The Top 15 Website Optimization Blogs
From Adngin a great list of Website Optimization Blogs.
Website optimization is a zen like practice. You need to take a holistic approach and understand how the various "organisms" work together to make up the delicate and fragile eco-system that is your website. And just like any eco-system, before you start fiddling around, you need to understand how your actions will affect the entire mechanism.
First, we need to break down our eco-system into four parts: SEO, User Experience, Web Development, and Monetization. Sure, there are more aspects to consider but we'll just focus on these for now.
Actually, this post is dedicated to the first three since monetization tips, best practices, and case studies are available in most of the blog posts we publish.
These three topics are not only optimization tactics, they're a way of life...maybe we went too far with the zen analogy here...each one offers a different perspective on the important aspects of your business.
We won't presume to provide you with the pillars of each of these disciplines in a single blog post, we're actually monetization experts.
Instead, we decided to give you something better and let you in on our favorite blogs that we like reading for each of our three optimization focuses.
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a collection of strategies for getting ranked higher in search engines like Google. Better rankings lead to more hits. The ultimate goal is more organic (i.e. non-paid) web traffic. It's an advanced field.
However, the basics are centered around how to compose search engine ready content, linking strategies, and website structure. All of these play a role in how search engines rank your blog.
Search Engine Round Table
Search engine optimization is a constantly moving target. It has to be. Just as quickly as search engines come up with improved ranking algorithms, manipulators of SEO (or "blackhats") find methods of exploitation. If you're going to play catch up, Search Engine Roundtable is a great place to do so.
Rank XL
There are several SEO blogs out there. Some of the larger brands like Search Engine Roundtable above and AhRefs below produce very good blogs but we like RankXL because it's also very produces great SEO content for AdSense publishers, which we obviously like. Also, Chris Lee, the blog's owner and writer produces unique and actionable content that though it's long and detailed slides down the throat with ease. Bottom line, if you're an AdSense publisher who is concerned with increasing search traffic, you need to become a regular visitor.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs builds a great SEO tool that tracks your backlinks, keywords, brand mentions, and lets you keep an eye on competitors. If you're not yet using any SEO related tools, Ahrefs might be a good place to get started. It's a very clear and organized interface with lots of powerful features.
However, they also maintain an active blog with great SEO topics. We have a special affection for blogs that come from development teams, especially ones that deal in large volumes of data. Data is the secret sauce. That's where the real learning comes from.
GotchSEO
Nathan Gotch isn't to be underestimated. He has that Craigslist-style minimalist site design and dapper photo that gives sort of an infopreneur kind of vibe. However, he has major cred. He's one of those natural types that just wakes up one day and pours themselves into it - and it works. Gotch writes in depth pieces that are informative.
However, let's get a little meta. Pay attention to his writing style. Remember that every SEO expert is writing to share information, but is also writing with SEO in mind. Follow Nathan's example on how to structure excellent SEO content.
SEObook
Founded by Aaron Wall, SEOBook is one of the cornerstones of SEO. It has evolved over time for a blog suggesting DIY tips for beginning SEOers to a full stack online marketing blog. Like many of the leading SEO blogs, SEObook offers their own set of tools and you can also train with them. The blog itself covers mostly enrty level stuff but also has case studies and more advanced reading materials on on anything for content creation to monetization and technical SEO.
User Experience or UX is everything the user experiences once they arrive at your website. Are they motivated to stay? Is the site navigation clear? Does the user know what they are supposed to do and how to go about doing it? These are all considerations that are part of building a better user experience. If you can keep them from bouncing, you've passed the first hurdle. But there is much more to it than that.
UX Pin
UXPin is about user experience design - and they provide a platform to do so. A part of their marketing strategy to promote the platform is to churn out great UX content with their blog. Some people will mistake UX for design level thinking. You don't have to be a designer to appreciate user experience.
UX Myths
UXMyths is a brilliant name. In the digital world, we often fall into the same trap as other "smart" industries. Specifically, if you wake up one day and decide to call something a rule of thumb, it sort of sticks. But it sort of sticks often times without clear data-driven validation.
UX Myths comes at a time when it's important to clear up what actually works, and what doesn't. So they tackle UX from the perspective of stuff that is misunderstood.
