Common Bootcamp Error - Monday Morning Museing
I've been looking at a lot of teh websites from our newer members who are starting the Wealthy Affiliate Bootcamp Course and I'm seeing a common mistake....
...that NEEDS FIXING.I'm a bit of an Search engine optimization geek - But everything I've learned started right here in Wealthy Affiliate in Jan 2009...
So today's Monday morning musing (yep- I plan to do one every Monday!) is a bit of a find the pigeon test.
As I said it's a problem I'm seeing far too often so please take a look at the images below and tell us what's missing in the basic site structure that would really help with onsite SEO?
4 examples all with the same opportunity to improve there onsite SEO
So this Monday morning can you see what the common error in our new Bootcamp Course Students is?
PLEASE
let them know what it is below.
[Update]This isn't a witch hunt and I feel gutted that what was meant as a simple exercise in site structure & setup has been blown way out of proportion.
Was I wrong to have clipped the images from our own bootcamp members when the post is about "our own boot camp members" is the issue. I took the time to look and ask the question...
What would I change if it were my site?
The content on all the sites was really well written - in fact one I'd deem as exceptional! But one glaring mistake stood out.
Covering all the bases is what I'm trying to help folks learn.. and thinking and acting on what they see and read in blog posts such as these..
What needs changing?
The answer is the post category's.Setting up post category's is one way that I ensure that my on-page SEO is tweaked. This isn't just for google the real benefit if for the human visitors.
Setting up a category for your posts helps group your posts in search filters.
When someone reads a post in my online training reviews category they can click on the link that says "created in mobile marketing" internally linking to a page with the url friends.com/blog/mobilemarketing/ or friends.com/blog/category/mobilemarketing/ depending on the SEO plugin options used.
Adding a category
If you think that your blog may benefit form category's it's really quite simple to do,
When creating a post on the right hand side of the text fields you'll find the option to add a new category or to assign the post to an existing category.
If you add a new category remember to hit update ...
This last thing I want is to discourage people from sharing here at WA I want us to encourage sharing and especially the knowledge we all have.
If you have found what I've created here offensive or in anyway reminiscent of a witch hunt -- I'm sorry for that it's not my intention and as I stated above I'm more than willing to delete the images if any of the 4 site owners do find it unhelpful and or just don't want the images of their sites here.
Tony
Recent Comments
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Morning. One of then is mine and I must admit that I feared seeing my site on the list as I scrolled through it. I'm assuming I "made the list"because it is filed under "All Posts"but I was left guessing if that was the reason. Is it?
Tony, you have helped me so much in the past but I didn't find this helpful. Partly because its public but more because I was left guessing. I don't mind constructive criticism but it needs to come with options, not guessing.
I do thank you for taking the time to review my site, just need to know how to improve it. Please let me know if my assumption is right and how to fix it.
Rick - sorry buddy hat off geez -
Great content was on all the sites and the only thing that I could see that would help is Splitting your "all post" into keyword related categorys
OK, thanks. Re-categorized a couple of them. Will go back after work today and look at the rest. Thanks cuz I was playing with these before and couldn't get it to work. Again, thank you for taking the time to review.
Tony, I'm certainly not "getting the wrong end of the point". I've received two emails from people asking if they list their urls can anyone just take screenshots and post unwanted criticisms of their work? You've used two screenshots of Lorrie's and as she's commented below "Tony, think twice before involving others in your postings". I'm sure you'd prefer me not to take screenshots and blog about your sites would you? Oh, and a far more common mistake than not categorising posts is spelling errors, of which you have one in the title and another in the first sentence. Rich.
I'm taking the images down - ho problem -
I have NO problem you pointing out my mistakes to teach other how-to do better Rich - It's well documented that my spelling & grammar stinks..
Your heart was clearly in the right place, and you just wanted people to become aware of a common mistake, fair enough. Creating a blog about it to help people become aware, fair enough. I wouldn't have used other people as examples though, I wouldn't even have done it in a "what's wrong with this picture?" way using my own sites, because people might just get confused and think they are dumb for not spotting the mistakes. Are they even mistakes really? Not categorizing your posts isn't a big deal unless you are busting out a post two or three times a week anyway.
