Gary Eckstein

WordPress originated as Blogging software. Since those early days, WordPress has developed into the leading Content Management System (CMS) used by large to small organizations as well as individuals. The key strengths of WordPress is its ease of use and robustness that makes it simple enough for occasional bloggers as well as powerful enough for large corporations such as the New York Times, Yahoo and Ford. One of the primary reasons for the success of WordPress is its underlying high-level architecture which is describes as three parts below.

First however, let’s eliminate the confusion between the two ‘versions’ of WordPress …

WordPress.org is the organization that develops and distributes the WordPress software. If you want to run WordPress on your own Web Host then this is where to get the software. WordPress.org also has a wealth of WordPress information and hosts most of the free Plugins (over 11,000) and Themes (over 1,200) available for download and implementation.

WordPress.com is a ‘freemium’ service that offers hosted WordPress software for free. There are various upgrades that, should they be required, cost a once-off or annual fee (an example of a paid upgrade is using your domain name on your WordPress.com site). WordPress.com hosts 11.5 million Blogs and these Blogs get over 2.5 billion Pages views per month

Here are the three core architecture elements of WordPress i.e. how it ‘fits together’.

It has already been noted that WordPress is software (i.e. an application). It is developed using HTML, PHP and JavaScript which are the most common scripts (sometimes called ‘languages’) used on the Web.

WordPress connects to a Database that stores the data such as Page content and various settings. The use of the database makes WordPress a Content Management System (CMS). WordPress connects by default to the Open Source MySQL Database Management System (DBMS). MySQL is used by many of the leading companies and Websites (e.g. Linkedin, Youtube, Wikipedia and Walmart).

WordPress is capable of very many functions and is hugely extendible. WordPress software however ‘ships’ with the core most frequently used functionality. People are encouraged to make available extensions and these are called Plugins. Plugins are very simple to install into core WordPress and there are all sorts of capabilities available via the thousands of free Plugins e.g. ecommerce functionality, advanced SEO capabilities and form builders.

The ‘look and feel’ of WordPress is managed via Themes. A Theme defines the colours, fonts, layout and many other aesthetics. There are many free as well as paid-for and custom themes available and changing the Theme in WordPress is very simple. By separating the ‘look and feel’ of WordPress from the content and functionality, it becomes very easy to create using an entirely fresh looking Site without having to touch the content.

So above is the core architecture that makes WordPress the most popular used CMS. WordPress is suitable for all size organizations, free to extend, simple to use and very effective as a CMS!

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From an SEO perspective Article Directories need to be carefully considered; In one of my Article Directory related Posts I mentioned how some republishers use article rewriting software to make the content of an article appear original. Last year I published an article on ezinearticles titled WordPress Plugins and Themes Can Work Against SEO. Here is a real example of how republishing software changes the text:

This is the body of the original document at ezinearticles.com:

In SEO, less is often more. There are certain Search Engine Optimization (SEO) WordPress options, Themes and Plugins which significantly enhance SEO. These same factors may also work against visits from Search Engines.

SEO is so much more than purely links to your site and content. SEO is qualitative more than quantitative; the quality is much more important than the amount of optimization performed. It is also about making it easy for the Search Engines to understand your content.

Help, SERP Descriptions are Wrong!

I was recently asked to assist a new client as they had employed an SEO consultant who had performed a mass of SEO tasks however visits from Google, Bing, Yahoo and Ask were falling fast. The SEO basics were certainly in place; inlinks, meta elements (description, title and keywords in the HTML head section of the page / document), fresh content etc. But something was wrong! I then looked at the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) on the main engines and noticed that the description of the pages and posts were not what it should have been. The major Search Engines do occasionally use text from the page itself as well as from DMOZ and the like for the SERP descriptions however it is most common that the description meta element text will be used if available on the page or post.

Why are the Page and Post Descriptions Incorrect?

