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Can i promote a category page?

by trytolearnmore
15 replies
Hey guys,

Is it OK to build backlinks to a category page (or pages) on my blog. For example:

www.mydomain.com/category/some-keyword

King regards,
Andrii
#category #page #promote
  • Profile picture of the author Focused Action
    This is a good question and I look forward to responses from experienced warriors.

    One related question is can you optimize the actual category page for the targeted keyword (category name), thus making the on page seo plus backlinks improve the page rank.

    I use wordpress so I believe I can control the number of posts and length of content (full post vs snippet vs just the title) that shows on the category page and thus, maybe the page would be highly targeted for a keyword??
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    • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
      You've posted this in the wrong section of the forum, it should be in the SEO section.

      To answer your question, yes you can do that but I'd recommend you change your permalink settings so it's...

      www.mydomain.com/some-keyword

      NOT

      www.mydomain.com/category/some-keyword
      Signature
      'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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  • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
    Answer : ABSOLUTELY!

    You should already be doing this!

    www.domain.com/blue-widgets/ - keyword "blue widgets"
    www.domain.com/red-thingimee-bobs/ - keyword "red thingimee bobs"

    Backlink to your categories using a variety of secondary keywords. Use your primary keyword to your home page.
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    BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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  • Profile picture of the author Focused Action
    I have set my permalinks to /%postname%/ - so each post url will be /mainurl.com/post title... - but the url for the category page is still in this format:

    Best Internet Business | Best Internet Business

    Is there another setting so that when you click a category page - the word "category" does not show up in the url like the example above.

    Thanks.
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    • Profile picture of the author John Romaine
      Originally Posted by Focused Action View Post

      I have set my permalinks to /%postname%/ - so each post url will be /mainurl.com/post title... - but the url for the category page is still in this format:

      Best Internet Business | Best Internet Business

      Is there another setting so that when you click a category page - the word "category" does not show up in the url like the example above.

      Thanks.
      Dude, Im certainly no wordpress expert, but from browsing around on your site quickly, I think youre on the right track.

      I strongly suggest you take a look at Lisa Parmley's Inline SEO Course. She covers this indepth. It works 100%, and its where I learnt from.

      Search Engine Optimization | InlineSEO (non aff link)
      Signature

      BS free SEO services, training and advice - SEO Point

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      • Profile picture of the author Chris Grable
        Try one of these....

        WordPress › Top Level Categories « WordPress Plugins

        WordPress › WP No Category Base « WordPress Plugins
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        • Profile picture of the author trytolearnmore
          Originally Posted by Chris Grable View Post

          Thanks Chris (and to you guys also) for the advices
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        • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
          Originally Posted by Chris Grable View Post

          Thanks, just what everyone was looking for!

          My only issue with plugins is they slow Wordpress sites down if there are too many -- I'll definitely consider using these though in the future.
          Signature
          'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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          • Profile picture of the author Istvan Horvath
            Originally Posted by oneplusone View Post

            Thanks, just what everyone was looking for!

            My only issue with plugins is they slow Wordpress sites down if there are too many -- I'll definitely consider using these though in the future.
            Actually, eliminating the category tag could slow down your WP blog even more... and most people don't want to hear this when they are obsessed with "removing" the /category/ bit from their permalinks.

            If you are aware how your entries (posts and Pages) are stored in the database and how retrieving them works - you would be more careful about your permalinks structure... if speed is really important to you.

            The less data in your permalinks - the longer the process to find a post in the DB. The savvy WP coders always recommend the use of a numeric element (be it ID or some date) because that makes easier to find and retrieve a post.
            Title only post urls/permalinks are easily confused by your WP engine with Pages. Actually, everything that has "title only" in the permalinks can and is perceived as a "Page" first... until going through all the Pages and comparing their title to the query... then broadening the search... then even more etc.

            If you don't like the word "category" in your permalinks, you can change it to anything you want on your permalinks settings subpanel.
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            • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
              Originally Posted by Istvan Horvath View Post

              Actually, eliminating the category tag could slow down your WP blog even more... and most people don't want to hear this when they are obsessed with "removing" the /category/ bit from their permalinks.

              If you are aware how your entries (posts and Pages) are stored in the database and how retrieving them works - you would be more careful about your permalinks structure... if speed is really important to you.

              The less data in your permalinks - the longer the process to find a post in the DB. The savvy WP coders always recommend the use of a numeric element (be it ID or some date) because that makes easier to find and retrieve a post.
              Title only post urls/permalinks are easily confused by your WP engine with Pages. Actually, everything that has "title only" in the permalinks can and is perceived as a "Page" first... until going through all the Pages and comparing their title to the query... then broadening the search... then even more etc.

              If you don't like the word "category" in your permalinks, you can change it to anything you want on your permalinks settings subpanel.
              Thanks ... great WordPress advice as always!
              Signature
              'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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      • Profile picture of the author Focused Action
        Originally Posted by ramone_johnny View Post

        Dude, Im certainly no wordpress expert, but from browsing around on your site quickly, I think youre on the right track.

        I strongly suggest you take a look at Lisa Parmley's Inline SEO Course. She covers this indepth. It works 100%, and its where I learnt from.

        Search Engine Optimization | InlineSEO (non aff link)
        I actually have her course, awesome stuff. Am building 2 non-im sites using her principles.

        I will look through her info again regarding specifically linking to category pages vs individual posts/pages.

        thanks.
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  • Profile picture of the author Deltia
    I sure hope so
    I'm glad i have confirmation of this now though!
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  • Profile picture of the author Mark Brian
    Note that if you want to link build your category pages and you are using SEO plugins like All in one SEO, they usually have a setting that prevents search engines from indexing your category pages. You should disable this first if you are link building your category pages. Your link building efforts to the category pages will be useless if this setting is not disabled.

    Also note that link building your category pages might outrank your actual pages in the SERPs. This may result in lower conversion since visitors will land first on category pages and they will see a bunch of topics to choose from before clicking on your pages.
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    • Profile picture of the author oneplusone
      Originally Posted by Mark Brian View Post

      Note that if you want to link build your category pages and you are using SEO plugins like All in one SEO, they usually have a setting that prevents search engines from indexing your category pages. You should disable this first if you are link building your category pages. Your link building efforts to the category pages will be useless if this setting is not disabled.

      Also note that link building your category pages might outrank your actual pages in the SERPs. This may result in lower conversion since visitors will land first on category pages and they will see a bunch of topics to choose from before clicking on your pages.
      Interesting...

      I don't use this plugin too much as I think it's overrated, my Wordpress sites without it rank just as well.

      But if what you say is true, anyone using the plugin should pay attention to what you've said.
      Signature
      'If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.' Vincent Van Gogh.
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