optimizing WP blog site for Google Search

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  fybystories · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 7:51 pm

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  We recently started a blog, but are not seeing it in Google searches for a variety of search terms related to our subject and blog title. Are there particular steps to take to notify Google about our blog? I’ve read that having a SITEMAP page is the best way for search engines to see your site. Is there a way to set up a SITEMAP page on WordPress?

  I already pinged the Google Blog Search site today, so hopefully that will help some.

  Thanks for any guidance.
  Elliot

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  staff-blorbo · Staff · Feb 14, 2011 at 8:13 pm

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  Your blog will eventually be indexed by search engines unless you’ve chosen to block them under Settings->Privacy.

  It’s up to Google to decide when and how to include your site in search results, we have no control over that.

  http://en.support.wordpress.com/search-engines/

  Google provides information and tools for webmasters, you might find further information there.

  http://en.support.wordpress.com/webmaster-tools/

  Sitemaps are built-in at WordPress.com. See this for more info:

  Find Your Sitemap

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  timethief · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 8:29 pm

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  @fybystories
  Your blog is indexed by Google (19 results). http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site:fybystories.wordpress.com
  Your blog is indexed by Bing (1 results). http://www.bing.com/search?q=site:fybystories.wordpress.com

  There are factors that do tend to expedite the indexing process. See here > http://www.onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/01/21/omg-i-cant-find-my-blog-on-google/
  And there is good basic whitehat SEO techniques including how your apply SEO to your images that you can employ. > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2009/08/04/basic-seo-elements-for-bloggers/
  5 Google Webmasters Video Tutorials > http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/03/22/5google-webmasters-video-tutorials/

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  auxclass · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 8:53 pm

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  Your site seems to be Page based which seems to make it a harder sell for search engines – I was not able to find a Post – think about making some Posts on your activities – each time you do a Post your site calls up the search engines and says “come on over, new content” – I will defer to @TT and the others for more thoughts on this.

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  timethief · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 8:59 pm

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  ~~auxclass
  The worst [possible choice for anyone who cares about SEO and their blog earning authority and a pafe rank in its niche is to choose to page abandon the converntional post based structure and create a “website” style page based structure because one finds it more aesteticall pleasing. I’m tired of discussing the downside of doing that and I believe raincoaster and TSP feel the same way too, so I published a post containing the facts.
  Better Blogging at WordPress.com: Pages and Posts
  http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/05/12/better-blogging-at-wordpress-com-pages-and-posts/

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  timethief · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 9:02 pm

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  Sorry about the typos. I keep forgetting to proofread. Here’s a clean copy. :(

  The worst possible choice for anyone who cares about SEO and their blog earning authority and a page rank in its niche is to choose to page abandon the conventional post based structure and create a “website” style ie. a page based structure because one finds it more aesthetically pleasing. I’m tired of discussing the downside of doing that and I believe raincoaster and TSP feel the same way too, so I published a post containing the facts.

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  auxclass · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 9:20 pm

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  ~~timethief

  I knew you would have some great info for them – thanks for the nice link and information.

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  timethief · Member · Feb 14, 2011 at 9:50 pm

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  ~~ auxclass
  You’re welcome. :)

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  fybystories · Member · Feb 15, 2011 at 6:56 pm

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  Thanks again Timethief and Auxclass for your generous expertise. In looking at the dashboard, it looks to me that our blog site is POST-based rather than PAGE-based and that I might have given out the wrong WordPress blog link in my initial request for SEARCH RESULTS help. The site I am referring to is: http://dayworkersjournal.wordpress.com/

  If it is indeed, a Post-based site, and as Macmanx points out, WordPress automatically generates a sitemap, is there anything else I can do besides make sure that every entry is well-tagged and titled?

  Thanks again!
  Elliot

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  auxclass · Member · Feb 15, 2011 at 7:06 pm

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  Whole different thing at dayworkers –

  Your site is only 2 weeks old – it can take 4 to 6 weeks for Google and others to index a site – you can register your site with the search engines (sorry don’t have the link off hand0 but there is information in the Support section on verifying a site with search engines –

  Yes on the Tags and Categories – those are the key words search engines use on your site – don’t use more than 10 Tags and Categories COMBINED or you will have problem declared a Tag Spammer.

  Patience Grasshopper and keep on writing – each time you write a Post WordPress calls the search engines and says “come take a look” –

  Your site is indexed by Bing but not yet for Google: http://ismyblogworking.com/dayworkersjournal.wordpress.com

  Good Luck

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  auxclass · Member · Feb 15, 2011 at 7:15 pm

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  Here is the Webmaster Tools Link: http://en.support.wordpress.com/webmaster-tools/

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  timethief · Member · Feb 15, 2011 at 8:04 pm

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  @auxclass and fybystories
  There are other SEO tips in the posts I linked to above.
  Here’s another post that may be helpful too.
  Blogging Tips: Tag to Increase Traffic http://onecoolsitebloggingtips.com/2010/03/10/blogging-tips-tag-to-increase-traffic/