12 Tips for Better WordPress Content Creation, presented by Peter DeHaan at Grand Rapids WordCamp 2014 (August 16, 2014)

1. 12 Tips For Better
WordPress Content Creation
By Peter DeHaan
AuthorPeterDeHaan.com

2. About Peter DeHaan
 Published writer
 Passionate blogger
 Magazine and newsletter publisher
 Information website producer
 WordPress fan

3. 12 Tips For Better
WordPress Content Creation

4. 1) Focus Your Content
 Determine a content theme or vision to guide
your posts
 Stick with that theme or vision
 Make sure you have plenty of ideas at the
start; if not widen your focus

5. 2) Maintain an Idea List
 Always be looking for post ideas and topics
 Pick evergreen topics
– What topics will be applicable in months and
years to come?
– Avoid current events: news, sports, politics

6. 3) Invest in the Title
 Don’t make the title an afterthought
 SEO friendly
 Tweak the title for the permalink
 Effective forms:
– Ask a question
– Provide a solution
– “How to…”
– State a number: “X Tips to…”

7. 4) Consider Category and Tags
 Category
 Tags
 General Tips

8. 5) Make it Easy to Scan
 Bullets
 Numbered lists
 Subheadings
 Bold
 Avoid underline or italic

9. 6) Limit One Point per Post
 This doesn’t mean you can’t have sub-points;
just make sure they support your main point.
 What is the purpose of the post?
 What is the key idea you want to convey?
 Write with that one idea in mind, from start to
finish, including the title

10. 7) Make the Right Length
 At least 200 words
 200 to 350 is ideal for most readers
 500 words maximum (except for special
cases or unique blogs)

11. 8) Remember SEO
 Title (up to 60 characters; can be different
from post title)
 Description: use to entice readers of search
results to check your post
 Keywords: don’t spent a lot time there (30 to
60 seconds)
 I use “All in One SEO,” but there are other
equally good SEO plugins

12. 9) Engage Readers
 Ask for comments
 Respond to comments
 Have a schedule
 Seed commenters to get started
 Allow them to subscribe or use an RSS feed
 Make it easy for them to add comments

13. 10) Consider Pictures & Graphics
 Select relevant pictures or graphics
 Either license, attribute, or avoid
 Consider using your own pictures or graphics

14. 11) Add Links
 Link to past posts
 Link from older posts
 Minimize off-site links

15. 12) Proof then Publish
 Avoid being in a rush
 Avoid perfection paralysis
 Consider scheduling posts
 Posts versus Pages

16. Thank You!
Q & A
peter@peterdehaan.com
authorpeterdehaan.com