Question
I intended to give Kallie some links to metatag information off the Resource page, but we don't have any! We don't even have any links about search engine placement.
Got any you care to contribute?
You post them, I'll get them added.
Answer
First let me add my disclaimer I am not a SEO nor do I claim to be one. These are things I have learned and use on my websites and they work for me.
To view your meta tags, you need to open your page in the "html" or "coding" part of your software you use to create pages. If you use a service like Citymax I think they have a button you can click on to edit your tags.
Meta tags are important in search engine results. The title tag being the most important. The meta tags are hidden in the html code in the "header" part of your website. Meta tags should be different on each page to apply to that page only.
Here are what I think are the limits of each. Title about 12 words and don't use flowery words. Use your best keyword phrases don't waste this valuable space. If you do one thing correct make it your title tag. Your description tag should be limited to 24 words. Again make good use of this by using your keyword phrases. Last is the keyword tag. There is a lot of discussion about the use of this tag. Majority think it's useless. That being said why not do it because with search engines you never know what tomorrow will bring. I limit mine to what keywords I think pertain to the page. Note that I end each word with a comma then a space.
Now here is a set of my meta tags:
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=windows-1252">
<meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="en-us">
<title>Catawba Indian Pottery including Peace pipes, Snake pots, Water Jugs and Rebecca Pitchers.</title>
<meta name="description" content="Handcrafted Indian pottery in the old tribal tradition. All Native American pottery is crafted in the highest quality that you would expect from master potters.">
<meta name="keywords" content="Catawba pottery, Indian pottery, pottery, Catawba, Indian, Native American pottery, Native American, American pottery, water jug, Indian head jar, gypsy pot, cooking pot, Rebecca pitcher, wedding jug, King Hagler, effigies, turtle effigy ">
</head>
Now please note the sequence of the tags this is important. The correct sequence is 1. title 2. description 3. keywords. I will show you what happens if they are out of sequence. Here is a link to a site that will check your pages as the search spiders see them. http://www.searchwho.com/sw5-spider.html
There are other tags in the headers but have yet found a use for them as they relate to search engines.
Now note the other features of this tool. It will tell you a lot about your page.
Mike
ps: Jayne feel free to add or edit this anyway you see fit. If I missed something let me know.
Answer
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This is one SEO's ideas of Googles Algorithm. Which are the parameters Google uses to rank your keywords in the search results (SERPS). I think he has it pretty well figured out.
Algorithm Hypothesis
30% Link Popularity - Links from other sites - Link and surrounding text analysis - Link IP Analysis
15% Title <TITLE>Keyword Phrase - The Keyword Use</TITLE>
10% Site Seniority - Domain Name Age and Internet Archive Data Analysis
10% URL & File - http://www.keyword.com - http://keyword.keyword.com - http://www.keyword.com/keyword.html
8% Heading Text - <H1>Keyword Phrase</H1> - <H2>Secondary Keyword Phrase</H2> varies with .css usage
8% Body Text - Actual page text containing your most important keyword.
7% Images - ALT text (hover over text) - File name
5% On-Page Link Analysis - Link URL and file names - Link title & text (if text link) - Link ALT text (if image link)
5% Website/Document Structure & Validation - CSS Validation
2% Meta Tags - Full Description Tag and first 2 words in Keywords Tag.
Total Algorithm Score: 100%
Answer
that's some really good information. Thanks for posting it.
...Now I have to figure out how to get it linked in the Resource Page. Hmmmm....