Blogging Glossary: Important Blog Terms You Should Know
WriteCollective
These days, it seems like everybody is blogging. There are over 600 million active blogs, with millions more being added every month. If you are ready to get in on this wildly popular trend and use it to grow your brand, you will need to know the lingo. With that in mind, we have compiled a list of nine important blog terms you should know:
1. CMS
A content management system (CMS) is the software that you will use to create, publish, and maintain your blog. In other words, it is the platform you choose to take your blog into the online arena.
One of the best-known and most commonly used CMS platforms is WordPress, namely because it is a free tool that makes it easy for users to create and manage a blog thanks to templates, themes, and more.
Squarespace, Tumblr, Weebly, and countless other competitors also offer a variety of tools and levels of usability for bloggers looking to add an online component to their businesses.
2. Meta Description
You know that short snippet of text that appears below the blue link on a search engine results page? That is a meta description.
Meta descriptions give readers a brief preview of what sort of content is on a web page. Adding meta descriptions to every blog will help attract more readers and may even improve your rankings.
3. SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) involves taking steps that help your website be found, both by search bots and search engine users. When done properly, it can increase page rank (or placement for relevant search queries), visibility, and traffic.
SEO is a complex undertaking that could involve content curation, keyword analysis, tagging, garnering quality links (preferably in a strategically organic manner), and so on. Since SEO has a pretty steep learning curve, you’ll probably want some help to begin optimizing your blog.
4. Keywords
Keywords are popular terms and phrases that users are searching for and that bloggers can add to their content to make their posts easier to find. As a blogger, you’ll need to use tools that help you find trending keywords, which are keywords that users are searching for the most.
The trick is to make sure that the keywords you select for your content are relevant to your topic, your blog, your industry, and your readership. If you get caught keyword stuffing (cramming irrelevant terms into content to get noticed), Google will penalize your ranking.
5. Tags
You can make your content easier to find by using tags to assign it to certain categories. Meta tags, for example, pertain to titles, descriptions, and keywords that give search engines the data needed to properly categorize your content for search purposes.
Tags are not visible to viewers, as they are embedded in the HTML code. This means you can use them even if you don’t necessarily have written content. If, for example, you post graphics or videos, you can still utilize tags to make your content searchable.
6. Geotargeting
Many businesses want to cater to local consumers, whether they’re posting new products or publishing blogs. Geotargeting involves using keywords and tags designed to appeal to search engine users who are seeking location-specific content.
You can also create content that caters to different areas. One way to do this with keywords is simply to add the name of a place to your keyword. For example, instead of using the keyword “hockey equipment” you might write “NYC hockey equipment.”
7. White Space
The concept of white space is not exclusive to blogging. In fact, it is used in publishing, marketing, layout and design, and other fields. It has to do with the density of text.
When your blog posts consist of dense blocks of text with few breaks, or white space, you run the risk of exceeding the short attention spans of much of your online audience. It is imperative that you are aware of white space and use it appropriately when creating your blog.
8. Algorithm
Google and other search engines have created formulas, or algorithms, that allow their search bots to find, categorize, and rank web pages. While their algorithms are closely guarded secrets, it is widely understood that the use of tags, keywords, specific content, and links all play an integral role in how websites and blogs are ranked.
9. Analytics
The web is a virtual treasure trove of data, and with the proper analytical tools, bloggers have the ability to track users and analyze their habits. You have a wide variety of analytics tools at your disposal; you can use them to follow the pathways that lead users to your site, learn which pages they viewed and how long they perused your content, or see what they shared via social media.
Google Analytics is the go-to analytics solution for most bloggers, but other options are available.
Beyond Blog Terms You Should Know: What Is Blogging All About?
Above all else, blogging is about providing readers with well-written, informative material that aligns with their search intent. Additionally, blogging helps you climb the rankings on top search engines like Google so that your site is easier to find. Regularly posting quality blog content also plays a role in generating leads and acquiring new clients.
Up Your Blogging Game with Content Creation Services
Getting familiar with the terms in our glossary will help you start your journey as a blogger. But if you want to make sure your content gets you noticed, you should outsource blog writing to Write Collective. Our article writing services help businesses in any niche build out captivating, engaging content.
If you would like to explore our blog content writing services, check out our marketing packages. We will match you with a writer who understands the nuances of your industry so they can craft high-quality, impactful materials for your brand.