|
Ten controversial search engine optimization
techniques
Last Update: Friday, October 31, 2003.
In this article I discuss ten controversial search engine optimization
techniques that should be used with caution, or even avoided altogether.
1. Duplicate Pages
In general, search engines ignore duplicate pages. In extreme cases,
they may ban a site.
2. Invisible Text
Search engines consider the use of text that is the same color as the
background color as spam. So stay clear of using invisible text.
3. Keywords In Comment Tags
Hardly any, if any, of the major search engines index comment tags, so
don't waste time adding them for optimization purposes.
4. Keywords In Hidden Value Tags
Keywords in hidden value tags are considered spam by all of the major
search engines, so don't waste time with this practice.
5. Keywords In Style Tags
Very few search engines index the content of <style> tags, so do
not waste anytime on this technique.
6. Link Farms And Link Exchange Programs
Search engines consider link farms and link exchange programs as spam,
as they have only one purpose - to artificially inflate a site's link
popularity, by exchanging links with other participants.
Do not confuse link farms and link exchange programs with reciprocal
linking. Reciprocal linking is the exchange of links with individual sites,
and certainly an accepted technique for improving your site's link popularity.
7. Links Only Pages
I recommend adding text descriptions to link pages and site maps. Some
search engines, such as AltaVista,
have been known to kick out links only pages.
8. Meta Refresh Tags
In general, meta refresh tags set for under 30 seconds are considered
as spam by search engines. As such, most search engine optimizers use
JavaScript redirects.
Having said that, I recently read an article that said the Fast
and Inktomi search
engines recommend using meta refresh tags, instead of JavaScript redirects.
Are you confused? I certainly am!
So to be on the safe side, I suggest sticking with JavaScript redirects,
until there is conclusive proof that search engines accept meta refresh
tags.
9. Tiny Text
Many of the major search engines consider tiny text (i.e. font size 1)
as spam. Some use of tiny text is fine. Search engines don't like web
pages that use a lot of tiny text. The reason is because some webmasters
have used it to fool search engines by "hiding" dozens of keywords
in a web page.
10. Cloaking
Cloaking is the practice of serving search engine optimized pages to
search engine spiders, while at the same time serving un-optimized pages
to site visitors.
Cloaking is one of the most controversial strategies in search engine
optimization. Major search engines publicly state that they consider all
cloaking to be spam. However, many professional search engine optimizers
have been using cloaking for years, with much success.
Until there is conclusive proof that search engines do indeed ban sites
that use cloaking, I suggest you take care if you decide to use cloaking.
If you want more in-depth information on these and other search engine
optimization strategies, read my search
engine optimization guide.
Conclusion
There are many controversial search engine optimization techniques. There
are people who despise the use of certain techniques, such as cloaking.
But the fact of the matter is that there are no right or wrong ways to
optimize a web page.
What might be considered as spam by one search engine may be accepted
by another. What works today may be banned tomorrow.
The art and science of marketing is about testing to see what works and
what doesn't. I recommend taking the same approach with search engine
optimization. After all, it is just another form of marketing.
You may also like to read my article, "Seven
Illegal Search Engine Optimization Techniques." In this article
I discuss seven illegal, or almost illegal, search engine optimization
and related techniques.
| » Change
your mind about an eBay bid?
We have all made choices in life that two seconds later
we know we should take back. Especially when there is money involved
this can become a problem.
» A
simple way to create 7 effective autoresponder messages
Email is the Net's most powerful marketing tool. And autoresponders
are the best idea yet for marketing with email.
» 7
ways to drive laser-targeted traffic to your website
Getting people who matter to see one’s website
is a difficult undertaking if he tries to consider the fact that
there are rivals everywhere waiting to pin him down.
» Website
valuation: Why standard website pricing methods will emerge
The market of buying and selling developed websites is
becoming more and more liquid each day.
» One
way links are better than reciprocal links
You probably know by now that where your website ranks in
the search engine rankings dramatically affects how many visitors you
have to your site. Did you also know that you can change where your
site is ranked by being proactive and getting as many one way links
to your site as possible?
