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Search engine optimization is not rocket science but it can be confusing, especially for those who are just starting out. You want to ensure that your blog is SEO friendly to actually attract viewers. There is no magic potion to improving your WordPress blog’s SEO; however, there are a few tips that will methodically improve your site’s ranking.

Content is Key

Your blog is all about content – so make it a worthwhile read by constantly updating, adding and editing your content. Write excellent content that people will actually want to read. SEO aside, this is the first (and certainly most important) thing we all need to remember when it comes to blogging.

Comment on other Useful Blogs

You need to read to be read. What this means is that if you are reading a blog that is particularly interesting and applies to your blog, leave a comment and a link to your blog, if it’s suitable. This does not mean, however, littering a number of different blogs with a link to yours. Furthermore, when you are leaving a comment, make it worthwhile. Offer some advice or another piece of information relevant to the article. Do not comment just for the sake of commenting.

Header Help

Make sure you are using your header tags correcting within the posts. “H1” tells Google this is the most important thing on the whole page. For that reason, it should contain post titles, not your blog’s title. “H2” is the second most important content on the page, so should be used for sub-headings. Use “H3” for sub headings and sidebar element and use “H4” for low for sidebar elements.

Sitemap for Success

Sitemaps are not only helpful for viewers that get lost, but they also tell the search engine reports what your content is all about. With a site map, search engine robots are able to index your content appropriately meaning you get the visitors that you want. WordPress makes site mapping simple with the Google XML Sitemaps plug-in! Install it, set it up and tell Google where your new sitemap is.

Alt Tag Images

Images are important for every blog. However, without the ever important Alt-tag, search engines are unable to tell what that certain image is. WordPress makes it easy to Alt tag images so make sure you do it! Simply fill out the description when you upload the image and you’re done!

Choose your Plug-Ins Wisely

There are a number of different WordPress plug-ins available and it might seem appropriate to use as many as possible. After all, they are there to use right? Wrong. You’ll end up with a lot of unnecessary clutter. Select your plug-ins wisely. The one we recommend is SEO Super Comments plug-in which can generates pages for all your comments, making them indexable by search engines. What this means is that your comments can actually help you rank higher on search engines. Perfect!

Beautify your Permalinks

Under the settings tab in the WordPress backend, click “Permalinks”. Choose an option that will work with your blog. Our suggestion? “Custom Structure” with either /category/post-name or /post-name. Simple yet elegant.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Contact us today for more information on how we can improve your business or create your company a web presence that will dominate the search engines and deliver results. Call today at (612) 558-1020 for a free phone consultation.

Linking is one of the most important aspects to any SEO campaign. It will give your website presence in all the right places. However, many people are unaware of how to properly link to their own pages and to other pages on the web. There are a few linking faux pas that all web designers should avoid. Read on to make sure you are not guilty….

Cloaking Links – your site will lose credibility if you cloak your links. Make sure the user is able to see where the link is pointing on the status bar of the browser

Unclear Links – viewers need to know what it a link and what is not (what is clickable and what is not). Underline or give your links a contrasting color to the text.

Underlined Text or Colored Text – links are supposed to be underlined or colored in a different color than your normal font. If the normal text is blue rather than black, then where in the heck are the links?

Colorless Links – when you click on a link, it should change color so the reader knows he has been there. If your links remain the same color, your viewer can end up getting confused and returning to the same links over and over again. Talk about annoying.

Forgetting Anchor Text on Links – this is a common mistake but needs to be avoided. Although it might be easier to use the phrase “click here”, it is not as efficient.

Don’t link to new browser windows – it might make sense to have any site links open in another window – that way the viewer doesn’t ever lose your page. However, this is actually a lot more annoying and frustrating for the viewer. With a number of windows open, he is less likely to even go back looking for yours. In addition to this point, it is also a good idea to avoid resizing the user’s browser window. Let the user be in control of his browser.

Make sure you link to credible sources - Although it’s always a good idea to link to other pages on the site, if you are going to link away from your site, make sure you are linking to a credible resource on the subject.

Don’t forget the footer links – when a viewer cannot find what he is looking for, where is the first place he will go – to the bottom of the page. Make sure you include a link to the Homepages, Contact Details and more in your footer.

Want to know more about the importance of proper linking? Contact us today for more information on how we can improve your business or create your company a web presence that will dominate the search engines and deliver results. Call today at (612) 558-1020 for a free phone consultation.

There are a lot of articles out there that explain the top ten mistakes to web design navigation; however, the reality is - there are more than ten web design mistakes out there. That is why we have compiled a list of as many web design mistakes we can think of. Read, enjoy and watch out for the following in your web design project:

Over-complex URL structures – stay away from URL’s that are hard to remember and even harder to type in. Stick to a simple keyword based URL structure. This will ensure that your page is seen by those looking for it and will also make it easier for readers to identify the content on your page before visiting it.

HTML Tables – if you have the choice, pick CSS rather than HTML tables. CSS is faster, more reliable and offers a number of cool features. HTML tables really can’t compare.

Unsearchable websites – make sure all your pages are searchable and SEO friendly, not just your home page.

“Drop Down” Menus – drop down menus can confuse things by hiding some of the information that the viewer might be looking for. Make it simple and straightforward and steer clear of drop down menus.

Don’t forget the Text Navigation – text navigation is faster and more reliable than Image navigation, especially considering many users will browse the internet with images turned off.

Bring it “Back” – another big mistake many web designers make is breaking the ‘back’ link to your webpage. Make sure your viewers can follow their steps back, if they want to.

Don’t use horizontal scrolling – it’s annoying and useless. Make sure your website fits inside a 1024 by 768 pixel screen to avoid the horizontal scroll.

No long pages – horizontal aside, long pages are also incredibly annoying. Make your web pages short and sweet. It will improve the navigation structure and make your site a lot more readable.

Avoid Pop Ups – most pop ups are blocked anyway. It’s best to stay away from pop ups on your site.

Avoid JavaScript Links – another waste of time and space, JavaScript links will often create problems for the user without really adding anything to your site. Best to stay away.

Avoid too many versions – stick to one, either Flash or HTML, 56kbps or 128kbps. Don’t confuse the reader anymore than you have to.

Avoid advertising blending – would you like some adverts with your content? Not likely. So don’t do it.

Avoid complex navigation structures – you want to impress your viewers with your web design skills right? But this does not mean choosing a navigation structure that should come with its own manual. Make your website have a single, clear navigation structure so anyone, grandma included, can browse your site.

Avoid “intros” – making the viewer sit through a forty second introduction to your site is not going to sit well with anyone, especially those in a hurry.

So there you have it – avoid the following errors in navigation and watch your website soar in SEO success. Contact us today for more information on how we can improve your business or create your company a web presence that will dominate the search engines and deliver results. Call today at (612) 558-1020 for a free phone consultation.