This is part four of a four part post. Click here for part I, here for part II, or here for part III.
“The truth is more important than the facts.”
~Frank Lloyd Wright
I don’t write for SEO, or throw attention at keywords. I hope I never feel the need to stray from such straightforward guidelines, at least not while writing for Writer Dad.
I can almost hear the collective gasp from the probloggers. I’m not trying to argue, merely stating what works for me. Writing for SEO isn’t it.
Before I began the blog, I did my due diligence.
I read Darren’s book, and clearly understood the importance of SEO and keywords. During my first two weeks of posting, I stuck to the principles. I would outline ideas, title included, draw the keywords I needed, and then scribble around them.
It was backwards.
I knew it, and abandoned the practice my third week.
Writing for SEO, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice. Now, when I pen a post, I sit at the keys with a vague idea of how I’d like to spit. Words spill, I bring the mop.
Only when finished, do I read the post to see what keywords I might gather. I then decide on a title, an appropriate quote, and a picture to give all the black and white a little splash of color.
Like advertising, or pretty much anything else, I’ve no issue with writing for SEO. I understand the mathematics, and am positive that the future will find me developing sites where writing for the deities of search engine optimization is entirely necessary.
When that day comes, I’ll design my words accordingly.
The hallways of the internet blare with a billion echoes. Like life, it takes courage to think different. It’s hard to claim a niche when I find myself an expert at nothing. I don’t want to pen lists to tell others how to live their lives better when I’m still working full time on mine. Hunter Nuttall wrote a fantastic piece on building a slow and steady audience. This is an excerpt from that article:
Writer Dad says he doesn’t have a niche, and that’s certainly true in the traditional sense. But I think he has a very specific niche. He’s writing for people who like about 1 post per day, about 500 words, broken into lots of short paragraphs, with lots of interaction in the comments section, and most importantly, his unique writing style. Name another blogger who’s similar. Can’t think of one? That’s because he’s the only one in his niche.
The traffic that drives by Writer Dad could only be described as light. What I do have, is a high percentage of people who stick around. This is as it should be. I’d prefer a smaller, genuine audience, to a large one who slips Writer Dad in their reader because they think it’s something they’re supposed to do.
Without ads, an inflated audience is irrelevant.
When I write, it is because I want someone to feel a silhouette of my thought. Even with a full understanding that my words will be mostly forgotten within thirty-six hours of broadcast, I write them with everything I have.
My children will one day comb through my archives; I write for them.
If Writer Dad is my chance to touch our most local universe, then I wish to use my most genuine voice, rather than one designed to capture the attention of the Googlebots who crawl across my verbiage.
When you have language, you can skip rope. Why would I wish to tie my laces?
Writer Dad
If you enjoyed these words, please subscribe (for free) by RSS or Email. If you’re a Stumbler, please consider Stumbling. Thanks.
Related posts:
- Setting the Stage “Are we not like two volumes of one book?” ~Marceline...
- Writing Without a Niche “If my doctor told me I had only six minutes...
- Let’s Put Ourselves Together “The future is now.” ~Nam June Paik, mixed media artist...
- Dejá Vuesday “This is like Dejá Vu all over again.” ~ Yogi...
- Her Royal Bloggess The most wasted of all days is one without laughter. ...
Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
{ 2 trackbacks }
{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }
The number one piece of SEO advice is to write for people, not search engines. Everything else is a technicality. Google’s aim is to make such technicalities unnecessary in the long run (they’ve got a long ways to go).
For a blog where the blog posts are meant to be the answers to a seeker’s question, all this other SEO “trickery” applies. For your blog, Sean, not so much.
Michael Martine - Remarkabloggers last blog post..Blogger Biographies: Grant Griffiths
The moment I abandoned adwords or adsense (can’t remember which) was when I made a post in which I included the word “sex”. The resulting advertisement you can guess.
I was tempted to go and edit my post, but ultimately I thought I was not selling myself, at least not for peanuts.
Good job, Writerdad.
Miguel de Luiss last blog post..The photograph of a steak
You’re right - don’t write for SEO.
I’m not sure that anybody that writes for SEO ends up successful with SEO, simply because that would be skin deep, and it’s really about relevancy and content. It’s not an end, it’s a means. It’s a means of helping your users find relevant information among the sea.
I think the meta-program is more like an edit pass. Write as you would, but then do a simple SEO pass for your audience. In general, I think domain trumps page title trumps keywords, but in the end, it’s your in-bound authority links that help the most.
J.D. Meiers last blog post..Help Your Colleagues Look Good
I know absolutely nothing about SEO - I just write and try to write as if I were talking with the folks reading the words. And with absolutely no knowledge of SEO, I agree with Michael Martine - keep doing what you are doing, Sean.
