In
this thread [webmasterworld.com] caveman makes a passing reference to Brett Tabke's much lauded post/article from Feb 2, 2002,
"A Successful Site in 12 Months With Google Alone" [webmasterworld.com].
For a refresher, I went and reread the article. As you probably already know, it's an old standard on how to make a Google-happy website. The advice there is indispensable, and I have seen many, many posts from wise and articulate WebmasterWorld members in which they admit that Tabke's advice was what got them started (I'm one of them, minus the wise and articulate part ;)).
That article's 3rd birthday is approaching, and I found myself wondering whether each of the "26 steps" were still fully applicable. 3 years is a long time on the web, especially when talking about a major SE, and since we're still referring new members to that 3 year old article, I thought it might be nice to see it's information given a once over and reconsideration.
Most of it is just plain good site creation advice. Adding content everyday, for example, is an SEO technique that will never go out of date. But some others
might not be as timeless.
For instance, Step 2 says...
Keyword domains are out - branding and name recognition are in - big time in. The value of keywords in a domain name have never been less to se's.
While I agree with the idea that branding is the best approach, there is now also link text to take into consideration. A common theme on SEO sites of late is the idea that a keyword domain increases the liklihood that backlinks will contain your keyword, since many backlinks (especially those from directories or link pages)take the form of,
<a href="www.mydomain.com">MyDomainName</a>
. If this is true, and given the importance of anchor text in Google's current algo, then in at least one significant way, keyword domains are back in.
I don't necessarily expect this post to spark off an actual
update of Mr. Tabke's document (although I believe such an update would be
most welcomed and appreciated by many people), but it might be nice to have some discussion on any other of the 26 steps that might benefit from being brought up to date.
On a final note, please understand that I am not in anyway critisizing or downplaying the relevance, usefulness or accuracy of that seminal document. When I first approached web design not too long ago, that document was one of my mooring posts. I went back to it again and again to get my thinking and strategy stabilized. My hope is not to imply that the document has lost value, but rather that it might
gain value, and remain the excellent reference point that it is, in being brought up to date in the year 2005.
With respect,
cEM
