It may sound harsh, but it is possible that Google hates your blog. I know, I know – it’s hard to hear. But you can do something about it by eliminating the problem areas keeping your blog and Google from being friends. Here, in no particular order, are ten reasons why Google has a beef with your blog.
1. You aren’t using your readers’ keywords.
So you’ve taken the time to come up with keywords for your blog and are sprinkling them into your posts so they read seamlessly. That is a great start, but what if your readers aren’t using the same keywords as you?
Good SEO requires an understanding of what people search for when they look for content such as yours. To hone in on the best keywords, put yourself in your readers’ shoes and ask, “If someone were searching for content like mine, which search terms would they type into Google? Those are your new keywords. Using the same words and phrases your readers use will help them find you in a Google search and increase your blog’s traffic.
2. Your blog headlines don’t include your main keyword.
Precise, strategic marketing requires following SEO guidelines that deliver results. Good SEO practice involves placing keywords in your blog posts’ headlines (h1 text) and subheadings (h2 text) because these areas are weighted more than regular text. Be sure not to overlook these prime areas when placing keywords – doing so means missed SEO opportunities.
3. You don’t link to older blog posts.
To help your readers discover other great content you’ve produced, you should always create links between your blog posts. If your blog is focused on a subject area, such as social media marketing, you will likely refer to information from your previous posts on a regular basis. Use this opportunity to reference this information with a link back to your older post, which will keep readers on your blog site longer. Google loves links, so try to include keywords in the copy that links back to older posts, to get the full SEO benefit.
4. You aren’t linking to other bloggers.
Even though this tip may seem contradictory to the last one, you can get some SEO benefit from sending your readers to other blogs. Google likes to see bloggers sharing high-quality content with their audiences, even when that content was produced by another writer. Your readers will appreciate it too because occasionally sending them to other, helpful blog posts will add value to their own reading experience. To do this, consider writing a “best of” list post or simply incorporating a blogroll into your sidebar.
5. You aren’t using enough bullet lists in your posts.
If you want Google to love your blog, use bullet lists. While they don’t have quite the effect on SEO as headlines, subheadings and links, bullet lists are more important to Google than regular text. Another plus for using bullet lists is that they help readers absorb your content more effectively. Use these lists to break up long passages of text, and don’t forget to use keywords. Placing them in first couple of words in each bullet works best.
6. You aren’t using social media to promote your blog.
In its quest to provide valuable and relevant search results, Google is using social recommendations to decide whether your content is worthy. When people mention and link to your blog on social media, Google takes notice. Build a community around your blog using social media, and be active to get the comments going.
7. You don’t use share buttons on your blog.
To facilitate the previous tip, include share buttons on each and every post you write. Make it easy for readers to share your content with their own social networks by encouraging tweets and likes. Not only does Google like to see social recommendations on your own social media platforms, but it also likes to see your content being shared by everyone else. Besides increased Google love, you’ll also gain a larger audience for your blog.
8. You confuse Google with too many topics.
I think it’s great to have a lot of different passions, but Google does not agree – at least from an SEO point of view. The best blogs are tightly focused on one main subject area. If your blog is too scattered, Google will not understand how to categorize it. And, if Google can’t decipher it, chances are it won’t get found. Your readers will appreciate your focus, too, because they know your blog will consistently provide valuable information on the topic they care most about.
9. You don’t encourage comments.
Inviting your blog readers to leave comments creates a community around your blog posts. This sense of community is valuable for branding and enriching your blog, and it has SEO benefits, too. Comments add on to the content you’ve already created and give your blog a freshness that Google loves. An active commenting section also shows Google that your posts are still relevant to readers, long after they’ve been published. So get the conversation going with a question or simply an invitation to share after each post.
10. Your blog is riddled with broken links.
Google hates broken links because they give the impression that you aren’t maintaining your blog. Broken links also create hiccups as Google is crawling your blog posts, because the crawlers keep running into dead ends. Simply put, broken links are bad for SEO, so check for them regularly to keep Google from getting frustrated.
***
After reading this list of ten reasons Google may hate your blog, you may be thinking that Google is very particular and perhaps bit persnickety. Just remember that good SEO practice is usually good practice for your readers, too. Making the changes above will help you and your blog be loved by readers and Google alike.
What other tips can you offer to keep the Google love flowing?
