SEO for squidoo - getting found in google: search engine optimization

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How to get your lens found by google

SEO - search engine optimization - has many different facets. This lens goes over the main ones - especially how they effect making successful lenses on squidoo.

An elaborate version of this lens, with details about blogging, twitter and more, can be dowloaded.

SEO BASICS 

Introduction into Search Engine Optimization

To understand search engine optimization you have to know the basics of how google (and the other search engines, but they become increasingly irrelevant) works.

Google ranks pages based on the following:

  • Text on the page

  • Links to that page

  • How old the website is the page is on

  • How trusted the website is that the page is part of

  • Emphasized text: text in headings, titles, description tags etc.

How does that pan out in Squidoo?



Text on the page


This just means: make a lens for people, based on what people are looking for.


Links to that page can be two things:

  1. Links from outside squidoo to that page. This is why we keep hearing: 'blog about your lenses', 'promote your lenses'.

  2. Links from within squidoo. This is such an important topic that I'll explain more later

How old and how trusted the website is the page is part of.


This is where we have to partly just pray and hope and wait. Squidoo was registered as a domain in 2005, so that's pretty old in internet years.
How trusted it is, is one reason why it's so important that squidoo keeps fighting spam. As lensmasters we all benefit if google feels it can trust the content that's on squidoo. We all lose when google decides not to trust the content.
One way to gain google trust is to get links from reliable websites. This brings us back to: if we all promote squidoo well online, we all benefit.

FAQ - any questions about SEO? 

Only for questions about SEO. Feedback below at the bottom of the lens.

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  • Reply
    spirituality spirituality Nov 9, 2009 @ 9:57 am | in reply to Steve-SEO-UK
    Since we usually do not control the pages that link TO us, and having more links is better than having less, I don't think that tip helps much in a practical way.

    I do agree however, that the closer the topic of the page to the page you're promoting, the better the link.
  • Reply
    Steve-SEO-UK Steve-SEO-UK Nov 9, 2009 @ 9:51 am
    I think it is important to note that when acquiring back links, that the title of the page your link details are on contain the keywords you want high ranking for. Same with the anchor text link wording.

    Nice Lens - Have tweeted on Twitter.

    Steve
    http://steve-seo-uk.blogspot.com/
  • Reply
    spirituality spirituality Nov 8, 2009 @ 2:52 am | in reply to KathyMcGraw
    [in reply to KathyMcGraw] I have a link there to explain rel nofollow. Here's the URL: http://www.katinkahesselink.net/internet/no-follow-tag.html

    As for the 'explore related pages' bit - Since it is both a source of links TO your lenses as FROM your lenses, I'd only turn it off if selecting your tags better doesn't give better results. Try to stay very much within your niche with your tags & choose tags the lenses you'd like to see show up there are using. Also: use the three bottom slots with related lenses of your own.
  • Reply
    KathyMcGraw KathyMcGraw Oct 23, 2009 @ 1:20 pm
    This may sound dumb but what is a r-no follow? And also what about the new little discovery box on the sidebar-do you suggest we leave it on, or turn it off. Many of the lenses in there have nothing to do with my subject.
  • Reply
    spirituality spirituality Oct 17, 2009 @ 2:18 am | in reply to Kapalbility
    No. Image links don't count as links with anchortext. Even if there is text in the alt or title tag, such links are never as valuable as ordinary text links. Worse: if people only link to the image and not to the site that hosts the image, the link doesn't help at ALL, unless you put in a server 301 redirect.

    However, if you - say - create banners and provide people with the code to use them which includes a link to a page, and a title attribute that is relevant to that page, google probably does take such links at least a bit into consideration.

    In other words: getting links to images is no use except to the website doing it. It amounts to stealing bandwidth.