So why was the wrong description text in the SERPs? For this we need to understand the architecture of the Website itself; the Website is running WordPress with a popular Theme framework. There are also numerous active Plugins (most are very widely used Plugins). Looking at the WordPress options and general setup all appeared fine. Investigating the variables on the numerous Plugins and the Theme also proved that the options were acceptable (and enhanced toward optimal SEO). Taking a more thorough look at the HTML of the pages and posts revealed why the SERP descriptions were incorrect; there were at least two description meta elements on every page and post.

Multiple Description Meta in WordPress

Google and some other Search Engines take notice only of the first description meta element so if the text in that element is incorrect then the description in the SERP will likely be incorrect. What was happening on this particular Site was that the head section of the HTML page / document was attaining multiple description text from the numerous SEO WordPress options, Theme and Plugins. Some of these are better than others at auto-creating description meta element text so whichever was the first description text in the HTML head section became what the appeared in the SERPS (for example, the ‘related posts’ text was often being populated as the description meta text).

WordPress, Themes and Plugins Creating Bad SEO

It was obvious that the Website had been over optimized and the SEO consultant didn’t fully understand how the technology / architecture fits together; WordPress, the Theme and the Plugins need to be considered as a comprehensive whole rather than individually. Individually, the SEO aspects of the Website were optimized however once each of the ‘bits’ (e.g. the WordPress Options, plugins etc.) were working together they actually caused more SEO harm than good. If the SEO consultant had disabled all SEO options he or she didn’t specifically need instead of enabling every SEO option available then the destructive SERP problem wouldn’t have occurred.

Problem Resolved – SEO Paying Dividends

The end result is that the damage has been reversed. Through focusing on SEO objectives and SEO quality, the number of visits directed from the Search Engines is improving. The damage however was totally avoidable.

As a note, I intentionally haven’t named the theme nor plugins being used as the SEO deficiencies were caused through inadequate Site setup and testing and not through WordPress or the theme or Plugins.

Gary Eckstein is an IT Efficiency Consultant specialising in adding value to small and medium size businesses. Gary also manages various client websites such as Xbox Game Sites.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Eckstein

Here is how the article as above was rewritten by software (from ‘The Nerd Blogger’):

Iח SEO, less іѕ οftеח more. Tһеrе аrе сеrtаіח Quest Engine Optimization (SEO) WordPress options, Themes аחԁ Plugins wһісһ significantly enhance SEO. Tһеѕе same factors mау аƖѕο work against visits frοm Quest Engines.

SEO іѕ ѕο much more tһаח purely links tο уουr site аחԁ content. SEO іѕ qualitative more tһаח quantitative; tһе quality іѕ much more vital tһаח tһе quantity οf optimization performed. It іѕ аƖѕο аbουt mаkіחɡ іt simple fοr tһе Quest Engines tο bе wіtһ уου уουr content.

HеƖр, SERP Descriptions аrе Incorrect!

I wаѕ recently qυеѕtіοחеԁ tο һеƖр a חеw client аѕ tһеу һаԁ employed аח SEO consultant wһο һаԁ performed a mass οf SEO tasks bυt visits frοm Google, Bing, Yahoo аחԁ Qυеѕtіοח wеrе falling qυісk. Tһе SEO basics wеrе сеrtаіחƖу іח рƖасе inlinks, meta elements (description, title аחԁ keywords іח tһе HTML head section οf tһе page / document), fresh content etc. Bυt something wаѕ incorrect! I tһеח looked аt tһе Quest Engine Results Pages (SERPs) οח tһе main engines аחԁ noticed tһаt tһе description οf tһе pages аחԁ posts wеrе חοt wһаt іt ѕһουƖԁ һаνе bееח. Tһе major Quest Engines ԁο occasionally υѕе text frοm tһе page itself аѕ well аѕ frοm DMOZ аחԁ tһе Ɩіkе fοr tһе SERP descriptions bυt іt іѕ mοѕt common tһаt tһе description meta constituent text wіƖƖ bе used іf available οח tһе page οr post.

Wһу аrе tһе Page аחԁ Post Descriptions Incorrect?

