I have been studying search engine optimization (SEO) methods for several years. I do not claim to be a technical expert but I understand the basics. This is the way to get search engines to notice you and increase visitors to your genealogy site (or any other site). I find that most of my new visitors come through search engines, and mostly through Google. The first step is deciding what to get noticed for. In other words, what keywords you want people to find your through (e.g. the names of your family, the name of your site or blog).
Then you try to be consistent in your use of terms. However, do not do anything that does not make sense to your readers. For example, do not put keywords into sentences where they do not make sense. The search engines will catch on to this and not list you and your readers will not like it and not come back.
I recently came across this free SEO book by Jonathan Leger that I learned new stuff from. While, it is designed to get you to buy the guy’s software there were some good tips that made sense in the free text that do not require the purchase.
I like the way he explains keywords and how to set them up. In this context he introduces Digital Ponit’s free Keyword Suggestion Tool. It gives the relative number of searches on related terms so you can pick the most popular ways of expressing a concept. For example, there were 6 times more searches for genealogy than for family history. Various methods for optimization are covered, both stuff you do to your blog and stuff you do to promote in outside the actual blog. He explains some of the logic behind most search engines so you can see what might help and what might not. While, I do not agree with everything in the book, especially the idea of paid inbound links, you can sort through what is useful and what is not.
The book is consistent with what I know so the new stuff (to me) seems plausible. Here is a link to the book, Adsense SEO made Easy. It is not limited to Google Adsense seo help.
Disclaimer – if you use this link and if you actually buy the software through the links in the book, I get a commission. I get nothing for you getting the free book or if you buy the software in another way. I have not yet bought the software and do not know if I will so I cannot endorse it one way or the other. That is not the purpose of passing on the book but I did not want you to be surprised by the commission thing as it comes up in the book.
Hope this is helpful. Pleas feel free to ask questions in the comments section of this post.
Comments