    Getting links associated with images is not as good as a text link, but still helps a bit. Better than nothing.
  • Reply
    Kapalbility Kapalbility Oct 16, 2009 @ 4:21 pm
    Hi. I have another question about backlinks (been trying to optimize one of my lens) does anchoring your link using an image count also? Thanks for the prompt answers!
  • Reply
    spirituality spirituality Oct 15, 2009 @ 10:14 am | in reply to Kapalbility
    Yes, it helps to link from a blog to a lens and from the lens to the blog.
    Forum links help as promotion, if your lens is worth seeing at all, and that may lead to links. Other than that: forum links are often nofollowed, and in that case don't directly help a lens to rank.
    Usually I don't link directly from the lens (which I want to rank) to the blog, but instead from another lens or blog.
  • Reply
    Kapalbility Kapalbility Oct 15, 2009 @ 7:40 am
    Hi! I have a question bout back linking: For example, I link I blogged an article here and in blogspot, and back linked them to each other, would each benefit from each other? And do forums (in signatures, to be precise) count too?
  • Reply
    spirituality spirituality Jul 21, 2009 @ 9:33 am | in reply to jaye3000
    Your blog should USE what you've learned about SEO, but no - don't make it about SEO. That's a very crowded niche. Instead write about your primary niche. If you don't have one yet, make a blog featuring great lenses on squidoo - including (every once in a while) your own.
  • Reply
    jaye3000 jaye3000 Jul 21, 2009 @ 9:28 am
    I've been thinking for some time about starting a blog...is ay one best. Would a squidoo blog do better than another in the purpose of getting traffic,etc.?
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Emphasized text: headings, titles etc. 

Squidoo is a well created platform, from an SEO standpoint. Anything we put in the titles of our modules is coded as an h1, h2, or h3 title. What we put in our lenses is emphasized above what google itself puts in.

Title and description meta tags


People need to think: hey, that's interesting! or hey, that's just what I wanted to find!
The title you give your lens, will end up in the title tag. The introduction you write for your lens, will end up in the description tag.
Once your lens is indexed by google, search for it to see what it looks like. You will see your introduction text appear in the search results - try and look at it from the perspective of a person looking for the information you offer: would they click that link? If so: well done. If not: try writing your description differently.

Though the title of your lens and the introduction should contain your main keywords, they should also be written for people: they are the ones you want to have on your page.

Headings


This is important: we don't really want all our lenses optimized for the term 'squidoo', when the subject of our lens could be something as arcane as 'spiritual quotes'.

Because headings are so important, it really pays to have your keywords in your headings. It also pays to use all the headings you can: the title of the introduction module for instance, or subheadings in modules.

Links


Links are important for all kinds of things. But one thing that's often forgotten is that link-text is emphasized text. One way of stuffing your page with keywords without raising much of a flag with google is by having the keywords in links. But don't overdo it!

Emphasized text in general


Emphasized text is any text that gets emphasized in the code. This can be a bold tag: <b>your keywords</b> or something in italics: <i>your key words</i>

The thing here is that just because you have your text bolded with CSS, this doesn't mean google knows it's bolded. If you are using CSS to bold text, it's not clear whether google realizes it. It probably will in the future, but for now it pays to add that b-tag.

Keyword Over Optimization 

I'm going to stress this, because it's a subject that I have seen lensmasters ignore.

When a page looks unnatural to you - it probably looks unnatural to google. After all: google is constantly on the lookout for spam pages - pages that are designed to get visitors from google and get money out of people clicking on ads just to get out of the page as quickly as possible.

One way google figures out what is spammy is to try and determine whether the keyword density is 'natural'.

In other words: is the percentage of keywords in your lens natural for a page discussing your subject? If so, no problem. If you think it's un-natural - tone it down a bit...

After all - I've seen pages get visitors from google for key phrases where the words themselves were only on the page 2 or 3 times.

Key word optimization is about balance: make sure google knows what the page is about, but don't overdo it.

Over optimization is one reason why it can pay to have different spellings of your key word on the same page: you get all the variations your visitors may be using in there, and you will be over-optimized for none of them. Of course this has the disadvantage that it doesn't look all that professional.

Keyword over optimizations is easy on squidoo


With all the modules and tags - it is very easy to loose rankings due to over optimization.

If you suspect that has happened: cut back on your tags.

Leave in only those that are green in the squidoo health check (see below).

Make sure your tags don't repeat the same words too often (not more than 3 or 4 times)

Make sure you use different spellings of your key phrases in your modules. Mix things up a bit.

Keyword research 

Before you make a lens, you should find out a bit about the keywords you are going to be using...
featured lens How to do Keyword Research for squidoo

It is an under statement to say that keywords are important for getting your squidoo lenses (or any webpage really) found in google or another search engine. If you are going to be making a lens to make money, you had better find out two things: wh...

