Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

Thinking, writing, business ideas … You’re only a stranger once.

Dear Google, I’m the Relationship Blogger

Filed Under SEO, Successful Blog, Tech/Stats | 62 Comments

Dear Google,
It’s Liz.

I’m a little confused about our relationship. After two years, you dumped me from Page Rank 6 to a Page Rank 3.

I would have thought it was text-links I had — they’re gone now. I’m sorry. The world knows I’m not an SEO whiz, if I was one, I wouldn’t have 40-some categories in my sidebar. At least, that’s what folks tell me.

But you dumped my LizStrauss blog too, and it doesn’t have any ads and never did.

It’s disheartening when I think of how I advocate NOT GAMING the system.

You might remember when I said

Links and relationships are intertwined and inseparable to me. It’s about people and connections that last.

Did you misunderstand the SOB program after all of this time? Not all of these folks have all of the links you might expect, but they will, because they show the key traits of a successful blogger. I know they will because they write good content and they make good relationships.

Is it that I write creative entertainment sometimes? Isn’t that better than just regurgitating someone else’s content?

Everyone knows that a link exchange on this blog is out of the question.

I’m the kind of blogger who wants a relationship not a one link stand.

And then there was my personal stance on link trains and other valueless link posts.

Dear Emperor: A Test for Your Next Link Post

If the recent birthday party invitation to 646 blogs threw you, please know that it lived up to the “Dear Emperor” standard. So will the link posts like this first one that celebrate the links the party guests brought to show their most successful and outstanding experiences — a birthday only happens once a year. You can believe I’m checking them. I do that for you, for me, and for my readers.

So Google, that’s our history. I know you know me better. I’m the person behind the numbers. I don’t link promiscuously.

I’m the relationship blogger. I want folks to respect me in the morning.

Liz's Signature

The Google Dance: Page Ranks January 2007

Filed Under SEO, Successful Blog | 14 Comments

Why Does Anyone Care about Page Rank?

Google uses a numbering system — page rank — to determine how relevant each is blog is. The system is based on a complex algorithm that places weight on how blogs are linked. I explained it this way during the Google Page Rank Update last February.

Page rank determines how relevant your blog is by using linking as a vote system. Google has developed an algorithm that weighs links between blogs A to B to C to A, and also looking also at the importance of the blogs making the links. Quality blogs that are well connected to other quality blogs are considered highly relevant to Google users. Relevant, quality, important blogs receive higher page ranks. Higher page ranks can mean higher advertising payments for blogs that monetize.

Many tools are available to help you query Google’s various data centers to check for any changes in PageRank values for a given URL. During most times the data centers deliver the same rank, however during an update you might get a glimpse of changes URL’s PageRank value. Beaware that the information is only as accurate as the tool you use. I’ve had rankings predictions vary as much as three points between tools.

Google changes their algorithm frequently. This is the tool that I use. Click the image to go there.

Keep in mind that many fluctuations occur and that the dance takes many days before things settle down into their final place.

Also read:
Aaron Wall’s Google PageRank Leakage & Misconceptions on PageRank

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
Google Page Ranks Underway Feb. 2006

A Pre-Publishing Checklist for Feeding the Spiders

Filed Under Checklists, SEO, Successful Blog | 13 Comments

Making Sure the Investment Pays Off

New Blogger Logo

Yep I write every day and I publish. That’s way I make sure that my voice is heard. I also want to be sure that my words are visible. I like to see that the spiders serve them up in Google.

Prorating the time that I spent gathering ideas, I’ve probably spent 60-120 minutes on average post. Time writing is time working. Time spent is an investment. It’s time I could be using talking to bloggers and talking with clients. Before I hit publish I make sure that the time I’ve invested pays off as well as it might. I’ve made a short Pre-Flight Publishing list that I run down, before I pass say, “Go.”

