What are the first steps you take with a new blog?
 

Say you have an exact keyword match domain for a highly searched set of terms (2), word_word.net.. and that competition low.

Is the best way to secure a position for your exact match terms a blog?

If so, what are the most important things to do before hand seo wise?

I've had some blogs that list almost immediately for their exact match terms, and others that have not.. Can't quite figure what causes it to list and what doesn't.

Thanks :thumbsup

Btw: the domain is wordword.net, no hyphens.. and I'm basically just looking to get listed for those terms. Of coarse, being listed for other terms would be welcome.

Bump. It should be interesting to hear opinions on this.

Blogs are cool, but if you expect good traffic and its a good keyword, I'd just build a regular site that can be easily monetized. In the end its easier and better.

Sell it and buy blogs that already rank with traffic

I try to make 3 or 4 posts that will update over the next week or two and add it to my list of sites spreadsheet. Add a few links to it from other sites and that's about it. Update every now and then when I run across appropriate content.

Ok..

Use the term in the meta title once, use the term in the meta description once.
Make posts that have the term in It's title but also 2-3 words more.
Use the term 2-3 times in each post (150 words).
Trade links, use the term as anchor but not only, do use similar words and related keywords too in the anchor.
Get 10 updates on It the first week and then focus more on getting links.

ta da

Why thankyou Nicky,

I'll put that to the test.

What is a good update schedule after the first week?

normally I sober up and think its a waste of time.

why?

This could be a really interesting thread

:1orglaugh
My new blogs usually consist of something I thought of in bed right before sleep the night before. "Shit, that's a great idea!" and then starring blankly at a new, empty Wordpress install.

I know there are quite a few people who have their "own" technique at targeting their main domain keywords. My experience in the past tends to side with blogs being able to get fairly quick positioning for atleast the keywords of the domain.

Not sure why, like I said it's spotty.. perhaps I'm imagining it and other factors are at play.

But it does seem like websites outside of blogger and wordpress take a bit longer to rank for those keywords, if at all. For me that is, and I am obviously far from an SEO expert.

Just wondering what people's first steps are in ensuring a sound foundation for their blog/site. Everyone has their own take on it. Certain plugins, code, text, etc.

Could be informative, could be a dud, you choose.

Also, from another thread of mine but relevant.. is Google really the most accurate way to determine monthly keyword searches? I know it should be because it's their operation, but some SEO buddies say results are a bit puffed up.

The very first thing I do with a blog is the "update services".