UX Booth
UX Booth digs in and gets comprehensive with multiple categories. The "booth" model fits. It's as if you showed up at a trade and convention center. You'll have lots of interesting topics to check out. The only downfall may be the lack of buffet.
However, I've been known to eat three or four bowls of Captain Crunch while power reading through new UX Booth articles. Afterwards it's hard to focus due to sugar intoxication, but for now I'm going to insist it's a part of a positive user experience.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is always going to make our list. It's as great as Stack Overflow for information, but actually looks awesome tool. The web's top designers just have to show off, don't they?
This site gives you that sort of mastery vibe, and I like that the topics often dig a little bit deeper into the psychology of user experience too.
pttrns
pttrns may have been created by someone who was upset about all the good domain names being taken. Either that or they wanted their logo to be this really cool pattern matching analogy. Though we'd love to take credit for that idea, we're pretty sure that's what those UX geeks had in mind all along! Pttrns breaks from the traditional model for blogs, and it's more of a comprehensive resource.
They include 56 different categories of patterns. Each one gives examples selected from showcase designers on the web. It's great because it doesn't just describe a particular concept. You also get direct examples to see how it works in practice. It's just an all around great resource.
Web development is the process of putting your entire site together - including your blog software and additional plugins and services. It's all the digital nuts and bolts type stuff, and occasionally some remnant bits of garlicky hummus leftover from developers with the munchies (not mentioning any names here, AdNgin). Yes, we've outgrown twinkies. Geek snacks have gotten increasingly hipster. Where have you been for the last five years?
GitHub Blog
Let's assume the GitHub team has a strong handle on who their users are. If that's the case, then it's clear from their blog that they are busy. Specifically, the content is structured around quick, actionable reads. From a network that houses a massive International library of code from developers all over the world, you can bet their topics are going to be interesting.
The blog spends a lot of time on GitHub specific topics and related events. But there are some great webdev topics contributed too that aren't specific to GitHub. The first step toward being a better developer is pasting a GitHub sticker on your monitor - or so it would appear anywhere there is Starbucks and Macbooks in the same room.
Coding Horror
Jeff Atwood is the cofounder of Stack Overflow and the Discourse discussion platform. That should buy him a little cred, we think. His blog is loaded with interesting topics. It almost gives you that sense that you're hanging out with your vastly technically superior friend. Except with two cats and three kids, this friend doesn't have that much time for you. So you're going to have to read the stuff on his blog.
NCZOnline
Nicholas Zakas not only has a cool name, he's also one of those masterminds that knows Javascript inside and out... and also finds time to write books. Zakas is going to be heavily focused on Javascript topics in the midst of more whatever-he-wants-to-talk-about ideas sharing.
But they are also quite detailed. You can jump around and find musings on the fear of public speaking to something he calls the "bunny theory of code". Ah, we love bunnies!
DZone
The DZone has a huge topic range, so it's broken up into "zones". Some might call them categories, but they wouldn't be very good at branding, now would they?
In the Web Dev zone, you'll find lots of interesting topics, insightful discussions, and some carefully curated content from other sources. Don't try to read it all in one sitting. You'd never get out of the bathroom.
CSS Tricks
It's about CSS and they've got snippets. What else could we ask for? If you think about it, it's really appropriately named. Afterall, what would CSS be without the tricks? Before CSS was invented developers took great pride in turning data tables into elaborate masterpieces of slowly loading images.
At CSS Tricks, you can avoid that amateur hour stuff and get into the pro tips. However, the site has a great balance of content. It isn't all snippet code, after all. There's lots of stuff on the state of development. It's surprisingly plain vanilla for a site by a CSS master.
We just shared a lot of resources with you. So it's probably a good idea for us to offer up a disclaimer for those of you with a touch of OCD.
These sites are some of the best we've found for website optimization - including SEO, UX, and general web development topics. But just mix them into your reading rotation. There's way too much content here for you to consume on a day to day basis. We check in every few weeks and search as needed. That's the only way to avoid getting completely overwhelmed.
Read the full article here: The Top 15 Website Optimization Blogs.
What great sites are missing from this list?
What blog is on your absolutely must-read list?
