Topic: Meta tags and Keywords
Wiggio: |
Ginger Marks has joined the chat. |
Ginger M: |
Welcome to Networking 101 |
Ginger M: |
Our topic today is meta tags and keywords |
SandyM: |
Ginger Marks has joined the chat. |
SandyM |
hi |
Ginger M: |
lol |
Ginger M: |
hi. looks like everyone will be Ginger M today! |
SandyM |
am just listening, k |
Ginger M: |
k |
SandyM |
working too |
Ginger M: |
We are going to chat about meta tags and keywords |
Ginger M: |
Do you have any knowledge of them? |
SandyM |
i don t |
SandyM |
why can't i hearc u |
Ginger M: |
Meta tags are hidden parts of your web page that are used by robots, like Google, and how you list your keywords. |
Ginger M: |
this is a text only room |
Wiggio: |
Ginger Marks has joined the chat. |
Miss Bea |
Hi Ginger...are you still here ? |
Sandy M |
Hi there |
Miss Bea |
Bea Kunz |
Ginger M: |
We have another Ginger M |
Miss Bea |
lol |
Ginger M: |
Yeah! Miss Bea made it |
Miss Bea |
Any seats left? *smile* |
Ginger M: |
Always room for you! |
Miss Bea |
Another Ginger M...hmmmm... |
Ginger M: |
I have never used this room before so I didn't know everyone would come in as me. |
Ginger M: |
with my login |
Ginger M: |
There is a room here that offers virtual chatroom too |
Ginger M: |
but for us, for now, the text only I think may work |
Miss Bea |
So I see...always things to work out with something new. |
Ginger M: |
I'll just have to figure out how to get everyone their own login, it looks like. :D |
Ginger M: |
When I first began my online business, I honestly thought that the moment I uploaded my Web site to the host it would magically appear on every search engine in existence. Some of you are giggling. Others are saying, "You mean it doesn't"? No... it doesn't. |
Ginger M: |
Did you think that way too? |
Miss Bea |
I know about Meta tags and such but not real up on how to utilize them...Nessa does all that for me. Always willing to earn something though. |
Miss Bea |
Correction-Learn |
Ginger M: |
Too bad she's not her to help in the discussion. |
Ginger M: |
I am, by no means, a guru. |
Ginger M: |
Let me try to explain. In one way, search engines operate in a similar fashion to your telephone directory. They both list companies by category. When you got your business telephone number you were probably asked what category you wanted to be listed under. Search engines use much the same logic. Rather than categories, they use keywords. |
Miss Bea |
I just checked into WIN and saw your post, she may not have seen it. |
Miss Bea |
That's an easy thought to grasp. |
Ginger M: |
When we first begin our exploration of keywords, we think to ourselves, what keywords should I use? We know our business and what it's about. But... |
SandyM |
hope u r saving this |
Ginger M: |
actually, we need to think like the people we want to attract. |
Ginger M: |
You must consider which keywords your site visitors will use to find you and then incorporate those words into your Web site tags and - more importantly - your copy. |
Ginger M: |
Yes, your keywords, don't just belong in the hidden meta tag. |
Miss Bea |
is a title used for key words? |
Miss Bea |
Ginger, should these words be changed on a regular schedule ? |
Ginger M: |
Would your visitor use it to find you? I |
Ginger M: |
If not, I say no. |
Ginger M: |
changing keywords is not necessarily a good thing. |
Ginger M: |
If you find keywords that work, keep them, if not, change them. |
Ginger M: |
You see when you are searching out what keywords to use, you have to find out who is using your keywords and how. |
Miss Bea |
Makes sense. |
Ginger M: |
If you can't make your site perform better with those keywords than they are using, selected a different keyword. |
Ginger M: |
It will do you no good to choose a generic keyword, be specific. |
Ginger M: |
I have been informed that when you use a keyword phrase you are more closely resembling a buying customer, versus a more generic keyword for a looker. |
Miss Bea |
Knowing what I offer, what do you think would be some real keywords being used by searchers ? |
Ginger M: |
So, if you want to attract real customers and not just lookers, make your keywords work for you by using words and phrases that the customer would use. Not what you think it should be. |
Ginger M: |
Try to use misspellings too. |
Ginger M: |
Often misspelled words, sometimes will give you good results. |
Ginger M: |
If your site deals with dog grooming, the key phrases could be: dog grooming, pet grooming, dog bathing, grooming and boarding. |