Brett Legrees last blog post..still doing crazy things…
I completely agree with you here.
Writing for search engines totally defeats the purpose of writing.
I think writers need to write for themselves. We cannot write for robots.
If we are honest in our writing and it speaks to us, it will speak to others. And readers will eventually find it. That’s what I think.
Chase Marchs last blog post..Totally Disoriented
It is a relief to find so many like-minded writers. My first entries on my contractor’s blog was with the intention of making Adsense a viable alternative income for me, but I still wrote them from my heart with lierary style. I get a good laugh over my $1 per month average (and growing!), but pay attention every day to the craft of writing what comes to me in spirit. My analytic numbers remain dismally low, but the flattery is tremendously uplifting and inspirational. Like you, my fingers can only type out what flows freely. The wealth is in the content of the entry, and the payment lies in the quality of the readers who return.
However, this all takes ALOT of time and commitment while food still has to be delivered to the hungry mouths of our little children (…well, mine not so little now). This is all a new genre which we are defining each day as we go along, each and every one of us. Some very talented people will inevitably fall by the wayside. When I was getting published 30 years ago, writing was a lonely, isolating process. It is an incredible gift to have this daily link with people suffering and loving the same struggles and highs.
Write on!
Kip de Molls last blog post..Stuff
Hey Writer Dad,
I feel quite ignorant, reading through your post. I’ve never thought about these SEO words for the purpose of attracting readers. One word I know does get people over and that is SEX or any word similar!! I write like you do, with an idea of what I’m going to make the post about. Afterwards I read it through for corrections and hope it’s reasonably interesting and publish. I’m well aware that my tags aren’t unique but a few people come my way. I’ve been blogging since March and now I have a small amount of people who I know read and comment which is lovely, so encouraging! But sometimes I feel a bit intimidated when I see blog posts with 26 comments and mine may have 4, two of which are my own responses!!
Oh well, fickle is the blogging business!
Scribble
Scribbles last blog post..Getting the Teen.
P.S. I am one of your true readers, I have you on my sidebar and love reading your posts!
Scribble
Scribbles last blog post..Getting the Teen.
I think SEO and Search Engines shouldn’t have any impact on your writing what-so-ever, mainly because your blog is of the type that should be spread by word of mouth, not keyword rankings.
Danny Coopers last blog post..7 Effective Ways To Increase Your Technorati Authority
I’m right there with you WD. I don’t write for reasons to gain an audience, although nice, it is to put my ideas down on paper (read word vomit my thoughts onto a computer screen) so that someone can have a little glimps into my life and how I view the world around me.
Afterwards, I might go back and tweak some stuff, but for the most part, when I am done writing, it is ready to go to publish.
I am glad you don’t conform and follow the rules, I think that is one of the best parts of Writer Dad. And I think Hunter has it right when he says you are the only one in your niche of non-nicheness.
Sals last blog post..Paper or Plastic With Writer Dad
Good morning! Will there be a(n ironic) traffic spike out of this post? Perhaps! It would be pure glee, if so.
Point very well taken here. If you’re going to change your unique voice to conform with whatever SEO rules might be, wouldn’t it be easier to just have a lobotomy? Deadening is deadening.
Betsy Wuebkers last blog post..BAIL-OUT — YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET AND YOUR LIFE
Content first, always! Otherwise it’s soulless.
Hayden Tompkinss last blog post..How to Work from Home With Your Spouse AND Keep the Passion
Michael Martine: I like knowing that about Google. I guess it would be impossible to expect that there wouldn’t be a huge learning curve. This is all so relatively new. I can’t even imagine what searches will be like in a decade.
Miguel: Those ads are the ones which scare me the most; those that I have no control of. You made the right choice.
J.D.: Thanks for explaining that J.D. That makes a lot of sense.
Brett: That’s how I do it exactly…. write like I’m talking. I’ve no plans to change.
Chase: If we write to tell some essential truth about ourselves, or shine a light into our thought, I believe that others will want to peer. We are all human and all curious. Googlebots have no curiosity.
Kip de Moll: There has been nothing more rewarding in my time writing as the daily exchange with all the fellow bloggers. They tell you that they want more of your honesty, more of your words, why would anyone be willing to exchange that for traffic that didn’t interact (unless of course the ultimate aim was to generate traffic for ads, which I do understand, I’m just not there). Thanks for your daily link, Kip.
Scribble: Thank you for being a true reader. A small, loyal group is good if they are feeding your fire. If they are waiting for your words, and reading your ideas, then they are helping you to grow. Perhaps you should try closing your post with a question and see if that helps with the comments.