Not everything that gets you traffic is SEO

I've seen a number of people make the following mistake: they call anything that brings traffic SEO.

SEO is what brings search engines to your door. With social media like tagfoot, stumbleupon and myspace this is only true if they do not have rel-no follow in the links. check the source code of the page your link is on.

Promotion is what brings direct traffic.

Links that do neither are NOT useful.

Internal Squidoo Links 

There are several ways your lens can get links from within squidoo.

There are links humans create:


  1. Your own profile page has links to all your published lenses. Each of your lenses profits a bit from links you create to every other lens you have.

  2. Links you create between your lenses: lensrolling, featured lenses, link plexos and any other links.

  3. Links other lensmasters create to your lenses. Again: lensrolling, featured lenses, link plexos and any other links.

  4. Links you can create to your lenses on other lenses: submitting links to link plexo's devoted to your topic.

  5. Links to and from groups

Links created semi-automatically


There are aspects of squidoo that are created by computers. As lensmasters we have some, but not much control over them. This is where the TAGS come in. Lensrank is also an important factor here.

  1. Links on tag pages

  2. Top 100 lists

  3. Links in the 'explore related pages' bit on the sidebar. You can control the bottom three through the tab in the introduction module. The rest is chosen by squidoo based on tags and lensrank. So indirectly you can help squidoo pick relevant ones by picking your tags wisely (choose tags used by lenses YOU think are related).

 

Optimizing tags

Tags are back: they do matter in SEO these days. The main reasons:


Tag pages are no longer just lists of lens titles. These days they pull text from the description in your introduction module as well.

The main tag your lens will get listed for is the primary tag - so pick it well. For each tag the lenses that have that tag as their primary tag will be listed first, in order of lensrank.

Pick your primary tag wide enough that your lens isn't the only one using it. Pick it precise enough that your lens has a shot at the first page on the tag page.

For all your tags the general advice still is: do NOT pick tags that other lenses aren't using. In other words: check related lenses for tag suggestions as you're making your lens and pick about ten that fit your topic.

As for the related lenses feature, it's not an SEO relevant feature at the moment: search engines won't see it. But visitors from search engines will see it. This means you can get significant traffic to your lens from related lenses that perform better in the search engines if your tags are enough alike and the competition isn't too stiff.

See also my lens about optimizing tags

Linking OUT - within and outside squidoo 

[Linking out is linking to any page that isn't your own. In the case of squidoo I mean by the term linking out to pages that aren't made by you.]

It's well known in the world of search engine optimization that there are two (or three) effects to linking out:

  1. The author of the other page may notice you exist and be thankful. In the case of squidoo: they may link back, or give your lens stars, or whatever. You get cudo's for linking out - especially to related pages.

  2. Your own page may suffer in search engine rankings just a bit because the other pages have the advantage of your links

  3. Your page may become more valuable because of links to other valuable pages: in that case your page may GET more links (votes etc.) and GAIN in the search engines.

Point one is actually only meaningful if it's an editorial link: a link a human decided to put on a page. You get cudo's for external links in link plexo's, featured lens modules, link modules, inside text you typed. You don't get cudo's for linking out to tag pages.

Point two is the one to notice here, because squidoo makes it very easy - in fact default - to link out to other squidoo pages. This to an extent that may not do you any good. Think: tag pages, lensrolling etc.

Point three is also one that only relates to editorial links.

SO what should you do?



For lenses that are meant only for squidoo - like this one - which don't get any visitors from search engines...

You should use all the options squidoo gives you to get and give links within squidoo. There's no reason to worry about google, because why would google even mind your page.

Do make sure you create links to related squidoo lenses yourself: ones you've made, or ones someone else made. You do want people to find your other lenses. And you do want to get cudo's for linking to a great lens someone else made. (we all want friends, don't we?)

Lensrank explained 

featured lens Lensrank explained (really)

Well, squidoo lensrank has, by common consensus (at least) the following factors: Lens freshness. sales made through money making modules like amazon and ebay. visitor numbers. star ratings. favorites. whether you've been blessed by an angel. whethe...

Building links - the rel no follow tag 

No explanation of SEO is complete without mention of the rel no follow tag.