Pre-Publishing Checklist

  1. Is the content keyword rich? By waiting to read for keywords until after all other checks, I make sure that I don’t forfeit quality to pray at the altar of SEO. Now, I can look for keywords my readers might search for and make sure that they find the relevant content that I have to offer. I won’t be reaching, and they won’t be disappointed. Current relationships will stay strong, and new readers will be pleased with what they encounter here.
  2. What tags might I add that belong with this post? Tags can help search engine spiders properly index my post. Post tags are definitely blog, brand, and business promotion. If your blogging software doesn’t easily allow you to tag your posts, there are plug-ins and hacks for every platform out there.
  3. What related articles do I have that readers might be interested in reading? Offering related articles for readers to read more when they finished my post, gives people more information about a subject they’ve already shown interest in. It also gets readers more involved with my blog, my business, and my brand.

    The intra-link that you make at the end of your post shows people how your content relates and is relevant throughout your blog–this helps search engines index it as well.

  4. Are there opportunities for trackbacks? If I’ve mentioned another blogger’s work or if what I’ve said meshes well with the conversation on another blog, I’ll send a trackback to let that blogger know.
  5. Is this this a one-in-a-million post that I should self-promote to other blogs? If I’ve written the post that reveals how to get “Google Goodness” from every post, I write a brief introduction of myself and your post and send a personal email to a select two or three bloggers.

    I make it’s a one-in-a-million post, and I explain my reasons for thinking it’s a match with their blogs. If you don’t read a blog, don’t send a link. Period. Either way, it’s a long shot that a post really is the one-in-a-million post that we think it is. Still, there’s a right and wrong way to let folks know. If you’re going to do that, do your homework first, the person receiving the email will notice. Believe me they will.

When I’ve made these few checks I feel better that I’m sending off my work in great shape to make the most of the time that I’ve invested.

What other practices are on your pre-publsihing checklist?

–ME “lis” Strauss

Related articles
10 Reasons to Write and Publish Every Day

Blog Promotion: How to Write for People and Search Engine Spiders
10 + 1 Things to Make Me Love Your Business Email

Net Neutrality 12-22-2006

Filed Under Business Life, Community, SEO, Successful Blog, Trends | Leave a Comment

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Whitacre’s Way

Forbes Magazine named AT&T Company of the Year.

AT&T’s Ed Whitacre built the runt of the Baby Bells into the largest telecom compnay [xic] in the world. His hunger for takeovers is unsated.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

Sunday Link Love: 15 Great Finds on Promotion, Working at Home and Productivity

Filed Under Great Finds, Marketing, Productivity, SEO, Successful Blog | 4 Comments

Can’t Have You Sitting Home with Left-Overs

I’ve collected 15 more links for you to read or add to your tool kit over the weekend — more help and treasures.

Blog Promotion and Traffic

  1. How to Rank Well in Google with Your Blog Matt Cutts Style


  2. Blog SEO: Link bait option Simply put, if no one finds your posts of value, no one is going to link to them.


  3. Quick Blog Traffic Tip - Link To Another Blogger Spend some time continuing the discussion they started or recommend an article they posted to your readers. In other words, send some link love. :


  4. Building “Word Of Mouth” Capabilities Into Online Apps “Put a tell-a-friend form on every page of your website.”


  5. How to Rank on Google Base



  6. Do-It-Yourself Search Engine Optimization Guide

    7. Working at Home

  7. What the Heck is a “Real Job”? How I Learned a Business Doesn’t Count


  8. Working from Home - What to Do When the Kids Are on Holiday from School


  9. Paying Fixed Bills With a See-Saw Salary

  10. Top 30 Free Windows Software Apps

    11. Productivity

  11. Self-Destructing Distractions


  12. Take a Break and Refresh Your Productivity


  13. How to manage your blogging schedule


  14. Neat Living “Do-it-Yourself” Organizing Library - Our FREE Gift to You!


  15. Procrastination hack: “(10+2)*5”

Have a great Sunday!. :)

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
After Thanksgiving Link Love — 15 Links that Are Better than Left-Overs
Great Find: Boosting Blog Traffic
Thinking Inside-Outside the SEO Sandbox
Blog Archive Promotion To-Do List
Turning Reluctant Readers into Loyal Fans

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