Local Search Optimization Tips for Blogs

by sitemanager

local search optimization, seo for blogs, geographic blog graphic

Still struggling to achieve a top search ranking with your blog for local, Geo-driven keywords and queries? If you own a small local business, a blog can help to attract new customers -- but only if people in and around your area see it. This is where local search optimization (LSO) comes into play: by performing various on-site and off-site optimization tactics, you can encourage higher search rankings for local searches. Include Contact Information as Plain Text If you aren't doing so already, add your business's contact information -- in plain text format -- to your blog. This includes yo...

The Do’s and Don’ts of Using Images in Blog Posts

by sitemanager

A picture really is worth a thousand words. Using images in blog posts will make them more appealing, which subsequently lowers your blog's bounce rate while improving user experience. But there are a few things you should know about using images in blog posts. Don't Use Images Without Permission I know this probably sounds like common sense, but it's still worth mentioning -- you should never use an image without the owner's permission. Just because you see an image that you like doesn't necessarily mean that you can use it on your blog. Copying and uploading images to your blog could op...

How to Attract More Comments on Your Blog

by sitemanager

A blog is an excellent platform for showcasing content while generating a strong response among readers. Because they are more personal and time-sensitive than traditional websites, they typically receive more comments. But you can go one step further by utilizing the following tips to encourage even more visitor comments. The Importance of Visitor Comments Why are visitor comments important for blogs? While there's no rule stating that you must allow visitors to submit comments, doing so will almost certainly prove beneficial. Fresh Content: For every comment a visitor makes, your blog re...

5 Things to Check Before Publishing a New Blog Post

by sitemanager

Running a successful, popular blog isn't an easy task. You must identify an untapped niche, create a solid brand presence, and publish high-quality content that's relevant to your target demographic. But before you click the "publish" button in your blog's platform to publish that next blog post, you should first check the following to ensure it's ready for your audience. Title Length How long is the title of the post? According to the search marketing experts at Moz, page titles should be kept under 55 characters to maintain a high level of visibility in the search results. If your post ti...

5 Things to Consider When Choosing Guest Bloggers

by sitemanager

All bloggers hit this wall at some point -- staring at our screen and wondering what to blog about. Sometimes the muse just isn't there and we run out of creative ideas. This is just one reason to consider inviting guest bloggers to submit content to your blog on occasion. Inviting guest bloggers to submit content is also an excellent way to enhance your blog with commentary from a different perspective. Before you race out and start inviting guest bloggers, here are a few things to consider first. Competitor or Parallel to Your Blog Niche? It's a bad idea to recruit guest bloggers who ar...

Why Your Blog Isn’t Showing Up in Search Results

by sitemanager

It's no secret that search rankings play a key role in the amount of traffic a website or blog receives. If your blog ranks high for its target keywords, you'll generate more traffic -- traffic that can be used for commercial purposes like selling a product or service. But what if your blog isn't showing up at all in the search engines? Blocked Robots Have you checked your blog's .htaccess file to see if search engines are allowed to crawl it? Even if you don't remember modifying this file, altering your blog's settings may trigger these changes. And if search engines are prohibited from cra...

How to ‘Wake Up’ a Dormant Blog

by sitemanager

Has it been months or even years since you've published a new post on your blog? It's no secret that blogs thrive on fresh, high-quality content. So when you neglect to publish content, the blog may sink down into the abyss where countless others remain, only to receive a small trickle of traffic. But before you delete your dormant blog, you should first attempt to wake it following the steps listed below. Change the Design The first step in waking up a dormant blog is to change the design. Both search engines and human visitors will take notice of your blog's new design, increasing its enga...

Do I Need a Blog if I Already Have a Website?

by sitemanager

Ask any seasoned business owner and he or she will agree: a website is no longer a luxury for running a successful business; it's a requirement. Even if you don't use it to sell a product or service, having a website instills greater trust in your target audience while helping to establish greater brand recognition. But if you already have a website, you might be wondering whether or not you need a blog -- a question that we're going to answer today. Blog vs Website Before we reveal whether or not you need a blog, let's first discuss the nuances between blogs and websites. While a blog is es...

Common Myths and Misconceptions About Blogging

by sitemanager

Blogs Cannot be Monetized This is one of many myths that couldn't be further from the truth. Regardless of your blog's niche, it can almost certainly generate revenue -- assuming it has a decent amount of traffic. One of the easiest ways to monetize a blog is to display cost-per-click (CPC) advertisements like Google Adsense, which pay you a small amount (usually $0.05 to $0.25 cents) for each click. That being said, don't quit your day job and expect to support yourself on blogging revenues! The vast majority of bloggers who try to earn money from blogging do not earn enough to replace a ...

Using Guest Blogging to Attract Followers

by sitemanager

As a blogger, you should constantly be working to increase your total number of followers. The more followers you have, the more exposure your posts will receive; it's just that simple. While there are dozens of ways to attract new followers, among the easiest and most effective techniques is guest blogging. What is Guest Blogging? Guest blogging refers to the practice of writing and submitting posts to other blogs in exchange for recognition and a link pointing back to your own website or blog. The "guest blogger" may write a post for another blog, and include a short bio at the bottom with...

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