WordPress

WordPress

WordPress.com – WordPress Free Blogs

WordPress is an open-source blogging platform utilizing PHP, MySQL, and CSS that has high levels of flexibility and customization for the user.  First released in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg, WordPress has since established itself as the leading blogging software in the world. Well known for its coloful themes and intelligent content management systems, WordPress has proven to be one of the most liked CSS tools out there with its easy editing and fast uploads.  Not only has it proven successful in the blogging world, Google has shown a ton of support and appreciation for WordPress websites.   Leading it to become the most successful SEO platform for blogging and competitive rankings.

WordPress is used by over 15% of Alexa’s “Top 1 million websites” and is chosen as the software for 22% of new websites coming onto the world wide web.

But what does this have to do with web 2.0 building and SEO for your business?

WordPress.com – the free blogging network.

Why use WordPress.com?

• Build your brand awareness and marketing reach throughout one of the largest free blogging networks in the world
• Establish authority and trust within your niche and market
• Get some backlink juice for your main domain as well
• Engage with potential customers through relevant discussions and conversations

Being that WordPress.com is a free blogging network of millions and millions of blogs, its gonna take some time to get traffic and rankings for the actual WordPress sub domain that your free blog is hosted on.  This being the case, you should setup a free account quickly and start writing some posts when you have time.  You don’t need to spend massive efforts writing thousands of posts, but one or two a week can really help speed up the process and you’ll see more and more comments come in quickly.

General Rules for WordPress:

• Unique content and media only, don’t spam duplicate or junk content
• Update regularly, the more the better
• Keep posts at least 500+ words for best impact
• Fill out all profile information possible
• Start commenting and engaging with other authorities in your niche/market on WordPress.com

SEO Tips for WordPress.com:

• Write topics/themes for your keywords
• Add RSS feed or blogroll to sidebar with your main website links
• Include relevant authority links in your posts – .gov and .edu are best to associate with
• Try to add media to every post – images or video is great

WordPress.com is not going to provide you instant results for SEO or other online marketing success, but you can find great results over time with steady effort and content creation.  Just focus on getting connected with any other individuals and WordPress.com blogs that matter in your niche and industry.  Start posting with them and adding your own blog to the community.  Over time you will gain recognition and see your WordPress.com efforts blooming into ranked and indexed posts.  Backlinks will come to your main domain with authority and trust from Google, you can see results just keep adding posts regularly.  Don’t spam or use duped content!

Blogger

Blogger was purchased by Google in 2003 and their primary user-driven blog publishing platform. They are all based off a sub-domain permalink structure, meaning your free blog will have the extension of http://www.yourblognamehere.blogger.com. This helps promote a very powerful network of content and media throughout the Blogger network.  Due to this approach, Google is very serious about maintaining high quality posts and pages on users accounts. So understand that if you want to be using Blogger as a networking and SEO platform, make sure to write quality and original content for your posts.

In July 2011, Google announced they will be changing the name “Blogger” to “Google Blogs” by the next year.

Blogger has evolved into one of the strongest and most reputable “free” blogging platforms in the world.  Currently holding an Alexa rank of 7 and millions of page views a month.  It’s transformation into “Google Blogs” is going to help promote more connection between their Google Plus social media and the current Blogger community.  Smart ploy by Google to get the two, heavily conversation based, groups together for more social media and blogging frenzy.

Why use blogger?

• Gain stronger networking in specific markets and industries which benefit you
• Establish a wider brand name and reputation
• Connect with potential, current, and past customers
• Distribute press releases and other news about your company and products/services
• Build authority with Google by participating with your community

Use the same Gmail account for Blogger and Google Plus to maximize authority and networking

By using Blogger you will have connected a Gmail account with the blog.  If you are going to be using this Blogger account to establish trust and authority, make sure it is a credible account that is clean and well chosen.  This should be the same Gmail account that your Google Plus is connected to, helping you build a wider network of connections and linking.

