seo posts - idmontie's Portfolio

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    children: [_jsx(_components.p, {
      children: "This post was originally on a blog I started for creating web applications. This post goes into SEO considerations for web applications."
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      children: "Use Search Engine Friendly URLs"
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      children: "Use Hashbangs for Dynamic Content When You Normally Use Hashes"
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      children: ["If you normally use the hash ", _jsx(_components.code, {
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      children: "Use Push State If You Can"
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    }), "\n", _jsx(_components.h2, {
      children: "Use Descriptive Links"
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      children: "When creating links, refrain from using \"this\" or \"click here\" or similar phrases for your links.  Link descriptions should be descriptive."
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      children: "Have an XML Sitemap"
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      children: ["Have a ", _jsx(_components.a, {
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      children: ["Create a ", _jsx(_components.a, {
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      children: "Have robots.txt Configured Properly"
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      children: ["Set your ", _jsx(_components.a, {
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      children: "Read the Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide"
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        children: "Create unique, accurate page titles. These titles are displayed in the search results. Titles reflect what is on each individual page."
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        children: "Use the description meta tag. Google will use them as snippets for your pages."
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        children: ["Use simple to understand (ie \"friendly\") URLs.  URLs should contain relevant words. ", _jsx(_components.code, {
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      }), "\n", _jsx(_components.li, {
        children: "Navigation is very important for search engines.  Think of you website as folders that should be easy to navigate.  Use breadcrumbs!"
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        children: ["Use ", _jsx(_components.a, {
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        children: ["Checkout the ", _jsx(_components.a, {
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      children: ["\n", _jsx(_components.li, {
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        children: ["If you use User-agents to generate your mobile site, make sure to allow ", _jsx(_components.code, {
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      }), "\n", _jsx(_components.li, {
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    }), "\n", _jsx(_components.h3, {
      children: "Promotions and Analysis"
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        children: "Backlinks increase the value of your site ( backlinks are links that other people post to your site)."
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        children: "Know how to utilize your social media sites."
      }), "\n", _jsx(_components.li, {
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<p>This post was originally on a blog I started for creating web applications. This post goes into SEO considerations for web applications.</p>
<h2>Use Search Engine Friendly URLs</h2>
<p>Use <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_URL">semantic URLs</a>.  Semantic URLs help improve usability and accessibility of a website.  The following table from the Wikipedia entry illistrates how to use semantic URLs:</p>
<table><thead><tr><th>Non-semantic URL</th><th>Semantic URL</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><code>http://example.com/index.php?page=name</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/name</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/index.php?page=consulting/marketing</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/consulting/marketing</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/products?category=2&amp;pid=25</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/products/2/25</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/cgi-bin/feed.cgi?feed=news&amp;frm=rss</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/news.rss</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/services/index.jsp?category=legal&amp;id=patents</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/services/legal/patents</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/kb/index.php?cat=8&amp;id=41</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/kb/8/41</code></td></tr><tr><td><code>http://example.com/index.php?mod=profiles&amp;id=193</code></td><td><code>http://example.com/profiles/193</code></td></tr></tbody></table>
<h2>Use Hashbangs for Dynamic Content When You Normally Use Hashes</h2>
<p>If you normally use the hash <code>#</code> character for dynamic content, change it to the hashbang <code>#!</code>.  This allows googlebot to use <code>#_REQUEST[&quot;_escaped_fragment_&quot;]</code> instead of <code>#!</code>.</p>