Does this become important? I don't have a lot of posts in my site yet, and have not been doing it because Jay himself says it isn't important, but he may well be talking only about niche sites that are much smaller.
So, this is indeed a lesson for us. Should we be categorizing our blogs in an authority site? If so, I will begin at once.
The first two screenshots are from my site. I'm in total agreement with you, Rich and Daniel!
I'm building the brand new WA affiliate site following the Bootcamp lessons and fully aware the SEO, and other important features are not up to par yet. Because, I have not reached that point in the lessons.
If I was at the beginning stages of my internet marketing experience I would be horrified to see my screen shots posted for everyone to see with errors.
Thank God I have a little more understanding on what's going on and the end result.
Tony, think twice before involving others in your postings.
Happy Monday!
Lorrie Point taken - I have a different outlook on things I look from my end of the street. I would have taken it as someone actually took the time to .... But we all don't look through the same glasses. I apologise to you for any uncomfortable emotions I have caused.
Hey Tony ~ Wow! There are a lot of comments on your post since this morning. Thank you so much for your response and keeping me on my toes! You're doing a great job! Have a wonderful week.
Tony, I want to echo what Lorrie said, you're doing a great job helping us. You got me through a mighty big dilemma a while back and I can't thank you enough. Don't even remember what it was but I felt my online life was at a standstill and you reached out and helped. I think it even jump-started a video. Thanks.
Tony, I can see Rich's point here. Any of these folks who see this post and then see their work featured might clam up. I don't think this is a good approach. If you see these errors, do make public note of them in general, but don't make examples, as above. This will chase people off and I don't think it is your intent to do this, but it could happen.
Even now, if I saw one of my works on here, as long as I've been here, I'd be shocked.
Go to them privately and coach them.
This is like witch hunting. You don't want this. I remember back in school, when I was young, pupils who made errors which were not called for were made to sit with a special cap on. This was done away with because it only hurts the person who is made to wear it. I myself had been made to sit in the first grade for a day for what they thought was deliberate errors. I know this isn't the case here, but the public spectacle of it was heart-wrenching to such degree, it's still disturbing to think about today.
You are right though, folks who come in here don't know what they are doing and it seems human nature to commit to the same errors. They need to be shown...one by one, one on one.
I would suggest creating examples yourself showing the errors and let folks who have committed them equate these to their own.
Daniel
Daniel - I think that you and Rich are really getting the wrong end of the whole point of me sharing my own insights.... As you state this is a "Sharing and learning community"
BUT as you see if I share my OWN opinion on how "things should be better" is setting up cat's as a priority... I'm said to be "undermining Kyles training" come on who's blinkered here?
The "witch hunt comment is way off base... What is I we're to have inserted images from 3 random site across google would that have pleased you more?
As I said I went one, by one, bu one, but then thought why don't I share in a way that "means something" to people.
I want to improve the community and when one of the persons whom I have clipped a image from tells me that they feel hard done by by my comments I'll remove the post ... fair?
Yes Tony, I have no problem with you wanting to improve on things. The thing that really disturbs me about this is right in your title.
This isn't something to muse over. That alone makes this a sideshow of sorts.
Maybe my comment on "witch hunting" was a little steep, but that's the first thing that came to mind.
What if someone who has taken offense doesn't come forward as you say? Instead, they just quit because they've been humiliated. I'd be upset if I found one of my sites on here. I don't categorize any of my stuff. I learned that this isn't necessary. I may need it, and in your eyes, it may be good for me, but at least get their permission to post their work like this.
Wouldn't that be better? Here, you're not giving them a chance. You are firing, and then you are aiming. Yes, I know they have errors. This really reminds me more of being a public spectacle than anything else. Yes, you have a right to do this, but is it really the best way?
I think someone is missing the whole point of this.
WA is about learning and more importantly sharing information.
