8 tips shared from my presentation on SEO for newsrooms at the Maynard Institute multimedia editing. GateHouse\'s Jean Hodges developed these tips in 2008.
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GATEHOUSE MEDIA NEWS & INTERACTIVE DIVISION
8 keys to being on top of searches
1. Focus on your headlines, leads, photo titles and
cutlines.
2. Be specific. Use first and last names, town
names, organization names.
3. Use keywords: Anticipate the search.
4. Don’t be punny, clever.
5. Be clear, concise.
6. Spell out words (Senator, not Sen.)
7. Choose relevant, useful links.
8. Build pages to sort topical content.
ONLINE TOOLS TO USE
• Check keywords (but not exactly the same as
Google): viewer.opencalais.com
• Check Google autocomplete: Use a normal Google
search, but stop in the middle of your keyword or
phrase, to see what people are searching for.
• Google Trends: Measures news, blogs, Twitter,
Facebook, Google Buzz: http://google.com/trends
• Check search terms: http://google.com/trends
• Google Insights: Search by region, over time
http://www.google.com/insights/search/#
• GateHouse SEO blog: Best practices and more
http://www.ghnewsroom.com/blogs/seo-analytics
• SEOmoz blog: http://www.seomoz.org/blog
• Beginners Guide to SEO:
http://guides.seomoz.org/beginners-guide-to-
search-engine-optimization#1#1
STAY CONNECTED Twitter: david_arkin • Blog: www.ghnewsroom.com/blogs/david-arkin • Email: darkin@gatehousemedia.com