Image courtesy of creative design agency Arrae
Google+
10 Reasons Why Google Hates Your Blog
March 19th, 2012 :: Monika JansenIt may sound harsh, but it is possible that Google hates your blog. I know, I know – it’s hard to hear. But you can do something about it by eliminating the problem areas keeping your blog and Google from being friends. Here, in no particular order, are ten reasons why Google has a beef with your blog.
1. You aren’t using your readers’ keywords.
So you’ve taken the time to come up with keywords for your blog and are sprinkling them into your posts so they read seamlessly. That is a great start, but what if your readers aren’t using the same keywords as you?
Good SEO requires an understanding of what people search for when they look for content such as yours. To hone in on the best keywords, put yourself in your readers’ shoes and ask, “If someone were searching for content like mine, which search terms would they type into Google? Those are your new keywords. Using the same words and phrases your readers use will help them find you in a Google search and increase your blog’s traffic.
2. Your blog headlines don’t include your main keyword.
Precise, strategic marketing requires following SEO guidelines that deliver results. Good SEO practice involves placing keywords in your blog posts’ headlines (h1 text) and subheadings (h2 text) because these areas are weighted more than regular text. Be sure not to overlook these prime areas when placing keywords – doing so means missed SEO opportunities.
3. You don’t link to older blog posts.
To help your readers discover other great content you’ve produced, you should always create links between your blog posts. If your blog is focused on a subject area, such as social media marketing, you will likely refer to information from your previous posts on a regular basis. Use this opportunity to reference this information with a link back to your older post, which will keep readers on your blog site longer. Google loves links, so try to include keywords in the copy that links back to older posts, to get the full SEO benefit.
4. You aren’t linking to other bloggers.
Even though this tip may seem contradictory to the last one, you can get some SEO benefit from sending your readers to other blogs. Google likes to see bloggers sharing high-quality content with their audiences, even when that content was produced by another writer. Your readers will appreciate it too because occasionally sending them to other, helpful blog posts will add value to their own reading experience. To do this, consider writing a “best of” list post or simply incorporating a blogroll into your sidebar.
5. You aren’t using enough bullet lists in your posts.
If you want Google to love your blog, use bullet lists. While they don’t have quite the effect on SEO as headlines, subheadings and links, bullet lists are more important to Google than regular text. Another plus for using bullet lists is that they help readers absorb your content more effectively. Use these lists to break up long passages of text, and don’t forget to use keywords. Placing them in first couple of words in each bullet works best.
6. You aren’t using social media to promote your blog.
In its quest to provide valuable and relevant search results, Google is using social recommendations to decide whether your content is worthy. When people mention and link to your blog on social media, Google takes notice. Build a community around your blog using social media, and be active to get the comments going.
7. You don’t use share buttons on your blog.
To facilitate the previous tip, include share buttons on each and every post you write. Make it easy for readers to share your content with their own social networks by encouraging tweets and likes. Not only does Google like to see social recommendations on your own social media platforms, but it also likes to see your content being shared by everyone else. Besides increased Google love, you’ll also gain a larger audience for your blog.
8. You confuse Google with too many topics.
I think it’s great to have a lot of different passions, but Google does not agree – at least from an SEO point of view. The best blogs are tightly focused on one main subject area. If your blog is too scattered, Google will not understand how to categorize it. And, if Google can’t decipher it, chances are it won’t get found. Your readers will appreciate your focus, too, because they know your blog will consistently provide valuable information on the topic they care most about.
9. You don’t encourage comments.
Inviting your blog readers to leave comments creates a community around your blog posts. This sense of community is valuable for branding and enriching your blog, and it has SEO benefits, too. Comments add on to the content you’ve already created and give your blog a freshness that Google loves. An active commenting section also shows Google that your posts are still relevant to readers, long after they’ve been published. So get the conversation going with a question or simply an invitation to share after each post.
10. Your blog is riddled with broken links.
Google hates broken links because they give the impression that you aren’t maintaining your blog. Broken links also create hiccups as Google is crawling your blog posts, because the crawlers keep running into dead ends. Simply put, broken links are bad for SEO, so check for them regularly to keep Google from getting frustrated.
***
After reading this list of ten reasons Google may hate your blog, you may be thinking that Google is very particular and perhaps bit persnickety. Just remember that good SEO practice is usually good practice for your readers, too. Making the changes above will help you and your blog be loved by readers and Google alike.
What other tips can you offer to keep the Google love flowing?
Image courtesy of creative design agency Arrae
Google+Tags: blogging, blogs, comments, Google, keywords, linking, Marketing, seo, share buttons, social media
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