WordPress Howto Spotter

Top 7 Royalty-Free Image Websites

TheSpotter — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:54:10 +0000

If you have a blog or website, you probably know the importance of adding images. Interesting images can draw people into your site. They enhance the reading experience and make your site a more beautiful place to visit. But that beauty doesn’t come cheaply. In fact, some photos can cost hundreds of dollars.

It’s no wonder that webmasters are on the lookout for sites that offer quality images at affordable prices. Most people prefer to use royalty-free images. But this should not be confused with free or even with copyright-free. There is a huge difference between the three terms.

The Shades of Free

When you find work offered according to royalty free terms, you will pay a one-time fee. This allows you to use the image in an ongoing way, but only according to any terms agreed upon.

Free is free. It’s just that simple. The price of free is usually adding a link back to the provider. But free is very hard to find, and when you do, the quality is likely to be low.

Copyright free images or work is not protected by copyright. This means that although you may be charged a fee for a copy of the image, you will be able to use the image in any way you want, unless, you have agreed to certain terms.

Where to Find Royalty-Free Images

Now that you know what royalty-free means, it’s time to list the top places you can find those images you need. Just be sure to carefully read the terms listed at each site and for any image you purchase.

1 – Dreamstime

Dreamstime is a great resource for webmasters. It offers a nice collection of free and royalty free images for as low as $0.20 per image. As always, it is important to read the license agreements for each image.

2 – everystockphoto

A visit to everystockphoto can streamline your search for images. Its photo search engine actually searches several photo sites at once. This saves you time in finding the right royalty-free image; however, because images are pulled from different sites, you will need to carefully read the license details for each photo you are interested in. Different sites are likely to have different regulations.

3 – Flickr

Flickr is a popular image site. One reason the site is so popular is its easy access. Anyone can share images at the site, and anyone can use the site. But of course, not all of the images are totally free. You have to read the license agreements. In some cases, all you need to do is add a link back to give credit to the photographer — but not always.

4 – Iconfinder

Iconfinder is unique because it is great for finding icons for blogs and websites. Be sure to use the license filter ‘Allowed for commercial use.’ You will find this in the upper right corner.

5 – Image*After

Image*After is the ideal place to visit if you want free images — especially if you plan to redistribute them. Images at this site can be edited and used in almost any way you want.

6 – Kozzi

Kozzi’s lightbox feature makes it easy to organize images. This can be especially helpful if you are working on large or ongoing projects. Besides images, this site also offers video and clip art. Subscription plans are available.

7 – stock.xchng

Stock.xchng is probably the best-known source of online images. This site offers a huge selection of high-quality images. You will enjoy free downloads, and in many cases no link attribution is required. Keep in mind that many photos are not free and you will need to read the license agreement for each image.

Final Tips

A picture is worth a thousand words, but only when that picture is relevant and appropriate. Be sure the images you add to your site and to articles actually make sense. That is, they should help tell your story in some way and they should engage your audience.

Tagging images can help with SEO plans. Therefore, your site or post is more likely to get ranked appropriately.

And perhaps most important of all, keep in mind that you don’t have the freedom to use any image you happen to find. Using a copyrighted image can get you into a lot of trouble. Be sure to only use images that you own or have a license to use.

Let us know if you have additional sites to add to this list of resources for royalty-free images. You can help others by sharing it in the comments.

Debbie Allen, a freelance writer, blogger, and online marketer, often writes about various issues related to working at home and blogging. She’s also interested in writing about things like the price of gold, DIY home decorating ideas, and home remedies.

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WordPress 101: A How-To for Beginning Bloggers

TheSpotter — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 11:15:02 +0000

So you want to start a blog? Fantastic! We’re here to help with some easy tips for getting started on WordPress.

The blogging tool utilized by millions is a fantastic vehicle for getting your wonderful words out there for all to read, with limited setup time and the easy ability for someone with no web development experience to get started. Here’s how you do it!