Danny Cooper: I would much, much rather be spread by word of mouth than keyword rankings. I find the former a far greater compliment.
Sal: It’s nice to drain the brain. If you do things like everybody else, than you’re being a robot (and robots don’t have beating hearts).
Betsy: That would be funny. Well said. Deadening is deadening.
Hayden: I like my soul, I’d like it to stay where it is.
you are right on track here. I did the same thing with SEO & wracked my brain on how to incorporate those key words in. It sounded something close to those automated answering systems you get when you call customer service.
In some ways I think Darren’s book was more of a hindrance than a help in that it through me off track trying to do everything in there he suggested. Don’t get me wrong, there was a ton of useful stuff, and he does repeat the message of ultimately being true to your voice.
Your voice in many ways becomes your niche so to speak, because it gives the personality people are drawn too. SEO in my opinion is really something more important to being competitive if a site is selling something or informational.
I think you’ve already figured this out, so really I’m just wasting space preaching to the choir. =-)
CK Lunchboxs last blog post..Alec Baldwin: Father of The Year? You Decide.
An interesting metric for “reader quality” might be to see how many feeds each reader has in their feed reader, and how often those feeds publish.
I know that if I have excessive feeds, I hardly even read the ones I really like. However, if I cut it down to receiving about 5 - 10 things in my reader a day, I’m much more inclined to sit down and enjoy each piece.
Difficult to measure, I know, yet I’m guessing at least half of WriterDad.com readers are the type to limit their daily feed consumption.
Maybe it’s time for a WD poll?
You know, I’d too started way back doing the same with keywords and all. But got too bored with doing so and closed the entire site for months before getting my act together and writing stuff that I actually enjoy sharing.
SEO or not, there’s still a great group of people following you.
Daniel Richards last blog post..Wordle I’m Writing In This Blog?
I’m the same. I write what I’m thinking and feeling. I can’t be bothered to dick around with keywords and stuff, though afterward I’ll collect them and put them in the tag spot or whatever. Who knows if my post might help someone searching.
My blog is a personal one, though. I would probably want to focus on SEO and stuff like that for a business blog.
stephs last blog post..I Mentioned Change, Right?
I’m so stoopid about the blogging Dos and Donts, I didn’t even know what SEO was until I reached the bottom of your post.
Write on, Dad!
angies last blog post..Great Escapes Made Easy
Market research will always be necessary (when you’re targeting a market, anyway), but Google’s ultimate goal is to make SEO unnecessary. For many of us who are marketing to a specific group of people in the meantime, a little SEO goes a long way.
Michael Martine - Remarkabloggers last blog post..Blogger Biographies: Writer Dad
I also don’t write for SEO. It’s just too much work for a lazy guy like me. I guess if I consider my blog as a livelihood, then I will worry about SEO but since it’s a hobby, then I will work on producing good content with or without key words.
Chriss last blog post..GUT CHECK!
I’m with Chris (above) on this one - I’m lazy when it comes to SEO. For me, it’s the community that develops, and the content that I can write.
That said, I see nothing wrong at all with SEO. In fact, I’m sure it’s a good thing. Maybe someday it will be more of a priority for me.
Keep doing what you’re doing Sean. You attract an audience that cares and shares. And that’s very empowering for a writer…
Lances last blog post..Regrets
Writer Dad
Yes. THANK YOU! I was starting to feel left out there. Like I was the only one not jumping on the SEO bandwagon with all the other “Cool Kids”.
Call me a heretic. I don’t have to blog for a living, so I couldn’t give a flying fox-fart about SEO.
I’m so clueless, I don’t even know what “writing for SEO” even means. I don’t know how you’re supposed to fix your blog to get “SEO”. And I have zero interest in buying SEO books telling me how to do it.
I’d just rather spend the time writing my Deep Friar posts.
Is there something WRONG with me?
Friars last blog post..More Friar-O-Lanterns (*)
I’ve never given too much credence to SEO. It’s alot of work and is never guaranteed to work. Google keeps changing it’s formulas for page rank and in turn the rules for SEO change. Plus, writing with keywords in mind isn’t going to produce the kind of content that keep people around. It’s great if you’re blog’s sole purpose is to turn a profit, but otherwise, if you just want to build a loyal reader base, SEO is not the way to do it.
Your Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guys last blog post..Business Name Blues: Part 3, Make it legal
I’m still trying to figure this whole blogging thing out. I don’t have ads on my page and don’t think I’d put any on there. I like that there are people who read my blogs and post their thoughts. Someday, I’d like to have a group of people like you have who are faithful readers. I still don’t have many people read my blogs, so I got to figure out a way to get more to my page…any suggestions?
