CUSTOM
Category Pages For SEO
POWER
This is a test I've wanted to make for a while
Credit where due...
I got this idea from a guy named Jay aka 'the lazy ass stoner' (his online brand name).
Jay said that WordPress custom category pages have great SEO power if used properly.
Jay's point was to create a really good article (1500 or so words) for your category page rather than just have the typical archive of posts that appear within the typical WordPress category archive.
The premium themes I use from Thrive allow me to create my own custom Category pages ...meaning I make them look exactly as I want and have the SEO power that having internal posts pointing to your 'category' page gives you.
I didn't know this when I started this blog.
So I've used this technique a few times with great Google ranking results...
True, not the hardest keyword to rank for but the reached #1 pretty much immediately following the WA ranking approach discussed here...
But what about using it on my old content for a really hard keyword...
Basically can I rank for the keyword "Wealthy Affiliate Review" by changing my current Wealthy Affiliate Review page into a review category page with much of my WA related content linking to it.
Here's the before view...
I know this is a really dull picture but it shows how truly crazy this goal is...
Let me be clear I don't expect to ever reach page #1 on Google for the keyword "Wealthy Affiliate Review" let alone the coveted #1 spot itself.
Basically there are 24 pages of "Wealthy Affiliate Review" posts that are ALL highly relevant, and my review isn't amongst them!
So I did the following:-
- I Changed the name of an existing Category Page from Wealthy Affiliate to "Wealthy Affiliate Review"
- On my Category Edit Screen I told WordPress not to use a category archive but instead to point to a page of my choosing.
NOTE: Turns out doing this in most WordPress themes isn't easy. I found an article that discusses it and suggests a free wordpress plugin. The article is here.... and the plugin (Free) is here...
So the outcome....
Drum role...
Prepare for anti-climax...
So another dull picture!
But my page is now on Page 9 of Googles results. Small yay!
I wonder if as I add more content into the category this ranking will rise?
If it does what value would you put on this information?
How much could it be worth to you if you could rank on the 1st page of Google just by structuring your key content in this way?
Personally, I'm going to use this technique whenever I can accommodate it practically into my site.
We'll see with time if I can improve my Google rank for the term Wealthy Affiliate Review.
I'm not prioritizing this but it'll be an interesting watch...
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Any questions? ... please fire away in the comments below 🙂
