How to Improve Knol writing using SEO to Rank in First Page?

A Guide to write quality Knols to reach your Readers by having SEO standards and factors in mind.

This Knol is about improving your Knol writing to rank in first page of Google, Yahoo and Bing by following set of SEO standards and factors. This knol can help you reach your knol content to all your readers who search for similar information. Always write Knol for Readers first, not for bot's alone and have keywords in your Knol as reader friendly then search engine friendly. Read this Knol so that you "Don't give a chance for your readers to miss your Knol".

                                   

Introduction

 
 
This Knol helps you to know how to improve Knol writing by formatting the content with HTML & SEO standards that can be easily understood by search engine bots about the importance of the Knol subject along with researched keywords. If you do not format properly, even quality content will not reach your readers. Make Google[1], Yahoo[2] and Bing[3] search engines, easily crawl able. Knol Platform as part of Google helps Knol authors to follow the SEO standards like Title, SEF page URL, Mata tag, H1, H2, H3, H4 tags, Image ALT, Anchor text, feed, formatted external CSS, JS and body content in Div code. Don't miss the chance and get to know how to use these standards.
 
                                                                                                                                                                

Improve Knol write-up to reach your readers with SEO Factors

 
Normally only few Knol writers thinks about SEO for Content, that is writing content and optimizing for search engine to make it easily spiderable[4]. One must follow SEO factors to reach readers local and global. Now a day’s SEO for Content is very much essential even for quality content to win search engine results and to reach readers who look for your quality information.
 

(a) SEO copy writing - Two Ways


You need to start a ground work of picking relevant keywords using Google Keyword selector tool[5] or Search-based Keyword Tool[6]  for your content and you may start writing your contents with those single, two word key phrases and long tail key phrases. Do not make the content odd by stuffing those keywords. You can think of the keyword and write the content and if the information is clear and beneficial for it's users then you win the game. If content is written with related images and examples, if any, then you will get even better responses.

Another way is that you can first prepare your Knol drafts and based on the subject you can look for keywords using Google Keyword selector tool[5] or Search-based Keyword Tool[6]. Then related to the content you can add keywords and make the copy more meaningful and as well make sure that you don't add too many keywords[7]. Do follow Keyword Strategies that can help your to determine the best practice.
 

(b) Four Keyword Strategies

 
Here is a much enhanced keyword strategies that can make big difference in your new Knol write-up and as well to improve your existing Knol's. The strategies are keyword density, frequency, prominence, and proximity.
 

(i) Keyword Density


To make your Knol content win in search results you need to add top search keywords that your readers use in search engine. Your Knol content may have those key phrases but make sure those are used in your Knol in correct format that meets keyword density.
 

Keyword Density % = Amount of keywords used / Total amount of words in the content.

 
Keyword density in percentage terms is calculated based on the amount of keywords you have used and the total amount of words you use in the Knol. This strategy is used to avoid the chance of keyword stuffing[7]. Keyword density can be between 2% to 8% and not more than that.
 

(ii) Keyword Prominence

 
How prominently your keywords are placed in your Knol depends on how much top priority for the keyword is given in your Knol starting content, Title, H tags and Meta tags.
 

(iii) Keyword Frequency

 
The number of times a particular keyword has been repeated. Referring to the example you can see how many times "Photograph Editing Software" Keyword appears on a page content. Some may think that more the times Keyword found in a page, then the page ranks better for that Keyword. It is not so. Stuffing Keywords in a page will result in penalizing since it looks like spam[7]. Here you need to follow Keyword Density.
 

(iv) Keyword Proximity

 
Keyword proximity refers to how close two or more keywords are to each other. You will achieve higher rankings if you place your keywords close together.
 
It depends on how you frame your two or more words to each other. If you are able to have words in your keywords close then you have chances to rank much higher. Here are two types of examples of how keyword "Photograph Editing Software" is focused.
 

    Example 1: Looking for Photograph Editing Software? Go for Adobe photoshop.
    Example 2: Best Software for Photograph Editing is Adobe photoshop.

 
Example 1 will work better when compared to Example 2 since in example one "Photograph Editing Software" is used as one single Keyword were as example 2 uses "Software for Photograph Editing". Words are not close and in order.
 
In detail, In Example 1, "Photograph Editing Software" 3 words are in same order as searched by users, whereas in Example 2, "Software for Photograph Editing" are not in order as you can see "Software" word is used in front of "for Photograph Editing" rather than after "Photograph Editing" as you can see from the actual keyword "Photograph Editing Software".
 
All the Four Keyword Strategies can be applicable in below tags and these are very much useful:
 


(c) Maintaining the position.

 
It is not only about winning the game on holding the position in #1 page. It is all about maintaining the position in #1 page. I see some get into the position and then drop down soon. This is due to the lack of updates on the topic.  Don't give any chances. This may also happen sometimes when you don't follow keyword strategies in your content and when you don't follow SEO standards.
 
