Dear Grumblers, I was reading the archives and saw a thread about how to get your website noticed. Mike Labbe, when you return from Atlanta, do you have a list of the best keywords to include in your website copy? Thanks.
Keywords for website
- Thread starter Melinda Tennis
- Start date
Dancinbaer
SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
The keywords or "metatags" depend on your website. These are the words search engines look for. List all possible spelling of the word and include combinations of upper and lower case i.e. framing, FRAMING, Framing, PICTURE FRAMING, picture framing, Picture Framing, Melinda's Framing, MELINDA'S FRAMING, melinda's framing,..............
Jack Flynn
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
I've read its also important to be sure to give each page a good descriptive name/title. These are noticed also by search engines.
Jerry Ervin
PFG, Picture Framing God
I have become a student of Search Engine Optimization.
Before I posted I wanted to get a look at your web page but I am having trouble getting it to load.
Who does your hosting for the site and why is it so slow to load?
Before I posted I wanted to get a look at your web page but I am having trouble getting it to load.
Who does your hosting for the site and why is it so slow to load?
Keywords for websites
Thanks. That should have been obvious to me.
Thanks. That should have been obvious to me.
Dear Jerry, I think 'cause it's cheap. I'll ask my host.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
There is an entry for each page (written in HTML or as part of an application that creates web pages for you, DreamWeaver, FrontPage, etc), called Title.
This entry looks like this:
<Title>
Your key words go here
</Title>
This is where you list the things that you want the search engine to find (custom framing, your town, mats, custom mirrors, etc) But don't go overboard, otherwise you may get the exact opposite result: Some search engines (Google) hate propaganda in Titles! And not bigger than say 256 characters. It's for a selection of good key words, nothing else.
For example:
XYZ art gallery and framing in Mytown, NY specializes in custom framing, shadow boxes, mats, art restoration and custom mirrors.
Upper case is irrelevant, lower is totally OK in the title area.
Each page has a title so add the other relevant stuff to the other pages (assuming your website has more than 1 page).
It takes Google about 3 months to start finding your website (after you have submitted your website to Google), so be patient. And after that it will still need some tweaking. Yahoo and MSN will start finding your website a bit faster.
Also submit it to MSN and Yahoo search engines. I have done exactly what I described above and now get excellent results with all above mentioned search engines (usually first / second search result) .
Many will say that for Google to find you and to rank your website depends on your website being linked to from many other websites; while true, I managed that with few links actually. Keywords are as important.
PS: Once you're happy with the website and the search results, keep modifying it slightly and occasionally. Otherwise, Some search engines will think it's dead and stop looking for it!
This entry looks like this:
<Title>
Your key words go here
</Title>
This is where you list the things that you want the search engine to find (custom framing, your town, mats, custom mirrors, etc) But don't go overboard, otherwise you may get the exact opposite result: Some search engines (Google) hate propaganda in Titles! And not bigger than say 256 characters. It's for a selection of good key words, nothing else.
For example:
XYZ art gallery and framing in Mytown, NY specializes in custom framing, shadow boxes, mats, art restoration and custom mirrors.
Upper case is irrelevant, lower is totally OK in the title area.
Each page has a title so add the other relevant stuff to the other pages (assuming your website has more than 1 page).
It takes Google about 3 months to start finding your website (after you have submitted your website to Google), so be patient. And after that it will still need some tweaking. Yahoo and MSN will start finding your website a bit faster.
Also submit it to MSN and Yahoo search engines. I have done exactly what I described above and now get excellent results with all above mentioned search engines (usually first / second search result) .
Many will say that for Google to find you and to rank your website depends on your website being linked to from many other websites; while true, I managed that with few links actually. Keywords are as important.
PS: Once you're happy with the website and the search results, keep modifying it slightly and occasionally. Otherwise, Some search engines will think it's dead and stop looking for it!
Jerry Ervin
PFG, Picture Framing God
Keywords in the meta tag field are not as important to Google as they are all the other search engines.
Google checks for word density on the page itself. So in our industry somehow on the main page you need to get 'frame' & 'picture framing' & 'art' on there at least 7 times each.
I even used hidden words on my page. It shot me up to #1 on Live Search, AOL, ASK, and Yahoo but didn't budge my ranking on Google.
My web page was #1 on Google with my Merchant Circle page #3 for the first time two weeks ago.
It has taken effort, but zero dollars.
The bulk of all my new business comes from the Internet listings and my web page. More than all the yellow page, newspaper, local donations, etc etc combined.
There is a free software package that you can use called WebCEO. It will guide you through the uphill battle of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
One more tidbit, a lot of younger people use zip codes to search by instead of typing out the city and state name. Be sure to add all surrounding zip codes in your area.
The slowness on your site seems to be coming from loading the bp_.jpg file. It is the frame around everything. Is there a way you can optimize (decrease it's size) that file for the web?
