Lesson #1 – The best way to learn about writing is to actually do it.

If you want to write a killer blog post, then you have to start by writing some blog posts that probably aren’t that killer—at least, not in the way you would like. The Muse is very elusive. She won’t come at your beck and call. If you wait for the inspiration to hit, then it never will. You can write a good, link-worthy post, but only if you have the determination to start putting words on the screen.

Lesson #2 – Keep going.

Consistency is key. Blog readers are a fickle bunch. If you are not providing the information they need/want on a regular basis, then they will leave you for someone else. As you steadily write new content, your readers will keep coming back, and the writing process will become much easier. Soon you will be writing the kind of link-bait that gets SERP’d, Digg-ed, Facebook-ed and re-Tweeted by all your readers.

Lesson #3 – Write what you know.

You can stare at the computer screen for hours, trying to craft the perfect blog post for your company that will surely make everyone else in the industry shake in their boots, but if you don’t know what you’re talking about, those boots will trample you. “Write what you know” is something of a cliché that writers hear all the time, but it is critically important when it comes to writing for blogs or websites. Online communities can spot a fake from a mile away. Use your knowledge to provide the community with the valid and relevant information that you have. And if you don’t know anything, research something. There is information on just about anything out there.

Lesson #4 – Be yourself.

In the words of Hitch, “You cannot use what you do not have. If you’re shy, be shy. If you’re outgoing, be outgoing.” Write in your own style. If that means you don’t want to take everyone’s suggestions (even *gasp!* mine), then find what works for you. If you feel awkward writing in a certain style, perhaps it’s time to change.

Lesson #4 Addendum

If the SEO experts step in and require certain anchor text for internal linking, or they recommend using certain keywords throughout the content, then find a way to make it work. But that’s a subject for another post.

Lesson #5 – Set your goals and objectives.

What do you expect to gain from your website or blog? Do you want lots of comments, visits, sales, etc? You can tailor your writing to help meet those goals. If you want to generate comments or conversations, then your blog posts need to be engaging and interactive. To increase visits, you should focus on using proper keywords and links in your copy—following the expert’s recommendations, of course. For sales and customers, then the written copy on your site and blog needs to be clear and informative.

If you want to reach these goals and become a better writer/blogger, then you. need. to. practice. Start writing and don’t wait for that Muse.

How to Write for Your Website or Blog is a post by SEO expert Tiana Smith. For information about our SEO services or more great SEO tips and tricks, visit the SEO.com blog.

If you want a blog that you can be proud of, you need to do some heavy lifting. These SEO tips can help you trim the fat and build up your SEO muscle. Think of me as your personal trainer, prepare yourself to sweat a little, and you will have Blog Posts of Steel in no time.

1. Drink Link Juice.

Link building and link bait should be critical to any blog. Try to get links to and from your blogs and include internal linking (linking to previous posts you wrote or other pages withing your site).

2. Cut Unhealthy Habits.

Edit your posts in the same way you would nix donuts from your diet. Others will catch your mistakes and will likely let you know about it. Also, do not use two words when one will do, as we all like short workouts.

3. Spotting is Necessary.

If you want to drive traffic to your blog, you need to do something for others, too. Comment on their blogs, but make sure your comments have substance. Support your fellow bloggers, tweet other blog posts, and they will be more inclined to return the favor. Be sure to follow up with comments on your own blog. This is like wiping down the equipment after using it. The people who comment before and after you will be grateful for your attention to detail.

4. Wear Proper Attire.

You want your blog to look good. Use flash sparingly (it’s not good for search engines), and make sure your blog posts are scannable (easy to read). Use bullet lists when you can, and do not use large blocks of text. It hurts our eyes, much like neon spandex that some feel is okay to wear to the gym. It is not, by the way.

5. Have a Regimen.

Be consistent. Whether you post once a day or once a week, you will increase traffic when you post regularly. This is where you will start to see results. Also, be consistent with your style. If you break form during a workout, you can hurt yourself. With SEO, it is your rankings that will be sore in the morning.

6. Eat Healthy.

Be careful of the words you take in on your blog posts. You want to use rich keywords, but if you litter your post with them, you will have a cumbersome blog that will alienate your readers. And remember: there are not many healthy diets out there that include SPAM.

7. Stretch.

Try new things and don’t be boring. With this in mind, do not go outside your limits and try to lift 100 pounds when you have been lifting 10. If you blog about business, but randomly decide to post about your cat Kibbles, we will not be amused (unless you can somehow relate cat kibbles to business success).

8. Don’t Sing Along to the Songs Over the Speakers in the Gym.

Ok, so this isn’t related to SEO or blogging. But it’s in good taste. Please, I beg of you.

Did I miss any healthy blogging tips? Let me know!

Blogging Boot Camp is a post by SEO expert Tiana Smith. For information about our SEO services or more great SEO tips and tricks, visit the SEO.com blog.

Among the perfect Barbie dolls and pop icons that litter the walls of every adolescent male, you will never see a pockmarked crone or even a hot model with something in her teeth. Professionals airbrush every picture beyond perfection; heaven forbid you ever see cellulite or dark shadows under bloodshot eyes!

Television producers have capitalized on this fascination with beauty and are now endorsing mass programming about fashion, makeovers, Hollywood and style. It is nearly impossible to channel surf without coming across a show regarding weight, movie stars and fashion faux pas (or all three topics combined for the ultimate moneymaker). We have all seen the makeover shows where a frumpy social outcast turns into a glamorous designer diva. The same is possible for websites.

Though your current site may look like a behemoth monster lurking in the shadows, you can turn that Frankenstein into the prom queen of the Internet. You want a site that will generate views, not something that will make you cry in the bathroom during lunch. Search engines are looking for specific things, and with a few tips, you can generate the views needed to keep you at the top of the popularity vote.

At first, cosmetic surgery on your website will be painful. Schedule some surgery time where you can sit and immerse yourself in the page. Seriously look at it. Analyze the flaws. The truth of the matter is, if you see something wrong, your clients will too, and they will not be as forgiving. Make sure you get a second opinion on your website by having a professional give you a makeover.

Look at the structure of your site. Does it need a facelift? Your site should have a sitemap for HTML and XML; this makes it easy for search engine crawlers to navigate your content. A sitemap is like the perfect pair of shoes, you can wear them with every outfit. Also, be sure that all of your internal links function well and lead viewers where you want them.

The next key is to accessorize. Every outfit needs the right bling to make it pop, and a website is no different. Look at the writing on your site, and ask yourself if the written copy is rich with key words and searchable terms. Be careful not to overdo it. Not only is this bad for search engines, it can make your website look like a child wearing too much costume jewelry.

Once you have the SEO practices in effect to get people to your site, you want to keep them there. Focus some time on the design of your site. Is your makeup stuck in the 80s? Revamp your look to reflect your company. Viewers will judge you based on appearances. The more sites that link to yours, the more search engines will pick you up. Remember this, girls in the popular crowd always get more dates. Think back too high school, and you will realize just how shallow some people really are. If you are still sporting a mullet, it is time for a fresh look. If you combine the right aesthetic appeal with the right content, more people are likely to link to you, helping SEO. You will be sitting at the popular table in no time.

One thing to remember is this; continue to update your website. Just as fashions continually change, SEO is a continual process. Even the best nail polish will chip and needs reapplication. Your website can be like the perfectly airbrushed picture, but beauty like that does not happen naturally, and someone has to do the work.

Website Beauty Tips is a post by SEO expert Tiana Smith. For information about our SEO services or more great SEO tips and tricks, visit the SEO.com blog.