If you don't share then you don't learn.
Kyle & Carson do an excellent job but if the growth of WA purely relied on their input only then this would be like any other marketing website.
As for saying I will come for you, come on now be realistic here.
I see where you are coming from Tony if even if some don't!
No, I think you're missing the whole point. I agree 100% in sharing and helping. What I don't agree with is that anyone who shares their site can suddenly find a screenshot of it in Global Activity announcing to everyone they're doing something wrong. Even worse, Tony's post doesn't explain what's wrong but leaves them in limbo to wonder about what "NEEDS FIXING". It isn't *clever*, it isn't *helpful* and it certainly isn't *sensitive* to those just starting out. Rich.
Point taken that there isn't a solution to what is wrong and there should be, I can see that.
Tony, should edit his post above to reflect this.
So come on Tony what is wrong with the SEO?
I like Jay's approach. He allows folks to voluntarily put their sites on the chopping block.
I think that the answer is: the ads have no keyword focus. I don't remember the percentage off of the top of my head. I think that it is something like 2 percent of the words should be your chosen keyword. Don't quote me on that one. Also, the title should be bolded and underlined (it should contain the same keyword focus).
Actually these are not ads Frinkable (great name) but 4 diffident excepts taken from 4 different websites - where the "oversight" is taking place... The content on the sites is spot on.
2% keyword density would work very well on your weblogs your're right there.
Hey Tony. I'm afraid that I don't find this *clever*. Categories might well be something Kyle and Carson have planned for a future lesson in Bootcamp and you may well be pre-empting them. More importantly, you may well instill a fear in newcomers that their sites are going to be called out and made public *examples* of and thereby disuade them from seeking opinions on their current progress. I feel if you want to be helpful, and the individuals have requested site reviews, the appropriate place to put your observation about categories is in their personal discussion thread request. Rich.
I take your point Rich and I'm not trying to be "clever" just helpful as usual ... I started to add the comment about categories .. however after a few though it best to share the common error.. What if it isn't planned for future inclusion?
I've taken what you've said onboard and have altered the post to reflect this ... The sites above are all very good examples of budding affiliate sites - I see nothing wrong with showing how we can all be better from day 1
Respectfully Tony
This isn't your job, Tony. I know many newcomers are *nervous* of making mistakes and I don't think doing this is at all useful. If you genuinely wanted to be altruistic and helpful you could have commented privately or PM'd Kyle or Carson rather than *showing off* at their expense and publicly criticising them in Global Activity. If you call out one of my referrals in public and upset them by doing so, I will make a issue of it. Rich.
Once you've let them know the common error pls like and share to stop this error occurring
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Hi Tony
It's great wanting to share your experience and the type of success you've had is what many newcomers want to emulate, but on this occasion I agree with some of the others that it doesn't quite work
If I put my teaching hat on - showing mistakes from members and then telling others to explain what they're doing wrong - smacks of being patronising - not helpful. Show what you've seen but explain why it's wrong and what's the possible impact. Now that really would help people to learn.
In one response to Daniel you asked whether you should have used examples off Google. Yes - it would have been different - because there is not the same emotional attachment. As see - you used two examples from one member and they did mind.
If I put my coaching hat on - don't knock other people's prior experiences of learning. A lot of new members are working right outside of their comfort zone doing this. To have their faults on view is not great for their confidence. As Daniel points out - people won't always say.
But my biggest problem is that any new members reading this they still won't know what the correct answer is and that seems a poor use of your time and others.
"peer correction" is actually regarded as one of the best forms of eliciting mistakes, it's just these particular students may not have wanted to be in the class
The tags gave the answer away. This is how I found it.
Beverly I have to say that I sooo get the massive mistake i've made and apologise for it.. BUT my intentions were simple.
Basic site structure. Yes I was wrong to use the sites of teh new .. I would have been so glad that someone used my site and shown me how it could be better,, but I'm wired differently - as you know.
I never pretend to be perfect of the Mr no it all I just want to help - funny how that can be stamped on init!