Right, so you've heard others saying the title should be your keyword and you've assumed this is the title of your post?
Nope that is not the one that counts for SEO.
If you scroll down to the bottom of your post then you will see your SEO information. I use All in One SEO. You will also have it at the bottom if it is Yoast...
So this is what the All in One SEO looks like if you don't touch it. It will take your heading, and it will take the first few sentences of your post.... it also shows you what your post will look like if it appears in a search.
So we want to leave nothing to chance do we? So in this title write a new title that includes your Main Keyword. If you can fit in a secondary keyword that is great... but rather focus on writing a captivating headline that includes your Main Keyword.
In your SEO title write a good description that includes your main keyword, if you can fit in a secondary keyword great... but once again focus on trying to write something that will be clicked on.
Remember it is great to show up in searches but what is the point if nobody clicks on your post? So make it clickable.
Then add in your main keywords and secondary keywords into the keywords section.
Now your SEO section will look something like this:
Looking a lot better right?
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TanjaRita
Premium
Thanks Lynne, but I am a bit confused now. I did just learn that the keyword does not need to be in the main title. But if you then add the keyword to the AIO SEO title section (and make the title different from the one that actually shows up on your post) it could be a boring title again. I thought that what you put in the AIO SEO sections is what would show up in the search.
I don't want my boring title that nobody will click on showing up in the searches.
I have really been struggling with this because all of my keywords are quite long (3-6 words), often questions. There is no way to write a catchy title that also has the keywords without it becoming a run on sentence.
Another thing, someone (can't remember who) said to only focus on one keyword per article. Don't get fixated on adding other keywords. But I think you are suggesting we should look at other keywords.
I am starting to think (since I am not really making much money) that I am going to just try writing without focusing on keywords. So many of my competitors articles that rank on the first page don't seem to even focus on keywords. They appear here and there, but it seems very natural and not planned out. Yet they are still on the first page.
What to do, what to do???
I don't want my boring title that nobody will click on showing up in the searches.
I have really been struggling with this because all of my keywords are quite long (3-6 words), often questions. There is no way to write a catchy title that also has the keywords without it becoming a run on sentence.
Another thing, someone (can't remember who) said to only focus on one keyword per article. Don't get fixated on adding other keywords. But I think you are suggesting we should look at other keywords.
I am starting to think (since I am not really making much money) that I am going to just try writing without focusing on keywords. So many of my competitors articles that rank on the first page don't seem to even focus on keywords. They appear here and there, but it seems very natural and not planned out. Yet they are still on the first page.
What to do, what to do???
LynneHuy
Premium
Yes what you write in the All in One SEo title is what will show up in search, that is correct. But remember it will take a bit of skill to learn how to write interesting titles... both for your blog title and your meta title.
None of this is a hard and fast rule. And yes I know exactly what you mean about long tail keywords, it can be hard to fit in nicely into a title. Then take a secondary keyword for the seo title.
Make sure what you do fits well, that is really important.
Don't concentrate on like 10 keywords for a post, that is just silly! I usually have my main keyword and then 2 secondary keywords. I put my main keyword in all the essential places and my secondary keywords in headings, alt images and maybe also in the text if I can.
I often get all 3 keywords ranking well which is awesome.
I totally understand what you are saying Tanja and it takes a long time to get into the habit of writing naturally and in a way that incorporates all these methods.
Anything that stops you from writing naturally leave out. If you know all these tips you can start adding some in at some stage...
None of this is a hard and fast rule. And yes I know exactly what you mean about long tail keywords, it can be hard to fit in nicely into a title. Then take a secondary keyword for the seo title.
Make sure what you do fits well, that is really important.
Don't concentrate on like 10 keywords for a post, that is just silly! I usually have my main keyword and then 2 secondary keywords. I put my main keyword in all the essential places and my secondary keywords in headings, alt images and maybe also in the text if I can.
I often get all 3 keywords ranking well which is awesome.
I totally understand what you are saying Tanja and it takes a long time to get into the habit of writing naturally and in a way that incorporates all these methods.
Anything that stops you from writing naturally leave out. If you know all these tips you can start adding some in at some stage...
TanjaRita
Premium
Thanks Lynne. I think it was Jovo who said he noticed that sometimes what you put in the title and description of AIO SEO doesn't even show up in the search. In the end the search engines pick what they want to post, overriding your attempts at good SEO.
