Improve Your Google Rankings in One Easy Step

Posted: Friday, January 9th, 2009 | Author: David

seo your website Having a top rank in Google is the holy grail for anyone who has a website. Organic Google traffic is free advertising and how most bloggers (especially those just starting out) achieve visitors and traffic to their site. It all comes down to a simple numbers game. Essentially, more traffic = more money-making opportunities from your blog. The question is, how do you get ranked higher for my blog posts using Blogger?

Before I tell you how, let me give you a quick lesson is search engine optimization (aka SEO). There are two main components: “off-page” and “on-page” optimization. “Off-page” SEO refers to tactics such as link building. The more websites that point their links to your blog/website, the better. It’s a democratic way of showing Google that your site must be important if lots of people are pointing to it. Even more important with “off-page” inbound links is the actual link text (anchor text) that is used to point to your site.

Here’s my proof. If you search Google for the term “click here” you’ll see that Adobe Reader and Apple’s Quicktime software are in the top 3 results. Why? Because so many other sites are linking to these two sites with “click here” as the anchor text to download their software. That’s the power of “off-page” SEO which you as a blogger can’t do much about besides writing such great unique content that generates lots of links.

So with “on-page” SEO you have complete control over how well you’re optimized for Google. This includes keywords in your post titles, title tags, using header tags (h1, h2) and other tactics. Now the one we’re going to focus on in this article is the blog title tag.

Title tags are one of the most (if not the most) important “on-page” elements to ranking high in Google. Search engines such as Google weigh the importance of each word in the title from left to right. So ideally you want your blog post title all the way to the left and your actual blog name to the right. Below is a perfect example of how this should look. You can also check out our Premium Revolution Template which is currently using this technique as well.

blogger seo title

Blogger templates by default don’t come with search engine optimized (SEO) title tags meaning you aren’t maximizing your blog to rank better in Google. If you take a look at your existing Blogger title you’ll see that blogger displays the blog name first then followed by your post title. They have it backwards so let’s get your blog setup properly.

We’re going to have to make a quick edit to your Blogger template which might intimidate some of you but it’s very small and painless. All I ask you to do first is to backup your template just in case you make a boo boo. That makes it easy to revert back without much headache.

Step #1

In your Blogger dashboard, go to “Layout” => “Edit HTML”.

Step #2

In the template code, do a search for this: <title><data:blog.pageTitle/></title>. It’s usually in the first 5-10 lines of code in your template near the top.

Step #3

Replace that bit of code with the following code:
<b:if cond='data:blog.pageType == "index"'> <title><data:blog.title/></title> <b:else/> <title><data:blog.pageName/> | <data:blog.title/></title> </b:if>

Step #4

Save your template and go back to your blog. Click into any individual post and look at the page title.

All your blogger posts are now much better optimized to rank higher in Google. I’m not going to promise you a night and day difference but you’ve taken a step in the right direction. Now just go post unique high quality content so people searching Google will find your blog first!

Ready to super charge your blog? Check out our professional premium blogger templates or make money by joining our blog affiliate program!

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526 Responses to “Improve Your Google Rankings in One Easy Step”

free poker training videos on May 22, 2009, 5:55 am

I’ve tried again this time for this site Poker Blog but I’m still having the same issue.

When you say you take away the & there are 4 of them, which ones do you mean? the very first and very last? the two in the middle?

CNC OTOMAT on May 24, 2009, 2:33 am

Thanks

Cascia on May 24, 2009, 6:39 pm

Please help! I’m getting this error message. TEMPLATE ERROR: Unknown runtime binding: else in widget TEMPLATE ERROR: LHS of numeric is null before 26 in data:blog.pageType == item

What does this mean and how do I fix it?

Watin on May 24, 2009, 9:42 pm

Nice, and thanks

Free Blog Directory on May 25, 2009, 9:54 pm

Nice tips it would be defiantly help us to rank better in search engines thanks for sharing

Dan on May 26, 2009, 4:48 pm

Did not work, got the following message:

We were unable to save your template
Please correct the error below, and submit your template again.

Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.

XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.

Watin on May 26, 2009, 9:00 pm

Nice David, just try it and waiting for positive result.

Tara on May 27, 2009, 9:48 am

Very nice 🙂 am really starting to like ur site..damn helpful

BhojpuriChannel on Jun 1, 2009, 11:08 pm

i am getting this error
“Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.”

i tried t rectify it by closing cond entity with “” but still it’s not working.
need help

http://bhojpurichannel.blogspot.com

Shabu Anower on Jun 3, 2009, 12:10 am

Helpful tips. In my opinion, every site needs backlinks to gain higher search engine ranking.

theporn on Jun 5, 2009, 1:07 pm

Helpful tips. In my opinion, every site needs backlinks to gain higher search engine ranking.

New@MacTimes on Jun 5, 2009, 9:42 pm

I just set this up on my site and I can’t wait to see the results.

Awesome tip.

Lucian on Jun 7, 2009, 3:28 am

Hi David,

I tried to use your code but I couldn’t get it to work. I am getting the following error:

Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure that all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.

Now I am quite the begginer with html and all this but if you could tell me what am I doing wrong I would be greatful.

Cheers

Dan on Jun 7, 2009, 4:47 am

This worked! Thanks!

Abraham on Jun 7, 2009, 11:47 pm

Thanks for the tip…Its really amazing…can’t wait for the results.

