6Degrees. He is a sought-after expert in interactive advertising, advertising technology, and social media, and an active investor and advisor to a number of social and advertising companies.