I spend all day yesterday fixing up titles (mainly on older posts) where I tried to get the main keyword in, but it was just so boring. So I took out the keyword and wrote a catchy title. I used the same title on the AIO SEO title section. Hopefully this wasn't a mistake.
I don't think I am going to change anything again. I will just work with this info going forward.
Just to confirm, the title that you have in the title section of your post, isn't always the same as the title you are manually entering into the AIO SEO title section?
You would think that since I have been at this for almost a year I would know what is going on. But there is so much conflicting info out there. I do what one person says, then another comes along and says "no, no, no...do it this way"....ugh. Maybe I should crawl back into my warm bed.
I spend all day yesterday fixing up titles (mainly on older posts) where I tried to get the main keyword in, but it was just so boring. So I took out the keyword and wrote a catchy title. I used the same title on the AIO SEO title section. Hopefully this wasn't a mistake.
I don't think I am going to change anything again. I will just work with this info going forward.
Just to confirm, the title that you have in the title section of your post, isn't always the same as the title you are manually entering into the AIO SEO title section?
You would think that since I have been at this for almost a year I would know what is going on. But there is so much conflicting info out there. I do what one person says, then another comes along and says "no, no, no...do it this way"....ugh. Maybe I should crawl back into my warm bed.
LynneHuy
Premium
LOL Tanja.
You need to figure out what works best for you. Yes there is a lot of conflicting stuff out there for sure and that is what makes working online so hard at times.
Even the training here is written by different people... so there will be differences of opinion.
Don't spend too much time and energy doing things like fixing titles, it does get boring. Rather allocate a little bit of special time where you go to old content and update it.
Put the majority of your focus on new content and when you apply something you have learned and it works well for you, try it again and see what happens.
These are my personal methods that work well for me. Get your own book and try out new things, adding in things you learn from other people and make your own formula over time.
You need to figure out what works best for you. Yes there is a lot of conflicting stuff out there for sure and that is what makes working online so hard at times.
Even the training here is written by different people... so there will be differences of opinion.
Don't spend too much time and energy doing things like fixing titles, it does get boring. Rather allocate a little bit of special time where you go to old content and update it.
Put the majority of your focus on new content and when you apply something you have learned and it works well for you, try it again and see what happens.
These are my personal methods that work well for me. Get your own book and try out new things, adding in things you learn from other people and make your own formula over time.
TanjaRita
Premium
That is kind of what I have been doing. But then I always second guess myself. Especially since my traffic is nowhere near where I want it for almost a year in.
I think I have figured it all out, but then I see trainings and blogs and think, "uh oh, maybe I missed something".
But I will just keep at it.
I think I have figured it all out, but then I see trainings and blogs and think, "uh oh, maybe I missed something".
But I will just keep at it.
LynneHuy
Premium
Keep at it and don't second guess yourself. And if you do have someone that you trust as a sounding board to ask questions.
TanjaRita
Premium
Thanks...second guessing could be my middle name. Unfortunately there isn't one person that I can go to to ask questions. I found WA through Kyle's site (ways to avoid scams online). So I guess technically he is my mentor. And I have PM'd him several times. However, I only got a response once.
LynneHuy
Premium
Yeah unfortunately he must be sooo busy!
Great people to ask are Vitaliy, EddySalomon, Marc Parsons, Loes, Magistudios (but he also has so many requests so might take a while), MarionBlack, JasonGB, upsgirl, boomergp08, Robert-A, nathaniell, TonyHamilton, PJonline, KatieMac, ... just to name a few...
And I will also happily give you feedback if you have any questions :)
Great people to ask are Vitaliy, EddySalomon, Marc Parsons, Loes, Magistudios (but he also has so many requests so might take a while), MarionBlack, JasonGB, upsgirl, boomergp08, Robert-A, nathaniell, TonyHamilton, PJonline, KatieMac, ... just to name a few...
And I will also happily give you feedback if you have any questions :)
Electra-5150
Premium Plus
Perfect timing Lynne, as I want to get my latest post out before Noon today so I've gone over your training here.
All the very best,
Pete.
All the very best,
Pete.
LynneHuy
Premium
I'm glad to be able to help you Pete. I hope to be able to get out my next training which is what to do AFTER you've published your content :)
LynneHuy
Premium