          
    Plan of Action to Rank in First Page
 
    1. Improve your Knol writing for readers and DO SEO[10].
    2. Make sure you have fresh and informative content in your Knol[8].
    3. Avoid thoughts of using Knol only for marketing.
    4. Make your Knol unique so it stands out from the rest.
    5. Work on your Knol content regularly.
    6. Do add relevant key phrases to your Knol and avoid stuffing.
    7. Do apply HTML standards and SEO factors to your Knol for effective search engine listings.
    8. Always set right balance for users and Search Engines. 

 

Example on SEO Copy Writing


Here is an example based on optimizing the content. Suppose you plan to have a write-up on "Photograph Editing Software" as below. Here are the steps to show how to use Google Keywords tool to pick relevant keywords and optimize content for those keywords.
 

Step1: Now to start with optimization you can look for "Photography Editing Software" keyword search count and related keywords using Google Keyword tool.

Click Google Keyword selector tool and paste the keyword "Photography Editing Software" in the "Enter one keyword or phrase per line" text area box, next enter captcha security characters and press Get Keywords ideas button as seen in Figure 1.1

                                                                              Figure 1.1

Step 2: Now you gets two types of results. One is "Keywords related to term(s) entered" and the other is "Additional keywords to consider". If you feel Additional keywords are useful you can very well use them.

Below keywords shown in Figure 2.1 are from "Keywords related to term(s) entered" section:

Figure 2.1

Step 3:  Now we have 5 keywords to optimize and the write-up is about Adobe photoshop and we all know Adobe is not free so we can eliminate 5th keyword. (Refer Figure 2.1)
 
Now we have 4 keywords to consider to optimize the content. Here is an example how we add those keywords to the content.
 

   "Looking for Photograph Editing Software? Go for Adobe photoshop. One of the  Best photography
     editing software for Digital and Professional editing."

 
                                                                                                                                          

SEO Standards - Content formatting and practices


The content formatting and presentation is very much important. Knol platform helps on formatting the content for search engine readiness and SEO purpose. The only thing we need to know is for what and where the options are to be used.
 

(1) <Title> Tag & <H1>:

 
This is the main tag for search engines to know all about the page content. When you create a Knol, a page with editor opens and you can see a text area for "Title" as you see in the image below (Refer Figure 3.1). The Knol platform refers this as Page Title, H1 tag as well as HTML Browser Title. Keep your title tag Keyword rich and catchy since many search engine uses Title tag for search listing.
 

Figure 3.1

(2) Knol Page name:

Page name is derived from Knol Title tag. So again have the title name catchy, meaningful and keyword rich.
 

(3) H2, H3, H4:

 
Have your sub headings in H2, H3, H4 and make sure they are meaningful to the sub content and have keywords. You will see a "Format" option in Knol editor (Refer Figure 4.1) and you can click on the option for selecting H2, H3, H4 tags for related subheading.
 

Figure 4.1

H2 is bigger in font size, then H3 and H4. Font size states the importance of sub heading and contents to search engine bots.


(4) Image ALT Attribute:

 
ALT attribute for an image can be about the information on the image and related content. It also helps visitors with text-only browsers. ALT attribute text pops up when the mouse cursor is moved to the image.
 
This is how ALT attribute looks!
ALT attribute plays important role in SEO factors and Googlebot and other spiders like to take up the information and ALT with relevant keywords helps keyword frequency to get better ranking. To add ALT attribute in Knol image you need to click HTML option in the Knol editor and add your text as same as you see in the code below.
 
[IMG SRC="URL" ALT="Insert your alternative Text Here"]
(Not compatible for FireFox)
 
[IMG SRC="URL" ALT="Insert your alternative Text Here" Title="Insert your alternative Text Here"]
(Compatible for all Browsers. FireFox browser support IMG Title instead of ALT)
 
Make sure ALT attribute is useful and not written only for search engine bots[9].
 

(5) Meta Description:

 
This is an important tag for ranking your page and Knol platform uses "summary" of the knol in Meta Description content (Refer Figure 3.1). So make sure the summary has most important meaningful researched keywords and as well this Meta description content is been used as a Search Engine snippet for your Knol search users queries.
 

(6) Anchor text:

 
Anchor text helps the readers to know the information about the text to which the link point. Anchor text in this example is Google Knol and displays in a page like this, Google Knol
 
<a href="http://knol.google.com/k "Title="Google Knol">Google Knol</a>
 
Many writers use additional words to link a word string like, Google allows you to share your knowledge and add your name. To know more, click here
 
A much proper way of Anchor text in few words is, Google allows you to share your knowledge and add your name in Google Knol
 
This Anchor text code helps with linking benefits for readers as well as for search engine rankings.
 


