Search Engine Tips

For the purpose of these tips a search engine is something like google. It scans the web for sites to include in its index. It will follow links and find new sites all on its own. A directory (such as Yahoo) includes sites one at a time, with a human being looking at each site.

You can learn a lot about different types of search engines at Search Engine Watch.

On key words... A keyword is simply a phrase someone searches on. So if I want to build a helpful unix site then my primary keyword might be unix tutorials.

1. Put your keyword/key phrase in the title tag of your page. It can be the only thing there, or you can make a complete sentence out of it. The title is also what appears in your bookmarks list. So a good title will help people remember you when they bookmark your site.

2. Google doesn't care what you put in the description tag, but other engines do. Put in a sentence which tells the viewer why the heck they should visit your site. What's in it for them?

3. Google doesn't care about what's in your keywords tag, but the other engines might. Put in a few words and phrases appropriate to your page. Include common mis-spellings.

4. Your primary keyword/phrase should appear in the headline at the top of your page.

5. Skip the graphics and banners. Write a page that's cool and interesting and is appropriate to your keywords. So if your keyword is cell phones write a cool, informative page about cell phones.

6. Skip the java, javascript, heavy graphics, etc.

7. Links to your page, either from your other pages or from other sites, should contain your keyword.

8. Any graphics should have keywords in the alt tag. This will help describe the image.

9. Links from your page should also contain your keywords.

10. Don't use your keywords too many times on a page. How do you tell? If it starts to read badly, then you've used it too much.

1. Please email additional sites, redirected/broken link info,
   suggestions & questions to: webmaster@unixtools.com

2. Free Computer-Related Freebies - Free Software,
   ISP access, email, webmaster goodies, and fun stuff.

3. Search for Unix books on Amazon.com
4. Get Expert Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Business Online

Pages are © Copyright 1998-2003 by UnixTools.com