Define SEO
Effective SEO is a Collision of Old and New Writing Tools
There are many ways to define SEO (Search Engine Optimization). As a journalist creating a website, SEO is a writing tool I use to give readers topics about Contemporary and Modern Art. These are art-related subjects that many people want to learn more about.
Inserting Keywords
To properly use SEO, every web page needs to contain specific keyword phrases. These phrases - such as "contemporary art trends" - are typed into search engines by numerous people all over this planet. Search engines become familiar with these terms, rewarding the corresponding pages by listing them on the first pages. The keyword phrase I use for this page is define SEO. In time, Google, Yahoo and Bing will notice this page and move it up in their listings.
I have written nearly every page on Contemporary Art Dialogue using SEO journalism. Today, many pages are on the 1st, 2nd or 3rd pages of popular search engines when the keyword topic is entered.
In writing these pages, I use two rules. The first is assiduous and careful use of Search Engine Optimization techniques. The second is quality writing. I never sacrifice the style, depth of subject matter or integrity of pages, just to insert keyword phrases. While following these rules is often difficult and time-consuming, it is worth the effort.
Define SEO
In the blog, Nieman Labs, Nikki Usher aims to define SEO: "Journalism has always depended on having an audience to consume its work and has spent much of the past century trying to figure out exactly what that audience wants to know. Now, journalists have better tools than ever to figure out who their audiences are, learn what they want, and in real time, track their behaviors in order to be more responsive to their needs.
"This...turns journalism away from the elitism of writing for itself and back to writing what people are actually looking for. If used properly, SEO and audience tracking make newsrooms more accountable to their readers without dictating bad content decisions; and it can help newsrooms focus on reader needs. What is a story if it is never read? SEO won't kill journalism; it will only enhance how we find and use news."
Focused Webpages
Contemporary Art Dialogue provides a high-traffic venue for artists and art supporters to read about art. The setting is focused articles/web pages, each based upon a carefully selected keyword phrase (in the url, title, page description and within the page).
The pages feature artists, contemporary art trends and projects, and include art images illustrating the topics and the artists' works. The pages, on topics that have high demand (lots of people searching for a specific term using popular search engines) and low supply (few websites addressing the topic), fill the need to supply high quality journalism (content) on those topics. This model - based on define SEO principles - delivers high quality web pages on select topics that are in demand and under served.
Artists benefit by exposure of their works and by the opportunity to express their opinions/philosophies about art and life. Visitors benefit by finding quality content that precisely matches their search terms. Search engines benefit by accurately delivering to users the information they are seeking.
First Page of Search Results
Contemporary Art Dialogue is on the first or second page of search results for several keyword phrases. Google each of the following six phrases: you will easily find the page published by contemporary-art-dialogue.com.
- "artist name list"
- "contemporary art trends"
- "definition of contemporary art"
- "mark chamberlain"
- "pat sparkuhl"
- "postmodern art"
Our "Artist Name List" page is number 5 on Google, right after www.getty.edu. Our "Mark Chamberlain" page is number 1 or 2 on Google.
To define SEO is to define a new writing paradigm: a Friendly Collision of Old and New Writing Tools.
Please check out SEO Journalism Services explaining how I work with artists and gallerists to help them get Internet exposure.
