Forum Moderators: open
Now, what i'm looking for is to optimize it for certain keywords. Now, i don't think it's "against TOS" to post a certain keyword, so the keyword i want to optimize my site for is "surplus". I will attempt to create an organized set of questions , as i have so many of them...
1.
I created meta tags for my index page, which include the description and the keyword tag. The description includes a discription of my website, as well as several "keywords" of the website in this discription.
Now the "keywords" meta tag includes about 150 keywords associated with my site? Is this to many? does it matter? I have heard that this tag actually isn't relevant anymore. I found these keywords my using OverTures search suggestion tool and finding all "phrases" and words associated with the term.
One question regarding these keywords: is it wrong to list keywords like: "surplus cars, surplus trucks, surplus computers" (i.e// keep repeating the word surplus?)
2.
I have heard that i should use the "alt" tag in one image on the index page in order to pour my keywords in there? Is this recommended? Or would this be considered some sort of spam?
3.
In general, how do i go about "optimizing" my site for the keyword "surplus". Any guide to the "1/2/3's" of optimizing it for any keyword? I know that i should use the word frequently in my index page (5-20% of text), and that it should be in bold/italics/as an H1 header somewhere on that page as well.
4.
Should i perhaps try to optimize it for something "different" instead? I.E// "surplus deals" instead of just surplus? "Surplus" isn't that big of a category, so i figured it may not be to hard to be listed near the top of it.
5.
Do the number of inbound links affect your placement on the google search results page? I.E//, the more inbound links i receive, the higher i get? If that is the case, then i am somehow limited in how much optimizing i can do in order to get to the #1 spot? am i correct?
6.
Should i use the robots.txt file? Does this go in the root of my directory? is it important for optimizing my site?
I guess thats about all i have to ask =) Basically it boils down to this - what exaclty do i have to do to get to that #1 spot on Google?
Basically it boils down to this - what exaclty do i have to do to get to that #1 spot on Google?
Read Brett's Successful Site in 12 Months with Google Alone [webmasterworld.com] and this thread Google Search Engine Optimization 101 My list [webmasterworld.com] and you may get close :)
[edited by: teeceo at 9:34 am (utc) on Sep. 21, 2003]
andmunn, first off, welcome.
Second, discussion of specific search terms is actually against TOS. Hence the often-used 'widgets'. :)
As to your questions, I definitely recommend reading around the forums here a bit. They are all debated in detail and answers will become clear with reading.
Georgeek's recommended reading is an excellent place to start.
1. I created meta tags ...
The description tag matters - place it on each page, and in it refer to the content of that page specifically.
The keyword tag matters less, or not at all in some cases. Use only the keywords that refer to each specific page. If you stuff it with a ton of words, you are basically saying 'this page isn't about anything in particular'.. pick key terms and target them per page.
2.
I have heard that i should use the "alt" tag in one image on the index page in order to pour my keywords in there? Is this recommended? Or would this be considered some sort of spam?
Spammiest of spammy spam. The alt tag is intended to describe the picture. Use it for that purpose.
3. In general, how do i go about "optimizing" my site ....
Read Brett's posts as recommended by Georgeek
4. Should i perhaps try to optimize it for something "different" instead?
Yes. Unless you sell everything under the sun, you need to target your keywords a lot better, or your success will be your downfall.
Q: What happens if you sell surplus widgets, but you receive 1 million hits a week from people looking for surplus doodads, which you don't sell?
A: You go bankrupt paying for bandwidth.
5. Do the number of inbound links affect your placement
Do a search on this site for "PR" and "Page Rank" Devote a month to reading.
Should i use the robots.txt file? Does this go in the root of my directory? is it important for optimizing my site?
Yes. Yes. Not specifically. Robots.txt tells search engine spiders who come visiting whether and where you want them to crawl your site. Tons of information on how to set up on on a site search.
Teeceo:).
"Surplus" isn't that big of a category, so i figured it may not be to hard to be listed near the top of it
Hi andmunn ...
A big ingredient for success is going after traffic that exists. Achieving a #1 position isn't at all tricky where there is no competition.
But if nobody uses the phrase you have optimised for, it would be a little like setting up a shop on the North Pole (you wouldn't be very busy!)
Start with keyword research. Work out which popular phrases are relevant to your business. Then optimise for those phrases.
Thank you all again for the help, i'll get started reading what i'm supposed to.
Just one quick question - unfortunately my site doesn't sell goods (nor is it a "Widgets Company")...rather, it is meant to be some sort of hub for "X type of Companies". How would i go about optimizing it for this? My idea was to go after "Widgets" in general..or is that to proud?
My idea was to go after "Widgets" in general..or is that to proud?
Going after widgets in general? That would be a site that has lots of sections about specific types of widget ;)
When you buy a house it usually consists of a number of rooms It is not normal to put a oven, a bathtub, a bed and a TV in every room of your house and expect each room to serve all purposes. The natural and sensible tendency is to allocate each room a purpose.. a focus.. and set them up as such.. A room for cooking in.. one for bathing in.. another for sleeping in.. etc.
Your website is a house with as many rooms as you want it to have. Stop thinking of your website as a single room and start thinking about the individual rooms within your website. One for for widget information.. one for widget history.. one for fluffy widgets.. one for hoodackeys (imitation widgets).
