Using Meta Tags and Keywords for Internet MarketingSearch Engine Optimization: Best HTMP meta tags and keywordsUse meta tags and keywords as "key" words and phrases in your web page. This will help search engines determine the subject or topic of your page. Your Internet marketing will prosper when you rank high on the search engine results. Key words should appear in your html meta tags and on your Web page frequently enough so that the search engine can properly index and rank your page among all the other Web pages. The rules used by each search engine to examine your page and rank it are unique, and secret. Our knowledge about these rules comes from observing the results of many searches. By looking at top ranking pages, we can make a good guess as to what qualities of a Web page a search engine thinks is important. HTML meta tags contain words and phrases. Use the best key words in the TITLE, the META KEYWORDS and META DESCRIPTION. They are placed in comments and the ALT text of images. They are placed in the body of your Web page. Your objective is to optimize the placement and frequency of key words and phrases so your page will be ranked as high as possible in search results. Where to Put Your Important KeywordsPlace Keywords in the TITLE and Meta TagsPlace keywords at the top of your web page, before the <BODY> tag. Here is an example optimized for the keywords "best keywords".
Notice that the "keywords" meta tag has our key words in several cases. Some search engines use exactly what the user entered. When someone enters "BEST KEYWORDS" the search engine looks for these words exactly as they appeared in your meta tags. Someone else may capitalize the first letter of each word: "Best Keywords". You can help search engines to rank your page highly if you include these variations of the key words. The "keywords" meta tag is for search engines only. Those who view your Web page will not see what you place there. So... ... consider that some people may not spell you key words or phrases correctly. Include some common misspellings of your keywords in this tag. Place Keywords in the HeadingsKeywords should also be prominent in the headings (<H1>, <H2>, etc.). These headings are often considered more important than the text of your page. In the <BODY> of your page, you may want to repeat your title as your first heading:
This results in the following: Best Keywords
|
|
<CENTER>
<H2>Best Keyword Optimization</H2> </CENTER> |
Place Keywords in the Comments
Some search engines also examine any comments in your page.
Comments are used to document the HTML source of your page. Comments that contain your key words and phrases give assurance that this is the subject of the page.
An HTML comment looks like this:
<!-- best keywords target your customer -->
Comments can go anywhere within your HTML.
Place Keywords in Image ALT Text
When you pass your mouse over images on a Web page, a little box of text may pop up. This box of text is the ALT text. Also, browsers with image display turned off will only see the ALT text, not the actual image.
Scroll to the top of this page and pass your mouse over the "Interesting Information" and "Selling on the Web" portions of the header. The little text boxes that pop up are the ALT text used in defining the images.
Here's an example of how to include ALT text when defining the image.
<IMG SRC="myimage.gif" ALT="Best keyword placement helps your pages rank high">
The ALT text does not need to flow smoothly. You're not writing to win an essay contest. You're writing to make some sense to the Web use and especially the search engine.
So, include one or even several of your key words or phrases in your ALT text.
Place Keywords in the Links
Web pages about a topic should have links to other resources dealing with that topic. That's what the search engines think.
So, you may want to include links (even to more of your own pages) with your key words or phases as the link text.
Here is an example of linking to another page on the same site.
<A HREF="nextpage.htm">Best keyword optimization</A>
If you can link to several pages on your own site using your key words you'll accomplish several important tasks:
- Your page will rank higher with search engines.
- Search engine spiders will find your other pages.
This gives your Web site a double boost.
Place Keywords in the Body Text
Perhaps we've saved the best for last.
The text is where you discuss your subject at length.
There are several key points to keep in mind in writing the text of your Web page:
- Use your key words and phrases more in the first half of your text. Most search engines consider what you discuss first as more important than what comes later.
- Use your key words and phrases at the beginning of your paragraphs.
But, you may be using your key words too often. You can creatively replace a key word or phrase with another word or phase with the same meaning.
And the next question is, "How often is just right?"
That depends on the search engine. In general, if your key words account for 3 - 10 percent of your body text you should be OK. Much less and they won't be seen as important. Much more and you'll be seen as trying to trick the search engine.
But, 3 - 10 percent is still quite a range.
Yes, and now our goal is ...
Making Your Job Simple
You may be asking "How often should I repeat my key words and phrases for each search engine?"
That's a very good question. And the answer is...
"It depends."
What? It depends!
Yes, each search engine looks at your page a bit different. When you optimize a page for one search engine, you may reduce your ranking for another search engine.
And, not only that. But, search engines change their ranking rules over time. So you'll need to keep up with each search engine.
If this all seems a bit complicated, it is. At least it is if you do it manually.
Fortunately, programs exist that can help you craft your pages to please the search engines. To see one, examine the search engine submission features of Web Position Gold.
The product I use for designing and submitting pages is Web Position Gold. You can download a working trial copy for free. Examine it to see if it meets your needs. You'll find it does everything you need and more.
Download your free evaluation copy today. Just Click Here.
Web Position Gold is the tool that helps you place keywords in the right places with the right density.
But, there is still the nagging question: "Which keywords should I use?"
There is a hundred to one difference between the key phrases "web site design" and "web site promotion". Both look good, but which is better and why?
Now it's time to look at RULE 1 for choosing keywords.
Copyright © 2001 Robert Sherman
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