Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Blog = Fast SE Rankings

If you run a site and are looking to get it listed quickly on
search engines, there really is no easier and quicker way than
to also put a blog on the site. It is a known fact that search
engine spiders from sites like Google and Altavista list new
blogs much faster than they list new sites. However, it’s not as
simple as just creating a blog and letting it sit there. You
have to also use tactics like pinging, linking and the use of
keywords. We’ll go over each so that you are able to effectively
use your blog for a quick site listing. We’ll also briefly go
over how to host your own blog on your site.

So how do I host my own blog, anyway?

The easiest way to do this is to install and run a blogging
software from another company on your web site’s server. One
such software that is popular is WordPress. It’s fairly easy to
install and works pretty good on your site. Other blogging
software options include:

Apache Roller
Blosxom
Geeklog
Textpattern
LifeType

Whatever one you choose, be sure to follow the instructions
provided by the company so that the installation goes smoothly.

Where should I put my blog on my site?

Most people who host their blog to help their site get listed
quickly don’t put the blog on the main page of the site, because
the site isn’t all about the blog. Instead they put it in its
own folder at mysite.com/blog/. But you can really put your blog
anywhere on your site, so it’s your call.

What is pinging?

It’s a question that many ask, so don’t feel silly if you don’t
know what pinging is. Pinging is essentially a tracking program
installed on your blog that will notify the site which it is
from whenever your blog is updated. Search engine spiders
usually visit newly pinged sites most often, which is why
pinging is such a crucial part of the equation to get your site
listed quickly. Sites that are newly “pinged” will be visited by
search engine spiders. A visit from the spider equals a listing
on the search engine.

How do I get pinging on my blog?

You’ll have to register with a site that offers weblog pinging.
The most popular pinging program around is weblogs.com. Other
programs offered include Yahoo’s Blo.gs, BlogRolling, and
Technorati. Once you’ve decided on a pinging service, you’ll
have to follow the instructions to install it on your blog. When
you’ve done that, your blog will start getting pinged and
visited by search engine spiders.

What is linking?

Linking is basically having another blog or site link to your
blog. When search engine spiders visit that site and see a link
to your site, they’ll visit your site. Linking is effective both
for sites with blogs and those without it.

How do I get linking?

You get it by visiting sites/blogs that are relevant to what
your site is about. Then you contact the owners of those
sites/blogs, asking them to post a link to your site on their
site. In return, you will probably have to link to their site on
your site. That way, both of you are able to benefit from the
linking.

Why is the use of keywords important to my blog?

Spiders love to visit sites with a good amount of keywords.
People who read your site won’t mind the use of keywords if they
are lightly spread throughout the content of your pages. The key
to this is to make a list of keywords relevant to your blog
posting and then to try to use those keywords throughout your
content. It is important to make sure, however, not to overuse
keywords. Spiders have been trained to ignore sites with
excessive amounts of keywords, so if you use a whole lot of
keywords in the hopes of getting spiders to visit your site,
it’s not going to do you any good. Generally speaking, using
between 2-6 keywords per 200 word piece of content is a good
ratio. It’s pleasing to both readers and search engine spiders.

That’s really all there is to it. Apply the above techniques to
your blog and you will net your site a quick search engine
listing.

. There is no quicker way to get your site listed than to use
a blog. So install a blog on your site today and you’ll be
listed sooner than you could have imagined!

Len Hutton

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