Miss Bea |
I don't get howmisspelled words could benefit one. |
Ginger M: |
Once you've decided on your keywords, where the heck do you put them? As a Web copywriter, I've learned that the words I wrote had a direct bearing on my client's search engine success. That meant I had to write a message that made an emotional connection with the target audience, promoted the product or service AND included the necessary keywords that would help get them good rankings. Whew! |
Ginger M: |
ok, let's say that you know that your keyword is fragrance. But you know that people often misspell it. |
Ginger M: |
You can then put fragrence in your keywords, and those people who spell it wrong can then find you |
Ginger M: |
You aren't competing with such a generic keyword as the correct spelling. |
Ginger M: |
So this let's you pull more traffic. |
Ginger M: |
However, don't and I repeat DON'T use the misspellings in your copy! |
Miss Bea |
Are you talking about words that will show on ones website or hidden words. |
Ginger M: |
This makes you look like a dolt! |
Ginger M: |
Do you understand now, Miss Bea? |
Miss Bea |
Got it.. |
Ginger M: |
:) |
Ginger M: |
Let me tell you what I've found that works. These very basic guidelines will help you get more mileage out of your keywords. |
Ginger M: |
Most Importantly - Include keywords in your copy. Of course, you'll need to use your keywords within your copy. Excellent places for keywords include: the very top of the page (above your logo), the headline, sub headlines, the first paragraph, and the last paragraph. And don't forget your images! |
Miss Bea |
Be righ back...doorbell |
Ginger M: |
Name them with applicable keywords and then add them to the 'alt' tags. |
Ginger M: |
k |
Ginger M: |
the alt tag is the title of your image that people who turn off images see, or if you happen to have a broken image link, everyone sees instead of the image. |
Ginger M: |
do instead of naming your image, image1.jpg or something like that, name it germanshepard.jpg and then alt it German Shepard dog with beaded collar |
Ginger M: |
Make sense? |
Ginger M: |
Keep in mind that search engine spiders are stupid. They are looking for the exact keywords, not something that's close. If you really want to be listed under the key phrase of "dog groomer and border", then that specific and exact phrase must appear repeatedly throughout the copy on all pages of your site. Be sure it is included in the first paragraph, in the first sentence if at all possible. |
Ginger M: |
another way to use them is in your META tags. Whether you're using FrontPage, Dreamweaver, Go Live or any other site design program, there is a tab (usually at the bottom of the screen) that takes you to the HTML code. After you've gotten your design finished, save your page and click the HTML tab. |
Ginger M: |
The site title is what shows up in the blue bar of the browser screen. Something like "dog groomer and border offers loving care" will do. Notice it doesn't include the name of the grooming company. It includes a very short description of the business, including keywords. |
Ginger M: |
Now, we'll do something similar for the keyword and description tags. |
Ginger M: |
or the keywords description we'll type in: "dog groomer and border dog grooming, pet grooming, pet bathing, dog bathing". |
Ginger M: |
For the site description, we'll type in a short, attention-getting sentence. This is what your visitors will see when they search for your company and the listings appear on the screen. It can normally be 25 words or less. This also must include your keywords and phrases. Something along the lines of "Dog groomer and border. Our dog groomers take exceptional care of the special pet in your life." Notice it gives an advantage for using your service (you take care of the pet), as well as using three of your keywords. HINT: You can include a different site title, description and keywords for each individual page if you choose to. |
Ginger M: |
This is when you want to start using the keywords in your ALT tags, that we spoke of earlier. |
Ginger M: |
If we added a photo of a dog wagging his tail, we could include an ALT tag that says, "Dog grooming for the special pet in your life" or another phrase that includes our keywords. Because ALT tags consist of words, the search engines can read them just like they read your META tags. When they read the keywords within the tag, it increases your keyword usage and your chances of getting higher positioning. |