Google checks for word density on the page itself. So in our industry somehow on the main page you need to get 'frame' & 'picture framing' & 'art' on there at least 7 times each.
I even used hidden words on my page. It shot me up to #1 on Live Search, AOL, ASK, and Yahoo but didn't budge my ranking on Google.
My web page was #1 on Google with my Merchant Circle page #3 for the first time two weeks ago.
It has taken effort, but zero dollars.
The bulk of all my new business comes from the Internet listings and my web page. More than all the yellow page, newspaper, local donations, etc etc combined.
There is a free software package that you can use called WebCEO. It will guide you through the uphill battle of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
One more tidbit, a lot of younger people use zip codes to search by instead of typing out the city and state name. Be sure to add all surrounding zip codes in your area.
The slowness on your site seems to be coming from loading the bp_.jpg file. It is the frame around everything. Is there a way you can optimize (decrease it's size) that file for the web?
Picture Framing
Picture Frames
Custom Framing
Custom Picture Framing
Professional Picture framing
Since your market is probably local, I'd include your address in the key search and also separate it from the text so that is is clearly visible.
Picture Frames
Custom Framing
Custom Picture Framing
Professional Picture framing
Since your market is probably local, I'd include your address in the key search and also separate it from the text so that is is clearly visible.
Jerry Ervin
PFG, Picture Framing God
Forgot to add...
It is a great looking site. I like it.
Maybe just a little tweaking in the SEO range and you will be off and running.
It is a great looking site. I like it.
Maybe just a little tweaking in the SEO range and you will be off and running.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Melinda:
Very nice and lovely looking website!
Jerry:
Including the zip code is a great idea!
Very nice and lovely looking website!
Jerry:
Including the zip code is a great idea!
Okay, what in the H is the SEO range?
Dear Ya'll, I just love the grumble. Such excellent and speedy help. I've learned several new things. Thank you all.
Jerry Ervin
PFG, Picture Framing God
Reading carefully helps, too. I found SEO.
Bill Henry-
Brussel Sprout Connoisseur
<meta name="keywords" content="picture frames,art frames,interior design,frames,melindas frame, melinda's frame,lynchburg" />
Load the “keywords” with as much information as you can. If you frame needlework, for example, include “cross stitch, crossstitch (with and without a space), X-stitch, needlepoint, needle point, crewel, crewell, cruel (don’t forget a lot of people are like Baer and can’t spell worth a darn, so include common misspellings, too).
Lynchburg may be misspelled Lynchberg or Linchberg or linchburg, too. Include them as well. Include “virginia”, “VA” just in case there is a Lynchberg in Idaho. You want to narrow searches as closely as you can.
Add some surrounding towns, too, if you’re hoping to glom customers from those areas. And, as Jerry suggests, add zip codes for those areas you are hoping to draw customers from.
As an example, my "keyword" tag looks like this.
<meta name="keywords" content="Framers Loft, picture framing, photo restoration, Hudson NH, Litchfield NH, Framer's Loft, Londonderry NH, Nashua NH, Framers' Loft, Windham NH, Frame Loft, canvas transfer, Derry NH, NH, New Hampshire, custom picture framing, CPF, certified picture framer, needle stretch, shrink wrap, needlepoint stretching, stretch cross stitch, mounting, plaques, shrink wrapping, stretch cross-stitch, picture frames, laminated plaques, mats, stretching crewel, crewell, cruel, laminated placques, custom picture frames, ready-made frames, glazing, matting, ready made frames, needlepoint blocking, stretch canvas">
Load the “keywords” with as much information as you can. If you frame needlework, for example, include “cross stitch, crossstitch (with and without a space), X-stitch, needlepoint, needle point, crewel, crewell, cruel (don’t forget a lot of people are like Baer and can’t spell worth a darn, so include common misspellings, too).
Lynchburg may be misspelled Lynchberg or Linchberg or linchburg, too. Include them as well. Include “virginia”, “VA” just in case there is a Lynchberg in Idaho. You want to narrow searches as closely as you can.
Add some surrounding towns, too, if you’re hoping to glom customers from those areas. And, as Jerry suggests, add zip codes for those areas you are hoping to draw customers from.
As an example, my "keyword" tag looks like this.
<meta name="keywords" content="Framers Loft, picture framing, photo restoration, Hudson NH, Litchfield NH, Framer's Loft, Londonderry NH, Nashua NH, Framers' Loft, Windham NH, Frame Loft, canvas transfer, Derry NH, NH, New Hampshire, custom picture framing, CPF, certified picture framer, needle stretch, shrink wrap, needlepoint stretching, stretch cross stitch, mounting, plaques, shrink wrapping, stretch cross-stitch, picture frames, laminated plaques, mats, stretching crewel, crewell, cruel, laminated placques, custom picture frames, ready-made frames, glazing, matting, ready made frames, needlepoint blocking, stretch canvas">
You'll want to optimize EACH page on your website, so the mix of words in the title and body represent the purpose of that page. Think about how someone might find that particular product or service, such as "framing military medals" and work backwards from those goals.
