SEO for Beginners

Ranked #5,474 in Squidoo Community, #349,398 overall

Search Engine Optimization

I'm going to try to keep this look into Search Engine Optimization as simple as possible. It sounds like a very heavy topic but really much of it is quite straightforward and easy to put into practice. I will be starting with keywords, after a few words about other things which are more important. This is a gateway to new vistas.

Your content

is the most important thing

Maybe you should forget about Search Engine Optimization for a while

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.

Keywords

So what is a keyword and does it have a noticeable effect

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.

Look out for the keyword "piano"

Loading

Sojourn's helpful lens on Search Engine Optimization

Loading

A useful resource

My lens which includes other people's lenses on Search Engine Optimization

Loading

A useful collection

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.

If you like

see what Wikipedia has to say. the more you read the more you will begin to understand

Getting started with Search Engine Optimization

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.

Use Link Lists

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.

SEO on the Internet

These are great. I shall be going back to take a second look.

Ten Tips
Hints from the web.
SEO Tips
From the internet.
55 great tips
More from the web.

Here's your chance to let me know how you feel

Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

Do you think you are ready to cope with SEO

LauraMarie says:

I love SEO, I think it is very important but there are other important factors too when trying to make money from writing.

vet000 says:

On page SEO is good and relatively simple to do but its very time consuming to do off page SEO through backlinking. My site has currently been sandboxed urrrrggghh! Please feel free to check out my lens at http://www.squidoo.com/the-5-essential-elements-of-making-money-with-penny-stocks

visualNZ says:

I'm getting the hang of it...reading everything I can regarding SEO

OhMe says:

I still have a lot to learn about SEO and this lens was helpful. Thank you.

Joan4 says:

I wish I had learned more about SEO earlier. After 100 lenses, I finally began to get a small grip on it. :)

blue22d says:

It's not that bad. Like you say, if you don't know you find out. There is tons of info on the Internet regard SEO. Thanks for this lens.

Or is it all too much at the moment?

 

Is this helping you?

submit
  • Reply
    Coe Feb 8, 2011 @ 8:40 am | delete
    When I first got into online SEO, "they" were telling us that the number of times the keywords in the first paragraph were to appear was based on a percentage of how many words were used in the first paragraph. (Yes, that was many years ago!) At that point SEO seemed very onerous. Now, with the changes in search engines looking more for content and not how many times a keyword appears, it has been much easier to sprinkle keywords throughout content rather artificially using as many as the percentage required.

    Great lens!
  • Reply
    LauraMarie Jan 3, 2011 @ 9:40 am | delete
    Great information here and should help beginners
  • Reply
    pkmcr Oct 25, 2009 @ 3:38 am | delete
    Some excellent information here and beautifully crafted. Blessed by a Squid Angel
  • Reply
    OhMe Oct 15, 2009 @ 6:43 am | delete
    Great information about Search Engine Optimization. Thank you. Blessed!
  • Reply
    Joan4 Oct 15, 2009 @ 5:44 am | delete
    I have also learned so much from Sojourn! I am thankful for Squidoo lensmasters who are willing to share their knowledge with all of us. Your lens will be helpful to so many. Blessed.
  • Reply
    LizMac60 Oct 15, 2009 @ 3:53 am | in reply to spirituality | delete
    Thanks for your comment which is so true.
  • Reply
    spirituality Oct 15, 2009 @ 2:42 am | delete
    If there is only ONE thing a fresh squid should do with regard to SEO to get started, it is to make sure keywords are in the title of the lens. The rest is details compared to that. Great lens.

See my stuff

Loading

by

LizMac60

Hi! I'm Liz and I am the squid angel.I am a retired violin/piano teacher.I'm a keen short mat bowler. I am a local preacher with the Methodist Church in... more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!