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“If you run WordPress, and I do and I love it….”  states Matt Cutts, of Google’s Search Quality group.  Cutts starts discussing WordPress approximately 9:32 into a YouTube video entitled:  Google I/O 2010 – SEO site advice from the experts.  This is an eye opener from someone who is generally recognized as a search engine optimization (SEO) guru.  But we knew that about WordPress all along, didn’t we?

Cutts calls WordPress a content management system (CMS) or a stock content management system.  According to Wikipedia:  “A web content management (WCM) system is a CMS designed to simplify the publication of web content to web sites and mobile devices, in particular, allowing content creators to submit content without requiring technical knowledge of HTML or the uploading of files.”

I translate this into layman language as follows:  with WordPress the foundation or structure of a Web publishing program, or platform, is built for you by others.  You therefore do not need to know about the underlying coding to publish your content or information nor have to rely on a Web developer.  You a similar process with this platform  as you would using a word processor or an email program.  You only need to understand the jargon and what the icons mean to type and center your text, change a font or its color, upload pictures or videos, etc.

You know there is electrical conduit, wire, plumbing fixtures, insulation, studs, etc. installed behind the walls of the building you live in.  But, you do not need to know how that wall’s framework or skeleton is constructed to change the wall’s colors or to move pictures hung on it.  All you need is some paint and/or hanging devices.  Likewise you do not need to know the underlying coding to display your words, pictures, videos, etc., from your Web site or blog,

However, you do need to know what an optimal publishing program is to optimize the site for search engine results.  And according to Matt, WordPress comes “…built in with relatively good SEO.  WordPress is great as far as SEO goes…” He talks about applying keywords to your title and URL. And how applying little things like that make a big difference in your rankings.  He continued:  “…and WordPress is just built to handle that naturally.”  He did add a word of caution to insure your run the most  current version to avoid being hacked.

WordPress and search engine optimization go hand in glove as far as I am concerned.  That is why I strongly recommend using it for basic small business Web sites.  It is easy to learn with a little coaching or some tutorials.  But it is well worth the time investment.

First in Series with the Video: Listen To Googles SEO Web Site Advice Since It Is From The Experts/