Question
Hello,
I have a Andale store, and you are not able to go behind the scene and enter in some good old meta tags, with important "keywords".
Andale does not give you the access to do this, so how am I able to get a good ranking with any search engine?
Has anyone worked with a Andale store before, and have some tips.
Thanks for taking the time to read this,
Mike Kensin
Answer
Hello, Mike, and welcome to here.
What you can do is use a variety of 2-word and/or 3-word keyword phrases in your description - especially in the title, but also the body. Sprinkle the keywords throughout your description - top, bottom and middle. Sometimes, it's easier to show up higher in the search results if you use 2 and 3-word phrases, rather than a very competitive 'one word' keyword.
Answer
Sometimes, it's easier to show up higher in the search results if you use 2 and 3-word phrases, rather than a very competitive 'one word' keyword.
I hear that a lot. I'm not sure that I understand the logic. If "widget" is a common search word, then being #1 in search results for "green widget" isn't worth a whole lot if no one is searching with that term. Can you clarify?
Answer
Jayne-
I don't have the article nor the stats at hand, but there was a research paper published not too long ago showing that (most/many/75%-whatever) people who are searching for 'widget' use instead '________ widget' to attempt to weed out 'stuffers' - what I call a site which simply MENTIONS 'widget' once somewhere on the page.
Example; as examples seem to be easier for me to get my point across.
You're aware that I sell baskets.
But 'baskets' is a very competitive search term. (18,900,000)
One of my sites ranks #39 for this term, but when a more 'descriptive' or 'wordy' phrase is used (handwoven baskets - 85,900) I rank as #3 & #4.
Become even MORE exact in one's search, say 'baleen baskets', and I rank #1 & #2.
From what I understand, since I rank farily high with a two-word phrase, Google moves me up higher with the 'one word phrase' than I would if I didn't rank with the 2 and 3-word phrases at all, or ranked very poorly.
example #2: 'Shoes". Few searchers are going to use this term, as the results are simply overwhelming, so they'll narrow their search down to "dress shoes' and maybe even more by 'black dress shoes' or even 'women's black dress shoes' and perhaps even more to 'women's 7 black dress shoes'.
What one should be 'targeting' is folks seeking exactly what YOU are selling. If one ranks high for a one-word phrase, yet the largest majority of searchers are going to 'sub-search' even more, then THAT'S where YOU want to be!
Gee, I hope that's understandable.
I know what I'm trying to say, just not sure everyone else will understand it. Much easier for me to 'do' than to 'explain'. Sorry.
Answer
That was very clear. Thanks for the explanation. Is there a way, though, to see how common YOUR two-word phrase is?
I don't want to be sweating over placement with "green widgets" if "portable widgets" is a more common term.
Is there some way to help you decide which is better: raking #59 with "widget" (which gets 1000 hits/day) or ranking #1 with "green widget" (which gets 50 hits/day)? In other words, how do you decide which is best, the lower-ranked more-common term, or the higher-ranked, less-used one?
I hear a lot of people proudly proclaiming they've finally achieved a #1 ranking, but if the ranking is for "green-eyed two-toed sloths", how useful can it really be?
Edited to add: I'm not trying to put you on the spot. I've always wanted to have this conversation with someone knowledgeable.
Answer
Originally Posted by jayne
That was very clear. Thanks for the explanation. Is there a way, though, to see how common YOUR two-word phrase is?
I don't want to be sweating over placement with "green widgets" if "portable widgets" is a more common term.
Is there some way to help you decide which is better: raking #59 with "widget" (which gets 1000 hits/day) or ranking #1 with "green widget" (which gets 50 hits/day)? In other words, how do you decide which is best, the lower-ranked more-common term, or the higher-ranked, less-used one?
I hear a lot of people proudly proclaiming they've finally achieved a #1 ranking, but if the ranking is for "green-eyed two-toed sloths", how useful can it really be?
Edited to add: I'm not trying to put you on the spot. I've always wanted to have this conversation with someone knowledgeable.
That's ok.
I don't have the site bookmarked, but here's one I use - frequently, which is why it's saved where it is - where I can FIND IT! http://www.simplybaskets.net/ It's about 1/2 way down on this 'page', marked Get Suggestions For Phrase:. But there's other tools out there that work well, too.
Edited to add: from my own observations, what I've noticed is that even if one can rank highly for even an 'off-beat' term (green-eyed two-toed sloths), it will boost your placement under 'sloths', too! The more phrases one can rank highly on, the higher one's placement for the hard-to-get and harder-to-maintain 'one word' keyword placement. Links to one's site from other sites also plays a role (how much is debatable) as does the 'hyper-linked' word/phrases other sites use to link to your site.
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Wow this same line of thought really applies to Adwords also. Those 2-3 word phrases will get you way more sales than one word phrase. One word phrase will get you tons of hits but the 2-3 word phrases will get you sales.
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Wow, thanks for all the great info. Its always a good thing when others who might have a similar question can find help.
I have done maybe more then I should of in the 'Keyword rank System', and already know a lot of the already posted info. Most of this would apply to if you had your own website.
But when it comes to Andale, you really cannot change to much or to put in better words, you do not have much control of placing the site in a higher rank. You cannot adjust the title to include certain keywords, you cannot enter in the keyword list, which would be where the html code goes. All of these little tips do help to place higher in rank,
At least that is why I'm asking the question. I hope someone out there has a Andale home page and might have a tip or two. From what I understand there really is no control over this. Any help out there?
MIKE
Answer
Maybe I don't understand the question but I've simply put the keywords and / or phrases into the general description (introduction) of my andale store on the home page.
If I enter any of those keywords, more so 2 and 3 word phrases as mentioned by previous posters I most often come up on the first page of the google search. Usually in first place. Works like a charm.
You have to be pretty creative to incorporate what you think will be used in searches into your description but it can be done. Hope that helps.
Answer
Hello,
Kathleen, so other people and I reading this can better understand. You have a Andale store, and have a few key phrases mentioned in the beginning of content in your web page, right?
Do you have any keywords in your title? With Andale, you have to have their web url, followed by whatever you enter,
ex: http://www.andale.com/stores/sf_home...l=EZhomepg.com
EZhomepg, is the part Andale allows you to enter in. Is this similar method to yours?
Did you submit to other search engines? As mentioned before, unless there is a tip on how to do this, from what I know, you cannot enter in keyword phrases in the 'meta tag'. Does anyone know if this can still be done?
Is your checkout with Andale setup a certain way, that might be helpful to other Andale sellers? The one currently running on our site needs to be fixed for more of a customer friendly feel.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks again,
Mike