Determine the theme and target audience of your blog. What topic(s) are you going to be covering with your blog? In general, who is the audience you are going to be targeting? Who is going to read your content most? You’re going to want to gear your content and offerings to them, and write consistently in a voice that speaks to them.

Name your blog. Next you want to name your blog, as one of the first questions WordPress will ask you in the registration process is to create a domain name and then a blog title. Many of the obvious ones will already be taken (WordPress will let you know if your choice has been taken), so you may need to get a little creative with this. Try to make it something your fans can easily remember – it’s helpful when the domain name matches the blog title for so that both are more memorable.

Determine a description for your blog and associated keywords. Think about what you would say if someone asked for the ‘elevator pitch’ on what your blog is about. Create a quick synopsis so that anyone who comes to your blog’s homepage can quickly tell what your blog is about. One to two short sentences will suffice.

Next, you’ll want to think about which keywords your target audience will be typing into Google or another search engine that would have them come upon your blog posts. This helpful post by Smarta.com can walk you through the process of selecting the right keywords.

Pick a theme. How do you want your blog to look and lay out? WordPress has multiple templated options for laying out your blog that allow you to have zero HTML experience. All you have to do is plug in the content you want people to see!

Now start writing! Give this part some thought as you want to be sure you are writing high-quality content that people want to share (or no one will ever find your content). You shouldn’t have to labor too much over your blog posts, but they should contain a few key components: a title, an intro, a body that proves what you are stating in the intro, and an outro, all of which utilize your keywords.

Definitely use at least one image if not two in every post. Images break up the monotony for a reader. People don’t like to read big chunks of copy at a time. Try to find free stock photography online that is complementary to what you are writing. Consider using humorous imagery – people love to have a little chuckle in seeing how a photo relates to a post.

Use WordPress’s All-in-One SEO to draw attention to your blog. Follow the steps in WordPress’s All-in-One SEO, which will help to search engine optimize your blog.

Tell your friends or fans on social media about the blog. Put a link to your blog on all of your social media pages, as well as on your website if you are a business. Don’t be shy about asking people to share your posts, as that is the best way for others to find out about your blogs. The good news about WordPress is that it has social media icons on it so that people can easily share your blog posts from the blog itself.

Happy blogging to you!

Cara Aley is a freelance writer who covers a wide variety of topics from digital marketing strategy to Spokeo removal tips.

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Social Media- Plan of Action

TheSpotter — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:51:10 +0000

We understand the term “Social Media” better when we talk about Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, etc.These are the networking sites where people can interact and update each other by exchanging posts, comments, news, etc. Earlier these sites were known for interacting purpose but now they have become a market place where you can publicize your products and services. You can promote your business online via these sites and can also engage people to give reviews and ratings for your products since people believe more upon the comments and reviews given by others before they themselves use them.

When we talk about small to medium businesses, the majority of them have their businesses online and now they are making efforts to integrate social media into their marketing. For these businesses this is required since this technique lets them build their online reputation, spread their brand messages, lets their business convert and drive sales. Integrating social media would alone not do these things, you need to have a proper plan of action to let your strategies work the way you want. Now the question is how exactly do you develop this plan of action to save yourselves from being sucked into a social media time sink?It is not that tough, you just have to be careful with the following practical approach to develop it:

1. Know Your Strategy and Goals: The first thing is that you need to be very clear and precise with your own objectives. Know what you want to use social media sites for? Is it for awareness or sales or for loyalty and retention? Your goals should be measurable, realistic and attainable. Remember you are trying to make your mark in a market where everyone else is trying to do the same or have already earned that place. Everyone wants more clients and more money.

2. Listen and Analyze: “Listening” is good advice that is often ignored. Try not to jump altogether in the pool of social media. Listen and observe first what is out there, what is your target audience saying. You should not forget that your customers and competitors can be a good guide to the places where you have to be active in social media. For this you can carry out activities like developing a list of social media sites, doing additional research, etc.