(7) Activity Feed & Link Distribution:

 
Start populating your Knol and profile activity feeds through blog posts, feed submission sites and by placing Knol activity Google feedburner headline animator in different websites. These ways will help to increase Knol popularity and increase the chances of referral hits and external link popularity.
 
Link Distribution can be done through Knol link submission to external resources, tutorials and articles directories to help increase Knol popularity and as well you can inter link your and other authors Knol's related to your content that you feel helps your Knol readers. Make sure that the link distribution serves readers and they are natural[10], and not exclusive for search engine bots[11].
 

(8) Google analytics:

 
Configure Google analytics for your Knol to track visitors and source of visit. You can also find user searched keywords for your Knol in Google analytics[12]. Pick those keywords and find the Knol position in Google, Yahoo and Bing. Update your Knol content with those keywords till it meets keywords density and if the Knol already meets Keywords density then you might need to improve your Knol content for users and increase Knol link popularity rather than adding keywords again that leads to Keyword stuffing.
 
Be sure that Knol content should be meaningful and should meet users queries in search engine. And by following plan of action you can see extreme progress in Knol traffic.
 
                                

Conclusion

 
Congratulations on reading the Knol, as this covers all the practices that helps to improve your Knol quality content to rank in First page. To summarize, now you have learned the importance of Content SEO with example of using Google Keyword tool for getting related keywords and optimizing quality content, implementing four types of Keyword strategies, applying HTML standards that supports SEO with content formatting and practices. By adding these Knol improvement standards and SEO factors to your quality content, you can see extreme difference in your Knol traffic and the analyses mentioned in this Knol help you to reach your Knol content to all your readers.
 
For question and feedback, you can use comment section.
 
About the author                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
Jagadeesh M, more commonly known as Jag, is an SEO professional, enjoys teaching and recommends ethical SEO. Jag is also a moderator on Search Engine Watch Forums. Jag has also developed Google Gadget named "SEO Tip a Day". This can be used in your igoogle, blog as well as in your site and this will help your visitors to learn one SEO tip a day.

Jag SEO Blog is started for sharing his SEO knowledge with Webmasters, Web designers, Developers, Online business owners, SEO friends and communities. More about Jag

 
         
 
See also

References

  1. Google 101: How Google crawls, indexes and serves the web
  2. Yahoo! Search Content Quality Guidelines
  3. Bing Guidelines for successful indexing
  4. Google's Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide! [PDF]
  5. Google Keyword Tool
  6. Search-based Keyword Tool
  7. Don't load pages with keywords.
  8. Little or no original content.
  9. Image guidelines for best practices on publishing images.
  10. Google-friendly sites
  11. Don't participate in link schemes
  12. Google Analytics | Official Website

Comments

Comments are moderated, and will not be visible until one of the authors of this knol approves.


Jagadeesh M

Coming soon: "Body of Work" section

Keep watching this Knol to know about the organic traffic obtained just in one month period of the Knol publish - A proof on the Knol subject.

Best,
Jag

Last edited Sep 15, 2009 4:56 AM
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Jagadeesh M

Anchor text: Updated

Learn how "Anchor text" can be used in your content.

Best,
Jag

Aug 28, 2009 6:10 AM
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Peter Baskerville

Feedback

Good layout effort Jag. I see you are a good student in that you have identified and 'borrowed' many of the formatting options used by the best presented Knols here. That's OK ... I also 'borrow' as much as I can, in particular the good stuff. If you could convince your co-author Rao to present in the same way, I am sure his Knols would get a lot more reader appreciation.

I could not get the mouseover on the 'Alt' image to work. I have had the same problem here and it maybe something to do with the Knol's platform. If you could work it out and make it work - that would be great.

This Knol is not overly self serving with links to many other sites that could benefit the reader. Readers are left with the impression that the author really wants to pass on something of value and to provide genuine helpful advice to the reader. I like the (Figure 2.3) idea and will 'borrow' this idea to fix my old Knols and include them in my future ones.

As you know, I am no fan of SEO as I choose to rely 100% on the best content, written only for the reader. I prefer to rank 1 with my readers rather than with the robots of search engines. Still, for those that want to incorporate SEO into their work, this Knol certianly helps them implement the basics.

Last edited Aug 20, 2009 8:17 AM
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Sajid Khan

Your knol is very useful.

Dear Jag:
I have tried to improve the English of this very impressive knol. However one sentence I could not understand: '
Example 1 will work better when compared to Example 2 since in example one "Photograph Editing Tool" uses keyword were as example 2 uses "Tool for Photograph Editing". They are not close.' I think I did not do a good job of correcting this one, so please look into this.
Kind regards
Sajid

Last edited Aug 13, 2009 3:44 AM
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