12 Jul 09 SEO SIMPLIFIED: SEO Myth-Buster

We are done with the lessons on the on-page SEO optimization, and if you are following the series from the beginning (Click here to go back from where we started), you must be knowing by now, what search engine optimization is all about. Indeed, there are stuffs like link-building, back linking, deep-linking etc. still left to discuss, which we will do in the course of time, but still, I believe, this is the right time to debunk some of the common search engine optimization myths.

Myth 1: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or website optimization is Rocket Science.

Well, you already know this, and you also no it’s not that difficult. And Rocket Science, forget about it! This is not even 1% closer to it. The idea that you have learned so far, and the ones you will be learning in the coming articles, is what SEO is. The things we have talked about are only the ground on which any SEO empire is or will standing.

Myth 2: I am lagging too far behind. I will never catch up, and cannot learn to optimize my website.

Well, you cannot learn to fly a kite, by reading a book on aerodynamics, velocity of wind, wind power, or by studying the flight mechanics, or anatomy of a kite. You will have to take a kite and try to fly it, if you want to learn to fly a kite. Similarly, reading 32-volume encyclopedia on SEO will not teach you search engine optimization. You will have to practice it to learn it. Learn the basics and take the kite out to give it a flight.

Myth 3: I am done with submitting my site to search engines. It is time to party now.

Not yet! By submitting your site to all the search engines and web directories, you have just taken a baby-step in the direction of making your site popular. There are many more things to do. Do not hang your sword and armor, not yet, the war is still not over. By submitting your site to the search engines and website directories, you have just announced to the world that you are also there. It will take some effort and time in reaching to the first row, and much more time to get the VVIP seat.

Myth 4: Indeed, it is too much time consuming.

I saw that coming, but the answer is no, it’s not. And by the way, if you have the basics of SEO in place then you must be writing the content from different perspective, designing the website according to SEO norms and even keeping the source code in sync with SEO, so you have already devoted a fair share of time. No more sweat. Well, not exactly. A bit more sweat.

Myth 5: Do I have to submit it to 1000 search engines? Or the number is 1,000? Man, this search engine submission is a hell lot of work.

No, you do not have to, and for the starter, there isn’t 1000 search engines, forget about 10,000. If anyone is asking you to pay him to do all the search engine submission then you better watch out. Submitting your website in Google, Yahoo, MSN, and one or two local search engines is enough. If you want you can add Ask, AOL etc. as well, but in no way you need to submit your site in all the search engines. Having said that, I must add submitting your website in every possible search engine will not hurt, but do you have that kind of time?

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Tags: Baby Step, Flight Mechanics, Kite, Myth 3, Myth Buster, Optimization Seo, Reading A Book, Right Time, Rocket Science, Search Engine Optimization, Search Engines, Seo Optimization, Stuffs, Time To Party, Volume Encyclopedia, Web Directories, Website Directories, Website Optimization, Wind Power, Wind Wind

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31 May 09 Blogging: Required Skill

Everyone is talking about blogs, blogging and money, but no one is asking or telling, if you have in you what it takes to be successful as a professional blogger? If you want to take blogging just as a pastime then you do not need to worry much about some of the skills we are going to discuss below, but to make a living out of your blog, you need to know the things we are going to discuss. I have categorized the skills required into three categories: Framework, content and promotion.

Framework

This category consists of all the skills required to create a blog. It can be divided into three subcategories.

Web design and development

I am not talking here about the advance stuffs like creating a theme framework, our PHP coding for the blog theme, but I am talking about basic tweaking to make your blog look like yours. You need to have a basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and PHP, if you want to personalize any freely-available existing theme for your blog. This skill is not hard to acquire, and in short time you can learn the basics required for the work provided you have an analytical mind, or in other word a knack for coding. If you do not feel comfortable with codes then I will suggest seeking help from outside, though I will not recommend it.

Beside, you also need to have a basic knowledge of WordPress (I am assuming here that you will use WordPress blogging platform for your blog). For a self-hosted blog, you also need to know how to work with a webhosting account. This is no brainer; do not get scared of it.

Photoshop

To create a header image, or blog logo for your blog, you should have a working knowledge of any image editing software. I recommend Photoshop because it is the most powerful graphic editing software around.

Content

The category consists of skills required to create content for your blog.

English

You need to have impeccable English, or the language in which you want to create your blog. You should have a good command over grammar, sentence composition, paragraphing, and you should also know a proper use of punctuation. A mistake or two can be okay, but avoid creating any glaring mistake.

Writing skills

Well, the knowledge of English, as dealt above, is just the technical part of writing, which indeed is important, but not as important as the ability to write an article or a blog-post that can keep the reader hooked to your blog. To develop a good writing skill, you need to read as much as you can, and be observant of your surrounding. Always remember, writing is an art, and the more you practice the better you will become at it.

Image manipulation

A working knowledge of Photoshop will help you in optimizing the image you want to use in an article or a post.

Internet Research

You should know how to dig relevant information from the internet. This information will help you in finding material to write on.

Promotion

This category consists of skills needed to promote your blog on the internet in order to bring traffic to your blog.

SEO

A working knowledge of SEO is must. You will require this skill to bring your blog into public awareness. You should also know how to write keyword optimized articles or blog-posts because all the articles or blog-posts on your blog are going to be keyword-rich. Click here to read about Keywords.

Internet marketing

You need to know about social bookmarking, forum posting, blog-commenting, twitting, and other tools that will help you promote your blog on the Internet. I am not recommending buying banner advertising or anything like that. I am asking you to sweat, and build awareness for your blog.

Tags: Array, Basic Knowledge, blog, Blogger, Brainer, Composition, Grammar, Header Image, Html Css, Image Editing Software, Knack, Money, Pastime, Short Time, Stuffs, Subcategories, Tweaking, Web Design, Webhosting Account, Wordpress, Working Knowledge

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