Site Promotion, Syndication and Hosting

David Stanton

University of Florida

Search Engine Optimization

• Write for humans
• Predict multiple entry points
• Acknowledge syndication-driven traffic
• Write for robots
• Front-load keywords (see Nielsen's "Passive Voice Is Redeemed For Web Headings")
• Validate with Google Trends

Exercise: Rewrite these headlines

• You have 5 minutes

Promoting your site

• Understand your target audience
• Be an active blogger
• Comment on other blogs
• Monitor traffic and adjust

Monitor traffic

• Site Meter
• Google Analytics
• Crazy Egg visualizations

• Look at traffic originations and viewed content

Hooking up your metrics

• A quick WordPress example for the Summer Journalism Institute
• Drop code at bottom of site to prevent loading delays
• Showing you underpants is tacky

Syndicate your blog

• Get on the blogroll | More Credible
• Allow easy bookmarking and sharing | ShareThis WP plugin or AddThis widget
• Register with niche sites like Technorati and Feedburner
• Be wary of growing a chicklet farm

• Offer useful information
• Differentiate yourself
• Offer multimedia or other progressive enhancements
• Audio Player WP plugin by 1pixelout
• Tutorial for HTML use by Mindy McAdams
• Deliver on audience expectations

Intro to Web hosting

• Domain registration
• Hosting provider

Shop based on needs

• Bundled servies make your life easier | Dreamhost decennial special
• Get more than you need
• Host multiple projets
• Offset costs by doing sidework