It is the general consensus that having the keyphrase a webpage is targeting in the URL for that page can boost your rankings in the search engines. Of course, unless the website is optimized for SEO in the first place, having the best URLs on the web won’t make that much difference. However, it is widely believed that optimal placement of the primary keyphrase for the page in the URL name can be very beneficial.

For instance, the search engines place a lot of weight on words contained in the URL as it allows the search engine algorithms to assign a theme for a page. That is to say, it just makes it easier for Google, MSN or Yahoo to understand what the page is about. This also goes for the user as well. When the casual surfer sees one of those long, multiple parameter URLs in their browser, it can be a little intimidating and may not entice them to come back and visit or bookmark the page. It is also claimed that the positioning of the keyphrase is important too. For instance, the closer the keyphrase is to the root of the domain, the more importance the search engines are likely to place on the relevance for that keyphrase.

In conclusion, while having URLs with no keyphrases and too many parameters will not necessarily make or break a website, it is the more optimal tactic to make them as search engine friendly as possible to get the most out of your SEO efforts. Of course, an already well established website that has great rankings, site structure and meta data doesn’t need to worry about such things, but the new websites should and could benefit greatly from it.

Lately I’ve been listening to music of the 1920s and 1930s. There’s something special about that time period and the trials and tribulations of that generation. They were people who persevered through tough times and came out victorious.

A classic song came on which I’ve heard a million times, but believe it or not, I never actually listened to the lyrics in their entirety. The song was “We’re in the Money,” lyrics by Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren. The words struck a cord with me, and pondering the past, I realized, things will turn around.

We’re in the money, we’re in the money;
We’ve got a lot of what it takes to get along!
We’re in the money, that sky is sunny,
Old Man Depression you are through, you done us wrong.
We never see a headline about breadlines today.
And when we see the landlord we can look that guy right in the eye
We’re in the money, come on, my honey,
Let’s lend it, spend it, send it rolling along!

With all the doom and gloom in our current state of the world, this song is a nice reminder that things can change, to know that there is a brighter day ahead. With determination and positive thinking we can turn the economy around.

Consider the internet and how the world is using it. Our industry is thriving and growing despite all the foreboding news. People are socializing, networking and finding comfort in the fact that they can share their lives online. Twitter and Facebook users worldwide are growing at a phenomenal rate, relying more on the internet for information.

More eyes mean more search quarries, and if you are involved in social media and search engine marketing, your company has a tremendous opportunity. Customers are out there, all you have to do is be more visible.

MoreVisibility is currently offering a webinar series targeting social media channels and all aspects of usability, functionality, and relevancy in today’s market. For more information contact us with your inquiry.

Creating good title tag text is not just important for search engine optimization. A recent study by Nielsen Research has found that users were more likely to comprehend and click on links in Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs) that contain the main subject of the page closer to the beginning of the title. The most successful link text didn’t contain bland, made-up or many “filler” words.  Title tags that were to the point and described the page’s content were more likely to be clicked on by users.

The study focuses on the first 11 characters of the link text and the ability of users to understand the content found there. The researchers found that when the first 11 characters contained a clear description of the page content, searchers were more likely to choose it. 

This study further strengthens what we teach our clients when we provide them with Meta Tag reviews. When creating your Meta title, you should use the keyword that you are targeting for the page as close to the beginning of the title tag as possible.  This will give search engines, and more importantly users a better understanding of what they will find on the page.  For example purposes, let’s say we have a page about a new product such as  “Widgets”.  A good title for this page would be best if written like this:

Widgets – New and Improved from ABC Corporation
This title contains the keyword first and then describes it later on. 

According to the study, if the title was written like this:
Introducing New and Improved Widgets from ABC Corporation
It would not do as well with users.  The reason behind this is that using language like “introducing” or “new and improved” is so common and bland, that users are not enticed to click on it. 
If you feel the need for more descriptive language, use it after the main keyword, or reserve most of it for use in the description Meta tag.

To view the study from Nielson, please visit: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/nanocontent.html