Category: S.E.O.

Moving WordPress to new domain name

Posted on by Mark Hitchcock

This is a great video tutorial on how to move your WordPress site to a new domain name by moving all of the files as well as the database. Here is a summary of the ten steps so you wont have to go back and watch the video again.

  1. Set up your new domain name and hosting.
  2. Backup all your wordpress files using an FTP service like WinSCP or FileZilla.
  3. Backup and export your database using cPanel and phpMyAdmin.
  4. Create a new database for the new domains WordPpress installation.
  5. Upload all files to new domain folder using FTP.
  6. Edit wp-config.php file with database name, user name and password
  7. Install search and replace plugin and replace old domain throughout site.
  8. Set 301 redirect in .htaccess file.
  9. Update webmaster tools of domain name change.
  10. Check and test everything on website.

SEO (Search engine optimization)

Posted on by Mark Hitchcock

 

SEO Don’ts:

  • Don’t have two domain names point to duplicate content using two separate URLs.
  • Don’t have a Keyword stuffed title over 70 characters.
  • Don’t use generic URL/ file names.

 

SEO Do’s:

Keywords:

Plan your keywords by analyzing your target audience.  Optimize your pages by using the language and lingo that your target audience will use.  For example, a doctor who wants to attract clients should use layman term phrases that patients would use.  If the doctor wants other doctors to read their articles, then using technical terms would be more appropriate.

File names:

Use descriptive file names.  (http://news.msn.com/us/senate-approves-debt-deal-house-vote-can-end-shutdown)

In the <head>

Make each page a topic of one focal keyword or keyword phrase.

Make each page keyword phrase unique.

Use the <title> with your keyword in the front. (70 character limit) each pages title should be unique.

Use <meta> description tag up to summarize page and encourage click from snippet (156 character limit).

Within the <body> tags

Use proper header tags <h1> and through <h6> in order.

Use <img> tags with descriptive file names, alt attributes, title attributes

Use good <a> tag text and have internal and external links on each page.

Body Content

Provide at least 300 words of content on each page.

Try to use keyword a total of 3% of the words in page but make sure the text reads normally.

Proofs read your content with a spell/ grammar checker and check your Flesch Reading Ease.

Make content easy for humans and search engines to read.

Make your website busy

Update and produce content regularly. Participate in blogs and social media.

Connect social media to your website with feeds that can display on your site.

Have your link placed on other websites in exchange to place a link to their site on yours.

Help Search Engines and humans navigate

Submit Sitemap and a site map.

Advertise

Get your domain name on business cards, signs, decals.    Use an email address that contains your domain name.

Monitor your website

Use Google Analytics, Google webmaster tools and Bing webmaster tools to monitor and track your website performance.  Analyze the market and adjust or increase your web pages accordingly.

 

SEO tools

http://www.google.com/trends/explore#cmpt=q

http://www.zippy.co.uk/keyworddensity/index.php

http://moz.com/tools

 

Here are some resources to learn more about SEO and to become an expert yourself.

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35291

http://support.google.com/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=35769

 

You don’t have to rely on search engine placement to get your domain or business recognized.   Some of the best results come from word of mouth and networking thru people you know.  Request that partners, supporting businesses provide a link to your site on their site.