Rebecca Kelley
Below is an interview with Rebecca Kelley, an Search Marketing expert at SEOMoz.org. She has also blogged on a number of leading webmaster related blogs such as Shoemoney.com.
1. How has blogging changed the dynamic of the company office?
I think it definitely opens up communication between the company and their clients/audience. We get an enormous amount of feedback on our blog that we wouldn’t otherwise have access to, and it’s great having this sort of open communication easily available. If we launch a tool or release a new guide, our community gives us their input so we can continue to provide a better service and great products. Similarly, if we want to brainstorm for new content, our members give great tips and ideas that we can build from.
2. If you had one piece of advice to give to bloggers with regards to increasing their search engine rankings, what would it be?
Be smart about targeting your keywords. Include them in your blog titles and naturally throughout the piece, and your post should rank in the SERPs for that term, depending on how authoritative your site is. If you want to rank for a specified term, write a blog post that includes that term (don’t make it overtly obvious or else it will read unnatural and spammy to your users/visitors).
3. There has been a lot of talk about page rank and selling links in recent days. Google has penalized many bloggers who sell links, but selling links is one of the most effective ways blogs can be monetized. Should blogs sell links?
I don’t have a problem with selling links as long as it’s done smartly. You have to be under the radar about it, especially now. Google can’t catch all paid links, but they can catch the obvious ones. You should be all right if you’re selling a link with no sort of “sponsored by” or “paid link” badge, the purchaser owns a related site or a site that won’t raise any red flags if you’re linking to that content, and the link is valuable to your users.
4. What are your favorite SEO Blogs?
Search Engine Land is great for getting breaking news about the search industry. I enjoy Bruce Clay and Techipedia for their writing style. I subscribe to 75+ SEO blogs, but some of my favorites are Scoreboard Media Group, Mihmorandum, Distilled, Search Engine Journal, Graywolf, and Marketing Pilgrim.
5. You recently got the chance to be a guest poster on Shoemoney.com. What advice do you have for bloggers looking to guest post on large blogs in their niche?
You have to prove your worth by demonstrating that you can bring something unique to their blog. Whether you have a distinct blogging voice (are you funny? Passionate? Clever?), you’re an expert in a particular niche, or if you’re just a great writer, you have to clearly reflect that in your writing so that the big bloggers will notice that you stand out among the crowd and will want you to contribute your talents to their blog.
6. What is the number one advantage of guest posting in your opinion?
Exposure, both for yourself and for the company you work for (if you’re not self-employed). Guest blogging puts you in front of an audience who may be different than your own blog’s audience, so more people become aware of you, your company, and your talents. Guest posting is great for business, networking, and for spreading your name further than you would with your own blog.
7. What is the number one piece of advice that you have for new bloggers?
Be yourself. Write with your own voice. Writing quality means more to readers than you may think. Even if you’re not an authority on a topic, give your own input on things because at least you can provide a fresh perspective–yours. Your blog should reflect who you are and what your opinion is, and that sort of honesty will attract readers far more than objective, boring pieces ever will.
