How to use keywords and phrases for website SEO ( Part II)

The previous post defined SEO and explained the selection of keywords and phrases which I have abbreviated "keys."

Elevate keywords and phrases

Once the keys have been identified, place them in your website where search engine programs will scan and index your website.

If you are not familiar with HTML, tag names like title, alt descriptions, and headings may be confusing. Study your website template program to find options to alter the tags without analyzing the HTML code.

Places to use keys to improve SEO ranking

1. Include them in your title. The title can extend 70 – 75 characters.

2.  Compose a meta description using the keys. This should be a nice paragraph of 30-40 words.

3. Use keys in image alt descriptions. Alt descriptions provide accessibility for screen reader users. These descriptions are scanned by search engines. Images are not scanned.

4. Use keys within headings.

It makes sense that keys would make good headings for webpage content. Use headings to break up long text passages, and improve readability.

5. Use keys in hyperlinks.

To link to another webpage, don’t use “click here.” Use a description for the link. This is better website design as well as giving the search engine another look at your “keys.”

6. Use keys in URLs. The URL is the filename for a webpage. It is created when the page is created and saved.

URL Example 1:

http://www.webstudiosouth.com/vector_art.html

URL Example 2:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/05704928508060427#.UnGQWvlwqSo

Example 1 has a higher SEO ranking than example 2.

Example 2 has no recognizable words. Example 1 could be further improved by expanding words into more descriptive phrases.

If you are upgrading an existing website, file name changes should be made carefully. Any links to that page need to be updated.

7. Place keys strategically within body text.

This content needs to make sense with strategic placement of keys. Writing well for your audience should have priority over the inclusion of keys. 

Of all the keyword and phrases placement options, body text placement is the most powerful for SEO ranking.

I plan to blog more about SEO. See, it's not that mysterious!

This you tube video features a Google executive with great tips on SEO.

What is SEO and how do you do it?

Search Engine Optimization or SEO is website design that maximizes opportunities for search engine programs (some are called Googlebots) to correctly index the site subject matter, and moves the website towards the top of the search engine list for keywords or phrases. Popular search engines are Google, Bing, and Yahoo.

Select keywords and phrases

SEO starts with careful selection of keywords and phrases. This research becomes the foundation of your strategy. For the purpose of this explanation, let’s abbreviate keywords and phrases “keys.”

Produce a list of 10 to 20 keys. Use brainstorming techniques to build the list.

Then narrow down the list to 3-5 keys by performing web searches or interviewing website users.  There are online tools that provide search data for keywords. At this time, most of these services charge a fee or require application for a trial period. This would include wordtracker.com, keyword planner at adwords.google.com or keyworddiscovery.com. If you use these tools, the number of searches by keyword and phrases can help finalize your list.

My next blog entry will explain where to use your keywords and phrases (keys) in your website for SEO.

This you tube video offers a simple definition for SEO.

No Tools Menu with Excel 2007

I was following an Excel exercise in The Complete Idiot's Guide to Statistics* with instructions to use the data analysis option under the tools menu.

I didn't have a tools menu on my version of Excel (2007).

This is the procedure for finding the data analysis option:

Click the home button

Choose Excel options

Under add ins select add analysis tool

Click go

Now you can find data analysis under the data tab.

Of course, if the data analysis option was loaded previously, it would already be under the data tab.

*By Robert A. Donnelly, Jr., Ph.D. (2nd edition)
This is a fabulous statistics book, and it's very funny!

Deceptive mailing on Domain Renewal

I received a deceptive mailer requesting payment to continue my domain name. Upon closer inspection, Domain Registry of America is not the company responsible for my domain registry.

The official appearance of this mailing has lead to domain owners making payment to this company and unknowingly changing their registry.

This practice has been reported in another blog  in 2010. The mailer claims low registration prices, but they are higher than usual.

The Buffalo, New York, Better Business Bureau has several complaints against Domain Registry of America for this type mailer. They have been given a "F" rating.

If you receive this type mailer, throw it away.

Advertising on this blog supports my writing. By clicking an ad, you are under no obligation to buy. If you see an advertisement of interest, please click.

Marketing in Web Design

In a face-to-face business website like an ice cream shop or car lot, it’s important to include a photo. This allows the potential customer to preview the storefront. Then they can visualize themselves going to the business.

How to Download a New Font to your Computer

1.Select and download a font from a font website.

2.A zipped font file will appear in your download box.

3.Move the zipped file to a folder on your desktop called ”downloaded fonts.”

4.Right click zipped file and select extract all. Choose a folder called “fonts” to extract the files to.

5.Open your computer’s font file in Windows by going to control panel> appearance and personalization > fonts.

6.Drag the extracted font file to the computer font file.

Advertising on this blog supports my writing. By clicking an ad, you are under no obligation to buy. If you see an advertisement of interest, please click.

The Job Search

Tips for Finding the Perfect Job

1. Define the Perfect Job for you. You can waste time chasing a job opening that’s a long commute or way below your salary requirements. If there are aspects of a job that you hate, add those to your description of what to avoid in the perfect job. Once you have your list for the perfect job, identify aspects you can and cannot compromise on. You may enter a company in a position that transitions to your “perfect” job.

2. Take advantage of any networking opportunities. Join associations, take classes, and attend workshops. Try to initiate discussions about companies that are hiring, staffing agencies being utilized, and work conditions.  If you get out and talk to people, job opportunities will present themselves.

3. Keep your resume updated. Prepare an email version with working links, and a paper version. Keep a file with paper copies in your car just in case you meet a contact unexpectedly.

Also, you should have different versions of your resume for different positions. Examples would be a resume for a web design firm and a resume for a sales position at a software company.

Don’t miss any opportunities to have your resume critiqued. Keep perfecting it.

4. Keep your portfolio updated. Feature your newest, best work. 

5. If the hiring market is slow, keep training. If you learn about job requirements you don’t meet, consider training to improve your hiring prospects down the line.

Here’s an interesting website on the job search:

http://www.workcoachcafe.com/2009/09/08/how-to-find-the-perfect-job-in-10-agonizing-steps/

Accuweather Gadget Installs Easily

I had another opportunity to install a weather gadget on one of my websites. I followed the instructions in my May 25, 2012 blog and was rewarded with a weather information-packed site.

This is the 630 X 440 size with the Seasons Spring 1 background (jpg image of the web page).

Weather Forecast | Weather Maps

Above is the 180 X 150 size with the Basic Colors Gold background (actual gadget html on blog).

Thanks net Weather!

Publishing a swf file to a website using Dreamweaver 5.5

In my Multimedia course, we produced several projects using Adobe Flash Professional. We were required to put those projects on a webpage using the school server and the Dreamweaver FTP interface.

I learned there are some special steps to make your Flash project display correctly.

Insert> Media> SWF

Click the above sequence when your cursor is in the correct location[where you want the flash project displayed] in either the code or display view.

Dreamweaver prompts you to select the SWF file and an accessibility description. Then Dreamweaver inserts the file with coding.

If you try to preview in a browser, the project will not display correctly.  There is an error given:

My instructor told me to delete the script coding added by Dreamweaver and then it will display.  There was a script code in the head and several lines at the bottom of the body html.  Look for the <script> and </script>, and delete all that code.

I do not know why this fixes the problem, but it was invaluable.