Comments on: How to market yourself #5: How to optimize your WordPress site for search engines http://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/ Design, marketing, graphics, internet, print, London Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:14:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: How to blog like a pro using WordPresshttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-157901 How to blog like a pro using WordPress Tue, 30 Aug 2011 13:31:27 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-157901 [...] as possible. I use W3 Total Cache.Important SEO tasks to performThere are many things you can do to improve the onsite search engine optimisation of your WordPress blog. Here are the basics:Make sure your permalinks are “pretty” or put keywords in your [...] [...] as possible. I use W3 Total Cache.Important SEO tasks to performThere are many things you can do to improve the onsite search engine optimisation of your WordPress blog. Here are the basics:Make sure your permalinks are “pretty” or put keywords in your [...]

]]> By: Nikhilhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-143378 Nikhil Sun, 10 Jul 2011 06:41:51 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-143378 Ya thats good stuff I have learned a lot from that Ya thats good stuff I have learned a lot from that

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-123169 Rob Cubbon Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:44:57 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-123169 Hi Greg, I'm not sure if this is so important nowadays. It was said that if you disallow /wp- from robots.txt it would stop Google from indexing any of the core WordPress files, like "wp-content" and "wp-admin" for example. There is no good reason for a search engine to index these files and it is rare that it should happen - even rarer now that WordPress is such a common publishing platform and everyone knows how it works. If in doubt you can check out the robots.txt file of famous bloggers and see what they put in! Hi Greg, I’m not sure if this is so important nowadays. It was said that if you disallow /wp- from robots.txt it would stop Google from indexing any of the core WordPress files, like “wp-content” and “wp-admin” for example. There is no good reason for a search engine to index these files and it is rare that it should happen – even rarer now that WordPress is such a common publishing platform and everyone knows how it works. If in doubt you can check out the robots.txt file of famous bloggers and see what they put in!

]]> By: Greghttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-123152 Greg Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:23:20 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-123152 Hey Rob, Great info on here, thanks. I have done some of the simple things here although have been manually changing the page/post names so the %postname% will be very handy. In regards to the robot file and where you exclude certain pages what does /wp- mean? Thanks Hey Rob,

Great info on here, thanks. I have done some of the simple things here although have been manually changing the page/post names so the %postname% will be very handy. In regards to the robot file and where you exclude certain pages what does /wp- mean?

Thanks

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-116196 Rob Cubbon Mon, 07 Feb 2011 20:37:31 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-116196 Hello <strong>David</strong>, yes and thank you for your comment. These are just little tweaks you can make on site but up against with killer content and, as you say, a solid link building campaign, don't make much difference. I'm listening to some of the great videos on your website. I'm really interested in NLP and you are a great proponent of it. All the best and I hope we meet again online! Hello David, yes and thank you for your comment. These are just little tweaks you can make on site but up against with killer content and, as you say, a solid link building campaign, don’t make much difference.

I’m listening to some of the great videos on your website. I’m really interested in NLP and you are a great proponent of it. All the best and I hope we meet again online!

]]> By: David Jenynshttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-116156 David Jenyns Mon, 07 Feb 2011 12:53:12 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-116156 @amilee, A lot of bloggers use Wordpress blogs because it is really easy to use. You can see a lot of tutorials online so it is really manageable to set up and maintain one. There are a lot of content management solutions that can help you start a blog right away, but nothing beats Wordpress in terms of development and updates. Hi Rob, Great tips on how to optimize a Wordpress site. I agree with what you mentioned about the meta tags as this is still done by a lot because these appears on the SERPs still but generally is not really going to help with the rankings. It is through a solid SEO campaign that you can get more visitors to see your site aside from following these tips that you shared here. Have a great day! Cheers, Dave @amilee,

A lot of bloggers use WordPress blogs because it is really easy to use. You can see a lot of tutorials online so it is really manageable to set up and maintain one. There are a lot of content management solutions that can help you start a blog right away, but nothing beats WordPress in terms of development and updates.

