Printer Friendly Version
Email this thread to a friend
|
Couple Questions on Affiliate Programs (In: Members Lounge)
Featured Web Site Template |
|
There are 0 guests and 1 members in the forums right now.
Reflects user activity within the last 5 minutes
|
|
| Member |
Message |
bmurphy
Joined: Feb 12, 2004
# Posts: 65
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-16 14:45
Boy is my head spinning- I feel like everytime I start to get a handle on the SEO tatics, 5 other topics come up that throw a wrench in the works. Anyway, enough whining. I have some basic questions about keywords:
- I'm working on a site for an environmental lawyer. Obviously "environment" and "lawyer" are keywords that are going to be used for 1000's of sites and therefore aren't great keywords to use. But since they are part of the subject matter, I can't exclude them - anyone have any ideas what to do? (I'm also using other keywords to try to more narrowly define the scope of the site too)
- keywords vs. keyword phrases - How do SE's parse the search results? If I have a keyword phrase "environmental law", and a user only types in "environmental" do they get a hit on that part of the keyword phrase? Do I list that keyword phrase in the meta-tags *and* also list "environmental" and "law" seperately as well? Or wil I get a hit regardless of how it's formatted?
- If I use keyword phrase in my meta-tags, how do I format them?
<meta NAME="keywords" CONTENT="lawyer, regulatory policy, environment">
Thanks for any help in advance.
|
 |
g1smd
Staff
Joined: Jul 28, 2002
# Posts: 10465
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-16 16:52
The Keywords meta tags aren't used by search engines.
You should optimise the <title> tag, meta description, and the on-page content. Use heading tags, and the alt attribute on images wisely.
Run a spell checker over all of your content, then pass your code through the HTML validator, and correct any errors found.
|
|
bmurphy
Joined: Feb 12, 2004
# Posts: 65
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-19 15:05
thanks for tips, I'll get working on them!
|
|
dwade
Joined: Feb 17, 2004
# Posts: 34
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 01:35
Not sure I agree with g1smd!
Unless he/she can show definitive proof of direct access to all the major search engine algorithms, I'd be in doubt of his/her advice.
As an example; if I headed a major Search Engine, I'd certainly want to know what they put in their keyword metatag. If it was relevant, I'd reward them... if not, I'd penalize them equally.
The problem is... we have so many experts in a field in which they have no access to the direct algorithms (that being, the mathematical equations) from which page ranking and placement evolves. If they did, I suspect they've broken some laws along the way, for surely... no search engine would freely divulge these equations.
|
|
dwade
Joined: Feb 17, 2004
# Posts: 34
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 01:43
bmurphy
To sum up. Go ahead and create a keyword list and make sure it is relevant to the content of the web page. Will it help? I don't know, but I doubt it will hurt.
|
|
bmurphy
Joined: Feb 12, 2004
# Posts: 65
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 13:33
Thanks dwade. From my (limited) understanding, some engines are still using them, some aren't. I'm guessing it's not going to hurt to include them if they're used wisely.
|
|
Webmaster-Toolkit.com
Joined: Jul 18, 2002
# Posts: 1098
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 16:46
we have so many experts in a field in which they have no access to the direct algorithms
...but have years of research and experience with optimising for them. I wouldn't be so quick to discount g1smd's advice - he knows what he's talking about 
|
|
thejenn
Joined: Aug 08, 2001
# Posts: 9196
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 19:27
Ditto, g1smd is a solid member here that gives excellent advice.
That said, it's my personal opinion that a keyword meta tag doesn't hurt you and that some smaller engines may still use it. Additionally, you never know when an engine may decide to add it back into the mix. For the small amount of time it takes to create one, you can certainly go ahead and place it on your site.
The point is, don't fret on it. 99.999% chance that it's going to have pretty much no impact on your rankings.
|
|
g1smd
Staff
Joined: Jul 28, 2002
# Posts: 10465
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 21:15
I should have said "most search engines don't use it".
I still include a keywords list, but I keep it short.
There is one use for that meta tag that you might not have thought of. Some editors at some directories might look at that list to see what you put in it to judge two things:
1. is it a massive repetitive loaded list - makes you look like a spammer,
2. or is it a coherant short list of a few main words - might help the editor to place the site correctly.
Thanks for the nice comments. I still rate myself as a rank amateur amongst some people here.
|
|
dwade
Joined: Feb 17, 2004
# Posts: 34
|
Posted: 2004-Feb-24 22:47
I've probably short changed g1smd. His/her advice has seemed solid as far as I can tell.
Anyway, I do believe in keyword lists. As long as they pertain to the web page.
[ Message was edited by: dwade 02/24/2004 07:02 pm ]
|
|
rustybrick
Joined: Oct 09, 2003
# Posts: 100
|
Posted: 2004-Mar-07 20:27
Well, now that Yahoo! Search is around, the keyword meta tag is more important then ever.
Go with what thejenn said.
|
|
excell
Staff
Joined: Mar 19, 2001
# Posts: 14513
|
Posted: 2004-Mar-11 16:16
using page elements correctly (without misuse/spam/abuse) in your design that validate to world standards should NEVER hurt anyone and the day they do - you will know the Internet is imploding
|
|
You are not permitted to post messages in this forum or topic, because of one or more of the following reasons:
- You have not yet logged in, or registered properly as a member
- You are a member, but no longer have posting rights.
- This is a private forum, for which you do not have permissions.
If you are a recent member, it's possible that you simply have not yet confirmed your account. Please
check your email for a message entitled 'JimWorld Forums: Confirm Your Account' and follow the instructions
contained within.
If you cannot find this message, click here to Re-Send it.
|
If you are still experiencing problem, please read the
Login Assistance
Article for some advice on what may be causing your login not to work properly.
|
Switch to Advanced Editor and ...
Create a New Topic
or Reply to this Thread
|
|
Inbox