Tonys last blog post..What the hell happened to her eyebrows?
Flying Fox Fart = Funniest thing I’ve heard today!
Michael Martine - Remarkabloggers last blog post..Blogger Biographies: Writer Dad
I don’t think many bloggers take the clinical approach that you described WD, although I may well be wrong on that as I have no evidence. It’s more of a gut feeling.
Having said that, I can see why somebody would do it. I once wrote Tao Te Ching phonetically as Dow Ter Ching and saw lots of inbound traffic from people that were guessing at the spelling. On another occasion I ranted at HP and one of their drivers. The error code I published saw traffic flooding in, no doubt people looking to find answers.
I linked Sarah Palin to MILF in my last but one post and that has been disappointing. It seems that every other blog had beaten me to it
Tim Brownsons last blog post..7 Keys To Successful Self Development
@Tim - Shoulda been VPILF O_o
Michael Martine - Remarkabloggers last blog post..Blogger Biographies: Writer Dad
WD,
I, too, did a similar thing to you. I spent a few weeks trying to grok all of the ins and outs of SEO. I thought it was absolutely necessary to gaining traction. Then I figured out what it really is.
While SEO may be a valid strategy, it has become an internet marketing buzzword that is now used to sell a lot of internet marketing programs and products. While I read Darren’s book, I now see that he is just peddling SEO wares along with people such as Yaro Starek, and others.
I can teach you what you need to know about SEO right now.
- Write good content.
- Keep writing.
- Watch as Google and the others bump you up the charts.
Things such as PageRank are functions of content over time in the most simplistic view. Sure, the algorithms may be more complex than that, but I managed to get up to PR3 on my site without doing anything extra for SEO. In two more years with regular content, my site will be PR5. Guaranteed.
As always, content is the name of the game, and with the quality content that WD produces and with lots of natural incoming links from regular readers, writerdad.com is guaranteed to reach the tops of the search engine charts with no additional nudging.
But I’m rambling again. Don’t get me started on “list posts” and “link bait”. Be well.
Ian
Ians last blog post..MySQL at Sun in Trouble?
“Writing for SEO, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice.”
There is so much theory built into blogging advice. And there is something about writing for SEO that takes the art away from blogging. Maybe I should scour Japan to find a robot that will write posts for me; it would be a hell of a lot more efficient.
I’m all for learning sound copywriting. I’m all for making titles as catchy as possible. I’m all for producing posts that attracts the attention of the masses; in fact, I strive for this.
But, I’m just not feeling the SEO matrix at the moment. Though, I could always change my tune in the future.
My intention is always to do what works. But when you write for SEO, you also pay a price.
Bamboo Forests last blog post..7 Things That Happen in Movies - But Probably Not to You
“My children will one day comb through my archives; I write for them.”
I love that! I never thought it that way, even though I’m sure my son will some day be interested to check out what I wrote when he was young.
That’s what I call blogging wisdom
About SEO, I think you’re on the right path: don’t write for SEO. But on the other hand there is plenty of technical SEO that you can do on the blog platform itself, and that shouldn’t be ignored (I’m sure you have done that already — or maybe the Thesis theme itself contains some support for that stuff, I don’t know :))
Jarkko Laines last blog post..Text is Art, Content is King
I’m with Friar, I havent’t the foggiest idea what you’re talking about.
I had to look up what SEO meant for starters - that’s how much I don’t write for it!
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusks last blog post..Wordless Wednesday: How many of you can relate to this little scenario?
I don’t write for SEO, but I think it’s interesting, looking at my stats, what search words DO drive people to my blog. I bet I get most of my international hits that way. I find that most people who do “stick around” aren’t from just the random visitors.
That said, some of the random visitors HAVE turned into regulars, or they’ll blogroll me… they eventually de-lurk and it’s kind of nice actually to meet them. It’s like making friends with someone for the first time. Something you say catches their attention, maybe the look you convey. But for them to make the effort, they have to meet you first…
Good for you on not writing for SEO. But it’s not such a bad thing altogether.
Pink Inks last blog post..Mail Call
CK Lunchbox: That’s funny, I can totally picture that. If I was selling Bar-B-Que equipment, I would completely see the need for SEO style writing. How on earth do I write ad copy about my soul?
Oktober Five: If I could find that out, it would be amazing. Maybe we should do a poll. I’ve said, almost since the beginning, I’d rather have half the amount of readers, as long as they weren’t scanning.
Daniel: I imagine that if you don’t enjoy what you’re doing, it is way easier to get burned out, and then simply not want to do it anymore.
