Optimize your fashion or lifestyle based blog

Introduction to SEO for Fashion Bloggers

Install Wordpress Plug-in for SEO META Tags
Go to the Wordpress page and look at the plug-in SEO All in One Pack: http://wordpress.org/plugins/all-in-one-seo-pack/ This plugin might be installed on your Wordpress blog already. If not, it would be ideal to install at some point - put it on your radar!

NOTE :If you use Wordpress.org sub-domain, BlogSpot or Tumblr you will not have plug-in access. For a few of these sites, the set-up is different. Here are some set-up details.

CAUTION: --> Do not set these configurations unless you are at least semi-technical,
SEO Rank Checking Tools
Installing Google Web Master code on your site is the best way to check rankings in real time, but to check ranking for your target keywords, it is best to have a tool. If you use Mozilla Firefox browser, you can install a simple plug-in, RonkChecker: http://tools.seobook.com/firefox/rank-checker/ If you are not using Firefox, you need to create an account on this website: http://rankcheckerace.com/ (its free, but they accept donations)

Keyword Research and Trends

Use SEOBook Keyword Tool & Google Trends to Find Keywords
Google AdWords tool is no longer avaialble, so sign up to use SEOBook tools.

Use Google Trends to research & find a set of 10-20 keywords, both evergreen and seasonal - it is ideal to have ten of each.

BONUS: At least 5 keywords should have the phrase "what to wear" or "how to..."related.

--> Googles AdWords tool is now becoming Keyword Planner so you need an AdWords account to use it. For now, here is the hack URL, which will soon go away.
Use RonkChecker plug-in or RankCheckRace.com to check the keyword rankings for your site and top 20
Use RonkChecker plug-in or RankCheckRace.com to check the keyword rankings for your site and top 20 target keyword hit list.
Develop Top 20 Keyword Hit List for Ediorital Coverage
Research a set of 20-30 keywords to use for your editorial calendar this Fall. HINT: We looked at how to research summer fashion related keywords, so use that insight for Fall.

How to Write META Tags for Blog Posts

Install or Activate the SEO META Plug-ins
Using the video below, follow the steps to install the SEO All-in-on-pack, or activate the plug-in used by your blogging platform.

* Video is more advanced than needed, so no need to apply every step
- If you use Blogger, here are the details to help configure the SEO functions (some limitations).
Download META writing template
Use the Excel file template provided in the resources below to edit your META tags before uploading onto the site.

Use DropBox to access template for Editorial & META Tags:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfh88exwsy1xdmd/0TCR93vGCR
Write 5 META tags for Select Articles on Your Site
Either pick 5 older articles to write META tags for, or 5 new articles (or a mix of both). After going through the steps to choose your target topics, and create your editorial calendar - now is the time to bring that altogether.

Importance of Analytics to Track SEO Performance

Set-up Google Analytics on Your Site
Setting up Google Analytics is ideal for anyone looking to use the data to improve their SEO performance.

www.google.com/analytics/‎
Create Organic Keyword Traffic Report
Look at your traffic for the past month this year, and the same month the previous year. Using this Analytics tutorial training, you will learn how to pull certain metrics that help you stay on top of your SEO success.

Use the DropBox template provided, to track your monthly traffic for this year and last year.

#SEO

How to Use Keywords in Content and Links

Use Keywords in a New Blog Post
Write a new blog post of 250 words or less, and use your target keyword and modifer at least 2 times in the body copy, and once in the headline. If possible add a link to another related article or category page - try to use your keyword in the link too!

Outro - Course Project Review Completes the Course

Course Project - Send Your Optimized Blog Post
Set up your course project to accomplish two goals:
1. display your optimized blog post
2. the steps you took to decide the target keyword.
I will review and offer feedback on one optimized article or blog post as your course project to ensure it is properly optimized.

Additional Resources

Follow Erika Miller on Twitter
Bookmark Google Trends
Bookmark Google AdWords Keyword Tool
Keyword Research Template for Editorial Calendar

The template located in my DropBox, here. The download is free and easy to access. This template should be used when performing keyword research, and is covered in the tutorial above. An overview of the fields is included below:

TARGET KEYWORD

This will come from your research using Google AdWords, Google Suggest or the Infamous tag cloud.

KEYWORD SEARCH VOLUME

The search volume attached to each keyword selected for your article should be included.

ARTICLE CATEGORY

Adding a category to the list helps when you need to sort the keywords.

ARTICLE TITLE TAG

You will learn about this in lesson 3, but having a spot for it in the template is ideal, to track the keywords used.

BASELINE RANKING

Use Ronk Cheker to add the ranking before you publish and then again 30 days after.

RANKING URL

When you export the ranking, the URL will be provided, copy and paste this into your file.

Use DropBox to access Keyword Template:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfh88exwsy1xdmd/0TCR93vGCR
Set-up & Configuration of META Tag Pug-in

Wordpress video tutorial for set-up on SEO All-In-One-Pack
- _META field Configs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMhrb3bZC7w
- Official set-up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7YNHjTtn2E
META Data + Keyword Template

Here is the link to DropBox where you can download the file with all of the editorial templates. In the file you need to refer to the tab titled:
- Guide to Using META Data
- META Tags + Keywords | JULY 2013
DropBox link for file download:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfh88exwsy1xdmd/0TCR93vGCR
Blogger User Guide for SEO - Google Support for SEO

Read this short support docuemnt developed by Google to help those of you using Blogger with SEO:

https://support.google.com/blogger/#topic=2469780

Unfortunatly Blogger has limited SEO capabilities, but do let me know if you need more help.
Monthly Analytics Template

Use the DropBox to access the monthly analtics template for tracking your organic SEO traffic and keywords each month.

DropBox URL:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfh88exwsy1xdmd/0TCR93vGCR
Content + Keyword Training Review

Access the training materials for print-out or review anytime.

Use the DropBox to access this PDF:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qfh88exwsy1xdmd/0TCR93vGCR
Where to Display your article for review?

All Skillshare SEO for Fashion Bloggers & students can post their project in the student project gallery for review; linked below.

Click here for SEO student project student gallery

Gretchen Harnick

Fashion Marketing Prof, Social Media Strategist

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