3. Think “WE” not “ME”: Businesses are no longer about “me” but they are now more of “we”. You need to focus on people in order to gain more opportunities and for your business to grow. Think of helping others with your knowledge and you can attract your customers and clients towards your business.

4. Build Relationships: Learn that building relationships is the new currency of social media. Don’t make it count in numbers but make it a practice to connect with more and more people. When you invest in people, they will in return promote your brand.

5. Connect with Influencers: Begin with connecting to the most popular social media sites like Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, Pinterest, etc. This will let you gain more number of clients and customers since the majority of people are familiar with these sites only. Start from these and then eventually drift to others according to your target consumers.

6. Analyze Results and Improve: Review your progress after some period of time to analyze if your strategy is proceeding in the right direction. Learn and adapt from the surroundings if you find anything new. Improve in the areas where required. This will help you harness the power of social media in an appropriate way.

Apart from this approach, you should also not ignore one of the most important aspects of social media and that is SEO. Social media and SEO were treated as completely separate departments earlier but now businesses have realized that they go hand in hand with each other. If you want to leverage the complete power of marketing then you should not miss the link between Social media and SEO.

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Your Internet Reputation Could Be Scaring Off Readers

TheSpotter — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:44:12 +0000

Have you noticed a decline in your blog readership and you aren’t sure why? If so, one of the places to begin your detective work is looking into your internet reputation. Believe it or not, your online reputation can have a direct impact on whether or not people are willing to visit your blog.

Developing Your Online Reputation

When you begin blogging, your online reputation starts growing. As a blogger, it is up to you to set the direction your reputation takes. Building a stellar reputation takes time – but unfortunately, even a great reputation can crumble very quickly if it is not maintained.

Being credible and trustworthy is a great start to building a solid reputation. In order to do this, you have to set certain standards for the type of content you provide as well as the way you present yourself online.

Social Media Profiles Matter

Whether you like it or not, some of your blog readers are likely to find your social media profiles – even those not associated with your blog. With that in mind, it is important to ensure the photos and other material at the sites is appropriate.

Consistency and a ‘flow’ from one social site, forum, or other platform to another is important. This helps create a sense of trust and credibility for your readers.

The flip side is, if readers sense that you are a different personality on one site or platform than on another, they lose their trust in you. At the same time, as a blogger, you lose credibility. Your reputation suffers.

Negative Comments and Feedback

Another way a blogger’s internet reputation becomes damaged is through negative comments and feedback left by readers. In some cases, this can be a comment left by someone that disagrees with an opinion voiced in an article.

The best remedy is to address the comment directly. Ignoring negative comments and feedback allows it to escalate. It can make the blogger appear less than credible, and other readers may decide to stop visiting the blog.

Addressing complaints and problems with integrity makes bloggers appear more professional. Being positive is always important. People like to join forces with positive people.

Google Your Name

Online reputation management should not be taken lightly. As a blogger, you have a reputation to build and protect. Regular maintenance includes doing a Google search for your own name and for the name of your blog at least on a weekly basis.

Results should show the blog and social media sites, as well as other online listings such as guest blog posts. Taking the time to review these listings will keep you current on comments and feedback being left at various places throughout the web.

Reputation Management

In most cases, with regular online reputation management, bloggers can keep up with comments being left about them online. However, there are some instances when things can get out of hand.

For example, a group of people can attack a blogger with negative comments across various sites and platforms. This can cause overwhelming damage that a single person cannot manage.

In such cases, it is usually necessary to work with reputation management experts like those at Reputation.com. The professionals can develop strategies designed specifically for the blogger’s needs.

Although it may take time to accomplish the task, the blogger’s reputation can be cleaned up.

Debbie Allen is a professional writer and blogger who enjoys writing about online reputation management and marketing strategies.

Image courtesy of jscreationzs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Master isolated images at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Why Do You Read Daily Blog Tips?

