SEO: Resources for Staying “Clued Up”
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a dynamic subject. There are always a lot of articles about it in blogs, chat rooms, and social media. However, “the basics,” which I maintain are the real key to successfully setting up your website for effective search rankings, remain stable. So, if you find a few standard information sources to tap, you can avoid the fear headlines and keep your cool.
Here are my reading recommendations to staying on top of SEO as a Web Editor.
My Reading Recommendations
Books
- Search Engine Visibility by Shari Thurow
Websites
- Search Engine Land including their Facebook page
- Search Engine Watch
(I would avoid the forums and question areas in these sites until you become familiar with SEO and can sort out the “black hat” techniques some readers will suggest.)
News
- Mashable including their Facebook page
- Tech Crunch including their Facebook page
Blogs
- Matt Cutts (Google Search Engineering)
- Google’s Inside Search
Feel free to disagree with this list and suggest different sources. However, my criteria for choosing these are that they are professionals who write about the subject objectively and don’t try to sell you anything. These are very trustworthy sources, including Matt Cutt’s blog, which seeks to answer your questions about Google objectives and criteria. Avoid suggesting sources that are high on hyperbole and offer quick fixes and miracle cures.
Topics I have discussed in this series in days past include:
- Introduction
- Meta Data Makes the Difference
- Content and the Role of Relevancy
- Links add Value and Authority
- Keywords for Planning and Clarity
- Promotion Implies Relationships
- Site Prep Paves the Way
- Resources for Staying “Clued Up”
Alan Eggleston is a freelance Web writer and Web editor for E-Messenger Internet Consulting Inc. Join him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
