Where Can I Find Website Optimization Tips?
Website Optimization Tips from Google and the Gang
With multitudes of seminars, books, websites, and other resources available from SEO experts, how do you know who to trust? Who truly knows the most about how search engines work?
Take a guess. Who do you think it is? (No, not me.)
That’s right! The search engines!
This “Ask a Geek” response answers the question, “Where can I find website optimization tips?” by introducing, “Webmaster Guidelines.” Webmaster Guidelines are SEO tips that come directly from Google, Yahoo! and other search engines. They should be the starting point for every website optimization project.
Search Engines vs. SEO Consultants
It won’t surprise you, but search engines and SEO consultants don’t always get along. It’s easy to see why.
Search engines want to provide the most relevant results.
SEO consultants attempt to manipulate these results.
But remember … ethical (aka “white hat”) SEO is about working with the search engines, not manipulating them.
We Can All Get Along
The best way to get into someone’s good graces is to follow their rules. Search engines have rules, but they call them “guidelines” or “recommendations.” Here are links to the “Webmaster Guidelines” for the 3 top search engines; Google, Yahoo! and MSN. Each will help you understand how they want your site to be built. Luckily, they frequently overlap.
Common Website Optimization Guidelines
Here is a list of optimization highlights pulled from the pages listed above. Each will become a topic in a series of upcoming Geek Camp blog posts. Make sure to let us know which one you want to learn about first and share your comments below. Then, sign up for Geek Camp website updates so you’ll know when your request becomes available.
- Maintain a Sitemap
Use sitemaps to ensure that search engines can access every page of your website - Keep Your Navigation Hierarchy Flat
Keep your navigational links shallow and close to your root domain - Write Content of Genuine Value
Strive to create useful, meaningful, and engaging content - Beware the Mark (?)
Is your website dynamic? A good way to find out is to look for a question mark in the URL. If you have one, proceed with caution - Write Compliant XHTML & CSS
Just like the English language, you need to use proper web grammar - Use the <title> Tag Appropriately
Use descriptive and relevant <title> tags - Minimize Broken Links
Scan your website regularly to make sure all of your links work - Use a robots.txt File
Tell search engines what to index and what to ignore - Avoid Unethical Tactics
Stay away from cloaking, doorway pages, keyword stuffing, and other unethical (aka “black hat”) techniques - Avoid Duplicate Content
Make sure the content on your website is unique and original
What’s Next? You Decide!
What topic would you like to hear more about? How to use the robots.txt file? Or perhaps you want to learn more about unethical SEO techniques?
Let us know!
Just share your comments below and we’ll make your suggestion a priority for the next post in our “Website Optimization Tips” series!
Brian,
You are doing a great job! Cimbrian is fortunate to have you!
As you know, all comments are moderated before being posted (those crazy kids out there will always try to SPAM you). I couldn’t help but chuckle when the blog asked if I wanted to approve your comment.
You made my day!
… I’ll get your check in the mail as quickly as possible