SEO Help!!

[ExpertNovice]

Hi everyone,

I posted the thread below in the seo section but didnt get any replied. Im hoping someone can offer some assistance on the issues im having.

Thanks!

Hi Everyone,

Im relatively new here but I am hoping I can get some honest feedback in regards to wordpress seo and internal linking in particular.

I recently switched a company website that’s in a very competitive industry onto wordpress for the seo benefits that I would get. Within my design I included 2 sections on the homepage of my new site for recent blog posts & recent articles. Purpose of this was to have constantly updated content on my homepage to help me rank better for my chosen keywords. Every time a new article/blog post is created on my site a link is also created in the footer (keyword title). I have recently read however that having too many links in the footer can be bad for seo and effect the link “juice”. I am going to limit the number of links I have in the footer but I am looking for some feedback on possible options I have. The way I see it I have 3.

1. I limit the number of links in the footer to 21 and ensure that 20 of these links are my main keywords. I then have one additional link titled “articles” where all new articles created will go. This will create a new page on my site that will list all the new and old articles. Something like a blog holding page.
2. I create 20 links in my footer. 19 of which will be my main keywords leaving one keyword space to change every time a new article is uploaded.
3. I create a system where the number of links in my footer is limited to 20 but each time a new article is created is replaces the first link that was created. The thought behind this is newest links in, oldest links out.

I have received different suggestions from multiple seo “gurus” so I am hoping somebody here can shine some light on what will be the best way for me to work this. My main aim here is create a system which will help me rank highly for as may different keywords as possible. If anybody can suggest or offer some feedback on this issue I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for any replies on this thread!

[Andyhenry]

Ok, sorry but I have to start with this.......

Just because you didn't get a reply when posting in the correct forum - doesn't mean you just start reposting in other sections. I'm sure you know this. It's selfish to do so and will probably get your thread deleted anyway.

With that said.

You've been misinformed.

WP doesn't have SEO benefits.

All WP does is the same as you can do with html/php anyway.

I actually find that Drupal and Joomla sites get better default SEO than WP, but I can still rank a static html site just as well.

Don't worry about your footer links.

Put whatever links are appropriate for your visitors.

If you really want to protect your link juice then make the links you don't want to leak no-follow and the problem is gone.

Stop listening to SEO gurus and start using your brain and learning what works for YOU.

There's no advantage using WP per se.

The main reason to use a CMS is to save time, have an rss feed by default and because they have good communities for developing plugins etc.

[ExpertNovice]

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the reply and apologies for breaking any forum rules.

I am surprised to hear you say that wp has no real seo benefits. Anything I have found on-line has always championed wordpress. Outside of the alleged seo benefits I use wordpress as I am not a programmer or anybody with html knowledge so I can easily add, edit or change things around without having to contact a designer. There is also the plugin benefits which you mentioned.

In regards to the links issue I appreciate your comments but surely if I am adding up to 200 pages of content this is going to have an effect on 1 the visual look and 2 the seo. If you were in my position what would you do?

Thanks again for your honest feedback!

[Toby Couchman]

I am adding up to 200 pages of content this is going to have an effect on 1 the visual look and 2 the seo. If you were in my position what would you do?

If these articles are all 100 percent original with awesome relevant content. Then I would just think of a navigation structure that is easy for your users to use.

If they're crappy spun articles then I'd throw them out and write some great content that solves some problems that users in your niche (industry) have.

That said.

You are using wordpress so you can start by categorizing and tagging all your articles correctly. You could then present the categories in a horizontal menu with dropdowns for sub categories. Alternatively you could present them in a sidebar widget in a list style with indents for sub categories.

There are many proven UX (user experience) elements that web users have come to expect and find very intuitive to use. If you really want to build a site that is super awesome then I reccomend hunting down a copy of Steve Krugs "Don't Make Me Think". He presents exactly what you need to do to design and build a site that works and its easy for users to use.

Oh and make sure you have a search box in a prominent place ie at the top of your side bar or included in the horizontal menu.

My 2c
TC