<h2>Use Push State If You Can</h2>
<p>If the user is using Firefox or Chromium, you can use <code>history.pushState( object, pageName, &quot;./?param=1&quot;);</code> so that the address bar changes, but the page does not reload.  This allows you to use <code>?</code> instead of <code>#!</code> to keep dynamic content.</p>
<h2>Use Descriptive Links</h2>
<p>When creating links, refrain from using &quot;this&quot; or &quot;click here&quot; or similar phrases for your links.  Link descriptions should be descriptive.</p>
<h2>Have an XML Sitemap</h2>
<blockquote class="border-l-4 border-gray-300 pl-4">
<p>Sitemaps are an easy way for webmasters to inform search engines about pages on their sites that are available for crawling.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Have a <a href="http://www.sitemaps.org/">sitemap</a> at <code>/sitemap.xml</code> for search engines to crawl.</p>
<p>Have a <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/178636">image sitemap</a> for your images!</p>
<p>Create a <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/topic/2370586?rd=1">mobile sitemap</a>!</p>
<h2>Use Canonical URLs For Duplicate Content</h2>
<p>Use <code>&lt;link rel=&quot;canonical&quot; ... /&gt;</code> when you have duplicate content on multiple pages. Remember, multiple URLs that point to the same content coint as dusplicate content. Also remember that <code>?page=1&amp;subject=my-subject</code> and <code>?subject=my-subject&amp;page=1</code> are different pages to web crawlers!</p>
<h2>Setup Webmaster Tools</h2>
<p>Use <a href="http://www.google.com/webmasters/">Google Webmaster Tools</a> and <a href="http://www.bing.com/toolbox/webmaster">Bing Webmaster Tools</a>.</p>
<h2>Setup Google Analytics</h2>
<p>Have <a href="http://www.google.com/analytics/">Google Analytics</a> set up.  Or something like <a href="http://piwik.org/">Piwik</a>.</p>
<h2>Have robots.txt Configured Properly</h2>
<p>Set your <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_exclusion_standard">robots.txt</a> file properly.  Each subdomain must have its own robots.txt file.</p>
<h2>301 Redirect for WWW Requests</h2>
<p><code>www.example.com</code> or <code>example.com</code> should be your primary domain, not both. Have one 301 Redirect (Moved Permanently) to the other.</p>
<h2>Read the Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide</h2>
<p>The <a href="http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf">starter guide is viewable here</a>.</p>
<h3>The Basics</h3>
<ul>
<li>Create unique, accurate page titles. These titles are displayed in the search results. Titles reflect what is on each individual page.</li>
<li>Use the description meta tag. Google will use them as snippets for your pages.</li>
<li>Use simple to understand (ie &quot;friendly&quot;) URLs.  URLs should contain relevant words. <code>http://mysite.com/article/basket-ball-scores</code> is a friendly URL.</li>
<li>Navigation is very important for search engines.  Think of you website as folders that should be easy to navigate.  Use breadcrumbs!</li>
<li>Use <a href="#have-an-xml-sitemap">sitemaps</a>!  Prepare one for users and one for search engines.</li>
<li>Use 404s when necessary.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Improving Site Structure</h3>
<ul>
<li>Create a naturally flowing hierarchy.</li>
<li>Avoid having all navigation based entirely on dropdown menus.  Your website should be accessible, pages should be conntected with normal text links.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Optimizing Content</h3>
<ul>
<li>Create compelling and useful content.</li>
<li>Offer unique and exclusive content.</li>
<li>Checkout the <a href="https://adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner">Keyword Planner</a> by Google AdWords.</li>
<li>Write easy-to-read text.  Don&#x27;t embed text in images</li>
<li>Create fresh content.</li>
<li>Create content for users, not for search engines.</li>
<li>Write good anchor text: <code>&lt;a href=&quot;...&quot;&gt;Top Ten Basketball Shots&lt;/a&gt;</code> is a descriptive link.</li>
<li>Use <code>alt</code> tags on your images! This also helps with accessibility.</li>
<li>Use descriptive filenames for your images and assets!</li>
<li>Supply an <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/178636">image sitemap file</a>!</li>
<li>Use heading tags correctly!  <code>&lt;h1&gt;</code> is the most important. <code>&lt;h6&gt;</code> is the least important.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Dealing with Crawlers</h3>
<ul>
<li>Restrict crawling with robots.txt.</li>
<li>Use <code>rel=&quot;nofollow&quot;</code> when necessary for links. Normally, user generated links through comment systems should be tagged with nofollow.</li>
</ul>
<h3>SEO for Mobile Phones</h3>
<ul>
<li>Configure mobiles sites so that they can be indexed accurately.</li>
<li>Create a <a href="https://support.google.com/webmasters/topic/2370586?rd=1">mobile sitemap</a>!</li>
<li>If you use User-agents to generate your mobile site, make sure to allow <code>Googlebot-Mobile</code>!</li>
<li>If you use a seperate domain for your mobile app, redirect them to the correct page!</li>
</ul>
<h3>Promotions and Analysis</h3>
<ul>
<li>Backlinks increase the value of your site ( backlinks are links that other people post to your site).</li>
<li>Know how to utilize your social media sites.</li>
<li>Utilize the Google Webmaster Tools.</li>
</ul>


