5 more tips for Search Engine Optimization

In a previous article, I talked about five basic tips for Search Engine Optimization. Since then, a lot of people have emailed me with questions on how to go further. You know me, I had to help! Here are five more tips. 

Table of contents

A table of contents (TOC) features the title of each section in an article. It helps readers scan content and click only on what interests them. However, a TOC allows better optimization because it creates internal links that make it easier for search engines to find you.

This article displays a TOC on top. How do I do it? I use an excellent plugin called “Seo Friendly Table of Contents.” Once the plugin is installed, I just need to add a specific code snippet where I want the TOC to appear.

Breadcrumbs

A breadcrumb trail helps search engine spiders and visitors locate where they are on a page and get a better understanding of the relationship between different parts of a blog or multi-level website. The trail is often located near the top, like the one you can see above the title of this article: Creative Ramblings > Branding > 5 more tips for Search Engine Optimization.

Websites and blogs using breadcrumbs are recognizable on Google.

Every keyword after the ‘>’ sign is clickable, which allows visitors to have access to even more information in the category where the article appears.

Brand name display

I recently discovered that when it comes to websites and blogs, putting your name everywhere has nothing to do with having an over-inflated ego. Rather, it is excellent for Search Engine Optimization.

Spiders read from left to right, starting from the top of any page. So make sure that your name appears in full in as many prominent spots as possible:

• In the menu
• In your articles as the author and in your signature
• In the footer of your theme
• In your sidebar

Some of it requires knowledge of CSS. So do not try anything unless someone can help you.

WordPress SEO plugins

While WordPress blogs are already SEO-friendly, it is always a good idea to add more layers of optimization. I have used the the All-in-One SEO Pack plugin for a long time and really like it.

Here are other plugins that you might be interested in checking out: Google XML Sitemaps, Platinum SEO Plugin, Sitemap Generator, SEO Slugs, and Simple Tags.

Grader.com

Grader.com is probably the best free website of its kind right now. The excellent tools it provides will help you measure and analyze your marketing and SEO efforts on your website, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, and much more.

Do you know any other SEO tips? Share them in the comment section below.