What would you be willing to do to succeed?
The Internet is so overwhelming that surfing really is about finding a few places to hide out. A few places that offer meaningful information.
The issue is that every other blogger is writing about the standard search engine optimization tips. Like installing the All in One SEO plugin among other things.
So there aren’t really a whole lot of people out there that present new information.
And yes it’s true that you should install an SEO plugin, but everyone has heard it at least multiple times. The biggest issue there is with this kind of information is that it’s actually betraying bloggers.
To see why let’s first understand the problem with plugins.
The Issue With Plugins
A plugin is a piece of code that adds additional functionality to a software, like WordPress.
Plugins help you to automate a process, which you would otherwise have had to do manually. They just make certain things easier for you.
For example, search engine optimization plugins will make it a lot simpler for you to optimize your blog. But that’s all they do.
The issue here is that in order for plugins to become really useful you need to have enough practical knowledge to profit from this. You need to know how to do it yourself.
That’s the problem, especially with SEO.
Most bloggers have read tons and tons of articles about optimizing websites for search engines. Some of them apply the knowledge they gained through the articles to their sites. So, for example, they always put a keyword in their page title.
The real core problem is that most of them don’t understand the impact it has on the website. They might know that you need to optimize your meta keywords and description, add a keyword to the page title and interlink different posts.
But if you ask them what makes the most difference in terms of SEO, they don’t have a clue.
What good is it to have learned the theory of SEO if you have never tried out what works?
We all follow these practices without really having an understanding of them. Without having them ever applied to a single site.
Build New Websites
That’s why I advise you to learn the practical knowledge you need in order to succeed in SEO. The best way to gain this knowledge is to build new independent websites.
Sites that simply rank for one keyword have become more and more popular and that’s also what I want you to do.
Step 1. Search for keywords or topics you want to rank for. Do good and in-depth keyword research.
Then decide on one keyword you want your site to rank for.
Step 2. Next you have to decide on a domain. Use the SEO knowledge you have gathered through reading the numerous articles and think of a good domain name. Then simply buy the domain.
Step 3. Host the website through your hosting account and then start to build the site using WordPress.
The real key to learning SEO is to try different techniques.
Don’t just create one site, create multiple ones, each time applying different knowledge.
On one site you might heavily interlink the pages without creating any backlinks. On the other site you might have only one page and you are constantly building backlinks to it.
The options are limitless.
The last step is to measure the success of your SEO efforts. Compare the number of visitors you have gotten or how well your website is ranking.
Then come back and share your experience with us.
What do you think? Have you learned a whole lot about SEO by blogging?
The nice thing about the plug-ins is when you go to the settings you get a well articulated checklist, complete with fill-in-the-blank prompts. Yes, you have to do the work to implement SEO, but the plug-in helps you in the right direction. It makes that part easier. And I like EASY!
This is a fabulous article! I had someone who wanted to write a guest post on “5 Plugins That Will Increase Your SE Rankings.” I would never deceive my audience into believing all they had to do was install some code to boost their rank. Fiddling with meta tags, etc. used to work in 1998 when I first started but today SEO is so much more about popularity, content, etc. I love “real talk” posts like this. Awesome! Wish I had thought to write about this.
Hi, Lisa - pleasure to see you on my blog.
I am so with you: plugins are developed to aid us and to make our blogging lives much easier and NOT to become a magic bullet of any sorts.
SEO is still work, whether it’s 1998 or 2010.
You and I both know it and we blog to educate our readers on the topic as well.
Ana
William Attewell
Really this information is very helpful me in my private business website and this through get the traffic… so thanks for the sharing this information… and every one use this information for buy targeted web site traffic….
Hello William,
I’m glad you find it informative. I’m sure it will help you with your own website.
Thanks for coming,
Ana
Unfortunately, the plugins can’t do all the work for us. It’s still up to us to do the keyword search and actually write the blogs and make them interesting.
Thanks for sharing!
Plugin is just a tool, not the solution. One of the great way to learn SEO is to work as a freelancer doing various SEO tasks. That way you’ll get opportunity to do SEO for different types of websites, in different niches and thus collect more SEO information and learn wide range of tactics.
You’re right, prior taking freelance work one has to have experience with link building. However, if you have the opportunity to work with the client in the niche in which you never worked before, and you see that most of the techniques from your arsenal won’t be usable, will you say no that client? Or you will take the work and try some new approaches? The best way to learn is by exploring unknown. If you don’t manage to produce the result, well.. that’s the problem.
A plug-in is only as good as the person using it. A plug-in will not replace knowledge but, helps knowledgeable practitioners streamline their work.