Website optimization is a zen like practice. You need to take a holistic approach and understand how the various "organisms" work together to make up the delicate and fragile eco-system that is your website. And just like any eco-system, before you start fiddling around, you need to understand how your actions will affect the entire mechanism.
First, we need to break down our eco-system into four parts: SEO, User Experience, Web Development, and Monetization. Sure, there are more aspects to consider but we'll just focus on these for now.
Actually, this post is dedicated to the first three since monetization tips, best practices, and case studies are available in most of the blog posts we publish.
These three topics are not only optimization tactics, they're a way of life...maybe we went too far with the zen analogy here...each one offers a different perspective on the important aspects of your business.
We won't presume to provide you with the pillars of each of these disciplines in a single blog post, we're actually monetization experts.
Instead, we decided to give you something better and let you in on our favorite blogs that we like reading for each of our three optimization focuses.
Top 5 Search Engine Optimization Blogs
Search Engine Optimization or SEO is a collection of strategies for getting ranked higher in search engines like Google. Better rankings lead to more hits. The ultimate goal is more organic (i.e. non-paid) web traffic. It's an advanced field.
However, the basics are centered around how to compose search engine ready content, linking strategies, and website structure. All of these play a role in how search engines rank your blog.
Search Engine Round Table
Search engine optimization is a constantly moving target. It has to be. Just as quickly as search engines come up with improved ranking algorithms, manipulators of SEO (or "blackhats") find methods of exploitation. If you're going to play catch up, Search Engine Roundtable is a great place to do so.
Rank XL
There are several SEO blogs out there. Some of the larger brands like Search Engine Roundtable above and AhRefs below produce very good blogs but we like RankXL because it's also very produces great SEO content for AdSense publishers, which we obviously like. Also, Chris Lee, the blog's owner and writer produces unique and actionable content that though it's long and detailed slides down the throat with ease. Bottom line, if you're an AdSense publisher who is concerned with increasing search traffic, you need to become a regular visitor.
Ahrefs
Ahrefs builds a great SEO tool that tracks your backlinks, keywords, brand mentions, and lets you keep an eye on competitors. If you're not yet using any SEO related tools, Ahrefs might be a good place to get started. It's a very clear and organized interface with lots of powerful features.
However, they also maintain an active blog with great SEO topics. We have a special affection for blogs that come from development teams, especially ones that deal in large volumes of data. Data is the secret sauce. That's where the real learning comes from.
GotchSEO
Nathan Gotch isn't to be underestimated. He has that Craigslist-style minimalist site design and dapper photo that gives sort of an infopreneur kind of vibe. However, he has major cred. He's one of those natural types that just wakes up one day and pours themselves into it - and it works. Gotch writes in depth pieces that are informative.
However, let's get a little meta. Pay attention to his writing style. Remember that every SEO expert is writing to share information, but is also writing with SEO in mind. Follow Nathan's example on how to structure excellent SEO content.
SEObook
Founded by Aaron Wall, SEOBook is one of the cornerstones of SEO. It has evolved over time for a blog suggesting DIY tips for beginning SEOers to a full stack online marketing blog. Like many of the leading SEO blogs, SEObook offers their own set of tools and you can also train with them. The blog itself covers mostly enrty level stuff but also has case studies and more advanced reading materials on on anything for content creation to monetization and technical SEO.
Top 5 User Experience Blogs
User Experience or UX is everything the user experiences once they arrive at your website. Are they motivated to stay? Is the site navigation clear? Does the user know what they are supposed to do and how to go about doing it? These are all considerations that are part of building a better user experience. If you can keep them from bouncing, you've passed the first hurdle. But there is much more to it than that.
UX Pin
UXPin is about user experience design - and they provide a platform to do so. A part of their marketing strategy to promote the platform is to churn out great UX content with their blog. Some people will mistake UX for design level thinking. You don't have to be a designer to appreciate user experience.
UX Myths
UXMyths is a brilliant name. In the digital world, we often fall into the same trap as other "smart" industries. Specifically, if you wake up one day and decide to call something a rule of thumb, it sort of sticks. But it sort of sticks often times without clear data-driven validation.
UX Myths comes at a time when it's important to clear up what actually works, and what doesn't. So they tackle UX from the perspective of stuff that is misunderstood.