Steph: By nature, you’ll probably want EditQuest to use SEO. It’s a business. I think of my blog as a business also, but the integrity of the prose is more important than the traffic.
Angie: Not knowing what SEO is probably places you ahead of the curve, Angie.
Michael: I know to completely ignore SEO is silly. I’m really glad that Thesis takes care of some of the underlying needs (I think) so that I don’t really have to pay too much attention.
Chris: I think that’s a big distinction with SEO, is your blog business or hobby? Right now, I find mine somewhere in the middle. I treat it like a business, but it is yet to generate revenue, so by definition it might be more of a hobby.
Lance: There is nothing more empowering for my writing right now than all of you here everyday. Thank you.
Friar: Flying Fox Fart; Friar, you are hysterical. It doesn’t matter if it’s a doodle, a picture, or prose. I know I will get something unique every time I click on your site. That is exponentially more important than SEO. Keep doing what you’re doing.
Friendly Neighborhood Computer Guy: Right now, all I want to do is build a loyal reader base. Goal number one. Nice to meet ya.
Tony: Just keep talking with your most honest voice. Ask your readers questions and respond to what they say. From what I understand, it takes a good half a year to build a blog. I was exceedingly fortunate.
Tim: Hi, Tim. I completely see why someone would do it. I like your examples. It would be fun to write an all SEO/keyword post just for grins. I wonder what the traffic would be like. I’m smiling thinking of the experiment; it could be super funny.
Ian: I think you and I are alike in many ways. Here’s how I see it: Slow, steady, and honest = Eventual success.
Bamboo: I want a robot to write my posts! That would be tre cool. You are correct, there is a price, and in my mind, the juice just isn’t worth the squeeze.
Jarkko: I believe that Thesis does do some good things behind the scenes, which makes it worth the cost (other than it’s pretty). I like knowing the particulars are handled without my attention. I can just write.
Tara: You’re lucky you don’t know. That’s why your posts are personal and wonderful.
Pink Ink: I don’t think it’s a bad thing at all; I don’t even think it’s a bad thing for me. I just believe it’s not the right thing for me here and now.
Unfortunately, we’re still in an age where SEO tricks can be very effective. But I believe that Google doesn’t want it to be that way, and I look forward to the day when search results are perfectly ordered by quality and relevance. We can all have a glass of champagne when that happens.
Oh, I almost forgot…thanks for the link!
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..What Spammers Can Teach Us About Copywriting
Erm…what’s SEO? Sounds painful…is there a pill for that??
Also…there’s a book? I was supposed to read a book?? Dang - broke the rules without ever knowing they were there. Oh, well…as I’ve been muddling along without following ‘em all this time, may as well continue doing so.
I prefer a blog that offers common ground, connection, a warm and welcoming feel. I don’t need more anger in my life - I generate enough on my own without needing a stranger’s influence. I don’t need hatred, politics, or vitriolic religion, either. I’m just looking for a bit of humanity.
Writing to trigger certain searches and boost readership, blogging to pimp goods and services for advertisers rather than because one truly has something to say - that’s not what I care for, and it’s not what I read. Honestly, it’s probably for the best - as it stands I spend several hours each day (no exaggeration) reading blogs. I can’t fit any more in or my family won’t get any dinner!
When it’s a bit of yourself you’re putting out there, is shows; ultimately, your readership will reflect your dedication to honest words, and your place in Blogopolis will be the stronger for it.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryns last blog post..Feh!
Like what you have to say. I think it all comes down to what you are looking for from your blog. If you are more concerned with your writing then with traffic I differently think you made the right choice.
orlunds last blog post..Bacon and Eggs
Most everyone seems to believe that there is some disconnect between writing excellent content for people and making it easily findable via search.
There isn’t.
It all comes down to knowing your audience and giving them what they want.
Think of SEO as a technical and artistic application of empathy.
On the technical side, my audience, is searching for specific answers to specific problems. I know my posts need to be the answers to those problems, and that they need to use the same words my audience speaks. When someone types in “blog consultant” or “seo teleseminar” into that Google box, that’s where I want to be. My livelihood depends on it.
On the artistic side, I want what they find at Remarkablogger when they arrive via search to engage, inform, and impress. I want my personality and my voice (and my face in a video) to shine through loud and clear.
These are the two sides of the coin. You can’t have one side without the other, or you’re out of balance and not living up to your potential. I think the dichotomy between people and SEO is false, and that it’s perpetuated by misunderstanding. Misunderstanding is easily remedied by education. Education has to be prefaced by a willingness to learn and an open mind.
That’s how I see it, anyway. You might see it differently.
