Forum Moderators: phranque
Thanks
[edited by: encyclo at 7:07 pm (utc) on Sep. 3, 2008]
[edit reason] examplified [/edit]
As well as avoiding duplicate content issues, that would enable her to concentrate all her incoming links to one URL; as some art directories have significant value, that's likely to be a tangible benefit.
You then may want to cloak the least important region version to Google, so all links resolve to the same URL.
Search engines are too thick to be told that the two URLs are regionalized mirrors of the same thing.
Search engines are too thick to be told that the two URLs are regionalized mirrors of the same thing.
If you think about it, it's an intelligent choice - not bad for a mindless algorithm.
The day will come when SEs are telepathic, but that won't be until "Talk Like A Pirate Day" 2009 - maybe even later ;)
Given what Google does offer webmasters, this stuff seems trivially obvious.
If you use an URL based system to set the region of the session, /usa, /gbr/, /fra, etc, then Google just sees a whole raft of duplicate content. Woebegone you if it is hosted on regional TLDs. You have to cloak it in the first case, which is a pain and also hides the non USA content from Google, and not actually use the TLDs properly (301 them rather to the .com) in the latter - to protect yourself against the possibility of penalties. This is stupid. Google is thick not to accommodate sites with this set-up. QED.
And all that is not to mention the languages thing (this page A is a translation in language XX of EN page B).
I note that many threads are decrying Google's increasing use of locality as an indicator; You logic would suggest that these folk are thick not to buy multiple national TLDs to avoid that?
It's oh, so easy to blame SEs when we have a problem - but if you look at the same situation from another webmaster's POV, you'll often see a diametrically opposite view.
And as SEs are not there to serve webmasters at all, I often wonder why it's always their problem?
Actually, that's a fib. I know exactly why it's their problem ;)
If a visitor in the UK is looking for one of my websites that they have in mind, Google does not return the .co.uk TLD (even though it is present), and does not know about any of the UK specific data.
So the UK visitor gets screwed by Google. Great.
You don't get it.
So the UK visitor gets screwed by Google. Great.
Not at all; though, apparently, it's not YOUR pages that they'll be offered.
So you are aware of the problem.
And you are already aware of plenty of possible solutions.
(Or you are aware that such solutions have been discussed here)
[or at least you are aware that the archives are searchable]
And you are aware that SEs do not necessarily prioritize YOUR site over all others.
And yet the invisibility of your pages is their fault?
I get it; I get it perfectly. I suspect you may be missing a tad, though, which is a shame.
Good Luck with your webmastering, but if you take nothing else from my efforts, please consider this:
King Canute not only got his feet wet, he knew he would get his feet wet. He even knew that it was inevitable that he would get his feet wet ;)
Goodbye!
[edited by: Quadrille at 1:50 pm (utc) on Sep. 20, 2008]
Maybe it's you who's a touch thick.
Oh dear.
If a visitor in the UK is looking for one of my websites that they have in mind
If they knew your website, chances are they'd not be searching - unless, of course, you think all your visitors are thick too. If they didn't know your URL, then the SE would find them a better site, no problem. Thus discharging their responsibility, and having a happy, if thick, punter.
SEO is NOT search engine optimization; it's really not about calling everyone thick until the SEs change their algo to suit YOUR Geocities site.
SEO is WEB SITE optimization - making changes to get the best out of SE algos.
I really don't expect you to understand one word of this - but I promise things will be easier once you trade in the Etch-A-Sketch for a computer.
;)
