SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

[zuzus_garden]

Got a little O.T. in Link Exchange, so decided to start a SEO thread. Talkin' about Meta tags, keyword content, and all that SEO stuff that will help return your site at the top of the search engine list.

Kathy Ann said I got rid of all my hidden text because I read that the search engines can tell, and they see it as keyword spamming. So now I have it visible as a list, but I'm not sure if it would still be seen as spamming or not.

So, maybe Joyce or someone else can answer this. Is it OK to have a list of keywords on your pages (like at the bottom of the page). OR is this spamming?

Thanks,

Zuzu

[Cottage Collections]

Well.... It's only considered keyword spamming if you use the same color text as the page or mask it in some way. I have been driving myself crazy trying to figure out why I feel off the face of Google. I'd been sitting on Page one forever. Now I'm about 300 pages deep! So... I have been reading and optimizing and even adding words at the end of my pages. I added them last night in a pale color but am feeling guilty! So.. I will beef up the text on my pages and let it show. The page may not look as pretty but what's more important? I'll find a way to make it work if it kills me! Have any of you heard of adding ror files to your website?
http://www.addme.com/issue346.htmhttp://www.addme.com/issue346.htm

[Kathy Ann]

I was noodling around with Google's little thing that lets people search for stuff on your own website, and to my horror I found out I am not indexed. There are several reasons why that's important, and I found a good page with explanations in this article (http://www.webpronews.com/ebusiness/seo/wpn-4-20040204ReasonsWhyYourWebPagesAreNot IndexedbySearchEngines.html)


Anyway, I went directly to http://www.dmoz.org which is the mother hen over all search engines. It's where you go if you want all search engines to pick you up.

[zuzus_garden]

Asked about comma-separated keywords on web pages here (http://www.searchengineforums.com/apps/searchengine.forums/action::thread/thread::1112403783/forum::keyword-research/)

A lot of professional SEOs post replys there, and they will give you a straight answer.

Bottom line - don't do it.

Zuzu

[zuzus_garden]

Hi Kathy Ann,

I submitted to DMOZ 10/1/04. Submitted a status request 12/15/04. Not allowed to request status again until 6/15/05. :(

There is no rhyme or reason to when your site will get listed...so go for it, but with patience.

Funny thing is the search-bots have crawled my site, and I'm already indexed. So, I don't know if it will make a difference if I ever get listed on DMOZ or not. All it takes to get crawled is to have one outside link to your site.

Zu

[Cottage Collections]

Well... I think I found out why my sites fell from googles good graces. (Thanks to the link you posted Kathy Ann) I added a custom error page to my site a few months ago that redirected anyone that tried to get an old page to my home page. Apparently that's like shooting yourself in the foot. I've removed the redirect code, removed my newly added spam :o and will just add another paragraph of text to my main pages about what I offer. We'll see what happens.

I submitted to DMOZ about a year ago and nada. They don't even find me. So, I will re-submit.

We'll get this right yet!

[Kathy Ann]

Yikes, I didn't know it took that long. I know they're staffed by volunteers.

[zuzus_garden]

Yep - that's what I meant by no rhyme or reason to DMOZ. Some people are accepted right away, and others wait and wait. I don't think you can resubmit the same site - only request a status check. If you don't follow their rules, you can get thrown out. I've read that some people volunteer at DMOZ just so they can put their own site in the directory. :mad: Makes you wonder how efficient and valuable the whole thing is. I'm indexed in all of the search engines, and didn't need DMOZ to do it... just time.

Zu

[avolli]

I am definately not an expert on SEO but here is my "two cents" on search engine optimization.

Make sure that each and evey page on your site has a unique and keyword specific title tag, meta tag, and keyword heavy description. Also, make sure that the unique keywords that are used on that page are used in each of these categories. Having a business name as the primary information on the title or meta tags probably won't mean anything to the search engines. They will read this information and if there isn't a keyword they'll just move on. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't have the business name in the title tag, just put it at the end after the keyword for that page.

