_How
to Make Search Engines Happy in 3 Easy Steps
By Kalena Jordan
Does your web site make search engines happy? Despite all the negative
hype lately, it's pretty easy to design a web site that search engines
will accept with open arms. All it takes is 3 easy steps:
1) Follow the Search Engine Guidelines
Nearly all search engines publish their own guidelines regarding the
submission of sites, the type of sites they will accept and
recommendations for optimized content. Google recently updated their
Webmaster Guidelines -
http://www.google. com/webmasters/ guidelines. html - which cover the
most common forms of deceptive or manipulative search engine behavior
that they consider to be "spam".
They also published SEO Guidelines
http://www.google. com/webmasters/ seo.html – advice for webmasters to
heed when choosing an SEO. Google was the first search engine to
publicly acknowledge search engine optimizers in this fashion.
It's not just Google publishing anti-spam guidelines. You'll find them
at the following search engine sites as well:
- MSN Search webmaster guidelines
http://search. msn.com/docs/ siteowner. aspx?t=SEARCH_ WEBMASTER_
REF_Guidelinesfo rOptimizingSite. htm
- AltaVista terms of use (AltaVista is a Yahoo-owned company)
http://www.altavist a.com/about/ termsofuse
- Yahoo terms of service
http://docs. yahoo.com/ info/terms/
- Yahoo guidelines on search engine spam (covering AltaVista and
AllTheWeb as well)
http://help. yahoo.com/ help/us/ysearch/ deletions/ deletions- 05.html
- Yahoo definitions of search engine spam (covering AltaVista and
AllTheWeb as well)
http://help. yahoo.com/ help/us/ysearch/ deletions/ deletions- 04.html
- Yahoo content guidelines
http://help. yahoo.com/ help/us/ysearch/ deletions/ index.html
- AskJeeves / Teoma terms of service and spam policy
http://about. ask.com/en/ docs/about/ terms_of_ service.shtml
- AskJeeves / Teoma editorial guidelines
http://about. ask.com/en/ docs/about/ editorial_ guidelines. shtml
2) Avoid Spamming the Search Engines
Often, webmasters will use search engine spam techniques without even
being aware that they are doing so. Or worse, web designers can –
advertently or inadvertently - integrate techniques that could cause a
site to be penalized in the site's rankings in one or more engines,
without the site owner's knowledge of such penalties. The key to
avoiding spamming the engines is research.
Keep track of the various search engine guidelines via the links
above. Watch for any changes they make to these guidelines and tweak
your site accordingly. Trawl the various webmaster and search engine
forums regularly to ensure your site doesn't use any of the latest
methods that appear to be penalized. If you suspect your site has been
penalized, remove the offending content, contact the engine concerned
and ask to be reinstated.
Google actually encourage you to file a re-inclusion request via their
Help Center -
http://www.google. com/support/ bin/request. py - and this
post
http://www.mattcutt s.com/blog/ reinclusion- request-howto/ by
Google staffer Matt Cutts outlines what should be included.
Alternatively, here is a sample email template you can use instead:
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
Sample Re-inclusion Request Email
Dear [search engine name],
I am the owner of [your site URL].
I did not realize that participation in [spammy method] and
[spammy SEO name] programs could cause problems for my website. I was
assured that these techniques were search-engine- friendly by [your
source for using spammy method].
I now understand that the practices used are not acceptable. I
apologize for having allowed them to be placed on my website. I've
removed the questionable pages and links from the site. I promise not
to repeat such mistakes.
I am asking you to please consider reinstating my website,
[your site URL] into the [search engine name] Index.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -
To assist them to provide a high quality service, search engines
encourage people to report search results they are dissatisfied with.
If you spot some content spam or techniques that are clearly in breach
of the search engine's public guidelines, you can report it using
these links:
- Google spam report or via
search-quality@ google.com
http://www.google. com/contact/ spamreport. html
- AllTheWeb relevancy problem report (AllTheWeb is a Yahoo-owned company)
http://www.allthewe b.com/info/ contact/relevanc y
- AltaVista search results manipulation report (or via Yahoo's spam
report)
http://www.altavist a.com/help/ contact/search
- Yahoo spam report
http://help. yahoo.com/ help/us/ysearch/ deletions/ deletions- 06.html
- AskJeeves spam report or via
information@ ask.com
http://webk. ask.com/contactu s
3) Build Sites for Visitors Rather than Search Engines
The methodologies may have changed over the years, but the same
principles have always applied to "good" or "white hat" SEO. Build
sites for humans, not search engines. Make the site as user friendly
as possible, avoid the bells and whistles and include high quality,
relevant content.
Wherever possible, include text-based content and navigation menus
with simple, descriptive, well-written copy designed to convert your
visitors into customers. Include keywords and phrases your audience
would logically type in to search engines to find sites like yours.
Only link to sites that are relevant to your target audience and spend
some time on usability, making sure all your forms and shopping carts
work.
Remember that what pleases a visitor is almost always what pleases a
search engine too.
------------ --------- ------
Article by Kalena Jordan, one of the first search engine optimization
experts in Australia, who is well known and respected in the industry,
particularly in the U.S. As well as running her own SEO business,
Kalena manages Search Engine College -
http://www.searchen ginecollege. com - an online training institution
offering instructor-led short courses and downloadable self-study
courses in Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing
subjects.
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Read More Search Engine Placement Tips and Articles at :
Make Your Own Website
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