UX Booth
UX Booth digs in and gets comprehensive with multiple categories. The "booth" model fits. It's as if you showed up at a trade and convention center. You'll have lots of interesting topics to check out. The only downfall may be the lack of buffet.
However, I've been known to eat three or four bowls of Captain Crunch while power reading through new UX Booth articles. Afterwards it's hard to focus due to sugar intoxication, but for now I'm going to insist it's a part of a positive user experience.
Smashing Magazine
Smashing Magazine is always going to make our list. It's as great as Stack Overflow for information, but actually looks awesome tool. The web's top designers just have to show off, don't they?
This site gives you that sort of mastery vibe, and I like that the topics often dig a little bit deeper into the psychology of user experience too.
pttrns
pttrns may have been created by someone who was upset about all the good domain names being taken. Either that or they wanted their logo to be this really cool pattern matching analogy. Though we'd love to take credit for that idea, we're pretty sure that's what those UX geeks had in mind all along! Pttrns breaks from the traditional model for blogs, and it's more of a comprehensive resource.
They include 56 different categories of patterns. Each one gives examples selected from showcase designers on the web. It's great because it doesn't just describe a particular concept. You also get direct examples to see how it works in practice. It's just an all around great resource.
Top 5 Web Development Blogs
Web development is the process of putting your entire site together - including your blog software and additional plugins and services. It's all the digital nuts and bolts type stuff, and occasionally some remnant bits of garlicky hummus leftover from developers with the munchies (not mentioning any names here, AdNgin). Yes, we've outgrown twinkies. Geek snacks have gotten increasingly hipster. Where have you been for the last five years?
GitHub Blog
Let's assume the GitHub team has a strong handle on who their users are. If that's the case, then it's clear from their blog that they are busy. Specifically, the content is structured around quick, actionable reads. From a network that houses a massive International library of code from developers all over the world, you can bet their topics are going to be interesting.
The blog spends a lot of time on GitHub specific topics and related events. But there are some great webdev topics contributed too that aren't specific to GitHub. The first step toward being a better developer is pasting a GitHub sticker on your monitor - or so it would appear anywhere there is Starbucks and Macbooks in the same room.
Coding Horror
Jeff Atwood is the cofounder of Stack Overflow and the Discourse discussion platform. That should buy him a little cred, we think. His blog is loaded with interesting topics. It almost gives you that sense that you're hanging out with your vastly technically superior friend. Except with two cats and three kids, this friend doesn't have that much time for you. So you're going to have to read the stuff on his blog.
NCZOnline
Nicholas Zakas not only has a cool name, he's also one of those masterminds that knows Javascript inside and out... and also finds time to write books. Zakas is going to be heavily focused on Javascript topics in the midst of more whatever-he-wants-to-talk-about ideas sharing.
But they are also quite detailed. You can jump around and find musings on the fear of public speaking to something he calls the "bunny theory of code". Ah, we love bunnies!
DZone
The DZone has a huge topic range, so it's broken up into "zones". Some might call them categories, but they wouldn't be very good at branding, now would they?
In the Web Dev zone, you'll find lots of interesting topics, insightful discussions, and some carefully curated content from other sources. Don't try to read it all in one sitting. You'd never get out of the bathroom.
CSS Tricks
It's about CSS and they've got snippets. What else could we ask for? If you think about it, it's really appropriately named. Afterall, what would CSS be without the tricks? Before CSS was invented developers took great pride in turning data tables into elaborate masterpieces of slowly loading images.
At CSS Tricks, you can avoid that amateur hour stuff and get into the pro tips. However, the site has a great balance of content. It isn't all snippet code, after all. There's lots of stuff on the state of development. It's surprisingly plain vanilla for a site by a CSS master.
We just shared a lot of resources with you. So it's probably a good idea for us to offer up a disclaimer for those of you with a touch of OCD.
These sites are some of the best we've found for website optimization - including SEO, UX, and general web development topics. But just mix them into your reading rotation. There's way too much content here for you to consume on a day to day basis. We check in every few weeks and search as needed. That's the only way to avoid getting completely overwhelmed.
Read the full article here: The Top 15 Website Optimization Blogs.
What great sites are missing from this list?
What blog is on your absolutely must-read list?
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