Don’t get scared. Metadata may look like a scary, confusing, and complicated word but it really isn’t. Simply put metadata, according to Dictionary.com is “the information that you use to describe and define other data.”
So, for example, if you publish a blog post the metadata surrounding that post is the title, the images used, how many words the post contains, the tagline, the keywords, the description, quotes, sales points, reviews, promotional posts and so forth are all metadata.
Even what you can do to promote that post is metadata that is important to know. How people can find the post is metadata, for example, the category the post is in helps people find it but is also metadata.
Using all the metadata surrounding each piece of work will make a big difference in how many eyes get on the work. There are some important factors to consider about metadata to ensure its effectiveness to make it work for you.
- Ensure Accuracy – If the metadata is wrong, it won’t work. For example, if you write a book and the book blurb is not accurate or worded in a way that helps the person looking at it choose it, then it won’t work. The metadata must be accurate to bring in the right audience. It doesn’t matter if it’s a tag line, a review, or a press release. It needs to be well-drafted and correct.
- Use More Metadata – Once you’ve got the accurate metadata focus on finding more metadata to add. If you don’t, you may not be discovered. It’s important to include all the metadata whether it’s keywords attached with Yoast or ensuring the alt tags are included on all images because none of this should be skipped if you want to be found.
- Focus on Quality Over Quantity – This really should not have to be said but just in case let’s say it together, “quality of metadata is more important than how much you have.” Yes, you want all the metadata you can find included for all the work you do so that it can be found, but it needs to be high quality and correct.
- Metadata Is Part of SEO – Most metadata are really part of SEO. The more you can learn about SEO the better you’ll do at promoting your work online. You don’t have to get a master’s degree in SEO to succeed either. You just need to understand how it works so that you can see how metadata helps get views.
The more you market your work online, the more you’ll naturally learn about how metadata works to help you promote your work even while you sleep. The metadata is working 24/7 to bring visitors to your website and your online information so that your audience can find your work consume it, buy it, and share it.
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