SEO for Beginners

I have been on Squidoo since the end of March 2009 and have only just got to grips with Search Engine Optimization. The most important thing in Squidoo is your own unique content. If you are finding the learning curve quite steep enough already it would be fine for you to wait a few weeks before dealing with this subject. However there is really nothing to be scared about. SEO is just about getting your lens noticed by the search engines and in particular we are looking at Google. First we will talk about keywords.

What we are doing is finding a way to get to the attention of our readers. We want to be on the first page of Google. I have seen keywords working for me. One to two days after you have added them you will see your lens joyfully leaping up the Squidoo rankings. This of course is Squidoo but is also because Squidoo knows that you are getting in a better position with Google.

A keyword or phrase which best describes what your lens is all about is the powerful thing that will get you noticed. Today I sorted this out in my lens about playing the piano as an adult. Naturally enough my keyword was "piano" ( although I'm wondering if this was the right word to choose as it is rather general) I am putting the link to that lens below so that you can see how many times I have used the word "piano." In the intro you will find piano in bold.(To find out how to embolden words look in Collected Squidoo tips, shown below, and find "Basic html for Squidoo" on that lens) This helps Google to pick up your subject.

We are also advised to put the keyword in bold in our last module. Otherwise it is important to use the keyword when possible in the module headings as Google picks up on these more easily. Also you should use the keyword where possible in the main content, but do be sure to do it discreetly and not obtrusively. I have altered sentences which say "when you play music" to "when you play music on your piano" thus using the keyword. It is possible to edit your previous lenses to include keywords. However even better is to think about your keywords before you start your lens, then you can include them in your lens title and URL.

Take a look at Sojoun's useful lens below to read up on this.

Update on 15th October 2009, my piano lens two days ago was languishing at a rank of 162,800. Obviously time I did something with it. I put in the keywords and it's true to say some new content, which is always important. Yesterday it reached 114,966 and today 50,313. Also I managed to find it on page ten of Google. So these things are worth doing, they do work. Have a go and watch your progress.

This lens above includes all three of Sojourn's lenses on Search Engine Optimization. I must say how indebted to Erica I am as she started me on this journey. You need to read and digest what is presented in these lenses, but it is probably best to deal with a small portion at a time. Don't give yourself indigestion. Let things seep in slowly.

The above suggestions should get you started with discovering Search Engine Optimization. For now just pick out the bits you feel happy with and then you can gradually add in the things you find more complicated.

This is another way to get your lens ranked more highly. Use the link list. Of course your links need to be related to your content. The more click outs you get from your lens the more your lens rank will improve. If you have really useful links people will use your lens again to get quickly to the information they want. You might think you don't want to direct people away from your lens but actually this will send it up the lensrank.