This tag can be added to links - and those links will not be counted towards the link popularity of a page

Squidoo links don't have this tag (except for the sales modules). This has the following implications:

  1. When we link out, we really vote for that page.

  2. Every link within squidoo counts toward the link popularity of pages - directly and indirectly

So - why bother about this tag if it's not used in squidoo? Well - it IS used elsewhere.

Many blogs have rel-no-follow on links in comments. This means that while putting your link in a comment may get you visitors, it won't get you extra google traffic.

Many social media sites make sure links don't count towards link-popularity. For example Stumbleupon, twitter, tagfoot or Myspace. That means that if those sites are not bringing you traffic, you should probably stop bothering with them (or start using them as they were meant to be used: to be social).

Social Networking - Forums, Message Boards etc. 

To get links and visitors, it helps if you show people it exists.... This is called 'social networking'. The following lenses are devoted to a few places where you can network socially and how to do it.
featured lens Squidoo Message Board Forums

You have to do it. You have to let people know about your lenses - but HOW? One of the best ways is to network with other Squidoo lensmasters on Squidoo message board forums. There you'll meet lots of other lensmasters who have been where you are now...

featured lens Squidoo on Ning

Squidoo on Ning aims to provide you: 1) with all the information you need about Ning.com and 2) with links to some of the best Squidoo networks on Ning.com.

featured lens Human Forum Promotion

This lens is a list of tips for promoting your online work on forums. Whether it's a ning devoted to your topic or an old school e-mailgroup, the principles are the same.

FAQ 

So how come I have a lens that shows up in google for terms related to my main tag, while I didn't even have that main tag in my tag list?


That's because google is smart: it knows what your page is about by looking at the content. The tags are just one part of the equation, and a small part at that.

How come I submitted my lenses to google, and yet they don't get found?


First off: you don't need to submit your lenses to google, or to any other good search engine. These are good search engines because they will find your lenses as soon as they check out a page that links to your site.

There could be several reasons why your lens doesn't get found. Some common reasons no one gets to your lens through google can be:

  • There is a lot of competition: quality sites about the topic of your lens

  • You don't have enough, or enough quality, links to your lens

  • Your lens isn't optimized. Check the squidoo lens check to get started

  • Your lens is very new and your subject isn't one where 'new' is good. Sometimes if you wait a while, things will get better - seemingly without reason. In the mean time, do promote your lens.

My ponderings on squidoo SEO 

Some of the SEO tips I've been sharing on my squidtop blog.
Online promotion: directories, blogs, forums?
There are only so many hours in a day. An hour spent submitting lenses to a directory which doesn't even accept the lenses within a month or so - is an hour lost. I could have spent that hour writing a useful blogpost (like this), or commenting on niche blogs, or writing in forums.
Why lenses should not be too long
I've been mentoring a lensmaster recently. I felt one of her lenses could perhaps be broken up. She wanted to know the advantages. I could not give a good answer. I thought about it and here are a few reasons lenses could be shorter (if they're long enough obviously).
It IS a waste of time to submit your squidoo lens to google
It is NO use to submit your squidoo lens (or blog or website) in google. It is a waste of time.
TAGS: What I just did to get 5% more traffic to my squidoo lenses...
That's right, I just got my squidoo lenses about 5% more traffic within a week. How? By optimizing my tags. I find that this is rather complicated work. I can see why fluffanutta is considering creating a payed tool to help do this.
Search Engine Marketing Basics : 5 SEO Techniques
There is a lot of misguided information about Search Engine optimization out there. Lately I have found myself summarizing the bare esentials several times. So
Reviewing AJ2008 some more : linkbuilding : Seo
An SEO review is not complete without a look at links. Yesterday I tackled on-page SEO factors: what AJ can do on her lens to make it most likely the search
SEO review- weight loss lens pulled apart : Seo
AJ2008 made this lens in a self professed SEO experiment, and from my later conversation with her (through twitter and e-mail) she asked such good questions
Tweaking the title tag for SEO
There is conflicting advice out there about the title of a page. On the one hand it's clear that titles (and title tags) are essential to SEO: they should

Marketing Spiritual - my SEO blog 

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So, did you learn something about SEO for squidoo? 

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