**What The Hell Is A Blog Anyway?

The word 'blog' is a shortened version of 'web blog'. A 'web log' just means a log or diary-type entry on web. So if you were away travelling on a round world trip you might post a diary on a website so your friends and family could keep up to date with your progress. On this online diary, or 'web blog' you might also post photos for your friends and family to view.

And so - BLOG was born. And it's really nothing more than that - a collection of thoughts and information from one individual to be read and seen by others.

**So What Makes A Blog Different To A Website?

A blog is more immediate and informal. A blog doesn't have a homepage as such - it just has blog entries or 'posts'. The author or 'blogger' makes regular posts into blog that are archived as new ones are added.

The main difference between a website and a blog is that a blog is designed to be added to much more frequently than a website. Some blogs are added to by their authors once a day or more! But it has to be said that such bloggers are in minority.

**Is Blogging For You?

Well, it provides you with a unique opportunity to keep in close contact with a specific group of people. The CEO of a company may choose to launch a blog to keep in touch with staff members and shareholders. As a business-owner you might want to start a blog to let your customers or suppliers know what is happening in your business.

Blogs are not for everyone, so here's a few key questions to ask yourself.

** Question 1

Do you want to keep in close contact, on a one-to-one basis with a specific group of individuals?

** Question 2

Which is more important? Onpage optimization or Offpage optimization? If you are serious about getting your website to top of search engines, you MUST know answer to this question...

Quick Review

Onpage search engine optimization are things that you can change ON your webpage.

* Title tag * Header tags * Bolding, Italicizing, Underlining * Alt image tags * Meta Tags * Etc.

Offpage search engine optimization comes down to basically 1 thing, which websites are linking to your wesbite and how they're doing it.

* Anchor text uses in your link * The title of page your link is on * The page rank of page your link is on * The "theme" of website your link is on * Etc.

By now, I'm hoping you see that it's offpage search engine optimization factors that will get your website to top of search engines. Again, onpage factors are things you SHOULD do, but are not nearly as important as offpage factors.

Ok... Let me show you why.

Let's analyze a website!

In this example I'm going to analyze #1 ranked website on Google for search term "click here".

First, let's go to Google and enter "click here".

You'll notice that #1 ranked website is www.adobe.com. That's interesting...

Now, why would adobe.com rank #1 for that search term? I would think adobe.com would rank well for terms like:

* graphic design programs * create printable documents * web design programs * and other keywords related to what they sell...

A few things that you should notice by looking at picture above.

1. The word "click here" isn't in page title 2. The word "click here" isn't in URL of website. 3. The word "click here" isn't even in description listed by Google!

Now, let's click on listing in Google and check out actual webpage.

Now, get this... The words "click here" aren't even on webpage, anywhere!

If all of those onpage optimization techniques that many SEO companies talk about were true, then don't you think a different website would rank #1 for this term?

Onpage optimization factors like:

* keyword density * keyword prominence * keyword proximity * bolding, italicizing, underlining * etc.

are NOT critical to worry about when trying to rank well for a search term.

Yes, you should spinkle your keyword throughout webpage and do other onpage optimization techniques I've taught you in previous lessons, but again, I really want to drill this into your head. It is offpage optimization that will increase your rankings in search engines; specifically Google, Yahoo, and MSN.