Michael Martine - Remarkabloggers last blog post..Blogger Biographies: Writer Dad
Absolutely, “writing for SEO” is the worst possible trap. Even for purely commercial sites. What good is getting to the top of Google’s results if the customers can’t find what they want when they click your link?
On the other hand, ignoring it completely is the second worst thing you can do to your site. Even for purely non-commercial sites. If people that are searching for you or something you’ve produced can’t find you, you have—in just a small way—failed them and the Internet community at large.
In practical terms, something as simple as putting your “This is part four of…” note at the bottom of the post instead of the top, would significantly increase the odds that someone searching for discussions of SEO practices would find this page. That’s because your theme just plugs in the first 30 words of the post into the “description” meta tag.
True, it could be argued that the reader is better served with that note at the top, but that’s a fairly small compromise to improve your service to your audience.
If you look at it in terms of collaborating with Google (and Yahoo and MSN and…) to improve the user experience and overall usefulness of the Web, SEO isn’t such a dirty word after all.
Hunter: Welcome. The link was my pleasure. Your post on building an audience was one of my favorite articles on growth I’ve ever read. Thank YOU.
Kyddryn: I’m glad you don’t know; that’s what gives your site such a sweet soul. I like the term Blogopolis a lot better than Blogosphere. Do you mind if I use it henceforth?
Orlund: Writing > Traffic, for sure.
Michael: I love this. I believe it’s said better than anything I’ve yet read on the subject. I’m just starting and have a lot to learn; I’m glad to know there are teachers like you out there. This is my favorite line: “Misunderstanding is easily remedied by education. Education has to be prefaced by a willingness to learn and an open mind.” WORD. On a side note, your site does its job beautifully. There is an instant humanity the moment your there. I don’t know if it’s the colors or layout (both great), but you can feel it the moment it fills the window.
Bruce: It’s about everything in measure, right? Knowing who you are, and where you want to be, then refining the tools to take you there. I’m glad I’m still in the beginning with so much to learn. It makes this all exciting.
“My children will one day comb through my archives;”
My heart just stopped dead.
Seamus Anthonys last blog post..5 Great Reasons to Stop Working and Just Read Stuff Instead
Skip rope, indeed.
That’s just a great image.
I think SEO is great for a niche site that’s designed to get people to click on the ads. People who want to make a static site like that can go on over to Caroline Middlebrook’s blog, where she has a free e-book all about it. It’s actually a very useful book about setting up a simple Wordpress site.
But for people like you and me who are trying to make their own niche, SEO is really a bit limiting.
I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with this site in the future, especially the Weebooks.
beths last blog post..The Things You Learn When You Actually Show Up
I’m amused at how anti-SEO everyone is. You all sound like writing search engine-friendly copy is a form of selling out. I assure you, it’s not.
A good copywriter who understands SEO principles still writes for her audience. Done right, incorporating keywords doesn’t ruin the copy; it actually helps it stay focused on the topic at hand.
The best website in the world is useless if it gets no traffic. SEO helps keep readers (and buyers) coming in the door.
I’m fine if Writer Dad and you other bloggers want to remain purists and give no thought to your site’s search engine ranking. But for those of us who make our living as website writers, ignoring the importance of search engine optimization is doing a disservice to our clients.
Well, now, this afternoon at my “other” company, we reached a conclusion about our e-commerce website in consort with Michael’s and Bruce’s points about SEO above. The company has a goal to build traffic using SEO strategy, but the tactics are lacking. Additionally, when a visitor lands, they don’t engage within the site, and sales reflect the lack of engagement. Content is what will engage the visitor, so it doesn’t matter how many visitors you have if they’re not doing what you want them to do when they get there.
Betsy Wuebkers last blog post..BAIL-OUT — YOUR TRAVEL BUDGET AND YOUR LIFE
I know nothing about SEO either, and that shows because I have a small readership. Interesting post.
Jamess last blog post..What Were We Thinking?
Seamus Anthony: Best compliment I’ve had all day. Thanks.
Beth: It is, but I can take no credit. Normally, I write my posts right before bed, but his sequence of posts was written last week. The last line I had for this post, admittedly, was kind of weak sauce. During dinner, Daisy said, “When you have language, you can skip rope.” I was all, “Baby, I’m taking that.”
Susan: I’m not anti SEO in the least, I just don’t want it in my mind while I’m writing. Not here anyway. I have a couple of projects in the pipeline where it would be downright foolish to ignore SEO. But here, I just want to speak in the most natural way possible. Your points are absolutely correct. If a writer is hired to write copy for the web, it is their responsibility to make it as SEO/keyword friendly as possible.
Betsy: It is a fine balance. I don’t know if I could strike it myself, at least not yet.
