HOW TO OPTIMIZE FOR GOOGLE - PART 3 OF 3
In Part 1 and Part 2 of How to Optimize for Google I discussed generalized website optimization, links, and Google webmaster tools. In Part 3 we will countenance at a sort of added considerations which play a persona in flourishing rankings in Google, and also occurrence on some tactics which are best avoided.
Completing Optimization: Other Considerations
Redirects
If you requirement to use redirects on your site, it is very essential to use the precise one. If a page is agitated to a new location, or being distant all together, it is very essential to have this page redirected to either the new positioning or the incoming closest page using a Permanent 301 Redirect.
While rare, if a page is being touched to a new positioning for a short term, with the aim of it backward to the example location, then and exclusive then, will you want to use a Temporary 302 redirect.
Non web Redirects
To help decimate page surpass split, and wage your site with a lowercase player value, compel a non-www redirect. What this candid will do is change the address to include the “www” whenever a address is accessed that does not include it. This can help to consolidate course to the precise page and provide your site some additional strength. For more help on Non web redirects
HTTP Headers
Check your page headers! If you have implemented any form of candid on your site including mod rewrites, analyse your protocol headers. You may be astonied at what you find. Some forms of redirects may use a 302 code where you really want a 301. By checking your headers you can secure all is well, and troubleshoot problems. On our website we have additional our possess protocol Header Checker for your convenience.
Home Page URL
Never have more than one address for your home page. If your home page is acquirable and displays on more than one URL, then apply 301 redirects on all but the important address you want to pore on - in most cases “http://www.domain.com/”. All your course pointing to the home page should candid to the literal aforementioned address otherwise you will separate the continuance of your home page into multiple replicate URL’s.
Google sees “http://www.domain.com” and “http://www.domain.com/index.html” as different pages, but displaying the aforementioned content. This splits the coverall continuance of your home page, and can modification the chances of rankings. By ownership it conformable with a single URL, you vanish this separate and ready more of the strength.
In theory having your home page separate like this could alter with it replicate noesis penalties, however, I have still to see this actually hap - that said, it is best to refrain the venture all together.
XML Sitemap
XML Sitemaps are enthusiastic for ensuring that Google and the added engines are healthy to programme your whole site. While an XML sitemap will not direct effect your search rankings it can help as Google is more probable to see any SEO supported changes more quickly, which in invoke can have an impact.
Robots.txt
This is the first enter all search engines countenance for every instance they meet your site. While placing a grapheme robots.txt enter in your stem folder will not help with search rankings, it will help turn 404 errors attending in your log files.
It is also highly advisable that if your site utilizes an XML sitemap, to include a call to this sitemap within the Robots.txt file. Simply add the mass distinction to secure that the field engines (including Google) can find your sitemap:
Sitemap: http://www.domain.com/sitemap.xml
Potential Blockages
If you are uncovering that your site is exclusive not being indexed it is possible that you are interference the spiders in one way or another.
Start with checking your important site navigation, if you are using Flash or some added flamboyant form of guidance that could be your difficulty correct there. Next analyse your protocol headers to secure that your home page is backward a 2xx code which indicates that the clients’ letter was successfully received. Finally verify a countenance at your Google Webmaster Tools for any noted errors. If you are interference Google, chances are you will be healthy to show the issue with these steps.
Duplicate Content
Duplicate noesis can be quite harmful to your rankings. Ensure that all noesis on your site is unique. Never move or “borrow” noesis from added site, and never revilement and adhesive super portions of book from one page of your site to the next. By ownership all pages of your site all example you defence the best chances of effort a thumbs up from Google.
Fresh Content / Regular Updates
Update your content. In highly combative markets, sites with older noise noesis can ofttimes artefact away. Keep your noesis firm and updated to ready transfer Google backwards to your site. If they find new pages and updated pages with every visit, they will come backwards more often.
Site Age
The age of your site can also have an effect on search engine rankings. While there is lowercase you can do (short of ownership the aforementioned domain) to help on this matter, advert that the individual your site is online, the better its chances for success. It pays to superior the amend field correct from the move and not to change domains mid-stream. Older sites that defence the effort of instance add a take of dominance in Google’s eyes. New sites seldom see rankings for combative cost in their first year.
Note: Site Age is observed not by the fellow the field was originally qualified by kinda by the fellow Google first unconcealed noesis on your site.
Load Time
Load instance can have an effect in your Google AdWords Quality Score but it is uncharted for sure if it can also effect your nonsynthetic search rankings. It is best to ready your alluviation instance to as lowercase as possible. If it is not already a conception of the Google Algorithm, it probable will be soon. Besides, it is also best in meet to provide your site visitors the best undergo possible.
Server Up Time
This can be a kinda significant issue. If you find that your web hosting consort has a story of downbound time, change hosts. If Google comes to meet your site erst and it is down, not to worry, they will come back, but if Google visits your site ofttimes exclusive to find that it is unavailable, you can find yourself with drastically deficient rankings.
Google Local
If you have a tralatitious brick and howitzer store, study submitting to Google Local . While this will not direct effect your lawful nonsynthetic rankings, you may find your site senior above the nonsynthetic results with a “local playing results” transpose listing. This tends to be most ordinary when your playing is near the TRUE edifice of a city, and when the search catchword uses a TRUE modifier.
W3C Compliant Code
There is such reflection as to if W3C willing code can have a constructive effect on search rankings, and the eld conceive “maybe” with some locution “yes”. Regardless, it is definitely a good intent to have your site be W3C Compliant if at all possible. Not exclusive may it help you in cost of search rankings, but having willing code can modification alluviation times, and help to secure cross-browser compatibility, all of which are good things. If at all possible, it is advisable that sites be prefabricated to be compliant.
Many experts who took conception in the SEOMoz “Google Search Engine Ranking Factors” angle towards it not being a big contributor, however, it may be an issue if Google has difficulties indexing a page properly.
A code determination assist is acquirable at validator.w3.org .
About The Author
Scott Van Achte is the Senior SEO at StepForth Web Marketing Inc., supported in Victoria, BC, Canada and supported in 1997. You can feature more of Scott’s articles and those of the StepForth aggroup at news.stepforth.com or occurrence us at StepForth.com, Tel - 250-385-1190, TollFree - 877-385-5526, Fax - 250-385-1198
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