Using Google's new Hummingbird Search Engine to boost your SEO power in minutes for authors and illustrators

Using Google Hummingbird SEO strategies for your site, project, or blog in minutes

 

How does Google Hummingbird apply to authors and illustrators?

Since a few things Mira of The Craft and Business of Writing Children's Books said in her class last week stuck with me on inquiry letters, I really see how being active on blogs and groups has ushered in a user-centric handle on success. Basically, by saying you will network, build SEO, and use social media on anything you work on can make or break you getting a job over a more socially active applicant. Let's face it, its something that's crucial within the last few years and lets all just start now- so when we need it, its there.
I was not EXPECTING it as I just started my blog again, but I had 2 authors from my homestate contact me so I am beyond tickled! I am now doing a book on one of my favorite subjects from home- and wow!!

 One minute to using Google Hummingbird

Isn't SEO just for tech people and market gurus? No, its a form of marketing yourself, your site, your blog, or your project.

I can't code or do HTML, is using Google Hummingbird or SEO tactics too hard for me?

One minute to SEO

Not at all. Let me show you. Can we all add our blog links to the comments section?
Congratulations! 
You just helped your blog in SEO (Search Engine Optimized) by having blog-to-blog links in 30 seconds (they are rated by Google Analytics and being linked from a higher rated blog will help your rank even more).
Let's do it again.  
We can join one another in helping peers with another quick 30 seconds: if someone visits your blog or site from a comment's link, that's called a backlink. Be sure to leave over 30 words as a comment so its not considered spam.
Tada! In under ONE MINUTE, you just supplied your blog with two forms of SEO, that is registered different than just basic links given out or clicked on from a Google search.

What exactly is Google Hummingbird?

Google uses all the different types of web activity to rate your blog, article, or website when it considers how high to rank you when someone (a potential client or customer) types your name or a keyword (which can be a phrase like Children's book on Ballet) in its search engine, the main Google page. When someone "just Google's it" you want your name, project, or site to come up on the first page, the higher the better. That can only be achieved and maintained by optimization for the search engine.
Since 2010, Google has had several updates on how to boost SEO, like Panda or Penguin, but they were only updates to a decade old engine built on needs of 10 years ago. Google Hummingbird is a revamp of the entire formula for 2014. So the timing is perfect to start a blog or site focused on your writing or illustration as now instead of weeding out what they do not want to see, the new Google Hummingbird algorithm is an overhaul based on user experience. Since search queries are 90% of all searches, you can boost the success of your site or project using a few simple tactics geared towards user content.

What SEO strategies can I use to get a higher search rank in the new Google Hummingbird engine?

Google's new Hummingbird search engine has a few guidelines to help SEO (how a search engine brings up your name/blog)

• blog 2x a week, one is good but two keeps activity up. Try to do it the same days of the week.
• its not about just fluff or non-related issues, have relevant content that's useful.
•  inbound links (other blogs or social media linking TO you)
• outbound links (you adding links in your text, not just to the static side)
• conversational tones (IE more forgiving with typos and not so Wikipedia but more "just talking casually" while providing information and be a resource, Google says conversational queries/searches will have a bigger role.
• its a good time to get on Google+ as activity will register when you blog or update, as it does there also. Use the Hangouts, Mark Mitchell does a wonderful job of providing relevant and varied resources for any author or illustrator, especially in the children's and YA market with live Google Hangouts and webinars
• there is no time like now to share an expertise, solve a user's problem, or provide fresh content

I am trying to take one hour (once or twice a week) just to talk on successful strategies in the children's book market and one hour on other topics, if only to talk about projects, classes, critiques, or experiences as I build my art as my brand, as I am finally doing what I love and cannot ever see doing anything else.
If anyone needs comments, visits, or Pinterest links from theirs, let me know as we all can support one another in this passion we have!
Please leave any comments, inquiries, or suggestions on future topics below and thank you!
by Dyann Joyce

Dyann Joyce : Writing Adventures of a Children's Book Author Illustrator 

Navigation through the world of Children's Book Publishing. This writing blog focuses on the writing aspect of Picture Books (PB), Chapter Books (CB), Middle Grade (MG), New Adult (NA) and Young Adult (YA) books and offers tips, insight, querying help, social media help, tax and business side, and advice as one author illustrator makes her way (as she waits for art projects to come to fruition while having queries out). Welcome and enjoy!

For more focus on the art side of Children's Books, fee free to visit my visual Children's Book art portfolio is Dyann Joyce Adventures of a Illustrator Author and my project-based blog is there with my current art projects and upcoming books I have illustrated.