Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen

Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen: Optimize Your Blog Posting Headlines

Today, Tuesday June 13, Mary Gillen offers an SEO idea when it comes to writing blog posting headlines.

I keep hammering on the fact that keyword research is, as they say in New England, "wicked important" when it comes to optimizing Web-based copy for the major search engines.

Here's a tip.

Always include one or more of your most important search terms in each blog posting headline you publish.

Look at some of the headline postings on Learn One Thing:

Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen:
Learn One Thing from Bob Brown:
Learn One Thing from Jo Soard:
Learn One Thing from Quinn McDonald:

In each case we always use the name of the site "Learn One Thing" and the author's first and last name. Every time we post, an RSS feed is generated and the search engines pick up the keyword phrases. Great for optimization.

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WEDNESDAY 6/14/06: More sales ideas from Bob Brown.

Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen: Blogging for Business - Part 3

Mary Gillen shares a bit about the "inverted pyramid style" for writing effective blog content.

On April 28 we talked about including keyword phrases in ALT tags and image names when blogging for business.

When writing effective blog content, consider using the "inverted pyramid style."

Journalists are familiar with the "inverted pyramid" when composing news stories. You start with the most important information first, smack dab in the first paragraph. The reader has access to the conclusion immediately, in case there isn't enough time to finish the entire article. The supporting information is then added in the subsequent paragraphs. The point: state the crucial info first so the reader can grab the facts quickly.

Keep this style in mind when writing business blog content, but take it one step further. IDEA: include the keyword phrases most important to your audience in the first 100 words of your blog posting/RSS feed.

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TUESDAY, MAY 9: More sales ideas from Bob Brown.

Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen: Blogging for Business - Part 2

Mary Gillen shares more real-world experience on the type of blog content the search engines love.

On April 19 we chatted about keyword research basics.

Using specific keywords in your blog content and RSS feeds can help drive traffic to your Web site because it contributes to better rankings in the search engines.

Take it a step further:

Include keywords when you name the images you post to your blog. Also include keywords in the ALT attribute that appears in the IMG tag that calls the image into the blog page.

Example: Move your cursor over the image of the jumbled letters at the top of this post. The "tool tip" that pops up reads: Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen: Blogging for Business - Part 2. This ALT tag includes keyword phrases: Learn One Thing...Mary Gillen...Blogging for Business.

If you are on a PC, right-mouse click on the image and select Properties. See the image name: bloggingforbusiness.jpg. Keyword phrase once again.

Next week we'll talk more about blogging for business in Part 3. Have a good weekend.

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NEXT WEEK: More tech, sales and marketing ideas from Mary Gillen, Bob Brown, Jo Soard and Quinn McDonald.

Learn One Thing from Mary Gillen: Blogging for Business - Part 1

Mary Gillen shares a bit of real-world experience on the type of blog content the search engines love.

One of my clients, Craft Stop, a supplier of craft supplies, needlework, paint by number kits, and craft leaflets worldwide, boosted business 50% in 90 days when we added a blog/rss feed application to the company's marketing mix.

Take a look at this sample blog post:

Craft Stop has an newsletter that is emailed every Sunday at 9 a.m. called the Craft Tip (see sample).

We re-purpose the Craft Tip content in the Craft Stop blog as well.

Notice the structure of the post. It includes the tip, along with an ad that includes keyword-rich links (red type in Ad section) back to Craft Stop's web site.

RESULT: We started this program in October 2005. Business was up 50% in 90 days.

Next week I'll explain why the search engines love this kind of post.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 21: Listen for better copy from Mary Gillen.