If you have been in the blogging scene for a while, you probably know how hard yet important it is to rank well on Google and other search engines. Google is still the number one source of targeted traffic and you want to make sure that your blog isn't on Google's "ignore" list.
Google has been targeting low quality content, high link spam blogs with their Panda and Penguin updates respectively. If you want to have a chance at ranking well on Google in 2014, you want to check the below tips:
1. Write long, original blog posts:
Although writing long articles isn't always possible - you have to make sure that your content is always original. You can no longer get away with copy/pasting content from that favourite blog of yours and still hope to rank well.
Several studies show that the average word-count of blog posts ranking on the first page of Google is 1500. However, feel free to write lengthier, more in-depth posts for a better chance of ranking higher.
Tip: Search for your keyword on Google and check first 10 articles ranking there. Then write an article with a different approach or perspective.
2. More Content above the Fold:
You can no longer get away with a couple 300x250 ads and a big banner ad above the fold of your blog. Above the fold means the section of your blog visible without scrolling. Make sure that at least 70% of above the fold area is occupied with content relevant to the page title.
Tip: Respect your regular readers. Several themes available let you hide Ads on newer articles, so your regular readers can read your content without getting irritated by the ads.
3. Concentrate on Social Media:
You have seen time and again how Google is taking more and more social signals into consideration while ranking articles. You can use this to your advantage by writing list posts with catchy titles to make them go viral on Facebook and other social media sites.
Titles should be inviting and should tickle reader's curiosity to click through and read more. This - in turn, will make them share the article on social media circles which will suggest to Google that the article is worth ranking higher in search engine rankings.
4. Use High-Quality Images:
1500 words of plain text is boring. You should always add a few relevant images to make the articles look more appealing. Moreover, having images in your articles gives you a better chance of ranking in Google Image search as well.
5. Make Your Site Interactive:
Offer your visitors more relevant content, give them
Blogging and SEO Tips for 2014
a slideshow they can check out, and show them a video they can watch. In short, make them interact with your website so that they don't just come as guests, but that they stay as a family by becoming a regular reader of your website.
6. Don't Get Spammy Links:
You are better off having no links at all than getting 100K link deals on WarriorForum that end up doing more harm than good to your site. Concentrate on getting links with referral value rather than links with SEO value.
Do guest blogs in a smart way without making it obvious that all you were looking for was a linkback to your site.
Tip: Best way to get links is to linkback to an older article (but restrict that to 1-2 links in an article and without any keyword stuffing, as Google doesn't pick keyword targeting anymore according to their official blog).
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8775170