How Should I Structure My Blog?

10 replies
Hey folks,

Been thinking there's a conflict on the main page of any blog....!

You optimise an article on there for SEO, but then you want new posts being added all the time...! So, you have to SEO every article?

Is there an easier way of doing it without lowering Google's favour?

Please answer about pages and blog posts. I know about silo structures, I am not talking about that.

I can set-up a blog no problem (use Fantastico).

Thanks,

Richard
#blog #structure
  • Profile picture of the author paulsidwell
    Richard,

    I'm new to WF but have been lurking for a bit.

    The way I see it is Google isn't paying favor to those who game its system; rather it's constantly updating the algorithm to incorporate more human-like tendencies.

    Here's what I mean:
    A user visits your site. They like what they see, and stick around a bit longer. +1
    A user returns to your site. +1
    A user shares your site with others. +1 (maybe more, dunno)
    A user leaves your site superfast because the content/layout/design doesn't fit their taste. -1

    Writing for G won't help your site's performance. Writing to help others is filled with win.

    By all means, use tools to make your work easier, but remember your true audience is NOT Google.
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    • Profile picture of the author JRJWrites
      Originally Posted by paulsidwell View Post

      Here's what I mean:
      A user visits your site. They like what they see, and stick around a bit longer. +1
      A user returns to your site. +1
      A user shares your site with others. +1 (maybe more, dunno)
      A user leaves your site superfast because the content/layout/design doesn't fit their taste. -1

      Writing for G won't help your site's performance. Writing to help others is filled with win.
      You might be a newbie here, but you speak the truth.

      That has to be the single most profound thing I've ever read on the Internet about SEO.

      Amazing.
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  • Profile picture of the author RobinInTexas
    If you focus on "pages" instead of "blog posts" and your menu structure, placing the "pages" as your home page then using the blog posts for whatever purpose you deem to use them for. Structure your pages to lead the site visitors however you need to in order to accomplish your aim.
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    ...Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just set there.
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      Richard,

      Don't let optimization scare you away from blogging, it's not difficult if you don't stress over it and pay overdue attention to it.

      Posts are typically places where your content is found. In the default template setup, they appear in reverse chronological order (your latest post at the "top" and oldest posts at the "bottom.") So your site, as you add content (posts), highlights the newest contributions first where they will be seen by your prospects and followers.

      Pages are typically used for "timeless" information - that is, info that doesn't change regularly like the "About" page, the "Policies" page, the "Contact" page, etc. Generally the owner will designate pages for the navigation bar as opposed to posts.

      Posts are associated with categories, usually pages are not. Pages often have a hierarchy which can contain several levels of sub-pages. For instance, your "Policies" page may contain sub-pages like Refund Policy, Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, etc.

      Posts often become the "doorways" to your content from off site. Pages don't show up in your feed as posts do. Typically, you will try to focus a post on one topic and optimize your title, tags, and content around a theme that will help to rank your site for that keyword phrase. So eventually you have lots of content "doorways" distributed around the Internet leading back to your site's posts rather than your main page.

      I personally don't worry too much about SEO. I worry more about what I'm giving to my customers in terms of valuable content. I would suggest you write your posts for your readers - not the search engines. If you have a relevant topic for your post, use the keyword(s) in your title, your tags, and the first and last paragraph (used naturally), I don't think you need to be stressing over other things like keyword density, etc.

      I think if you write great relevant content in your posts and attract a lot of traffic - that is way more important and "noticed" by the search engines more than most everything else you can do.

      SEO products and services are going to say this is too simple an approach. Yes, they want you to believe SEO is critical and you have to pay a professional to do it right.

      I'm sorry, but I've seen too many cases where the blog owner gets excellent traffic and rankings and says he does nothing with SEO. It does take time and consistent effort to attract traffic but that is the case even if you hire a professional for big bucks.

      I hope maybe this helps a bit. Obviously, these are my own opinions.

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author art72
    It really depends on your objectives with your blog?

    For example, I always try to write SEO friendly articles and include my 'keywords' in my headers, sub-headers, maintain keyword density, and use hash tags, bullet points, etc... as it's a good practice and may boost the odds of picking up search traffic...