General Rules for Blogger:

1. Write and use only original, unique content
2. Search and write too authority users in your market/industry
3. Get involved with a new post and conversation every week
4. Keep updating regularly to bring in more traffic
5. Make worthwhile contributions (posts=500+ words and comments=50+ words)
6. Do not spam backlinks

You’ll see the strongest SEO results overtime as you enter more media and content to your Blogger and Google Plus accounts.  Don’t worry about placing a ton of backlinks into your posts, you aren’t trying to stuff backlinks.  Instead you are adding expertise and information to inflate your reputation and authority on Google’s own networks.  Take your time and establish yourself as a serious player in your niche, profession, and industry.  No reason to shoot yourself in the foot early.

SEO Tips for Blogger:

• Write on themes/topics that focus your keyword research
• Setup your blog or company website on the sidebar (blogroll or RSS are good widgets)
• Do not place backlinks in every post
• Bold specific keywords in posts for emphasis
• Don’t allow spam comments
• Get engaged in conversations with other Bloggers
• Update at least once per week

The real value comes from continuous blogging and use of the Blogger platform relevant to your market and niche.  Don’t waste time blogging about random junk around the web, if you are looking to gain something from Blogger focus on the areas that can bring you potential benefits long-term.  Start posting and engaging with the community and over a period of a few months you’ll see extra organic traffic and hopefully conversions coming to your website

Squidoo

Squidoo

Squidoo is definitely one of the big boys in Web 2.0 sites. Currently Squidoo has an Alexa rank of 206 and a Google Page Rank of 7!  They revolve around a blogging system referred to as “lenses”.  Your lens will include content, links, polls, videos, amazon affiliate marketing, Google ads, and more.

Squidoo SEO Tip – try and connect with a GiantSquid in your niche, you’ll get huge benefits and faster results if they like your lens and befriend your account

The best way to build lenses and create strong SEO benefits through Squidoo.com is by creating unique content that is focused on your keywords.  Always try to incorporate multimedia, such as videos and images to gain more trust and authority sooner.  You’ll see that it only takes a few articles to fill a lens and then you’ll be able to add on a number of backlinks for your main site.  I really like their RSS feed widget, this gives nice backlinks plus context to the links, looks great for search engine spiders to crawl.

There are some excellent opportunities for SEO so let’s go over the basics.

Squidoo Strategy:

• Write unique 2-3 400+ word articles
• Key word rich titles with long phrases in body; natural flow
• Make polls, guestbook, add video if possible
• Go to other lens, post and interact to attract more readers and rank your lens higher
• Higher ranking lens will see more visitors
• Page Rank can increase over time and generate traffic in SERPs

SEO Tips for Creating Squidoo Lens:

• Content is king; more unique useful content and your lens will attract and build viewers
• Add relevant links to your domain and some other sites for non-spam look
• Always add logos with keyword rich titles/captions/descriptions
• Keyword rich profiles with your domain backlinks

SEO Tips for Backlinks on Squidoo:

• “add+to+list”
• “add+comment”
• “subject”

Can all be good search terms when looking for lens that allow you to place a link in any of those areas.

Example: “add+to+list” site:squidoo.com

Google those backlinks and write relevant posts/comments to make sure your links are placed.  Try to friend them and like their lenses to get more involvement from other people toward your lenses.  One of the best ways to do this is by interacting and hopefully, befriending a “Giant Squid”.  They have large networks and very strong influence on the lenses at Squidoo, one like from a Giantsquid and you’ll see big leaps in your lenses value and worth to your SEO needs.

Squidoo still holds some excellent value for your SEO campaign, even post-panda.  This is due to the nature of Squidoo only allowing 100% unique content on their domain, keep up the consistency and take the time to write quality, relevant articles in each lens.  You’ll see the results a lot sooner if you make heavy content and high volume lenses on each topic.  After you are done writing a lens take the time to go and post comments on related lenses, you are trying to generate some interest, comments, and extra views for your lens by doing so.  Often times a couple of thumbs up can really help you generate more traffic from the search engines and Squidoo’s internal search mechanisms.