The title tag has a huge weight, as do the words on the actual page. (the bigger ones no longer use meta tags or keywords, because SEO consultants were abusing this for years) If you are linking out to poorly ranked sites, link farms, or sites that dont have some common keywords, this can also hurt your popularity.
Its basically a lot of trial and error to come up with a formula that works for a majority of the big search engines. Google is the one to target... The actual formulas are top secret, and change periodically.
Mike
The title tag has a huge weight, as do the words on the actual page. (the bigger ones no longer use meta tags or keywords, because SEO consultants were abusing this for years) If you are linking out to poorly ranked sites, link farms, or sites that dont have some common keywords, this can also hurt your popularity.
Its basically a lot of trial and error to come up with a formula that works for a majority of the big search engines. Google is the one to target... The actual formulas are top secret, and change periodically.
Mike
Download time....
Melinda, you really have to decrease the byte size of your images on your web site. I'm on a high-speed cable connection and it took forever to download your web site.
You have image problems. For example, your background "frame" image measures 770 x 550 at 300 dpi and you're resizing the image with html to 1000 x 600. You should make the image 1000 x 600 at 72 dpi so the html does not have to do the work which takes a very lengthy amount of time! The background image is also a whopping 292kb.
Your page totals 779kb which is very large....added to the problem of having the coding resize all of your images.
Bottom line....you might have a nice looking web site, but nobody will wait for it to download.
HTH!
Garnetta
Melinda, you really have to decrease the byte size of your images on your web site. I'm on a high-speed cable connection and it took forever to download your web site.
You have image problems. For example, your background "frame" image measures 770 x 550 at 300 dpi and you're resizing the image with html to 1000 x 600. You should make the image 1000 x 600 at 72 dpi so the html does not have to do the work which takes a very lengthy amount of time! The background image is also a whopping 292kb.
Your page totals 779kb which is very large....added to the problem of having the coding resize all of your images.
Bottom line....you might have a nice looking web site, but nobody will wait for it to download.
HTH!
Garnetta
Dear Garnetta, Thank you very much. These are exactly the technical things I do not know. But now I can repeat this to my web host and get him to fix them.
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
Here's how you can experiment once you have your pages set up with appropriate titles, keywords, and descriptions, and CONTENT.
Search for something in Google that you want your customers to find on your site. Let's say, and I'm making this up, it is "oversize mounting , New Canaan, CT" You don't find yourself on the first page of results but you do find other frame shops! what do you do? Closely examine the listings, web page, and source code of each site that is ranked where you want your site ranked. What key words do they use (least important)? What is their description, and does it relate to the page content? (Is it relevant?) Does the listing quote words actually found on the page, or in the description, or both?
does the listing quote titles, sentences in first or second paragraphs, or what? (Images don't count). Armed with all the information you can glean from the site which is listed for the same service you offer, you can now tweak your site a bit to fix keywords, titles, descriptions, and very important, content and first sentences on the page.
Using this method, I have seen my rankings for certain pages, rise overnight. When they fall again you have to do it all over again, and hope you get the right formula. Its OK because changing your site often feeds hungry search engines.
Search for something in Google that you want your customers to find on your site. Let's say, and I'm making this up, it is "oversize mounting , New Canaan, CT" You don't find yourself on the first page of results but you do find other frame shops! what do you do? Closely examine the listings, web page, and source code of each site that is ranked where you want your site ranked. What key words do they use (least important)? What is their description, and does it relate to the page content? (Is it relevant?) Does the listing quote words actually found on the page, or in the description, or both?
does the listing quote titles, sentences in first or second paragraphs, or what? (Images don't count). Armed with all the information you can glean from the site which is listed for the same service you offer, you can now tweak your site a bit to fix keywords, titles, descriptions, and very important, content and first sentences on the page.
Using this method, I have seen my rankings for certain pages, rise overnight. When they fall again you have to do it all over again, and hope you get the right formula. Its OK because changing your site often feeds hungry search engines.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Gee Kirstie, actually there is a frame shop in New Canaan CT....
But thanks for using me as an example!
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
Gee Kirstie, actually there is a frame shop in New Canaan CT....
But thanks for using me as an example!
I know! I thought you'd get a chuckle out of that. My brother in law used to live there and we visited a few times. Beautiful town. Isn't New Canaan where the guy who wrote Hug Your Customers has his upscale men's clothing shop? But then I guess everything is upscale in New Canaan!
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
Using my method, I see I have some work to do on "Photo Restoration, Berkeley." Now I need to check all my pages....I usually do this on the lap top in front of TV or I'd get crazy.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
Relatives used to live in Westport, as well, so I know the area. Stu Leonards! Are they still there? Jack Mitchell must have made a bundle with his Hug concept. Good stuff, at least the first time you read it.
Time to go home--still in the shop.
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Yep, Stu L is still there, multiple locations too.