- Block Duplicate Content - With the nifty All In One SEO pack for Wordpress, you can easily set your category and archive pages to be noindex/follow… meaning that Google will follow the links to the individual articles, but not index those pages which will help guard against the duplicate content problem. For those of you not running Wordpress, try turning off your archives, and not placing posts in more than one category. Read more about: Multiple categories & Onsite Duplicate Content.
- Keyword Research Before You Post - This little tactic has helped me tremendously. Before you get ready to hit publish, run the keyword phrase that you used in your title through a keyword research tool like Google’s Keyword Tool. You may often find that with just a slight variation, you’ll be targeting phrases that get a higher volume of searches. For more help on keyword research, read this post I wrote about the money tail.
- Internal Link Juice - In order to properly pass Page Rank, and link value to deep pages of your site (like older blog posts), you’ll want to link to these posts often. This can be achieved through a related posts section, or by simply linking back to previous articles as resources. Sometimes a few basic internal links with proper anchor text can have a great effect on that page’s ranking. Andrew Shotland gave a great tip related to this when I interviewed him about local search marketing.
- Keep Your Link Count Down - This can be a problem with some blogs… too many links on one page. It can water down your internal Page Rank, and cause problems with full indexing. Generally, try to keep the number of links on a single page below 100. Google has said that it may not crawl any links past the 100 mark. So be careful with your categories, archives and blogrolls. These are the things that can eat up your links fast especially on the home page and category page.
- Use Unique Titles For Blog Posts - Diversify your ranking potential by using unique titles on blog posts. I’ve written about this topic extensively here: Keyword Cannibalization.
- Each Post is a Ranking Opportunity - View each post you write as a new opportunity to rank for a unique keyword phrase. Each post has it’s own content, title, title tag, and URL slug making it a prime candidate for unique ranking for certain phrases. Don’t try to target the same phrases over and over in each post.
- Use Heading Tags - Not only is this important for usability, it’s vital for search engine ranking. If you are targeting a phrase in the title of the post, try to incorporate that phrase somewhere in the post within a heading tag. This will also break up the article nicely and make it easier to read.
- Label Pictures Properly - Each picture should include the tag that can be used to describe a picture with text. Be descriptive, but try to also include keyword phrases that you are targeting.
- The Perfectly Targeted Post - When you are attempting to rank a post well, you must do the following: 1. Identify a keyword phrase 2. Place the phrase in the post title towards the front 3. Place the phrase in the first sentence of the post 4. Use at least one subheading in the post that includes the phrase 5. Place the phrase in any images on the page using the alt tage. 6. Let the phrase flow naturally throughout the post.
- Write a Linkbait Post - This is a post that is written for the sole intention of building more links to the website through viral popularity and interest. It could be something funny, something controversial, a hoax, insider news, a free resource, and more. Just about anything can be linkbait if it ends up getting other people to link to you.
- Create Link Clusters - Each post has it’s own keyword phrase ranking potential in the search engines (usually based on the keywords used in the title and body). Create extra links to pages like this in clusters. Example: you have a post that is targeting: “blue widgets”. Create 10 links to that post from other related articles with that exact anchor text as the link: “blue widgets”. This can dramatically increase the ranking of that page for the chosen keyword phrase.
- Leverage Strong Pages - Every website has a few strong pages. Usually these are the most popular posts that have the most incoming links and comments. These pages can be leveraged to help build the authority of other pages on the site that may not be performing to their full potential. Link generously. Try using this tool for finding your strongest pages.
- Monitor 404 Error Statistics - Using Google Analytics and Google webmaster tools can help identify error statistics. Keep your eye 404 errors for pages that get consistently accessed. It probably means that there is an old link to that page that is bringing traffic to it. You’ll want to set up a 301 redirect for the 404 error page, or talk to the webmaster of the other site to have them change the link to a working page.
- Check Status of Outgoing Links - Many times the pages we link to get moved, taked offline, etc. It’s important that all of your outgoing links work properly so your readers can be taken to outside resources that actually work. Try this dead link checking tool.
- Find Missed Link Opportunities - Many times, your company or website can be referenced online without the actual hyperlink. It can be an effective strategy to find these references and ask the webmaster to turn them into a link. Use this query to find pages with these references.
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Lakeshore Realty 208-714-4109 - Hayden, ID
North Idaho Realtor, Serving Coeur dnullAlene and Hayden Lake
Justin, Thank you. This is the most comprehensive article on SEO I have seen on AR. Most of them just barely scratch the surface.
