What is SEO and Why SEO is Important for Your Blog

What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?

Google is the beginning of this SEO. We search things in Google by typing what we want to search for. For example, when you google “What is SEO”, Google will return results and display it in pages. Some are websites, some are blogs and etc. So, you want your blog to be displayed in the first page of the search result whenever people google something related to what you have mentioned in your blog. In order to climb to the first page and in the top position, the skill required is called SEO, search engine optimization. The easier people could find you in google, the more exposure you have. It will be a boost no matter in traffic that may bring you more followers to follow your blog updates, increase ads revenue, and even authority in the specific field.

Internet marketing world is dominated by many SEO experts as well as the situation in Malaysia. In the recent years , especially in the year 2013, the internet marketing of Malaysia seemed to find the momentum to continue to grow and develop to become a lifestyle trend of its own for the blog owner ( blogger ), which is probably just limit to write an opinion blogging activity or outpouring of the heart .

Community blogger has now treading new phase where they realize the importance of search engine functions (search engine) which is the main source of traffic blogs that they've built. Various posts they make will surely get a lot of readers so if the work is pretty good position through a keyword search on a search engine.

From Blogger to Become SEO Expert

Awareness of the importance of the function of the bloggers for the popularity of search engines has made information on their personal blogs is then introduced the bloggers will be a discipline in the world of internet is popular with the term SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or search engine optimization techniques.

A variety of information about SEO finally meet logarithm thinking mind and the bloggers. Various things about SEO from A to Z provoke bloggers’ ' hunger ' and desperado on SEO.

Enough about theories. What is the next step? The answer of course, practices!

Practicing one theory after theory that they understand SEO into writing for their paper to be made on a personal blog is important to me - trial error an SEO concept. Since it is not a secret anymore for the SEO experts that once did, every SEO experts will have a different experience when implementing an SEO concept.

In order to improve themselves, they will forge solidity SEO concepts that they understand. It is quite important for the blogger while venturing in the world of SEO competition. World competition will force bloggers to quickly able to read a map strength SEO concept by themselves and their competitors. Furthermore they can immediately develop and implement more optimal SEO strategies.

SEO strategy is a factor in the real world advantage an SEO expert. By having a strategy that has been proven through various experiences and SEO practices, a blogger will automatically transform into an SEO expert who will enliven the world of internet marketing Malaysia.

How Blogger Makes Money?

Like what’s in your mind, advertisement like Google Adsense and etc. Oh, that’s not the end. If a professional blogger just depend on the pay from Adsense, they will surely die of starvation. Yes, there are many success stories about generating great income from Adsense but remember it is not easy. And like what Warren Buffet says in earnings, “Never depend on a single income”. What if your profitable and the only source of income, the Adsense couldn’t meet your expectation like usual?

The major income: Articles, review and so on…

I have a few friends which are full time bloggers (blogging for living). Their blogs have great value in specific markets like travelling, gadgets, food and etc. About 30% of their articles were paid articles. Still not having the complete idea, huh? It means they are paid to write those articles like introduction, reviews, ratings and so on.

Why on earth they are paid to write those articles? Ok, let’s have an example, Sam wanted to be a blogger. First, Sam started a blog which posting articles related to a specific market – in this scenario, IT gadgets like smartphones and tablets PC. He regularly posting new articles for all those interesting stuffs related to gadgets. After sometime, he has gathered a number of fans or readers that are interested in his blog. If one who googled “IT Gadget” or related keywords in Google, Sam’s blog could be easily found in the first page of the search result.

Phone vendors, or region distributors or marketing firms see value in Sam’s blog. If Sam could have written an article about their new product, it will outspread as word of mouth. So, they contacted Sam and hope he will write an article regarding their new launched phone. Sam would be paid according to the number of words in the article. It depends on how both of the parties deal. Some bloggers have their standard of quotation, for example RM1 for one word with at least a thousand words in the article then it would be RM1000. This is not the end of the story yet.

The Bigger One: Real Live Events Participation

The numbers of readers which follow Sam’s blog continue to grow larger since some phone vendors or those within the gadget network has given priority to Sam about the latest information which the public seldom aware of. Sam’s authority increased very much and phone vendors even invite Sam to their events which include transportation, accommodation and of course attractive allowance per daily basis. Don't forget, the allowance does not include the pay for the article.

This is not a dream to get to this point. I know a fulltime blogger has been sponsored to fly to attend the Samsung Galaxy S4 Event in New York City. A blogger which write travelling articles was paid to stay in a 5 star hotel by the company for a week in Maldives just to produce an article review. There are lots more bloggers been pulled out to attend real live events such as being the judge of a certain contest and etc. Bloggers are paid to attend live events and writing articles regarding it. If they need to travel far to attend the event, acommodation and transportation is always been provided.

Conclusion, serious bloggers basically make money through
1. Online Advertisement - for example Adsense
2. Paid to write articles
3. Attend real live events

If in Taiwan, it is common to see bloggers attended TV shows and some even have contract with the TV station. Although is not so common in Malaysia, but still there are bloggers attended TV shows. Some are even judges of certain contests. It is hard to determine how much could a blogger earn, however to make a five figure income in RM is not a difficult task.

Final Advice Before Starting a Blog

Write niche blog that is focusing on something specific. Don’t mess your blog with all kinds of different topics because it will be hard to grow the number of followers to follow your blog. Have a vision as your direction so you can work out to achieve it. Be prepare and we will move on to How to setup a blog.