I’m always asked a number of questions regarding the basic elements or the nuts and bolts of optimizing a web page. This is probably a good a place as any to offer some thoughts regarding simple optimization.
Optimizing web pages for your visitors instead of spiders usually yields the best long term results. Creating web pages for your target audience will provide plenty of spider food for the search engines.
If you’re creating an eCommerce site, keep in mind that spiders don’t carry credit cards, so there’s really no need to try to over impress them.
Titles
- Your title gives search engines and potential visitors an idea of what your site is about.
- Include your primary keywords close to the beginning of your title.
- 5-9 words should suffice, additional words just dilute the importance of your primary keywords.
- Think about the search results and the titles that attract you – and the spammy ones that you avoid.
Descriptions
- Your description should be in the form of a sentence, as opposed to just a list of keywords.
- It should be between 20-25 words; a few more or a few less won’t make much difference.
- Using your primary keyword phrase will increase the chances that your description is displayed when someone searches for that phrase.
Keywords
- List your keywords in order of importance, with your primary phrase first.
- Avoid the use of unrelated keywords or phrases not actually found on your web page.
- Separate your keywords with a comma or a space.
Write your content for your visitors. It should read naturally, without the excessive use of your keywords. It’s not necessary to place a string of keywords at the bottom of your page using a text color that would be barely visible to a visitor in an attempt to convince the search engines what your web page is about. Believe me, spiders prefer a variety in their diet. Ever eat too much chocolate at one time?
You’re much better off emphasizing your main keywords near the top of the page and then sprinkling a few related phrases around.
Welcome to Phil’s Nuts and Bolts. We carry SAE nuts and bolts and metric nuts and bolts in all of the popular nuts and bolts sizes. Chrome nuts and bolts, brass nuts and bolts, stainless steel nuts and bolts and grade 8 nuts and bolts are in stock. We can also special order nuts and bolts.
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