TheSpotter — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 22:27:53 +0000

Blog is mainly a type of website, rather we can tell it as a social site or forum. Nowadays blogs are used not only for personal purpose but also for all purposes. With the increasing pace of internet, the online business is also increasing day by day. Therefore, if you owe a company, then you must also be having your own website and to make your website SEO friendly, blogging plays an important role. In fact, you can communicate and interrelate with customers and other business partners. Moreover, you can get quality traffic for website. Therefore, it is very important to have a proper knowledge about the blog tips.

Some important tips on Blogging

Well, writing a blog is not that easy how much we think off. It is very important to maintain a blog regularly for gaining more quality. We should write a unique content in our daily blogs to gain huge trafficking. Below are some of the tips, which may help you out in this:

While creating a new content for your blog, try to be natural and instead of pondering over some unique topics, you can write some unusual topics that can create interest for the readers because these thoughts motivates you to work on it.
Try to stay in touch with social media like face book, Twitter etc so that you can grab the attention of more readers from all parts of the world.
Always maintain your personality and style of writing. By looking at others writing, do not try to change your signature style of writing. However, readers should not feel that you have copied the contents from other sites.

Role of a social media websites in Blogging

Social media sites have gained enough popularity in a very short period and it has a grand influence on online business and blogging. Social media websites like Face book, Twitter etc help in:

Creating a good market strategy. It helps in growing your blogging network by increasing your Face book fans and Twitter contacts.
It helps in setting and managing the reader social media groups and profiles.
It promotes your website content and blog to your network, in this way you can participate in open business discussions through which you can reach your targeted customers and can increase more clients.
With the help of Facebook and Twitter, you can reply to online questions and comments immediately.

Importance of reading daily blog tips

Well, to be a good blogger, it is very important to go through the daily blog tips and know how to improve more on blogging. Some of the points include

Daily blog tips teach you how to build your own community around your websites and blogs, which will help you in cultivating your future.

You can judge and understand your audience and can know about their problems. You can provide some information that would have a positive influence on their lives.

Blogging helps one to earn a long-term stable income and helps in developing excellent writing skills. Therefore, make it as your passion and build a bright career in online business.

About The Author: Claudia is a writer/blogger. She loves writing travelling and reading books. She contributes in A Forever Recovery

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How to Use Tumblr to Promote Your Blog

TheSpotter — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 12:25:51 +0000

Tumblr may not be quite as popular as Facebook or Twitter, but it can be a fabulous platform for promoting blogs. This is especially true if the blogs being promoted happen to offer quality images. Many companies are finding that Tumblr is an excellent extension of main websites and other social media networking sites.

Tumblr offers much more than just a place to post high-resolution images; it also has a built-in community that shares content. The concept of reblogging and how it is used at this platform is somewhat unique to Tumblr. The truth is, Tumblr offers many of the best features offered at other social media sites all at one place.

About Reblogging

The concept of reblogging at Tumblr is actually very similar to hitting the “Share” button on Facebook or “Retweet” on Twitter. The difference is that Tumblr started the whole re-sharing idea. On Tumblr, reblogging works like this: The original post excerpt, which includes a link and username and optional comments, is reblogged by another Tumblr user.

At Tumblr, the concept of micro-blogging is emphasized. With that in mind, the original post can lose its importance and comments can become the focus. In other words, Tumblr often has a feel of an Internet forum with semi-threaded, stacked conversations.

In many cases, a reblogged concept has a tendency to go viral. This is one of the best reasons to use Tumblr. Reblogging and the combination effect of a pseudo-blended blog and Internet forum can result in an avalanche of traffic being directed to a linked website.

Ease of Use

One of the things most people like best about Tumblr is that content can be repackaged for use there. This is a time-saver that busy professionals appreciate.

Since existing photos and posts with links back to blogs can be used, adding content at Tumblr requires only minutes a day. Just like other online platforms, as more content is added, more and more interactions with others can be expected. Tumblr can be a very valuable tool.

