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Search Engine Optimization for Dummies: Best SEO Guides Made Easy

Updated on January 27, 2014

Search engine optimization is a term most the writers are familiar about. However, how much do you understand it? Do you know what is it all about?

According to several well-known websites, search engine optimization means:

  • Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the volume or quality of traffic to a web site from search engines
  • The art of gaining top rankings in search results for search terms that is likely to be used by audiences that the marketer is interested in.
  • SEO is a set of methodologies aimed at improving the visibility of a website in search engine listings.

For me, it is simply an art or skill that one need master in order to get the best juice about getting traffic, driving the article stats up high like crazy, indexing your article on nearly every search engines first page search and finally, drive your ads revenue clicks up which is more than enough to make your worst day much better.

I bet I have got your attention now, right? Well, you might be thinking that I might be out of my mind to tell you secrets I personally discover through endless modifications and research. at this point of reading back the hub, I got to admit that I am also thinking there's something wrong with me.

I can’t guarantee you that you will be successful immediately with these SEO guides I am going to explain in this hub. However, what I can definitely promise you is that once you have finish reading this hub, you will be very much better at Search Engines Optimization. You will be ‘used to be a beginner’ to instant access to advantage level of understanding and using search engine optimization (SEO) to the best of its ability.

The BIG QUESTION: What Is SEO??

Search engine optimization is all about marketing your articles the right way which can increase your traffic and revenue dramatically. If you read through most of the SEO hubs and even in the web, you will notice they actually have nearly similar style. However, I am going to spill out the very truth about SEO and how you can gain from it.

Understanding SEO is a very crucial step in a writer's journey. If you don't get yourself a strong base of understanding SEO, you are going to lose out...big time. Let's see it this way. As I have been saying there are many guides that are similar in the web. Another word, many people are actually using the same tips which will lead to more competition.

Why practice Search Engine Optimization methods?

Do you want to rank on the first page of search engines?
Do you want to rank on the first page of search engines?

I can guarantee you that once you have read until end of this hub, practice the methods I suggest and you will see the traffic grow slowly but surely.

Ever wonder why we need search engine optimization in our lives as a writer? Isn't it just a waste of time?

First and foremost, SEO plays a vital role as it will determine how our article will rank in the search engines. Can we forget about SEO and still be successful? It is possible but it going to be tough. In the writing industry now, more and more writers are using SEO based techniques to compete with each other and outdo the rest.

You could be writing for a living or as a hobby but the fact remains the same; there are tenth of thousands of writers just like you trying to find a breakthrough and getting their articles one step higher than the rest. The best part is their main goals are just like yours (and mine!); to be easily found and indexed by search engines preferably on the first page of the search results.

If you want to be successful in writing, you got to understand that your articles need to be indexed and ‘picked up’ by search engines. The best chance is to be ranked on the first page of the search results and it should be around the top 10 sites. Normally, readers (especially me) are not really bothered to check on the second page. Therefore, you got to make sure you are ranked on the first page to have a high chance to be visited by readers and researchers.

SEO for more value ads and keywords

This is one hell of a tricky part. It depends on your personal preference on which will works well for you. Frankly, I use different SEO tactics for various hubs to make sure they are well covert. Therefore, instead of focusing on one method, I play along with different methods and even do experiments myself.

Why using search engine optimization tactics will increase your value ads? Using the right SEO phrases will actually give you a higher paying ad on your article page. With this, you are increasing the chance of earning that little more (could be even more) when you get those clicks on your article.

Refer to the table below for the diagram.

Keyword
Global Monthly Searches
Estimated Avg. CPC
[broadcasting schools]
1000
$8.11
[mass communications degree]
210
$7.44
[communications schools]
210
$6.39
[communications colleges]
480
$5.37
[communication courses]
2400
$3.93
[communication colleges]
320
$3.35
[communication studies]
4400
$2.44
[journalism colleges]
2400
$2.37
[mass communication college]
260
$2.13
[journalism schools]
4400
$2.06
[mass communication degree]
320
$1.81
[journalism]
74000
$1.52

Choosing the right keywords will affect your ads revenue and traffic.

The ultimate guru for SEO keywords and tags

As you can see, I am using Google Keyword Tool. This is your ultimate guru in SEO keyword choosing. I made a simple example of mass communication as the keyword. This keyword tool does not only show you numbers of global search but also how much such ads roughly gives you for clicks revenue.

You can be choosing the most expensive Average CPC or anyway you want. This tool is definitely a must for all writers to keep up with the current market but at the same time, you will be able to choose your keywords wisely.

Why do you need to use Google Keyword Tool? Of course you can live without but simply by using it, you will be able to be better off. At the same time, you can decide on which tags and keywords to use which will actually drive your traffic up.

Choosing keywords will affect one's result

Using wrong keywords will be quite devastating to a writer
Using wrong keywords will be quite devastating to a writer

Monthly searches vs Average CPC

Which is better? Of course it has to do with money. The more expensive the price of an ad, the more you will earn per click right? Think again! I myself did a survey and test myself. Simply by putting high SEO words which are expensive and choosing slightly less competition, I myself noticed an immediate drop of views. A simple 300 views became just 30 views per day. It was so fast that it just happens in 48 hours time.

So what is the factor? Simple. Number of searches is the answer. Ads that rank well in click value normally have lesser monthly searches via search engines. Therefore, it create a higher value per click basis. The lesser the views, the lesser the chance a reader will click on your ads which will lead to drop of revenue.

Do I have to say more?
Do I have to say more?

Why do you need to use Google Keyword Tool? Of course you can live without but simply by using it, you will be able to be better off. At the same time, you can decide on which tags and keywords to use which will actually drive your traffic up.

Search engine optimization is all about marketing your articles the right way which can increase your traffic and revenue dramatically. Therefore, start understanding SEO basics and even the general knowledge about it before you using it on your hubs.

So how do I use SEO to my advantage? Well it is simple as you got to balance up the monthly searches and the estimated CPC (refer above table) to your liking. Yes, you hear me loud. There is no best guide out there. In fact, the best guide is when you are doing the balancing to the extend of your liking.

Search and destroy

Use search engine optimization to beat the competitors
Use search engine optimization to beat the competitors

Now, start using all the SEO tips I recommended and I am sure you are ready for the battle of the century (okay, I getting a little over here). Start practicing those methods to increase traffic, revenue and your article rankings.

Remember to beat the competitors to the punch and there is no mercy in this industry. You got to move up or get moved out if you don’t fight your way through. The competition is huge but there are always rooms for improvement. As a writer, start with the basic and when you are comfortable with it, start to improve and even improvise when needed to be at the top of the pack.

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