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How? |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois 
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Ron we never got to finish our conversation before we went live here. What were you saying about the search engines? You mentioned one, and I didn't know what it was, or where to find it. So how do I get visitors to come? (I know, probably redo my web site right?) LOL [This message has been edited by WhtDove (edited 02-12-2001).] |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
I don't really remember where our conversation ended, Becky - but, yea, it probably will entail rewriting some of your web page.  When I get a little more caught up, I hope to get our Tech forums a bit more active, and we'll have a LOT to say about search engines. Since Christopher and I had this discussion when he launched CH, maybe he'll be willing to jump in here and talk a little bit about keywords and why they're so important. That is the first step towards designing SE-friendly sites and will give us a jump-start on things to come. Chris? |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
Ok, mind you Becca, Ron's the super-guru on this, and I'm still in the beginning stages of catching on to the whole thing. He's helped me out immensely but there is still a LOT I have to learn. I feel confident however that I won't make too big of a mistake... and even more confident that if I'm wrong he'll jump in and let us know! First - Keywords. They're not just the words you put in your meta tags. In fact, as I understand it, with search engines these days your MetaTags are all but useless unless they're supported by the content in your page. This content includes text, headers, links, image names, etc. etc. Anything on your page is fair game for the search engines to look into. And if your content doesn't match your keywords, many of them will ban you from their search engine! So for an example, let's take my site - since I'm most familiar with it. If you "view source" (either by right-clicking on the screen or going up to your menu and choosing "view") you can see this listing: <meta http-equiv="Keywords" content="ezine, zine, e-zine, magazine, online magazine, poetry, poems, poem, prose, stories, artwork, fiction, nonfiction, free, submit, submissions, publish, publishing, newsletter"> These are my keywords. But if you look on the page, you'll notice that's not the only place you find them. You'll see that most are repeated through links, in the text, even in directory naming and "alt" text for the images! The more support you have on your page (without crossing over the border into "spam") you have, the better ranking you're likely to get when someone runs a search using your keywords. Caveat: This is a very simplified version of the simplified version I understand. As Ron's said, this is a very complicated, convoluted, and ever-changing process. If you were to know everything about SE's today, you would still have to learn more tomorrow, because it will have changed. But dont' let that worry you too much... in my op I'll let the people who are making lot of money off their sites worry about keeping completely up to date on this. For general purposes, I think that understanding the basics will hold you in fair standing. Of course I'm still working on the basics... but I'll get there some day! Next subject: Choosing keywords. C |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Ok, hear that whooshing sound going over my head?  LOLI'll have to read this one again a couple times to let it absorb. LOL I know a lot more than I did a year ago, but I still am equivalent to knowing nothing. Ever feel that way? |
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WhtDove Member Rara Avis
since 1999-07-22
Posts 9245Illinois |
Ok, was browsing around today and happened to look at the source. And I see what you mean. Now this would be put on every page in your site? And in turn when putting your site in a search engine, you'd also use the Meta Content? I know I went to little ones (search engines), but all they ask you for is the name of your site. Or am I missing something? Where would you put all that content in? |
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Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
No, you're not missing something Becca. What you're seeing is the difference between a 'directory' search enging (ie: Yahoo), and an SE which 'spiders' your site. (ie: altavista) A directory takes your site, and someone goes through it by hand and then adds it. The bonus side to this is that the spammers are more likely to be weeded out. The down side is that it's harder to get in sometimes, as many who have tried to make Yahoo will tell you! (took me several times!) An SE which spiders your site sends a program to look at your site, hence the need for only the name and addy. It looks at your meta tags, then the content of your page, etc. Most will follow links on your page, though how 'deep' they go depends on the spider. As far as the content - that's everything you see on a page. That's your text and images and links that you show everyone! C (PS - sorry took me so long. I wasn't ignoring you, I just plain forgot about this thread!) |
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