Offering New Content

In addition to being a great place to use re-purposed content, Tumblr is also an excellent platform to show off new images and to post thoughts, quotes, and other original material. Many site owners and bloggers use it as a sounding board or a place to expand on topics that are not fully explored at their main sites.

Built-Ins

There are a lot of WordPress plug-ins that offer linking options for Tumblr. This makes it possible to automatically post to Tumblr, as articles are posted to blogs. Plus, Google analytics can be linked to Tumblr micro-blogs. This enables the owners to track everything from site traffic and traffic sources to time spent on Tumblr pages and the bounce rate.

One of the greatest advantages of Tumblr is how easy it is to get started with the platform. Most people enjoy reblogging. It seems to create a sense of community that other social sites cannot compete with. Having the ability to share quotes, links, videos, and even music is just fun. Who can argue with that?

Debbie Allen is a freelance writer who enjoys sharing ideas about creative uses for used office furniture and other secondhand finds.

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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What Does Your Blog’s Appearance Say About It?

TheSpotter — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 12:44:11 +0000

It’s a cliche because it’s true: You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This is as true with blogs as it is with people. Studies show that if your blog doesn’t draw a reader in within the first few seconds, he or she may click away for good – even before viewing the titles of your blog posts.

How it Looks

The first aspect of a blog that many people notice is the header. Ideally, the header should be bold and attention-grabbing while simultaneously showing the reader how to navigate the site. So in addition to a catchy title, the blog’s mission or message should be prominently displayed along with helpful links and the newest content.

Similarly, the entire presentation of the blog should be visually appealing. Not only should the blog appear to be unique, but it should also incorporate fresh, engaging colors and an intuitive layout. It may be worth spending a little money for a non-generic blog template or theme; there are plenty of choices available out there.

It’s also a mistake to overlook the fonts that you use. Consider embracing Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, or a similar “easy on the eyes” font instead of dull Times New Roman types. Try to stick to one default font and two or three others for headings and titles, and remain consistent through all of your blog pages. Finally, be sure to maintain adequate spacing between paragraphs and content items.

It’s perfectly okay to try and turn your blog into a moneymaking endeavor; however, you must be cautious when determining the number and placement of your advertisements. You’ve probably seen some sites or blogs where wading through banner and flash ads becomes cumbersome and annoying. First-time visitors to your blog won’t stand for that, and they’ll go somewhere else.

How it Works

A key element of your blog’s appearance is its usability. Your pages should contain easily-identifiable links without overwhelming the reader with choices or drop-down menus. You should especially focus on making navigation to your blog content and points of interaction (comments, subscriptions, etc.) as simple as possible.

A sidebar can be a handy tool for a blogger, and many templates and themes let you utilize sidebars easily. But too many bloggers treat a sidebar as a depository for every widget or link that they can find. Like page layouts, sidebars should be lean, neat, and organized. If readers have to scroll down a lot to get to the bottom of the sidebar, it’s probably too convoluted.

In addition, many bloggers don’t know how to use or optimize footers. A good blog has footers at the end of content blocks that encourage readers to “take the next step” and provides them an easy way to do so. Footers with messages or icons that instruct readers to view similar articles, share or bookmark the post, make a comment, check out an advertiser, or subscribe to a news feed are important functions that a footer can perform.

Last but not least, a reader should easily be able to connect to you or your blog in other ways. Links to Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages should be obvious; and readers should have the capability to share your content with others without just a click or two. That’s how you build a community of followers who will become your best marketers.

There are countless blogs out there in cyberspace all fighting for eyeballs and page views. If you want your blog to be noticed above the din, its appearance is of paramount importance. Because even the best blog content is useless if no one ever reads it.

In other words, skillful or insightful writing alone won’t attract people to your blog. That’s why a blog’s appearance is so vital.