Ginger M: |
Include keywords in your domain name and page names. Perhaps you've found that "groomer" is your most effective keyword. You might try to get a domain name such as dog-groomer.com or groomer- and-border.com. Including keywords in your domain name gets you extra brownie points! Likewise, include keywords in all your page names. |
Ginger M: |
When you create page names that include keywords, you get an additional boost to your rankings. You might consider naming pages "special_pets" and "groomer_pricing" or "dog_services". Your URL for the pricing page would be www.dog-groomer.com/groomer_pricing.html. |
Ginger M: |
While keywords aren't the sole factor to obtaining high search engine rankings, they are the predominant factor. By placing them in these strategic areas, you will increase your chances of being found on the 'Net. |
Ginger M: |
Here's a link that you might find useful: http://www.free-webmaster-tools.com/PositionAnalyzer.htm |
Ginger M: |
and for those of you who want to learn more about meta tags and how to use them here's a couple more links you may want to investigate. |
Miss Bea |
Ginger, I'm getting a better understanding of this process. The link sounds good, will save and reread, and learn a bit more of how it all works together. |
Ginger M: |
http://www.i18nguy.com/markup/metatags.html |
Ginger M: |
http://www.searchtools.com/robots/robots-meta.html |
Ginger M: |
The last one is more specific to robots and how they work. |
Ginger M: |
Usually, you don't have to write in Robot meta tags. Just let these use the automatic defaults. |
Ginger M: |
Unless you DON'T want the robots to follow your links and visit your page often. |
Ginger M: |
Good. Glad to be able to help. |
Ginger M: |
any questions? |
Ginger M: |
We have about 15 minutes left. Would you like to do a Bust-A-Link? |
Ginger M: |
or maybe you have an announcement you would like to share. |
Miss Bea |
What is that ? |
Ginger M: |
Bust-a-Link? |
Ginger M: |
It is an opportunity to share all your website URLs. |
Miss Bea |
Yes |
Ginger M: |
www.DocUmeant.net |
Ginger M: |
www.DocUmeantDesigns.com |
Ginger M: |
www.WINningSisters.org |
Ginger M: |
www.HolidayMarketingGuide.com |
Miss Bea |
www.sagehillfarmsandvintagestore.com |
Ginger M: |
now it's your turn |
Ginger M: |
:D |
Ginger M: |
don't you have more than that Miss Bea? |
Miss Bea |
www://beasbeatitudes.blogspot.com |
Ginger M: |
:D |
Ginger M: |
Are you running any pre-holiday sales on your beautiful antique jewelry? |
Ginger M: |
Would you like to share an announcement? |
Ginger M: |
brb |
Miss Bea |
These two will take one to other places where I hang out. |
Miss Bea |
Holiday specials are in the process of being posted to the website...keep tabs. |
Miss Bea |
I'm also setting up an ebay store for discounted antique and collectible goodies |
Miss Bea |
I'll share that link as soon as it's finished. |
Ginger M: |
Congrats! sounds exciting! |
Miss Bea |
Ginger, I just sold a $ 900.00 dollar cameo on ebay. |
Ginger M: |
NOW THAT IS EXCITING!!! |
Ginger M: |
Congratulations!! |
Miss Bea |
It booked for about 1,500...but I made a good profit. |
Ginger M: |
How neat! |
Ginger M: |
So your eBay store is doing well already, and it's not even official. |
Ginger M: |
Or is it? |
Miss Bea |
A great blessing...I'm grateful, so will pass on the goodness to someone else. Who more deserving than "you." |
Ginger M: |
I love my antique pins! I get compliments on them every time I wear one. |
Miss Bea |
No, the cameo sold at auction ( ebay ) |
Ginger M: |
Well, it looks like we are running out of time. I'll send you a personal invite for next week's chat |
Ginger M: |
so you can be logged in as Miss Bea instead of Ginger M. LOL |
Ginger M: |
what email do you want me to send it to? |
Miss Bea |
The store will be stationary...no need to list so many things for auction all the time. |
Ginger M: |
ohhh. |
Ginger M: |
Now I get it. Auction, not store. |
Ginger M: |
gotcha |
Miss Bea |
beakunz(at)bellsouth.net |
Miss Bea |
Thanks for a great lesson on keywords and meta tags, etc. |
Ginger M: |
Thank you for joining me today. Hope you learned at least one thing you can implement. See you all next week. |
Ginger M: |
You are very welcome. |
Ginger M: |
Feel free to offer suggestions for topics. |
Ginger M: |
or even to be our guest speaker some time. |
Miss Bea |
I really did learn something and will pursue it further. |
Ginger M: |
Have a WINning Week! |