Sο wһу wаѕ tһе incorrect description text іח tһе SERPs? Fοr tһіѕ wе need tο bе wіtһ уου tһе architecture οf tһе Website itself; tһе Website іѕ running WordPress wіtһ a well Ɩονеԁ Theme framework. Tһеrе аrе аƖѕο numerous active Plugins (mοѕt аrе very widely used Plugins). Looking аt tһе WordPress options аחԁ general complex аƖƖ appeared fine. Investigating tһе variables οח tһе numerous Plugins аחԁ tһе Theme аƖѕο proved tһаt tһе options wеrе acceptable (аחԁ enhanced toward optimal SEO). Taking a more thorough look аt tһе HTML οf tһе pages аחԁ posts revealed wһу tһе SERP descriptions wеrе incorrect; tһеrе wеrе аt Ɩеаѕt two description meta elements οח еνеrу page аחԁ post.

Multiple Description Meta іח WordPress

Google аחԁ ѕοmе οtһеr Quest Engines take notice οחƖу οf tһе first description meta constituent ѕο іf tһе text іח tһаt constituent іѕ incorrect tһеח tһе description іח tһе SERP wіƖƖ ƖіkеƖу bе incorrect. Wһаt wаѕ happening οח tһіѕ particular Site wаѕ tһаt tһе head section οf tһе HTML page / document wаѕ attaining multiple description text frοm tһе numerous SEO WordPress options, Theme аחԁ Plugins. Sοmе οf tһеѕе аrе better tһаח others аt auto-mаkіחɡ description meta constituent text ѕο whichever wаѕ tһе first description text іח tһе HTML head section became wһаt tһе appeared іח tһе SERPS (fοr example, tһе ‘related posts’ text wаѕ οftеח being populated аѕ tһе description meta text).

WordPress, Themes аחԁ Plugins Mаkіחɡ TеrrіbƖе SEO

It wаѕ evident tһаt tһе Website һаԁ bееח over optimized аחԁ tһе SEO consultant didn’t fully bе wіtһ уου һοw tһе equipment / architecture fits together; WordPress, tһе Theme аחԁ tһе Plugins need tο bе considered аѕ a comprehensive total rаtһеr tһаח individually. Individually, tһе SEO aspects οf tһе Website wеrе optimized bυt once each οf tһе ‘bits’ (e.g. tһе WordPress Options, plugins etc.) wеrе working together tһеу really caused more SEO harm tһаח ехсеƖƖеחt. If tһе SEO consultant һаԁ disabled аƖƖ SEO options һе οr ѕһе didn’t specifically need instead οf enabling еνеrу SEO option available tһеח tһе destructive SERP problem wouldn’t һаνе occurred.

Problem Resolved – SEO Paying Dividends

Tһе еחԁ result іѕ tһаt tһе destruction һаѕ bееח reversed. Through focusing οח SEO objectives аחԁ SEO quality, tһе number οf visits directed frοm tһе Quest Engines іѕ improving. Tһе destruction bυt wаѕ really חοt inevitable.

Aѕ a note, I intentionally рƖасе οf protection’t named tһе theme חοr plugins being used аѕ tһе SEO deficiencies wеrе caused through imperfect Site complex аחԁ testing аחԁ חοt through WordPress οr tһе theme οr Plugins.

Gary Eckstein іѕ аח IT Efficiency Consultant specialising іח adding value tο small аחԁ medium size businesses. Gary аƖѕο manages various client websites such аѕ Xbox Game Sites.

Article Directory: EzineArticles

Tοο much Quest Engine Optimization саח rυіח visits frοm Quest Engines. Read аbουt һοw WordPress аחԁ various combinations οf Plugins аחԁ Themes саח result іח tеrrіbƖе SEO. Bе careful tο dodge tһе errors mаԁе іח tһе Website SEO example given.