Jul 22, 2012 09:09 AM
houses for rent, Solano County & Glen Cove - Benicia, CA
Benicia and Vallejo, Property Management, rental h
Amazing that this post was written so long ago yet is still so interesting and full of information. I wonder if you could update it with the latest information in SEO?
Jul 22, 2012 12:05 PM
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
NC Real Estate Transition & Relocation 919-602-848
Justin - Thanks for the great tips. There is so much here that I've bookmarked it so I can return.
Aug 16, 2012 09:30 PM
Real Estate Marketing Experts &Trusted Senior Advisors on Property Management services, Rentals Leasing, Landlord Ten... - Seattle, WA
Trusted Senior Property Advisor & Marketing Expert
Justin- Thank you-
You could re-write this blog with just half of the info-with bigger font and talk to ME like I'm a 2nd Grader and maybe I would get it. I did get Long-over short and Money Tails and it works
Thanks
Ricky D
Seattle,WA
Aug 28, 2012 07:21 AM
Pages of Homes - Lawton, OK
A great post with some very valuable information. I especially liked the parts about the internal linking and the format for using the anchor text in the headline, first line, etc.
Sep 02, 2012 02:52 PM
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland West - Westlake, OH
Justin, this is fantastic, practical info for those of us who need more SEO ranking content in our blogs.
Sep 08, 2012 04:35 AM
Oregon First - Tigard, OR
Tigard Oregon Homes for Sale, Realtor, GRI
There is a lot of information to absorb here. I have booked marked this for future reference. Thanks.
Sep 25, 2012 11:43 PM
Lakeway, TX
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370
well you rang the bell for having a few comments on your post! great job and super info too!
Dec 08, 2012 11:39 AM
Serving Sugar Land, Missouri City, Richmond and Pearland - Sugar Land, TX
Broker-Associate, Keller Williams Realty SW
My brain cells are running around in a tizzy. I am going to have to digest and implement piecemeal. I'm sure after a few tries I will have it down to a fine science.
Dec 29, 2012 06:21 AM
Keller Williams Central Rhode Island - East Greenwich, RI
Real Estate & Relocation Services 401-533-6916
Chad and Sandy Real Estate Group - Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville Realtor (904-414-6200)
One of the most complete SEO checklists I've seen anyone share! It's literally the first half of my checklist!
I'm sure you do more as well. I would add to the linkbait and backlinking--
Only do this with optmized posts, but repurpose your post in any format possible and Syndicate like crazy for backlinks.
Write a Linkbait Post - This is a post that is written for the sole intention of building more links to the website through viral popularity and interest. It could be something funny, something controversial, a hoax, insider news, a free resource, and more. Just about anything can be linkbait if it ends up getting other people to link to you.
Jul 25, 2013 11:45 AM
One Source Realty - Geneva, IL
Your #1 Source For Real Estate
Justin, thanks so much for sharing these tips. Considered this post saved for my future reference. Well written and easy to follow!
Aug 06, 2013 02:01 AM
TDR Mortgage & Real Estate Group - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Teresa Tims
Start MAXIMIZING the Internet.... Kommunicon.com - Priceville, ON
Become a KOmKard owner today,
NBlogging not done right can hurt you more than it can help you.
I agree with the technical points outlined in this post, what i would of liked to have seen is a comment on the value and the importance of original conetent in the blog itself.
Have a great day
Bryan
Apr 04, 2014 05:49 AM
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227
Thank you. Good tips. SEO search advantages an on going process. Every bit of info helps.
Jun 11, 2014 05:09 PM
Sandpoint Realty LLC - Sandpoint, ID
North Idaho Real Estate - 208-255.6227
Justin. Great information. Will have to revisit this page a few times to read all. Thx again
Jun 23, 2014 04:16 PM
Compass - La Jolla, CA
San Diego Partner - The Private Client Network
Justin Smith thank you for the extensive info. I have done most of the SEO work on my website but I'm by no means an expert.
Dec 31, 2015 11:52 PM
THE JMTEAM NETWORK - Dade City, FL
CCIM, CCP, International Commercial Broker
It is a great guide to have and review what we are doing. It is an excellent step by step recipe. Thanks for sharing
Jan 31, 2016 11:35 AM
PMI. Destin - Miramar Beach, FL
Call me at 850-517-7098
Interesting ideas and comments here. Can you update this blog or at least let us know if it is current?
Jan 22, 2020 12:26 PM
Comments(192)