need advice for a site with very little text

alts, body text, meta tags etc

[Angelle]

Let's try this again. I could use some advice on the above mentioned topics, and others. It is an adult site. I have no need to disclose the URL unless an advisor wishes to see the site itself.

Am I allowed to get help here? If my topic is unacceptable because I work on a mature site, then please tell me ,rather than just deleting me.

[Brett_Tabke]

We were in the process of discussing the first post and deciding what to do with it. The TOS here states we don't discuss adult sites, or reference them.

>Am I allowed to get help here?

Sure, that's a small part of what we are here for, but you didn't want help here - you wanted help is chat.

We have lots of adult webmasters here, who never once mention the fact. I just found out a few days ago, that one of the top posters on the board runs many of those type sites. I never had a clue - he never mentions it. So it can be cone without mentioning it.

[Angelle]

OK - gotcha. I wanted to be safe and up-front. My luck, I would have gotten repsonses from some brilliant 15 year old and found out after he asked to see how the pages were coming along.

It would be great if someone were to take the time chat with me, but if that is not allowed here either, then ok.

Still browsing the other forums to see if I can learn a thing or two by reading other people's questions and answers.

[tedster]

Hi Angelle, and welcome - didn't mean to scare you by pulling the post offline.

Working with very little text is a challenge, but it only means that what text you do use should make every word count. Two suggestions come to mind, both about anchor tags:

1. Make sure you use straightforward URLs in your links, not javascript functions, etc.

So every link should start
<a href="example.html"
not
<a href=javascript:"functionOne()"
or
<a href="#" onClick="etc_etc"

Then include your real "money" keywords in the link text, words that do a great job describing the destination page.

2. In your links, use the title attribute - a much overlooked HTML asset for SEO.

Also check out the thread over in our Google forum about strategic image use [webmasterworld.com]. A lot of that discussion applies to all your file names, not just images. Don't throw away the potential of any file by naming it something cryptic and geeky.

[Angelle]

Well, folks - one thign I forgot to leave out is my links issue, along with my original list. From the default.html, there is really only 1 link to get into the site. There is one to "exit if under 18" (which goes to disney.com btw :) and some filtering software links below as an FYI for parents)...
... Oh yeah - and one of a HOST of site trackers I've tried. isn't there any one out there who makes a good traffic tracker and does not mind adult sites? I've been using sitemeter.com for years on my music pages. LOVE IT! But now I'm being paid to help with "mature" content, so I'm dealing with some different rules these days.

Also - I am not the only coder for the site. I jumped in and am helping to optimize what was there, and add more html to the inner site.

I have tried to use alt tags, meta tags, and a few lines of hidden text on the default page to make up for lack of text. Are these good strategies?

Also - most of the site is "hidden" behind .asp pages (which I know nothing of. Do not know that type of code. Yet) So the 4 "tour" pages can be spidered, but the rest not, unless i submit an internal page by its correct address, right? (address bar does not display for user on internal pages. )

See why I wanted to chat these things over with people? I feel like I'm writing a novel's worth of questions.....

Thanks in advance for any time taken out to reply.

Love,
Angelle

[papabaer]

Hello Angel, welcome to the board!

You might want to check out some of the search engine forums: Google, Fast, etc. for advice regarding SEO, the ups, the downs and the nasty pitfalls!

One thing is for certain, hidden text is POISON! Don't do it!

There is a thread regarding working with images as traffic sources that you may find useful. You certainly will find lots of advice and without a doubt, an extremely interesting assembly of personalities here...

So ask away!

[tedster]

Only four spiderable pages is a very severe limitation. For my smaller sites, I create what I call a "marketing halo" of pages - in the old days I would have called them doorway pages or hallway pages - but today they need to be more fully developed to keep the search engines happy.

You are going to have a major search engine challenge (I might even say insurmountable) if all you have to work with is four pages with minimal text in highly competitive keyword areas.

[Angelle]

Ok boys. you got me thinking. I will brainstorm a bit, and make sure the Boss knows that I still have work to do.

I'll be back for more school soon! Thanks!

Love,
Angelle

[Angelle]

Question: for my site with little text, should I puit what few link we have already coded with the complete URL instead of just the jump link? example:
<a href="http://www.domain.com/link.html">link</a>

instead of : <a href="link.html">link</a>

Working on other ways to get us out of that invisible corner that the lead developer coded us into.

Love,
Angelle