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Image by GDS Digital via Flickr

Ericsson has announced that there are 5 billion mobile/cell phone subscriptions worldwide. Certainly a huge number however there was another bit of interesting information provided by Ericsson that illustrates how we are still in the infancy of mobile communications:

I was interested to see the following statement from Ericsson: ‘December of last year [2009], another milestone was reached when the amount of data traffic carried over mobile networks exceeded the amount of traffic generated from voice calls’. In the same media release it is estimated that there will be 50 billion connected mobile devices by 2020. This is not at all surprising when considering technologies such as WiMAX (4G) lend themselves very well to data transfer for information such as that needed to effectively manage smart infrastructure. With the rollout of smart grids and other smart city initiatives (e.g. smart water and smart transport), the need for communications from multiple devices in a home, for example, is increasing rapidly (and, unless we want physical wires absolutely everywhere, mobile communications is the answer).

Last year ‘data traffic carried over mobile networks exceeded the amount of traffic generated from voice calls’. Mobile data traffic is rising at 280% per year and this is set to increase further as new technologies and products are introduced. Governments are investing significantly in smart technology and infrastructure and the backbone of much of the communication needed on smart infrastructure is mobile/wireless communications.

Yes, mobile communication set to grow at a huge rate!

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Google has named Webpage load speed as a ranking factor. This means that when Google calculates in which position to display results in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages), faster loading Webpages may be positioned more prominently. There are several hundred factors that Google uses when considering where to place a Webpage in the SERPs so load speed will only have a small bearing. More ‘noise’ however is coming from Google about Webpage and Website load speeds including an interesting article where data regarding the average load speed and related factors for several billion pages were analysed. Google also made headlines recently with the announcement about its own public DNS to assist with speeding up the resolution of names to IP addresses.

Google is not alone in their quest for speed; the fantastic speed measurement and recommendation tool Yslow for Firebug by Yahoo is used by many to optimize page load speed. Yahoo has introduced other speed enhancement Tools including the very newly released boomerang which is some JavaScript that runs on each page and measures various performance matrices. Yahoo also provides other awesome performance enhancing free tools such as smush.it.

There are also other free tools (both Online and software applications) that assist with speed measurement against various performance matrices. One of the little known but very useful tools is WebPagetest which should be given a try.

Website performance is becoming increasingly important as a Search Engine Optimization task. Although Page load speeds only have a small bearing on the SERPs at present, all indicators are that Website performance will become ever more important as an SEO activity.

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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is often considered one of those secret things that are done way out of the view of the public eye. Although those successful at SEO often do have a great amount of knowledge and experience (that only comes with time), most SEO activities are logical and can be performed by anyone with basic Website design knowledge. Below are three basic but absolutely fundamental SEO related activities/concepts that every Website designer or owner must consider.

You need to define what your Website or blog is about and keep the focus tight. What is meant by this is it is far better to focus on one (or a few) topics rather than 20 topics per Site. For example, suppose I have a Website called ‘The Gary Site’ and on this Site I only have content about famous people with the name Gary then it is simple for people and Search Engines to understand what the Site is about. If however, on ‘The Gary Site’ I include a windsurfing journal, WordPress articles, some architecture photos, a section with famous people called Gary etc. it is very non-specific and people (and Search Engines) will be ‘confused’ as to what the Site is about. Think about restaurants for example; those with a specific focus such as Thai food alone usually do far better than those who serve some Italian food, some Thai food, some French food, the occasional burger etc.

With content, generally ‘more is more’ however the content MUST be original and compelling (it must be interesting to people engaging with the content). There of course are all types of content such as text, video and voice (e.g. mp3/podcasts) but always ensure that text descriptions are given for non-text content; non-text content either isn’t indexed at all by the Search Engines or the information isn’t processed in it’s entirety by the Search ‘bots. Original content of course may be created by  visitors themselves such as with Wikis and Forums (think of YouTube and Wikipedia where almost all content is visitor generated).

SEO is no mystery. It is common sense and hard work. Forget about trying to fool the Search Engines to get people to your Site. Think about what you like about your favourite Websites and what they are doing well. Make life easy for your visitors, have compelling content and let people know when you have original and valuable information on your Site. Answer questions such as; what will make visitors return to my Site? Will visitors find my Site useful? Do I have content that can’t be found elsewhere?

With SEO, the most important aspect of all is getting the basics right. Concentrate on a great experience for your visitors and the rest will fall into place!

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