Efficient Ways to Optimize Your Blog for Google Rankings

A professional blogger knows that running a successful blog depends on the search rankings and traffic density. Just because a blog receives many comments and is highly regarded by those who read it, it does not mean that the blog is search engine optimized to its full potential. If a blog ranks highly in the search engines or receives a substantial amount of traffic, then efforts should be focused elsewhere such as social media marketing.

An Overview of SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In case you do not know, Search Engine Optimization is the process of getting a website ranked into popular search engines. If a website gets ranked within the first page, the website has high exposure and visibility which in turn can increase profits. There are essentially three elements that contribute to search engine rankings: offsite optimization, onsite optimization, and social media marketing. In this article, we are going to talk about efficient onsite optimization for your blog.

Use Google’s Keyword Research Tool

The first step to optimizing a blog is researching for appropriate keywords. There are many methods in which keywords can be researched and implemented. Google Adwords tool provides an abundance of information on how many people use the search engine using a particular keyword. For example, if a keyword or phrase receives 25,000 searches a month, that would be a nice number. While that may seem like the ideal keyword, it is important to distinguish the nuances of what that number means. If a keyword has 25,000 searches a month, it could mean that there is more competition for that keyword.

Use Titles and Sections to Enhance Readability for Spiders

Headers and sub-headings should incorporate keywords. Using headers and sub-headings help Google spiders index relevant information that can raise rankings on the SERP (Search Engine Results Page). With the Google Penguin and Panda updates, Google placed many requirements and restrictions on the spiders scan, crawl, and index quality content that follows and easy-to-read format.

Avoid Overpopulating a Blog with Keywords

Keyword stuffing is a primary reason why Google updated their search algorithms. Keep keyword density between two percent to four percent of the total number of words in a blog post. For instance, a blog post of 500 words should have an occurrence of approximately 10 keywords. Anything above that can reduce the overall quality of the content and dissuade readers from taking the content seriously. It helps to have a variety of keywords and synonyms.

Use Keywords in the First Paragraph and the Last

Keywords and phrases should be used in the first paragraph. Google’s spiders lift pertinent data from the title and the first sentence of an article or blog. Ideally, Google wants people to make descriptive and informative paragraphs that follow proper English grammar. Google’s Panda and Penguin updates have become sophisticated enough to distinguish improper use of the English language and penalizes websites that make try to cater to spiders and not human readers.

Use Keywords in Image ALT Text

Websites today are made up of content, and content is king, but no one can deny that visual elements enhance a website more than just words. Google’s spiders are not programmed to pick up images, but there is a workaround. Bloggers can use ALT text and other attributes that provide and accurate description of the image.

Use Keywords in the Website’s URL

It helps to name the http:// address should contain elements of the keyword, which helps search engines identify relevant sites. The URL name of a webpage should fit the keywords and content. Google spiders can’t make sense of random numbers and characters in URLs, so it is safe practice to find a naming convention for each and every page in the blog.

Use Links with Keywords as Anchor Text

Linking your blog from other pages within your blog site can greatly enhance bounce rate and traffic. Descriptive links can improve the overall reliability and navigation of your site. It helps to have links coming from other websites such as authority sites, comments on other blogs, article directories, etc. Google’s Panda and Penguin updates penalize users and sites who participate in spam commenting.

Image credit : Muhammad Rafizeldi  / CC-BY-SA-3.0