135 – Claim Google Authorship for your WordPress Site
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Claim Google Authorship for your WordPress Site
What is Google Authorship?
Google Authorship is a way where content creators can make a verified connection between their original content and their Google+ profiles. Plus, it adds your gravatar next to your search results.
How does it improve SEO?
When your content is linked to your profile, Google understands that it’s your content. If you have a lot of connections on social media sites, they see you as an authority. If your content gets a lot of likes / shares, Google assumes it’s valuable and in turn your site will be listed higher in search results.
Steps to Claim Your Authorship
1. Set up a Google+ Account
Once you have a Google+ account set up, go to the About Tab. Scroll down until you see the links area and add your website to the “Contributor to” section.
2. Add Your Google+ Profile to WordPress
In your WordPress dashboard, go to ‘Users’ then ‘Your Profile.’ Under the social area, you will see a place for your Google+ link. Paste in your link and save.
3. Validate Your Site
Once you have the above steps completed, head to http://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/richsnippets to validate that your feed is working properly. Enter your website address and click ‘Preview.’
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Thanks for this Dustin! Followed your instructions to the letter and everything is working great. Handy to have it all right there in the show notes. Thanks again!
Jul 7, 20136ftmama
When I design and build a site for a client should I be listed as a contributor or author or nothing?
Jul 9, 201310tklz are you ever going to contribute content to the site? I like to give myself a roll of administrator so that I can log in and make changes when necessary.
Jul 9, 2013Dustin, helpful piece, I had done some of the steps but not quite completed it. Very grateful to you. Been listening to your podcast for a while now, very enthusiastic. Im over in UK and am a social media guy, if you ever looking to interview someone for that subject, IM happy to jump in, see how we get on. Thanks again for your work. Paul
Jul 9, 2013Hey Dustin!
Jul 11, 2013I was looking for the Google+ option in WordPress (not remembering it)… and then I realized that (it seems) in a base install of WordPress (as of 3.5.2), the Google+ option is not included. I first checked on a site I have with Thesis as the framework… No Google+ option. Then I tried it with a site I have with Woothemes as a theme, and that DOES have it. I also checked a site with TwentyTwelve and that does not either. Feel free to check it out yourself. Basically, I think some themes are adding it while others are not. I haven’t confirmed this, but that’s what seems to be true.
I hope this helps anyone else who might be coming across this! 🙂
michaelszapkiw I’m not exactly sure where the issue is. I say that because my theme, which was built way before G+ was invented, has the G+ option, but I have seen themes that still have Google Talk / Jabber link. I’m still investigating.
Jul 14, 2013Dustin – NIce podcast. Could you give an example of what precisely should go into the Google+ box in the user profile? Does it include the http:// stuff? Does it include anything after the person’s profile number? Thanks, Ed
Jul 15, 2013Edward Long yes include the . Mine is: https://plus.google.com/u/0/103699904131766700708
Jul 16, 2013dhartzler10Edward Long You can optionally append /about to the end of the URL, if you want to link to your Google+ About page rather than your posts page (the default). I do this when a person isn’t actively posting to Google+. I picked up this tip in this WordPress.tv video: http://wordpress.tv/2013/07/02/alex-vasquez-plugin-workshop-wordpress-seo/
Jul 17, 2013The primary reason Google+ doesn’t show and just Jabber / Google instead is because plugins like Yoast WordPress SEO and All In One SEO Pack Plugins in add it to the user admin area.
Jul 17, 2013netcaststudio I agree. I was just listening to episode 137 where Dustin talks about this, and came here to post exactly what you posted.
Jul 17, 2013