newsletter

August ABCs of Web Design Newsletter

Introductory comments

I have been getting a lot of SEO questions lately – from people who read my column and from clients. So many questions in fact, I thought of writing an upcoming article on the importance of keywords and site text. So look for that article after the first of the year. I am also considering presenting at the upcoming STC annual conference on this same topic – with luck my proposal will be accepted. On to the question…

Question of the month

Question This month’s questions comes from Peter Ingle, he writes “I am sending this note to ask you a question and to thank you. First, I want to thank you for your articles in Intercom and for the information on your web site, both of which have aided me in my efforts to learn more about SEO and to enhance--hopefully--the accessibility of my web site. I want to add that, of all the voices I have heard on this subject, yours is the most palatable and enjoyable, and highly informative.

Which brings me to my question: In your articles you mention, as others do, the importance of keywords in the meta tag; that spiders rely on this information for indexing and then ranking sites. I then recently read on SearchEngineWatch.com that many of the search engines no longer use this information; that they rely more on culling keywords from the description meta tag and from the body text in the pages themselves.

If you have time, can you clarify your latest understanding of this? I would really appreciate it. Thanks for your time and for sharing your knowledge.”

Answer: Great question. And thanks for appreciating my site and my column -- wow you just made my day!

About your question of keywords in META info – I have been reading that search engines don't look at keywords in the META tags anymore, but you also have to understand that search engines change the way the look at SEO on a weekly basis so what they may do this week will probably change next week. I have found the tried and true method of using keywords just the way I say it in my articles -- in the Title (most important) and main page site text (2nd most important), then a toss up on the site description and the keywords in the META tag. I have snagged many number one spots on Yahoo and Google using this method so I know it works.

Also, consider how many specific directories they are. You can find a subject-specific directory for about any site under the sun. For example, today at work I was looking up info for tradeshows for 2004 and I found four directories specific to tradeshows. I also recently checked Google Adwords for a potential client who has fly-fishing business, I found four fishing directories just for Ohio fishing. Remember, you pay to be listed in directories only -- where you rank in their listings is all up to you. So, when in doubt, keep your META info.

If your site does not move up in the search engine rankings, look at your keywords. Are your keywords prominent in your Title and site text? I stress the importance of "good" keywords – your keywords should be the ones your target audience is using to find your site -- so work on getting great keywords. Next write a great Title and site text. Also look at your HTML -- is the Title tag first? Is your site text first thing on the page? Does Java Script code divide your Meta info (I have seen this many times). Look at things like this and tweak them. Make a change then wait and see what happens. If you don't go up in rankings, try something else. Then once that pages starts moving up, start on the rest of the pages in your site. Keep me posted on your progress!

Wrap up

Thanks to everyone who emails me. Keep emailing me questions and success stories (Peter -- I will be looking for on from you very soon!) Thanks for reading my newsletter.

Please send all questions to theresaw@columbus.rr.com.

To see the articles from my print web column, go to http://www.w-edge.com/articles.htm

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