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Blog Optimization - Author Tag

SEO/SEM & Search – Web Presence Optimization

Andrea Berberich

http://seosemadvice.com

What are Author Tags?

In blended search results author photos appear next to search results

Google Plus (Google+)By connecting your Google+ account to your blog you qualify for your photo, and other links to appear in blended search results.

Benefits of Author Tags• Author Tags add authority

• Create more clickable space

• Attract the eye for great click through rate (CTR)

The following example shows a book author with 124 people following him in his Google+ circles, which may increase rankings.

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Why adding an Author Tag?

There are many reasons anybody who has a website and/or blog should add an Author Tag, here are a few to consider:

It improves SEO = Search Engine Optimization; i.e. Web Presence Optimization

Broadens company branding and/or personal branding

Enthusiasts will be able to find you i.e. Google+ 1s and will be able to follow you

Having an Author Tag (rel “author”) improve the look and feel of the search results within the search engines results page (SERP)

Author Tag can be part of the structured data (schema.org) that all search engines agree to adapt and accept

Broaden your companies and/or your personal “Digital Footprint”

Differentiate a real Author from a unreal Author (spammer)

Great explanation by Matt Cutts: http://www.searchenginejournal.com/what-is-the-future-of-the-relauthor-tag/64412/

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Creating a Google+ AccountSteps for linking a Google+ account to your company email

GmailIf you don’t have a Gmail account then create a free account. This will be your basic login for multiple Google Apps.

Google PlusOnce logged in with Gmail add the Google+ app by clicking on +You (your name) at the top left of the browser window.

Company Email AddressUse your company email and follow the instructions on the next page. This will create a Google Plus connection with your company domain. That’s all you need to do.

Note: You can have multiple email accounts associated with your Google+ account

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Examples of Google+ on SERPs

TechTargetA single TechTarget blog author ranks on 100’s of keywords because they have created articles for 100’s of topics.

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Searchenignewatch.comA single Searchenginewatch blog author ranks as high due to the Google+ account and lots of followers

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Sign in to Google Gmail

Sign in to your accountClick the +You link to setup Google+

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Create a Google+ Account

Step through the process to setup your Google+ profile

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Create a Google+ Account con’t

Step through the Add People process. Click Continue to skip this step.

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Create a Google+ Account con’t

Setup your profile and click Finish.

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Create a Google+ Account con’t

Click Continue to Google+. You decide what information to make Public.

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Adding the Author Tag

Follow Steps in Option 1 for linking a Google+ account to your email

Search Google for “Google authorship option 1”Click on the 1st result and scroll down the page and click on Option 1: Link your content to your Google+ profile using a verified email address.

Click the Authorship link as shownto add yourcompany@email.com, whileyou are still logged in to Google+

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Connect Email to your Google+ Account

Add your company email address and click Signup for Authorship. This will create a connection to our company blog.

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Validate the Google+ Account

Steps to validate linking of Google+ account is you check your email

You will see this message: An email has been sent to email-account@xxx.com.Please upload a profile photo with a recognizable headshot.

Check your email for the following email and click the Verify link.

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Check Your Digital Footprint

Your Google+ profile will appear in search results. Samples below show you how powerful this association

can be for your blog and/or your company Within a few days your Google+ profile will begin to appear next to all of your blog articles in search

results.

The Google+ profile can also be shown in your blog.

Google+ on search engine results page (SERP)

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Thank you!

http://seosemadvice.comAndrea Berberich