I wrote this list for someone with Wordpress blog, and figured that you might find it useful too. The basic fundamentals are the same even if your site / blog isn’t a Wordpress one. (Full article with embedded links here:
Internet Marketing Article - 20 steps to website heaven )
1) Do some keyword research – what are your target market searching for? Use the Google Keyword Tool if you want something free. Start with basic phrases and find out what people in your area are looking for. Remember, in most cases, the more searches a phrase has, the more competition there will be for it – don’t try and climb Everest in the first month; start with some niche phrases that you can get quick wins on and use them.
2) Install the All In One
SEO plugin for Wordpress – it’s a great tool and allows you to change the title tags and META tags of every page of your site/blog. Using the phrases that you found in step 1, plan the pages of your site around the phrases – you want to be able to include those phrases in the title tags and META description tags of your pages. However, this is not the be all and end all – if the phrase isn’t included in the page too then you’re not doing it properly.
3) Make sure you use your phrase in H1 tags on the page where possible – but remember, you’re writing more for the visitor than for the search engines; don’t get carried away and end up with something that puts your visitors off. (Also make sure every page of your site has a strong call to action – when I’ve finished reading it, what should I do next?)
4) Sign up for a Google Webmaster Tools account and follow the steps to verify your site – this account will give you a LOT of information about your site and no website should be without it.
5) As part of GWT, you need an XML sitemap – generate a map and upload, then register it. If your site changes infrequently, update this sitemap every time you update the site. If it changes a lot, then consider installing a sitemap plugin for Wordpress that will update it automatically for you.
6) Read about anchor text Bookmark that post and come back to it regularly – anchor text is one of the most important things for you to remember. Seriously.
7) Set up a Squidoo lens – maybe even more. Link them back to your site. Remember the anchor text.
8) Set up a BT Tradespace account and post some of your (amended) content over there. Remember your anchor text. Take part in the communities there. Remember your anchor text.
9) Join online networking sites and include your keyphrases in your signature. Remember your anchor text. Also remember to take part – if you’re not posting / replying / being part of the community then no-one, including Google, is seeing your signature. UK Business Labs, Ecademy, Business Scene, Linked In, Xing – there are a lot to choose from.
10) Write an article. Top Ten Tips To type articles work well as do short snappy articles that are easy to read. Remember your article is to educate the reader, not just promote your site. Have you written it? Now write another ten. Remember to get your keyphrases in there, as you’re going to use them as anchor text.
11) Post your articles, one every few days, to Ezine Articles. Post them to and communities you belong to that allow you to. Publish them on your website. Remember your anchor text.
12) Get a Twitter account. Download Tweetdeck. Tell everyone you know you have a Twitter account. Use it to interact with people, follow interesting people and yes, to promote your sites / blogs / posts etc. Don’t listen to people who tell you it doesn’t work – it does when done well.
13) Download 299 Steps to Website Heaven – spend time going through it properly. You don’t have to employ an expert to do
SEO if you have the time and energy to do it yourself. Of course you will make mistakes, of course you will become frustrated, but it is possible to do well without spending lots of money.
14) Read my Internet Marketing Articles – they’re free and they should help.
15) Look into Ning, Tribe, Free Index etc – find communities you can interact with.
16) Find relevant directories to submit your site to.
17) Now find some more
18) Reread about anchor text – you’ll have forgotten about it
19) Make sure you track and test everything – use Clicky or Google Analytics; I prefer Clicky as you can see visitors in real time.
20) Constantly research and find new places to list / promote your website. Things change constantly and by the time I’ve submitted this list, it will be out of date!
20a) Drop me a line and let me know how you get on!
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