Hi Rob,

Great tips on how to optimize a WordPress site. I agree with what you mentioned about the meta tags as this is still done by a lot because these appears on the SERPs still but generally is not really going to help with the rankings. It is through a solid SEO campaign that you can get more visitors to see your site aside from following these tips that you shared here.

Have a great day!

Cheers,
Dave

]]> By: Gabbayhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-104062 Gabbay Mon, 01 Nov 2010 08:18:57 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-104062 I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional? I really like the colors here on your blog. did you design this yourself or did you outsource it to a professional?

]]> By: How to get freelance graphic design jobs | Blog | Graphic and Web Designer London UKhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-98891 How to get freelance graphic design jobs | Blog | Graphic and Web Designer London UK Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:15:31 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-98891 [...] this to having your own site, with basic SEO and incoming links. This will take a bit of time but when you are found by clients you have much [...] [...] this to having your own site, with basic SEO and incoming links. This will take a bit of time but when you are found by clients you have much [...]

]]> By: Amyhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-92592 Amy Fri, 23 Apr 2010 04:27:36 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-92592 Hi Rob, I've only just read your reply, thanks for the reply. Hi Rob, I’ve only just read your reply, thanks for the reply.

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-88056 Rob Cubbon Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:38:33 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-88056 My pleasure, <strong>Nadia</strong>, and thank you for the comment and the Twitter RT! My pleasure, Nadia, and thank you for the comment and the Twitter RT!

]]> By: Naxdiahttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-88052 Naxdia Sat, 23 Jan 2010 14:28:06 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-88052 Thanks so much Rob. I still have LOTS of work, but you make it easier. Clear, concise and straight forward to apply. You're always a great learning source. Nadia Thanks so much Rob. I still have LOTS of work, but you make it easier. Clear, concise and straight forward to apply. You’re always a great learning source.
Nadia

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-73788 Rob Cubbon Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:11:48 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-73788 Hi <strong>Anika</strong> this is my own WordPress theme. Everybody uses WordPress or other blogging CMSs because making you're own CMS to drive a blog would take up so much time and be so pointless as it already exists it would be like trying to re-invent the wheel. There aren't many areas of WordPress that aren't customizable including the backend. Thanks, everybody. Hi Anika this is my own WordPress theme. Everybody uses WordPress or other blogging CMSs because making you’re own CMS to drive a blog would take up so much time and be so pointless as it already exists it would be like trying to re-invent the wheel. There aren’t many areas of WordPress that aren’t customizable including the backend.

Thanks, everybody.

]]> By: Anikahttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-73336 Anika Fri, 29 May 2009 16:34:29 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-73336 What a sexy blog, love the theme, what are you using? What a sexy blog, love the theme, what are you using?

]]> By: amileehttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-72712 amilee Thu, 21 May 2009 07:11:35 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-72712 But why wordpress ? Why everyone wants to use wordpress ? Why not making an original site and backend for your clients ? But why wordpress ? Why everyone wants to use wordpress ? Why not making an original site and backend for your clients ?

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-67648 Rob Cubbon Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:53:04 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-67648 No problem <strong>Palmy</strong> No problem Palmy

]]> By: Palmyhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-67560 Palmy Thu, 12 Mar 2009 05:42:56 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-67560 Thank you for sharing this info, this is very helpful for me Thank you for sharing this info, this is very helpful for me

]]> By: Andrew Kelsallhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-63347 Andrew Kelsall Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:56:06 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-63347 Hi Rob, I've only just read your reply, thanks for the reply. Hi Rob, I’ve only just read your reply, thanks for the reply.

