Maximizing SEO performance depends primarily on Content and Backlinks. If you don't know what they are, I suggest going to the library and checking out some books on SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. If you didn't know that, hurry to the library.
SEO for Dummies was one of the books I read. It opened my eyes a lot. One of the things I learned from this book, and from an SEO vendor I interviewed, is that a lot of SEO optimization is not magic. You don't have to have a degree in Mass Comm or IT to make great progress in SEO. If you do no more than work on your content and backlinks while blogging you can make great strides in SEO. Of course you will need a website to link back to.
Blogging and commenting on blogs is one way, and one of the most effective ways, to generate Google Juice. Remember, Google Juice works for all SEs, not just Google.
But how you blog and comment can make a difference. A big difference. Make sure that every time you blog you choose key words for the title and first paragraph that match and are pertinent to the blog. Make sure the blog is pertinent to your cause, such as your business. Try to keep your blogs interesting, compelling and current with the times. Keep your eyes on the prize. Unless you like to spend time blogging about different subjects as a hobby, always make sure your blogs support your agenda. Don't waste time blogging about your pet unless you own a pet store.
Commenting on other blogs can also help maximize your SEO. Blogs usually get more attention (higher SE rankings) than comments because they have more content and better content (more interesting and compelling). But comments can be more time effective since you probably don't have to put as much thought (hence, time) into a brief comment compared to a well thought out blog. But, as in a blog, including a backlink (sometimes referred to a linkback, among others) back to your website in your comment or comment signature block can increase SEO just because of the linkback. Every backlink makes your website seem more important in the eyes of the SEs.
Backlinks (or linkbacks, or inlinks at YAHOO) are when you include a link back to your website. Hence the name, backlink, or linkback. My basic backlink is my website address, http://habitecinspections.com , which takes you to the first page on my website. You can also create a link to your website by using the unbroken link symbol in the tool bar at the top of these AR blogs and comment spaces. This tool helps you make your backlink more visually appealing and somewhat embedded. So the link HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, is really the same as http://habitecinspections.com. You end up in the same place regardless of which one you click on.
If you have a website already you can easily check on YAHOO for your current backlinks, YAHOO calls them inlinks, by opening up YAHOO, click on the YAHOO search bar, type in "site:yourwebsiteurl.com", without the quotes. So if your website was http://certifiedrealty.com, you would go to the YAHOO search bar and type in site:certifiedrealty.com and look for the Pages (141) and inlinks (20). The individual inlinks (backlinks) are listed below that. There is where you can see where your backlinks are coming from. Cool, huh.
One final point about comments. It helps if your comment is pertinent to the message of the blog. Telling the author "Thanks for your helpful blog. I'll start using that.", may get you some AR points but does little to interest a SE.
All SEO books and guides I have ever read or classes and seminars I have attended emphasize content and backlinks as the two most important components of SEO. Eye on the prize, and happy blogging!
Thank you,
Richard Acree
Comments in this blog posting are the copyrighted intellectual property of Richard Acree, President, HABITEC Home and Building Inspections, LLC, and contributing members of the Active Rain Real Estate network, and are intended to educate and otherwise assist home owners, sellers and buyers, building owners, sellers and buyers, realtors, real estate investors, property managers, and lenders in the process of owning, buying or selling homes or commercial buildings. HABITEC is a residential (home) and commercial building inspection company serving Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Brentwood, Franklin, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Mt. Juliet, Hendersonville, Dickson, Belle Meade, Columbia, Spring Hill and more! In addition to building inspections HABITEC offers Environmental Services for mold assessments, radon testing and water quality analysis. Additional information about HABITEC can be found on our website at http://habitecinspections.com, or call 615-376-2753.
Richard Acree is the author of the HABITEC Home and Building Inspections ActiveRain Blog and founder of the ActiveRain Group Tennessee Home and Building Inspectors. All are welcome to join and see more blogs like this one. You can also join HABITEC on Facebook or Linked .
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