Each product page should also have it's own title, meta and description so that you can customize the keywords for that product. If your website was programed with the title, meta and descriptions fixed, check with your web designer to see what it would cost to add a maintenance page so that you can go in and do this yourself. It's better than having to constantly go to the web designer to make these changes. Especially as your inventory changes and the website grows. It might require an invenstment to have the programming done for you but in the long run it will cost you less than always needing to use the web designer.

Although this is not a new concept, I'm now convinced that adding new content on a regular basis is extremely important for seo. I tried to convince myself that it wasn't as important as everyone was saying (only because I was feeling lazy and new content takes time) but it is true and during slow periods I try to write new content.

So.....there are my "two cents" and with the changes constantly happening in the SEO world, these tips are probably already obsolete. But give it a shot. At least you'll feel like you are being proactive and fair in your SEO tactics.

Good Luck!

[zuzus_garden]

Hi Tricia,

From what I've read, your info on title tags is right on. Meta descriptions are used by a few search engines, so it's worth doing, but meta tag keywords are now obsolete. :rolleyes:

Zu

[zuzus_garden]

Kathy Ann said I was noodling around with Google's little thing that lets people search for stuff on your own website, and to my horror I found out I am not indexed.

Send us a link to "Google's little thing' - I'm not sure what that is.

When I visit your site, your Google PR is 3/10. Gurl - you're indexed, otherwise your page rank would be 0!

Zu

[Kathy Ann]

Thanks Zu, I wonder why it told me I am not indexed.

I think if DMOZ is really like that, we should not play their game. If they are ignored, they'll become irrelevant and go out of existence.

To add to what Tricia said, I can't say enough about being your own webmaster. Either use a server that provides web building tools, or buy a program. Today's tools and programs are interfaced for those of us who don't know HTML. My $7.00-per-month web space does not come with tools so I bought Microsoft Frontpage for $75.00 and I tweak my pages several times a week because my product line is fluid, and now I am adding links daily. I am also gradually replacing blurry doll pics with better ones as I learn to use my digital camera.

[zuzus_garden]

Kathy Ann -

Inquiring minds want to know...what is "Google's little thing that lets people search for stuff on your own website"?

Zu

[Kathy Ann]

What? That's not the official name of it? I typed my domain name into this page. http://services.google.com/cobrand/free_select
Is it just because it's a demo, that it claims I am not indexed? I know my pages show up in Google because I check them often. So maybe I have my head up my patoot here. :p

[sararose]

I did web design and e-commerce before becoming a ft stay-at-home mom.

My 2 cents:
Meta-tag keywords--I agree, pretty much obsolete. Search engines look at the words in your links, your page text, and finally how often the search term is repeated on your page. The more links you have using words that customers might search for, the better off you are.

Spamming--keywords listed at the bottom of your page is considered spamming, however there is an elegant way to get around this.

Here is an example of a ultra-successful real estate website that does all the right things for search engines, yet still is attractive (note: I did not design this website, but I do know the designer). Notice how many text links (not images) are on the page, especially at the bottom. Notice the pink box of text at the very bottom of the page. Can you spot the key words? Neighborhoods are listed, home styles are given, all of which will attract a search engine. Yet, it's done in such a way that it is not spam.

http://www.realestateinabq.com/

This realtor also submits small articles to industry web sites. I've stumbled across a few of them while looking for cottages. Of course, the articles are full of things clients might search for, and there is always a link to her website under her name. I'm sure this technique brings in business as well.

Don't forget about reciprocal linking. Search engines like that. I've noticed that some of you are part of web rings, and that's a great idea.

If you are wondering if all that text might look strange on a website selling endtables and teacups, you can always create a "design resource" page for your customers that will be attractive to search engines, and have a separate home page that is more visual (just make sure they are both linked to each other).