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-63340 Rob Cubbon Mon, 09 Feb 2009 19:17:17 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-63340 <strong>Tracey</strong>, Hi! They tell us robots.txt is important so I guess it is. Thanks for your kind words about the site re-design. I'm not quite there at the moment but I'll get there soon. <strong>David</strong>, you're probably right. I'm trying to do American spellings to my American clients in emails and I must admit I don't know whether I'm coming or going at the moment. <strong>Chelle</strong>, that's a good plugin, thanks. Akismet did hold you back but I've let you through! Thanks for the plugins, <strong>Online Printing</strong>, I used to use All in One SEO Pack now I use Headspace. You can't use both at the same time though! <strong>Ami</strong>, no problem! Tracey, Hi! They tell us robots.txt is important so I guess it is. Thanks for your kind words about the site re-design. I’m not quite there at the moment but I’ll get there soon.

David, you’re probably right. I’m trying to do American spellings to my American clients in emails and I must admit I don’t know whether I’m coming or going at the moment.

Chelle, that’s a good plugin, thanks. Akismet did hold you back but I’ve let you through!

Thanks for the plugins, Online Printing, I used to use All in One SEO Pack now I use Headspace. You can’t use both at the same time though!

Ami, no problem!

]]> By: How to market yourself #6: How to get links to your website | Freelance Graphic Designer Londonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-63333 How to market yourself #6: How to get links to your website | Freelance Graphic Designer London Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:44:00 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-63333 [...] the internet. Firstly, concentrate on the site itself: write regularly updated quality content and optimize the site for search engines. Secondly, by concentrating off the site: getting quality sites to link to [...] [...] the internet. Firstly, concentrate on the site itself: write regularly updated quality content and optimize the site for search engines. Secondly, by concentrating off the site: getting quality sites to link to [...]

]]> By: Amihttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-61786 Ami Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:20:38 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-61786 Thanks for your answer Rob. I did mean page-name.html Thanks for your answer Rob. I did mean page-name.html

]]> By: Chellehttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-61311 Chelle Wed, 28 Jan 2009 21:32:57 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-61311 I am so glad you linked to the google sitemap generator plug-in, I have installed on two blogs that are kicking butt search engine wise, but couldn't find it again to download and put on a few others I have. There is a no-www plug-in available for people like me who read the words "edit htaccess" and panic. You can get it here: http://ma.tt/2006/06/wordpress-no-www/ Hopefully askimet won't eat my comment for sharing that one with you :) I am so glad you linked to the google sitemap generator plug-in, I have installed on two blogs that are kicking butt search engine wise, but couldn’t find it again to download and put on a few others I have.

There is a no-www plug-in available for people like me who read the words “edit htaccess” and panic. You can get it here: http://ma.tt/2006/06/wordpress-no-www/

Hopefully askimet won’t eat my comment for sharing that one with you :)

]]> By: David Aireyhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-60181 David Airey Fri, 23 Jan 2009 14:41:32 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-60181 That's interesting how both you, and Andrew, use American English on your blogs. I'm sticking with my forefathers (at least for now). That’s interesting how both you, and Andrew, use American English on your blogs. I’m sticking with my forefathers (at least for now).

]]> By: Tracey Gradyhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59858 Tracey Grady Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:29:24 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59858 Hi Rob, this is a great post. Of all the things you have mentioned, the one which took me the longest to implement was robots.txt - because I didn't really appreciate its importance at first. BTW, I like your site redesign! The double meaning in the globe image is a nice touch. Hi Rob, this is a great post. Of all the things you have mentioned, the one which took me the longest to implement was robots.txt – because I didn’t really appreciate its importance at first.

BTW, I like your site redesign! The double meaning in the globe image is a nice touch.

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59728 Rob Cubbon Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:18:42 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59728 Hello <strong>Ami</strong>, I'm sorry all my experience is with WordPress rather than any of the other blogging platforms. However a lot of this article will be relevant to Blogger, for example the use of keywords and where to put them. You could always transfer from Blogger to WordPress, of course. As for your second question, I'm not sure if I exactly understand what you mean by "name of the page". Do you mean the "page-name.html" in the URL? If so, yes, it does carry weight that's why it's important to get your page title into the URL separated by hyphens. I think that all words in the URL carry weight, therefore subdomains, categories and web site names are all important. I hope this helps. Hello Ami, I’m sorry all my experience is with WordPress rather than any of the other blogging platforms. However a lot of this article will be relevant to Blogger, for example the use of keywords and where to put them. You could always transfer from Blogger to WordPress, of course.