Lucian on Jun 8, 2009, 12:00 am

I forgot to mention I am using blogger with a preset template. I would appreciate any advice on the matter.

Cheers

Bryan Hee on Jun 8, 2009, 9:08 am

I’m not 100% agreed with the statement saying that more traffic = more money.

In my opinion, targeted traffic is important and you need to provide valuable and constructive contents to your visitors.

You need consistently follow up with your visitor through email marketing and build the trust and relationship with them.

Otherwise they will leave your blog/website without buying anything from you.

To Your Success
Bryan Hee

Triplanz on Jun 8, 2009, 9:24 am

I am receiving the same error message that Lucian reported. Any suggestions?

shabnamsultan on Jun 9, 2009, 3:28 am

I am getting this error while pasting the code,

I am getting the following error:

Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure that all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute â��{1}â�� associated with an element type â��condâ��.

Please, help.

Jo-Ann (Canada) on Jun 10, 2009, 1:33 pm

I am having the same issue as above.

We were unable to save your template
Please correct the error below, and submit your template again.
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.

poeshoe on Jun 11, 2009, 7:38 pm

Please correct the error below, and submit your template again.
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute â??{1}â?? associated with an element type â??condâ??.

why………….???????????????????

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

yardarian on Jun 12, 2009, 9:36 am

is this work on wordpress blog?

yardarian.mybrute.com

Anne on Jun 13, 2009, 3:25 am

Thanks David. I hv changed my html code. I hope to see some magic from here 😉

rich01 on Jun 13, 2009, 7:30 am

There’s a way to amend this error for preset templates. Follow steps 1 and 2, but instead, in step 3, replace with this code:
<title><data:blog.pageName/> | <data:blog.title/></title>
It works for me at my blog (http://poweryourlifenow.blogspot.com/2009/06/welcome.html), hope it works for you all!

ricojake on Jun 13, 2009, 1:47 pm

does anyone knows here how to add the meta tag description in this code:

..and pls share code..

Elma Krom on Jun 13, 2009, 11:58 pm

thank you very much, very happenes

shabnamsultan on Jun 14, 2009, 11:32 pm

Thanks, rich01 for your code on preset template.
Now waiting for the results.

tvoops on Jun 15, 2009, 10:33 pm

Get the same results as Lucian…XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.

but I googled some code that will work for me.

rich on Jun 15, 2009, 10:48 pm

does it work for you all?
but the only bad thing about this is that at the home page, there will be | appearing before your blog title at the title description part.

Danny on Jun 16, 2009, 1:11 pm

Thanks rich01 yours worked very well

Doni Afrizal on Jun 16, 2009, 10:03 pm

thanks, it works for me

agentmango on Jun 17, 2009, 5:59 am

i’ve just put this on my blogger blog right now..thanks!

Owais Ahmed on Jun 18, 2009, 10:04 am

In my opinion, targeted traffic is important and you need to provide valuable and constructive contents to your visitors.

You need consistently follow up with your visitor through email marketing and build the trust and relationship with them.

To your success..
Owais Ahmed!

Sheila on Jun 18, 2009, 3:09 pm

@rich01- I tried your code and it worked the other one did not. So what I don’t understand is, why is the person with this blog, his code does not work, yet blogger with comment, gives a code that does work?…hhhhmmm

meeting on Jun 21, 2009, 6:10 am

Thanks you very much:)

Theme Styler on Jun 21, 2009, 7:41 pm

just edited my template… but all my post titles have “free” as the first word, does this affect my SEO? or do i have to remove all “free” words?

Dibola on Jun 23, 2009, 10:28 am

It works!

porno film izle on Jun 25, 2009, 10:03 am

güle güle sevıyorum seni 😀

cgpandey on Jun 26, 2009, 6:06 am

Thanks man……it’s a great help.

Yash Mandhyan on Jun 26, 2009, 7:35 am

Thanks for this tip
Looking more from u like this 🙂

tkrysak on Jun 29, 2009, 9:27 am

This is a great tip, my daily visits have doubled since making the change.
Many, many thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amanda Record on Jun 30, 2009, 3:28 pm

Thanks for this! The code worked like a charm for me.

Eve on Jul 1, 2009, 5:19 am

Thanks, works well (the second version).

UD on Jul 3, 2009, 5:23 am

Cool tip dear, thank you for sharing it.
I recently used this tip, and can’t wait to see the results.
http://carbooze.blogspot.com/

dkman1np on Jul 3, 2009, 5:56 am

I used it and hope it works!
http://hellobirgunj.blogspot.com/

Prime Optimizer on Jul 5, 2009, 9:45 am

Umm…the code is like a mysterious power!

Luckyjo on Jul 8, 2009, 12:53 pm

Thank you for your awesome tip…

Red1991Dragon on Jul 8, 2009, 1:31 pm

Please correct the error below, and submit your template again.
Your template could not be parsed as it is not well-formed. Please make sure all XML elements are closed properly.
XML error message: Open quote is expected for attribute “{1}” associated with an element type “cond”.
________________________
what is that???

iKe on Jul 9, 2009, 1:59 am

make i like this (where you see &quot and &apos it is actually replaceable by ” and ‘):

Growing Strawberries Tips on Jul 9, 2009, 7:48 am

cool man..it’s work on my site….
big thanks david
Cheers,
growing strawberries tips