» How
to make visitors stay at your website
The very first thing which you should provide the visitors
with is some free interesting reading material.
» How
to make your visitors click your ads
Here is a simple solution; Convert your banner advertisement
to look like a text advertisement!
» Offline
advertising should be a part of your online strategy
Day by day, online business has become more & more
complicated and competitive.
» How
to sell traffic
Selling the traffic arriving at your site is a good method
to increase profits from your portal.
» Make
money from online auctions
Online auctions have the best benefit of a vast platform.
Your product is viewed by loads of people & hence there is
more possibility of finding a suitable bidder.
» Groupware
explained in easy terms
Groupware is a term used frequently to describe collaborative
software. Groupware is application software that integrates work
on a single project by several concurrent users at separated random
workstations.
» Timely
back up can save you from disasters
Few things which people often back up are e-mail addresses,
bank records, photographs, personal records, software’s,
music etc.
» Why
should one go for autoresponders
Autoresponders are programs which get automatically
executed in particular situations.
» Become
your own boss - Start your own online business today
A survey conducted by SBA states that two third of new
business survives at least two year and about forty four percent
survives at least four year.
» Express
your thoughts - Creating your own blog!
What exactly is a blog? Technically speaking it is a
journal or a newsletter which is regularly updated and can be used
by any one.
» Pop-up
ads - To be or not to be?
According to a study conducted by the Bunnyfoot University, “The
Efficacy of Pop-ups and the Resulting Effect on Brands” Internet
users feel harangues and harassed by pop-up ads.
» Why
content is king on the Internet
The advantages that Internet holds over the rest of
the other communication mediums should not wasted because of
the inability to find a comprehensive plan that will bind all
these faculties together.
» 10
niche marketing tips
In our increasingly driven consumer economies, the average
customer is bombarded by choices. With increased saturation of the
market, companies look towards niche marketing to search new, ever-evolving
and sophisticated consumers.
» Using
free traffic exchange
These days internet has emerged as both, a market and
hub for marketing. Unlike the ‘brick and mortar’ world
where large manufacturers manage to squeeze out the market bases
of smaller companies, the internet provides haven like the free
traffic exchange.
» Ten
ways to drive traffic to your website
Developing a web site and then letting it grow is
like planting a tree and then nurturing it.
» Marketing
through keyword articles
One of the most effective tools of Internet marketing
is the use of keyword articles.
» Want
to make money online? Market a service to businesses
Don walked across the street from his house to mine to
announce he had finally retired. "But I'm not ready for the
golf course," he said. "I want to make a living on the
Internet. What can I sell?"
» Web
site design mistakes - Database parameters in URLs
Creating a web site takes thought, planning and execution.
Unfortunately, many designs are dead in the water before they are
even published as far as search engine optimization is concerned.
Whatever you do, avoid these critical mistakes.
» Alexa
Toolbar - The ultimate internet tool
There are numerous tools available on the Internet to
assist online businesses. A valuable tool that you should use is
the Alexa Toolbar. Even better, this tool is free.
» Web
site design mistakes
Some wise human once said "Learn from the mistakes
of others. There isn't nearly enough time to make them all yourself."
Hence this article. Here are five of the most annoying and common
web design mistakes.
» Abandonment
- Why visitors don't turn into customers
Every good Internet business understands the value of
conversions versus hits received. Far too often, businesses become
fixated on the hits they are receiving instead of monitoring their
hit to sale conversion rate.
» Creative
search engine optimization - A case study
Search engine optimization this and search engine optimization
that. You read and hear about it all day, but what about your site?
|
|
| Tools & services to enhance your online
business |
|
» Site
Build It!
Over 100,000 small businesses of all kinds outperform
larger, well-financed competitors. Read about this all-in-one site-building-hosting-marketing
system of tools that delivers results.
» Secrets
To Their Success
Take a private tour of two "Mom & Pop"
web sites every month that earn $100,000+ a year... and discover
the exact step-by-step strategies they have personally used to generate
these massive profits. |
|
|
|
About
The Author: Michael Wong is a respected