As for your second question, I’m not sure if I exactly understand what you mean by “name of the page”. Do you mean the “page-name.html” in the URL? If so, yes, it does carry weight that’s why it’s important to get your page title into the URL separated by hyphens. I think that all words in the URL carry weight, therefore subdomains, categories and web site names are all important. I hope this helps.

]]> By: Amihttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59618 Ami Mon, 19 Jan 2009 19:46:07 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59618 Thanks for the heads up Two questions 1. are you palnning a series on optimizing blogger blogs for the search engines. I ask this because all the guides tend to be focused on Wordpress which, is cool but some of us are into Blogger 2. Does the name of the page actually carry any weight. I.e the subdomain name. Do keywords in this have any value Thanks for the heads up
Two questions
1. are you palnning a series on optimizing blogger blogs for the search engines. I ask this because all the guides tend to be focused on WordPress which, is cool but some of us are into Blogger

2. Does the name of the page actually carry any weight. I.e the subdomain name. Do keywords in this have any value

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59561 Rob Cubbon Mon, 19 Jan 2009 12:38:24 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59561 Thank you, <strong>Roselyn</strong>, come again! Thank you, Roselyn, come again!

]]> By: Roselynhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59435 Roselyn Sun, 18 Jan 2009 15:25:52 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59435 Whoa! I learned a lot from this blog. Reading it made me realized that I know very little. Thank you for sharing these useful info. Whoa! I learned a lot from this blog. Reading it made me realized that I know very little. Thank you for sharing these useful info.

]]> By: Rob Cubbonhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59411 Rob Cubbon Sun, 18 Jan 2009 12:55:27 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59411 Hi <strong>Andrew</strong>, it's a good question and one that I'm not sure I know the answer. What I would say is that the Alt tag is meant to be for people who don't view the images, because they have them turned off or because they are visually impaired. So for that reason you should maybe put a bit more information in the Alt tag than in the image name but maybe someone else knows more about this and can comment. I don't know if I'd put the word "image" in the alt text, isn't that superfluous? Anyway, yes, I do wonder when to use British spellings and when to use American spellings these days, but I've gone over to American on this site from now on! Cheers! Hi Andrew, it’s a good question and one that I’m not sure I know the answer.

What I would say is that the Alt tag is meant to be for people who don’t view the images, because they have them turned off or because they are visually impaired. So for that reason you should maybe put a bit more information in the Alt tag than in the image name but maybe someone else knows more about this and can comment.

I don’t know if I’d put the word “image” in the alt text, isn’t that superfluous?

Anyway, yes, I do wonder when to use British spellings and when to use American spellings these days, but I’ve gone over to American on this site from now on! Cheers!

]]> By: Andrew Kelsallhttp://robcubbon.com/how-to-market-yourself-5-how-to-optimize-your-wordpress-site-for-search-engines/#comment-59272 Andrew Kelsall Sat, 17 Jan 2009 13:02:32 +0000 http://robcubbon.com/?p=285#comment-59272 Thanks for a another great resource Rob. I knew the majority of it, but I have learned a couple of things, too. I always used the exact same Alt text for my images as the image name. For example, if my image name was: graphic-designer-logo.png ...I would used the Alt text: Graphic Designer Logo Image Is this the correct way, or "pushing it"? PS, good to see you've decided to use USA spelling like myself. Thanks for a another great resource Rob. I knew the majority of it, but I have learned a couple of things, too.

I always used the exact same Alt text for my images as the image name. For example, if my image name was:

graphic-designer-logo.png

…I would used the Alt text:

Graphic Designer Logo Image

Is this the correct way, or “pushing it”?

PS, good to see you’ve decided to use USA spelling like myself.

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