Writer Dad,
Beautiful post. I totally agree with you, although I write on SEO things once in awhile. Your title by the way, is very SEO.
Hunter is right. And I think you see that tree bearing fruit. I really don’t know much about traffic, I actually learned a bit yesterday from Cath Lawson, who is really good at all that stuff. And I do try to learn marketing techniques because I think it will help you in the long run. Think in terms of marketing your novel. You can from your blog! I know you want to change the world. So do I. But there is a way to get the word out. It doesn’t have to be nasty. It doesn’t have to be cutthroat. It can be through the sure footed way you are doing now.
Writer Dad, you have an excellent way of giving us your heart. And if you want…you can give it to the widest possible audience.
PS. Darren Rowse doesn’t write fiction nor do I think he ever will. Although he is a really nice guy.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Happy Pigs Play in the Mud
Also, why is this heart thing comment luv always one day late? It’s Turkish Rock Star WEEK people!
Thank you very much.
Ellen Wilsons last blog post..Happy Pigs Play in the Mud
I can’t help but feel that based on the comments above, Writer Dad, most of your readers don’t understand SEO at all. They actually seem threatened by it!
Granted, I write marketing copy for a living. But even when I’m writing “boring” corporate website, I write from the heart. It’s not done by formula, and my copy doesn’t sound robotic. Clients wouldn’t hire me if it did.
My #1 priority is always engaging readers and compelling them to take action in some form. SEO doesn’t hinder that objective one bit.
Once I get my copy “just right,” I go back and look at it from the SEO angle. It’s simply a matter of making sure I’ve used the keywords enough times (can be as few as 2-3 references) and put them in the right places.
You bloggers who have ads that appear next to your text would be well-served to learn a little SEO. I realize that you don’t want to hinder the creative process, but with a little attention to optimization techniques, you could find yourself generating significantly more revenue. Really, your copy won’t be compromised. And who couldn’t use a little extra $$$ these days.
I still don’t know what SEO is, but I am guessing it isn’t something I need to worry about or someone would have educated me by now. Right? Good, because I am feeling cussedly lazy and don’t wanna look it up!
You are welcome to “Blogopolis”, sir - I’m still small town at heart, and an -opolis was more comfortable than an entire -sphere to my poor wee mind and our adventures out there in the blue nowhere.
Shade and Sweetwater,
K
Kyddryns last blog post..Feh!
This is what you get when you can’t make it until the end of the day.
You get to be comment number FIFTY (or more).
Damn you Writer Dad, there are nearly 7000 words on this page and I’ve got just ten minutes to read them all. You see the problem is, it’s not only you throwing down the good words, there are nearly fifty other people here who are doing the same thing.
You’re causing me a real problem.
Another truly inspiring post Sean. It’s not that you try to inspire us with your words, but that have an inspiring heart that you are willing to share with us.
Eric Hamms last blog post..Re-Centering: Finding Your Way Back To The Life You Meant To Live
You have a great audience and I am sure it will get bigger. Actually I just recommended your blog to a friend…
Jim Gaudets last blog post..Why are you here?
Hunter is right, you are the only one in your niche.
I return here daily because I enjoy your crisp writing and I appreciate the value of uniqueness. You are, indeed, a unique blogger, Sean.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Picking the Brain of Naomi Dunford
Ellen: It IS Turkish rock star week. That’s funny about the post title. I thought that earlier today. I was thinking that I should have called it
SE I don’t think sO. I will continue to walk forward sure footed. Thanks.
Susan: You are right. I’m guilty of being ignorant myself. You, Michael, and a few others offered valuable insight into the necessity of SEO. I feel like it is only fair that I do a follow up post where I talk about its benefits. Thank you for making your voice heard today. I appreciate it.
Kyddryn: SEO = Search Engine Optimization. It means being mindful of what people will search for, and how the search engines catalogue information. Cussedly lazy… snicker.
Dave: I am the fly in your ointment, brother.
Eric: Thanks, Eric. That is a very kind thing to say.
Jim: Thanks for the recommendation. Parties are fun when there are more mouths to add to the chatter.
Jamie: Thank you. There are few things I’d rather be.
@ Susan, it’s perfectly reasonable to ensure that a certain phrase appears a few times in a post. I wouldn’t even consider that SEO; it’s just natural to include phrases that are relevant to your topic.
What I’m opposed to is letting SEO be the driving force, to the point where the reader doesn’t matter. I’ve heard a number of people say that content quality doesn’t matter, just backlinks. I don’t think that mindset is good for the reader, though it’s good for the SERPs.
However, I’m sure you write quality content, so I have no problem with what you do.
