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!

• WordPress Statistics
• Has your WordPress Site been hacked?
• WordPress with GoDaddy Hosting

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.

• WordPress Hybrid Theme and All in One SEO Pack
• Save WordPress (and Ferris)
• Page Load Speed as SEO

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.

• Google Announces new Ranking Factor
• 10 Steps – SPEED up your WebSite
• Speed up your Website to keep Visitors

The use of Web fonts (Web typography) is increasing massively due to improving support by Internet Browsers, widening ease of use within Websites and increased standardisation such as the Web Open Font Format (WOFF) and the introduction of HTML5 and CSS3. The use of Web fonts extends the number of fonts that may be used on websites as well as the ease with which additional fonts may be included. In most Websites a standard set of fonts are used as all major brands of computers and Browser support this core (but small) set of font families such as Arial and Times New Roman. With Web fonts (using the @font-face CSS rule) the font to be used is referenced and, if it isn’t already in the installed set on the visitor’s computer/Browser, the font is downloaded from the reference (link).

It seems logical that if a font needs to be downloaded before it is used, then that will slow Page load speeds. Unfortunately this is a downside of using Web fonts! Not only will extra data (i.e. the font) need to be downloaded by the browser, but there will also be additional http requests which may negatively impact Page load speeds. As the use of Web fonts increases so will the chance that the Web font used on a Page has been downloaded in the past by the Browser and so needn’t be downloaded again.

There are also steps being taken by both Web font distributors and Browser developers to improve the visitor experience when downloading Web fonts is necessary. For example most of the Web font distributors are compressing the fonts for faster download and Mozilla Firefox uses ‘Flash of unstyled text’ where the text is displayed in a default font until the Web font has been downloaded at which time the font changes to the Web font (Google Chrome and Apple Safari display a blank space until the font has been downloaded whereas with Internet Explorer the action taken depends on where the stylesheet <link> tag is placed in the head section).

Jul 30, 2010 hreview by Gary Eckstein

WordPress Website/Blog/CMS is easily achieved. I have recently been playing with the ‘WP Google Fonts’ WordPress Plugin which makes using the free Web fonts from the Google Font Directory (using the Google Font API) with WordPress very simple (well done to Adrian Hanft, the Plugin author). The Google Font Directory offers a fairly limited selection of fonts to use but the number offered is sure to grow substantially as the use of web fonts increases. The great thing about the WP Google Fonts Plugin is that it allows the use of additional CSS controls for use with the Web font family used (e.g. drop-shadows) so the ‘look and feel’ of the Web fonts can be easily amended. Although the WordPress plugin page notes that the Plugin is compatible up to WordPress v2.9, I have tested it with WordPress 3 and with Artisteer templates and haven’t encountered any errors. This is a great way to use Web fonts in WordPress and I recommend using this Plugin.

• google font directory review
• how to use webfont in wordpress
• google fonts
• wordpress font plugins for artisteer
• wordpress font plugin
• wordpress @font-face

• WordPress Contact Form 7 – How to Change Width
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WordPress.com is hugely popular as a Blog host. Simply put, WordPress.com gives free hosting for Blogs using the latest release of the massively popular WordPress GPL software. For those wanting a Blog with a limited set of options then WordPress.com is an excellent choice. People or organizations requiring their own domain name, integration with other software and a huge amount of configuration and extensibility options then a self-hosted solution using software free to download, install and use from WordPress.org is the answer (WordPress.com does provide some upgrade options for various fees).

To most people and organizations, the software or solution used doesn’t matter much as most are concerned with total cost of ownership, reliability (and quality) and meeting requirements. This is precisely the reason that WordPress has done so well; it is simple to use, is equally reliable and feature packed for individuals’ right to the largest organizations and is very cost effective. To illustrate just how popular WordPress is, some statistics are provided below for WordPress.com (WordPress.org stats are not included in the information below):

New WordPress.com Posts per day: 350,000

Total number of WordPress.com Posts: 200,000,000

New Blog comments per day (excluding Spam comments): 400,000

Blogs on WordPress.com: +- 11,500,000 (there are +- 13,800,000 active installations of the WordPress.org software with over 100,000,000 Plugin downloads)

Number of people who visit at least one WordPress.com hosted Blog per month: 260,000,000

Number of WordPress.com hosted Pages viewed per month: 2,000,000,000

Most popular WordPress.com Blog languages: 66% are in English, 8.7% in Spanish, 6.5% in Portuguese and 3.5% in Indonesian.

WordPress.com changes to themes per day: 35,000

Number of Flickr images embedded into a WordPress.com Blog per day: 40,000.

Number of YouTube images embedded into a WordPress.com Blog per day: 50,000.

Number of Photobucket images embedded into a WordPress.com Blog per day: 30,000.

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