This post was originally on a blog I started for creating web applications. This post goes into SEO considerations for web applications.

## Use Search Engine Friendly URLs

Use [semantic URLs](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semantic_URL).  Semantic URLs help improve usability and accessibility of a website.  The following table from the Wikipedia entry illistrates how to use semantic URLs:

| Non-semantic URL                                                | Semantic URL                              |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|
| `http://example.com/index.php?page=name`                          | `http://example.com/name`                   |
| `http://example.com/index.php?page=consulting/marketing`          | `http://example.com/consulting/marketing`   |
| `http://example.com/products?category=2&pid=25`                   | `http://example.com/products/2/25`          |
| `http://example.com/cgi-bin/feed.cgi?feed=news&frm=rss`           | `http://example.com/news.rss`               |
| `http://example.com/services/index.jsp?category=legal&id=patents` | `http://example.com/services/legal/patents` |
| `http://example.com/kb/index.php?cat=8&id=41`                     | `http://example.com/kb/8/41`                |
| `http://example.com/index.php?mod=profiles&id=193`                | `http://example.com/profiles/193`           |

## Use Hashbangs for Dynamic Content When You Normally Use Hashes

If you normally use the hash `#` character for dynamic content, change it to the hashbang `#!`.  This allows googlebot to use `#_REQUEST["_escaped_fragment_"]` instead of `#!`.

## Use Push State If You Can

If the user is using Firefox or Chromium, you can use `history.pushState( object, pageName, "./?param=1");` so that the address bar changes, but the page does not reload.  This allows you to use `?` instead of `#!` to keep dynamic content.

## Use Descriptive Links

When creating links, refrain from using "this" or "click here" or similar phrases for your links.  Link descriptions should be descriptive.

## Have an XML Sitemap

> Sitemaps are an easy way for webmasters to inform search engines about pages on their sites that are available for crawling.

Have a [sitemap](http://www.sitemaps.org/) at `/sitemap.xml` for search engines to crawl.

Have a [image sitemap](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/178636) for your images!

Create a [mobile sitemap](https://support.google.com/webmasters/topic/2370586?rd=1)!

## Use Canonical URLs For Duplicate Content

Use `<link rel="canonical" ... />` when you have duplicate content on multiple pages. Remember, multiple URLs that point to the same content coint as dusplicate content. Also remember that `?page=1&subject=my-subject` and `?subject=my-subject&page=1` are different pages to web crawlers!

## Setup Webmaster Tools

Use [Google Webmaster Tools](http://www.google.com/webmasters/) and [Bing Webmaster Tools](http://www.bing.com/toolbox/webmaster).

## Setup Google Analytics

Have [Google Analytics](http://www.google.com/analytics/) set up.  Or something like [Piwik](http://piwik.org/).

## Have robots.txt Configured Properly

Set your [robots.txt](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robots_exclusion_standard) file properly.  Each subdomain must have its own robots.txt file.

## 301 Redirect for WWW Requests

`www.example.com` or `example.com` should be your primary domain, not both. Have one 301 Redirect (Moved Permanently) to the other.

## Read the Search Engine Optimization Starter Guide

The [starter guide is viewable here](http://static.googleusercontent.com/external_content/untrusted_dlcp/www.google.com/en/us/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf).

### The Basics

- Create unique, accurate page titles. These titles are displayed in the search results. Titles reflect what is on each individual page.
- Use the description meta tag. Google will use them as snippets for your pages.
- Use simple to understand (ie "friendly") URLs.  URLs should contain relevant words. `http://mysite.com/article/basket-ball-scores` is a friendly URL.
- Navigation is very important for search engines.  Think of you website as folders that should be easy to navigate.  Use breadcrumbs!
- Use [sitemaps](#have-an-xml-sitemap)!  Prepare one for users and one for search engines.
- Use 404s when necessary.

### Improving Site Structure

- Create a naturally flowing hierarchy.
- Avoid having all navigation based entirely on dropdown menus.  Your website should be accessible, pages should be conntected with normal text links.

### Optimizing Content

- Create compelling and useful content.
- Offer unique and exclusive content.
- Checkout the [Keyword Planner](https://adwords.google.com/KeywordPlanner) by Google AdWords.
- Write easy-to-read text.  Don't embed text in images
- Create fresh content.
- Create content for users, not for search engines.
- Write good anchor text: `<a href="...">Top Ten Basketball Shots</a>` is a descriptive link.
- Use `alt` tags on your images! This also helps with accessibility.
- Use descriptive filenames for your images and assets!
- Supply an [image sitemap file](https://support.google.com/webmasters/answer/178636)!
- Use heading tags correctly!  `<h1>` is the most important. `<h6>` is the least important.

### Dealing with Crawlers

- Restrict crawling with robots.txt.
- Use `rel="nofollow"` when necessary for links. Normally, user generated links through comment systems should be tagged with nofollow.

### SEO for Mobile Phones

- Configure mobiles sites so that they can be indexed accurately.
- Create a [mobile sitemap](https://support.google.com/webmasters/topic/2370586?rd=1)!
- If you use User-agents to generate your mobile site, make sure to allow `Googlebot-Mobile`!
- If you use a seperate domain for your mobile app, redirect them to the correct page!

### Promotions and Analysis

- Backlinks increase the value of your site ( backlinks are links that other people post to your site).
- Know how to utilize your social media sites.
- Utilize the Google Webmaster Tools.
