If you are reading this, you are probably a blogger. Everyone goes into blogging for different reasons. Some go into it for the fame and fortune. Others do it to share knowledge or opinions on stuff. Whatever your reason for blogging, everyone is bound by the same rules, the rules of SEO.
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So, what is SEO? In a nutshell….oh wait. It can’t be put in a nutshell. In fact, there are hundreds of books, articles, entire websites about SEO and what it means for you, the blogger. My understanding is “don’t put unnecessary tags on articles and write misleading titles in order to get views on your site”. I could be wrong with this but it seems like a pretty good rule to follow. But here is the problem. I am a writer, I blog, I’m supposed to know this sort of stuff. There have been times I have written stuff and an editor has gotten back to me saying that they need to change the title or the intro slightly to make it “more SEO”. That’s fine, I get it. This is someone’s business and they need to make sure that it shows up in search engines because that is where the audience comes from. Sure, every site has its regular readers and fans, but websites need to grow, and the best way to do that is with search engines.
Here lies the problem. For the talented writer who is only about “the writing” or the content of their site, they don’t really give a hoot about SEO. For many writers the idea of having to change their work of art slightly to get web traffic is horrifying. I might not be the most talented writer out there, but I do my best, and when someone emails me with “SEO issues” I want to slap them. How dare they want to change my hard work for an invisible thingy on the internet that means nothing to me! But I say nothing and keep my thoughts on how it isn’t fair to myself.
The big question is, are there websites out there that have incredible content that would blow your mind, but we don’t see them because of SEO? The answer is, it’s highly probable. There might only be a handful of sites or hundreds of thousands. We will never know. This is pretty frustrating for me because I hate being lead to bad sites. You know the ones I am talking about. Ones that show up high in a search engine listing but turn out to be nothing but click-bait. Although things like bounce back rate and time spent on a site are included in the Google algorithmics, these sites get so many hits despite not actually having what we are looking for. And it is these sites, with poor content that are using SEO to their advantage.
So what should you take away with you from this article? Learn about SEO. I know that many of you reading this are probably throwing your hands in the air and want to slap me now but just think about it for a minute. You are probably a talented writer who has stopped by this site to help you. You want hints and tips because you believe that you create quality content but don’t seem to get the traffic that you deserve. And the thought of having to learn an entirely new skill just to get traffic really ticks you off. But one of the reasons that you don’t get traffic is because you aren’t playing by the rules. And all of those other sites, who maybe don’t deserve the traffic, are getting your fame and fortune instead.
Learn SEO. Because if you play by the rules and use them to your advantage, along with your quality content, you will get the traffic that your site deserves. And maybe clickbait sites will become a thing of the past.
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Absolutely! Learn about SEO! I’ve read quite a lot on SEO and I’m slowly replublishing my old posts and I’m already loving the results since I’m getting search engine visits.
SEO is so complicated! But I’m slowly getting my head around it and changing my older posts to help get a bit more traffic to my site too.
I don’t always know what I’m doing either. I don’t pay much attention to SEO. I know it’s important, but I’m here to write, not waste time figuring out what words to use. That would take the fun out of blogging for me.
I’m the same, I think most bloggers are which is a shame because I have seen some wonderful content from unknown bloggers. Hopefully Google will create something that can recognise a good blogger from something that is SEO perfect.
SEO is really important, I am still learning new things everyday and will keep on reading and researching but once you get it down, it does get you good traffic.
I’m still trying to learn about SEO but it is a slow process! So much to learn in so little time!
I am trying to learn the SEO tricks. That way I can get more people to read my blog.
So am I but it is tough. There have been times I learn something and then they change the rules or there is a new way to direct traffic to your site.
SEO is not as hard as you can imagine. It can be a scary name for some, it can make you imagine that it’s difficult and it requires coding but…. it’s not. You can still write however you want and have a SEO friendly article. Miss-leading titles will never rank on Google because SEO is all about the text of the post, not the title. And Google is smart enough to know.
I think a lot of SEO companies make it sound harder than it is and that puts people off learning about it. But I still need to work on my own stuff so that I can rank a bit higher and get some more traffic 🙂
Love your post, it is really a confession. I don’t know what I’m doing either but i don’t let this stop me. I experiment a lot and keep on trying new things. Chadwww.mosaicslab.com
I think SEO is one of those things I will never master but I’ll keep trying 🙂
I have no idea how the SEO operates, but I know that it’s really important! Need to find some time to learn a little bit more about it! 🙂
I’ve been trying to learn about SEO over the last few years and I’m still struggling! Maybe one day I’ll get it 🙂
what a helpful article! there are so many bloggers out there and to stand out, technique must be used including SEO! thanks for this!
Thanks 🙂 I wish I could have given more help but I’m still learning about SEO myself 🙂
SEO is the most confusing thing to me but I’m determined to learn more about it this year.
SEO is pretty confusing but I think we should all try and learn a bit more about it 🙂
Yes Lindsay, it is important as a blogger to learn SEO especially if it helps Google to find and rank the good content compared to giving priority to poor content.
Definitely, agree with you, we should all learn the basics of SEO. I might have to make it one of my challenges!
I’m usually winging it when it comes to blogging too, but somehow have been able to do it for 2 years now and work with some amazing companies. SEO is important, and can be complicated but I think learning at least some is important. I don’t think incorporating SEO techniques will ruin creativity either, there is a lot that can be done to merge the two and make everything flow nicely.
I think Google is getting better at recognizing bloggers who have good content but maybe the SEO is missing the mark. But I’ll still continue to try and learn about SEO (try being the word!) 🙂
I’ve still got alot of research to do with regards to SEO and it’s on my to-do list this year. Blogging isn’t about pretty themes and photos, there are important stuff to set like..SEO.
I don’t think people realise how hard it is for bloggers! We have to learn so much, including SEO, photography, sales, legal….the list is endless!
I also face the same problem, there are so many websites who are on the top but don’t have the relevant content. Learning SEO is good for everyone who are in this business and are in search of growth.
YES! I see this all the time but Google is getting better at spotting quality bloggers over click-bait sites 🙂
SEO is a mind field , I find it so hard to keep up with it and do full justice . I have a long way to go to fully understand it.
It is one of those things that you think you have gotten the hang of and then realise you have been doing it slightly wrong for ages! 😀
SEO is everything in this cyber world we live in. I remember when I launched my Etsy shop someone pointed out that I wasn’t using SEO properly I took several courses and still have a lot to learn. The tags are constantly changing and you have to keep up.
I should probably invest in some courses to help me crack the SEO puzzle. Otherwise I will always be clueless!
Ha ha oh yes…confessions of a blogger…this sounds veeerrrrrry familiar and just yesterday I was counting how many times I’ve vented/written about this myself! The first line of your affiliate links disclosure made me giggle (if only money wasn’t a thing right?) and oh oh SEO….#groan. Loved your joke about ‘in a nutshell’ 🙂
Thanks 🙂 I try to keep the legal stuff light-hearted with my disclosure. Up until today I wasn’t sure if anyone actually read it 😀
You’re right this SEO thing couldn’t be put in a nutshell. It seems like there are new things coming just when you’re starting to learn the current ones. I’m a dummy when it comes to this. All the terminologies just come flying over my head, and it takes eternity to really figure them out. But as you say, we are bloggers and we are bound by these rules.
You’re so right about seo, I don’t know much about it too bt I think worrying about it would take the fun about blogging for me.