Hunter Nuttalls last blog post..What Spammers Can Teach Us About Copywriting
All this SEO talk is really making me nauseous. I’m honestly hoping tomorrow is light and fluffy; it would be ok if it were meaningful, possibly dark, and maybe even downright dangerous. Just not SEOesque.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
I agree that SEO can dull your writing, but I am slowly learning that it’s actually a good idea to write the post, then when it’s done go over it and make it a LITTLE more SE optimized.
Vered - MomGrinds last blog post..Beauty Standards Have Sure Changed
I don’t know, Vered. Doing that is like doing your hair really nice, then smothering your hands in molasses and running them haphazerdly through your curly locks. It taints the writing. It takes away from your original voice. Your words may have departed your mind untouched and holy, but they are soon hijacked and defiled by ulterior motives, eventually arriving as damaged goods.
This, of course, is coming from someone who is simply too lazy to care about SEO-izing my posts. Not only that, but it’s been a rough day on writerdad.com, what with all the SEO flying around as if the poopsmith were in a drunken rage–so what I’m saying is . . . I’m really tired and should probably go to bed.
Oktober Fives last blog post..Counting On You
It hardly seems needed to leave a post to let you know I have been by again. I like your take on SEO and your take on life. I am eagerly awaiting to hear and learn your next steps in life with the big business change. With so many comments (YAY FOR YOU) I don’t know how you could do much more than blog.
Harmonys last blog post..FRIDAY FIASCO - MY NON-GRATITUDE LIST
Quality nuggets I put in my pocket from this post:
“It takes courage to think differently.” So true. Once I abandoned the idea that I had to write or blog according to “best practices,” I had courage and I did think differently.
“Writing for SEO, I’ve no doubt, dulls the voice.” This is the writers most prized possion, in my opinion. It’s all about your voice. And as I’ve told you before, you stay so true to who you are and what you believe in. For this, I have tremendous admiration for you.
“If Writer Dad is my chance to touch our most local universe, then I wish to use my most genuine voice, rather than one designed to capture the attention of the Googlebots who crawl across my verbiage.” Probably the biggest reason I subscribe to you is that you write in a way that gives me a connection to you. You make the experience personable. You write for yourself first, and because of this, your readers follow you.
I hope one day to have someone like Hunter Nuttall write something as complimentary about me.
B.Wildes last blog post..Being Volunteered to Shovel-out the Barn
Hunter: I couldn’t agree with you more. I think you expressed that in your comment better than I did in my post.
Oktober Five: I hope I was fluffier for you today. Sorry for such a technical week. I promise next week will be more fun; except for Wednesday when I’ll be talking about poverty. That won’t be fun at all, but at least it won’t be about SEO.
Vered: It’s like seasoning. Just a dash or you dim the dish.
Harmony: Some days it is very difficult, but you guys read and comment; you deserve my time. One of my most loyal readers pointed out that I seemed to be rushing through answering my comments the last two weeks. She was correct. I’ve cut my comments on other blogs so I can do my best job here. I’ve felt really good about it this week.
B. Wilde: Thank you for all your compliments. I’ll continue to give you reasons to enjoy the time you spend reading. I was reading Hunter’s article without knowing that was at the end. It caught me by surprise, right in the stomach.
@WD: It was way fluffier. It was perfect. Thank you.
I’m late to this conversation, and hate to admit the fact that I don’t have time to read all the comments before mine. So, I may be echoing something already said:
I think any true writer needs to write with the process of formmulating his/her craft, first and foremost. Writing for SEO takes your writing from CREATIVE writing to TECHNICAL writing…not neccesarily bad, if you WANT to be a technical writer…but devastating if you want to be a CREATIVE writer.
Save the concern over SEO for your tags. There’s plenty of opportunity to get good, strong, SEO terms in your tag section.
Another hint (courtesy of my nearest and dearest): keep up the good work with your blog entry titles. The importance here for SEO is huge.
Lastly, if you are able to replicate words within all three: title, blog post content and tags…that’s where you’ll see the greatest returns in terms of SEO.
But, no matter what: stay true to your craft!
Kimmelins last blog post..McCain-Obama Debate Number Two: My Two Cents
Oktober Five: Glad I came through for you. Phew!
Kimmelin: Good job Kimmelin, you did indeed bring new points to the table. I’ll take your advice about the keywords, and I’m in no danger of ignoring the craft. To that I promise.
Heh. I was reading something along the same lines earlier today: 7 SEO Lessons: SEO for Humans Instead of Spiders is Not About Google and Content is King.
It’s a darn long title but gets the point across. Jacob Morgan echoes the point by writing for personality.
Keep writing. Keep being you, not a spider.
Ari Herzogs last blog post..How I Moved From Blogger to Wordpress