    But, if you are using 'other' marketing strategies such as social media, YT videos, Article Syndication, Guest Blogging or Commenting, etc... You can be a little more lax with your SEO efforts and concentrate more on the 'objective' in your messages (i.e. lead them to optin, another article, an affiliate product, etc..) and focus more on engaging your audience's attention, and delivering value to them, not Google!

    Personally, I prefer my content delivers the intended messages and quality information to my readers, over that of scoring an A+ on each article for SEO, because I don't rely solely on the SERP's for traffic.

    All the Best,

    Art
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  • Profile picture of the author wayneh
    I agree with @art72 it is more important to write for the visitor first and for SEO second. But to help you rank in Google you'll need to SEO each article for each keyword/topic you want to rank for.
    You can use a sticky post for your main page and SEO that for your main blog keyword and then your other posts can be SEO'd for other related keywords.
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  • Profile picture of the author Graham Maddison
    if you have firefox, download the seo quake add on ..use this to analyze each page for seo ...it will give you a report with suggested amendments.... very useful tool, especially if you are new to seo.
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  • Profile picture of the author amuro
    Originally Posted by Richard Mortimer View Post

    Hey folks,

    Been thinking there's a conflict on the main page of any blog....!

    You optimise an article on there for SEO, but then you want new posts being added all the time...! So, you have to SEO every article?

    Is there an easier way of doing it without lowering Google's favour?

    Please answer about pages and blog posts. I know about silo structures, I am not talking about that.

    I can set-up a blog no problem (use Fantastico).

    Thanks,

    Richard


    Richard, may I know what type of blog are you planning to set up?

    Is it your personal blog, business blog or product review blog?

    For me, I am creating both business and review blog. This is what I do:

    1. Home Page

    This is where I introduce myself and welcome visitors to my Whatever The Topic Is About blog.

    At the same time, I will write snipples or first paragraphs of the relevant articles I want to write or already written after that.

    Some WP themes already have this feature so there is no need for me to do this on every site I build.

    2. About Page

    This is my bio page where I will get to talk more about myself, what I do prior to internet marketing and why I created this blog etc.

    The rest of the pages are linked to categories. Now everyone knows about posts and pages but not everyone knows about categories.

    Categories are an another term for topics from which I divided and diversed my articles into respective category.

    Like for instance I am a music lover. So if I want to create a music blog, what I will do is create different categories like Classical, Jazz, Pop, Rock, Sentimental and Traditional.

    Then I will go to Appearance = Menu and started creating a menu and added categories before saving them. I hope this does not sound complicated to you. It took me quite a while to understand this as some of my article titles are quite long and not appropriate to place in navigation menu.

    After that I will write or get people to write articles related to those categories and put them under those categories. Not just words but with images and relevant Youtube videos as well.

    Finally I will create a contact page where people can contact me with their feedback and enquiries.

    On the right side of the blog I will put up an optin box and banner recommending one of the products.

    For more details, you can PM me as I cannot put my blog link here.
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  • Profile picture of the author affilliate-script
    Originally Posted by Richard Mortimer View Post

    Hey folks,

    Been thinking there's a conflict on the main page of any blog....!

    You optimise an article on there for SEO, but then you want new posts being added all the time...! So, you have to SEO every article?

    Is there an easier way of doing it without lowering Google's favour?

    Please answer about pages and blog posts. I know about silo structures, I am not talking about that.

    I can set-up a blog no problem (use Fantastico).

    Thanks,

    Richard

    Hi Richard,

    I think the bloggingunderground.com "pages not posts" method will suit you just fine

    There's a video about it on their site

    Basically you have "pages" that are SEO'd (your main content) and the blog posts are used to keep the site fresh, and also self-promote the "permanent" pages
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi Richard,

    Write for people, add a keyword or 2.

    Not a big fan of ignoring SEO completely; how will readers know what you are blogging about? If your title does not included a niche-specific keywords you just lost a healthy chunk of that audience.

    On the flip side note the keyword once, twice or maybe 3 times in a post. No need to go bananas; sprinkle it here and there to remind readers and google about your post topic.

    Beyond that write about what your readers need solving with. Listen to comments carefully. Listen to their problems carefully, their dreams, their questions....and create posts which address these issues.

    All the best!
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    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
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