Chris Martin is a freelance writer who writes for numerous websites and is also a ghostwriter for several blogs. In addition, he is an accomplished voice actor and an experienced sportscaster. Martin has also worked as a radio DJ, a traffic reporter, and a public address announcer for sporting events – and he actively monitors his online reputation on Reputation.com.

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Should Bloggers Be Worried About Their Online Reputations?

TheSpotter — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 12:24:20 +0000

To attain trust, authority, and a strong readership: These are the hallmarks of what a blogger hopes to achieve. Indeed, bloggers should be cognizant of how they are being perceived, who is following them, and how well the information in the blog is being disseminated.

Choices can be made by the bloggers who want to increase their chances of success:

Up Your Game: The blogoshere is filled with simplistic, obvious ideas. Your job is to be original and to get the reader to stop, think, and engage. The stronger blogger will elicit responses from the readers, and this feedback should reveal an engaged, thoughtful response.

By bringing in new perspectives, new ways of considering an issue, unique insights, and colorful commentary, a blogger can and will gain a stronger relationship with the reader. The blogger’s reputation will benefit, as well. Through internet reputation management, you can much more easily take a pulse on exactly how your blog is being perceived.

Welcome to the Neighborhood: Another goal! You want to achieve that sense of being welcomed and accepted.

Remember Sally Fields’ acceptance speech at the Oscars years ago? She bellowed, “You LIKE me; you really LIKE ME!!” Her pride was palpable, and she allowed herself to be a bit vulnerable. It was not at all vain or arrogant, and absolutely no one could fault her for just beaming. She deserved it!

Keep it Real: Your blog will be viewed as reputable if you reveal a bit about yourself, your perceptions, why you think the way you do, your background, and other facets of your writing that reveal that you are a real human being and not just an automaton who is pumping out stagnant ideas.

You want people to not only follow the ideas that you present in your blog — you want them to follow YOU. If they become at all personally invested in your success, the likelihood will increase that they will share your blog with others, and they will drive more readers to your site.

Perception IS Reality: By using a management system, a blogger can get direct feedback about how he or she is being perceived. This can bring truly shocking results!

You may, through comments and direct feedback on the blog, feel that the world is viewing your blog just fine, thankyouverymuch. But just one negative comment about your blog, outside the realm of your site, can be detrimental. Truly, it is important to gauge that facet of your blog.

Photo Credit: Clickit07

Valerie J. Wilson is a blogger, freelance writer, and professional writing instructor at Syracuse University.

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SEO Basics: How Long Does SEO Take?

TheSpotter — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 01:44:56 +0000

“How long will it take?” is the second most popular question asked of SEOs, coming right after “How much does it cost?” The answer is often not what potential clients are hoping for, especially if they haven’t had previous experience of SEO.

That answer is usually, “It depends,” followed by a potentially baffling list of factors that can influence search rankings. Or rather, that will be the answer if the SEO is any good. If he or she claims to be able to guarantee a top position in a short amount of time for a set of keywords, be careful. The reality is that search engines and the sites they index are complex systems with a complex relationship. It’s like the weather, you can fairly accurately predict long-term trends, but absolutely guaranteeing that it won’t rain on the third Tuesday in March next year is irresponsible.

In some cases, it’s very easy to get a particular keyword phrase to rank well in a short space of time. For example, an SEO could probably cause a site to rank well for the keyword phrase “blue oranges like humpback whales” (Google it – QED). But that’s because it’s trivial to rank for a very rare combination of words. They appear nowhere else on the Internet and no one is searching for them. That makes them worthless from an SEO perspective.

Keyword phrases with high value are those that lots of people are searching for, particularly if they tend to be used when the searcher is looking to spend some money. Those keyword phrases can be extremely difficult to rank well for, requiring a considerable investment of time and money. There is very strong competition for them, and that’s why “It depends.”

The competitive landscape for each business varies considerably, and with that so varies the effort involved in ranking for relevant search queries. The harder it is, the more time it will take, and since one can expect all competitors to be engaged in similar SEO efforts, the competition is constantly shifting.

