E Commerce Blogging

[Yevgeny]

I have an E commerce site that I want to boost search rank for.  I had taken some else's advice and created a wp blog on a different url then created content around the products we offer and linked back to the main site using the specific keyword in anchor text.

I just joined seomoz earlier this month.   It seems like the main consensus here as far to install the blog in the domain.com/blog  and I just did that.  So now when I create content for that blog should I just link back to the specific categories and or products then? Should I be aware of duplicate content issues? So if the product is widgets and I am talking about widgets in the blog, or blog title, could they be competing or helping the main URL?

[EGOL]

**It seems like the main consensus here as far to install the blog in the domain.com/blog  and I just did that.  **

Nice!

So now when I create content for that blog should I just link back to the specific categories and or products then?

If you blog about a product or a category of products it is appropriate to link straight to them.

However, instead of worrying about where you are linking, I think it would be a better idea to put as much effort as possible into creating content that will be shared, remembered and subscribed to.

Share = inspire others to tweet, like, email, link

Remember = bookmarks that will be used

Subscribed to = rss and email subscriptions to your blog feed

Should I be aware of duplicate content issues?

Absolutely.

**So if the product is widgets and I am talking about widgets in the blog, or blog title, could they be competing or helping the main URL?  **

  BOTH

The links from your blog to the product page will give a very small amount of help.

However, it is not a sin to make a blog post that is so interesting, funny, or informative that it generates so much sharing that it competes with your product page.  I my opinion that makes you a huge success.  And... contrary to what some people say it is not a "problem".... the problem that you have in that situation is to then drive that traffic to your product page... or bring product purchasing opportunities directly to the content page.

[JaredBroker]

There are many routes you can take with your new blog to drive traffic.

One of the most cost and time effective strategies is to determine your most effective keywords.  These are ones that are driving traffic and sales to your site already.

If these phrases are low on the first page of results, or on the second page AND sending you leads, these are the phrases to target first in a blog post to get them higher in the search results.

The duplicate content will only happen if you copy exact product descriptions from the main part of the site onto the blog.  As for categories vs. products, it really depends on your top keywords and your goals.  If you are in a micro niche, it may be better to lean towards products.

Don't let these choices freeze you up, though.  Make related original content as you flesh out a plan and stay consistent!