Brands, Labels, and Catch-phrases

I found this thing called Webmaster Tools at the bottom of my blogger dashboard a while ago. I'm certainly no master, but perhaps I can learn...

I signed up (easy), added my blog (likewise), and put the extra bit of code into the html (just followed directions). A week or so later the "query" field started to fill. People were actually finding my site. The problem is, they seemed to be looking for "what to do if you hear a fire alarm." Not quite what I intended.

A few weeks ago I added my new blogs - lots of nice scary stories for Halloween; my first three "what if: faith and science" Bible Studies; and my home page. The dashboard kept telling me "no information" for them, but I waited and hoped. Meanwhile I studied how to make Google look at my labels and list me more often.

Now my blog gets found by people looking for "Deeth" which is a slight improvement. And today I finally got some queries returning my Bible Studies. Unfortunately they were looking for "demon impregnation stories." Ouch! That might've looked better on the Halloween drabbles.

But then I remember, Google's just a computer program after all. If I label my post with "faith and science" but never use the phrase in the article, how's Google supposed to know it's not just words? And if I title my post "Bible Study" but don't mention study...

Okay; back to the drawing board. It's time to think of some useful labels and titles and phrases to match. Is that what they call "branding?"

I used to say I didn't want to brand myself - didn't want to be a square peg squished in a round hole. But now I'm trying to learn how to look square so that a program can see me. Ah, the irony. I'll let you know how it goes...

Comments

Malcolm R. Campbell said…
That "brand" is who we are, I think, even if it draws in some readers looking for who we are not. I haven't tried out that tools thing, but maybe I should.

Malcolm
October 29, 2009 at 9:45 AM
Anonymous said…
I am thinking people who are poor spellers are searching for "Death" and find you..haha
October 29, 2009 at 2:52 PM
Sheila Deeth said…
Perhaps I need to find a way to take advantage of that :)
October 29, 2009 at 4:56 PM
maryrussel said…
Let me know when you figure it out. I could use some help in generating traffic. :)
October 30, 2009 at 12:53 PM
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