Because of the unpredictable nature of the system as a whole, honest SEOs won’t make firm promises about short-term gains. However, as with the weather, it is possible to predict long-term trends and the factors that are likely to influence them. That’s why SEOs can be confident that if they make technical and content related improvements to a site, then that site will see an upward trend in search traffic.

Speaking generally, SEO clients should expect to see some improvements within 3 months of the start of an SEO campaign. Sometimes it will happen more quickly, and sometimes more slowly, but if there is no improvement within 6 months, then it may be time to reconsider the strategy.

About Daniel Page — Daniel is the Director of Business Developement for ASEOhosting, a leading provider in SEO hosting and multiple IP hosting. Follow ASEOhosting on Twitter at @aseohosting, Like them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/aseohosting, and check out all the services they offer on http://www.aseohosting.com/

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SEO For Google News

TheSpotter — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 11:55:17 +0000

Many of the tactics that lead to success in Google News are identical to those that SEOs employ regularly. Google News likes the same rich, informative, high-quality content that Google Search does because that’s what its users are looking for.

However, news is a different medium to blogs and other on-page content, so for a site to rank well it has to produce content that better conforms to the requirements of that medium. We’re going to have a look at a number of specific qualities content should have before publishers can expect to find it reaching the first page of Google News.

Submit Your Site For Inclusion

Before doing anything else, a site owner should ensure that their site has been submitted to Google News for inclusion. Sites will then be reviewed and either approved or rejected.

Freshness

Freshness is a quality that is generally helpful for ranking, but its usefulness on regular sites tends to be over-hyped. The search engines are well aware that some content is by nature evergreen or essentially unchanging, so striving for freshness by producing new content for the sake of it is a futile exercise. But, naturally, freshness is a key quality of news. Keeping news up-to-date with the event you are discussing relative to competitors will give an article an edge in the rankings.

Originality

Google is somewhat good at determining how diverse a range of articles on a particular topic is. Approaching your subject from a novel perspective, finding original connections with other topics, or bringing a unique analysis to your readers are great ways to avoid an article’s being considered just another one of the no-doubt hundreds of practically identical articles out there.

Submit A News Sitemap

Google uses a specific sitemap for news that differs in several ways from the standard sitemaps you might be familiar with. It includes additional tags that are particularly relevant to news publishers, some of which are required, including publisher, access, and publication date.

News Sitemap submissions works much the same way as with the standard sitemaps.

If you submit a News Sitemap before your site has been approved for inclusion by Google, you can expect to see crawl errors in Google Webmaster tools. They will be resolved once the site is approved.

Locality

Many news articles are inherently tied to a particular location. If your article is dealing with localized news, make sure it contains geographical references in the text, the headings, and the tags. One of the tags that the News Sitemaps make available is , which is an ideal method for making sure that Google picks up on your article’s location and ranks it for local searches.

Avoid Pure Marketing Content

Google is pretty strict about this. As you might imagine, if Google didn’t filter out the the marketing stuff, their news site would very quickly become a wasteland of spam. If you represent your marketing content as news, you run the risk of ranking poorly or even being dropped from Google News altogether.

This means don’t use Google News in the way that many businesses use press releases. You might be lucky and get your content in and ranking, but it’s not a sustainable or scalable approach.

Use The Meta News Keywords Tag

This may seem like a blast from the past for those who are old hands at SEO. The standard meta keywords tag is worthless for ranking on the main Google SERPS; they ignore it because it was abused too much, but last year Google introduced a news specific keywords tag: news_keywords. It functions in more or less the same way as the old keywords tag except that it’s limited to 10 comma-separated keywords per article.

Again, don’t be tempted to abuse this, it’s one signal in hundreds, so if your content is generally inferior, adding this won’t help. It will, however, give Google some useful hints about which terms they should be ranking your article for.

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