Properly use the HTTP protocol
The first common problem is the use of old-fashioned “meta refresh” tags to direct users from one page to another. While these work, search engines will not follow them.
A better solution would be to use standard HTTP response codes:
- HTTP 301 “Content Moved” – This should be used to direct someone to a replacement URL for the content they were attempting to access. Search engines will remember this and will visit the new URL from that point on
- HTTP 302 “Temporarily relocated” – This should be used in general situations where a page has moved temporarily, or you are redirecting based on some decision that you would not want the client to cache
Using the correct HTTP redirection code is critical for search engines. If a page has moved and visitors are directed to the new location with a 302 response, search engines will continue to direct visitors to the old address.
Also, if your site needs to move to a new domain name, it is best to use a permanent 301 redirection of pages on the old domain to the new one, so the new domain comes up in search results instead of the old one.
For more information: http://www.e.govt.nz/resources/research/SEO.pdf
Policies of link exchanges
- Links should not be used in a defamatory background.
- Those creating deep links (links to exact pages within our website) should be aware that specific page URLs are subject to change without notice.
- If you chose to create a link to our website, we will not present to create a reciprocal link.
- You may apply to have a link to your site added from the suitable page on our website. Links will be added at the judgment of the council based on the following criteria:
- Content must be considered to be of use or attention to our users
- Content of websites must not conflict with council rules.
- Sites require to be accessible and easy to use
- The site content must be up to date and accurate
- No under construction or unfinished sites
- No offensive websites
- We will only give text links, requests for image based links will be refused
- We may write our own link explanation.
Search engine penalties
Google sandbox effect is one type of test for newer websites, because google wants the best websites or quality content websites or established websites to be listed first as it wants the quality results to users. It also helps to stop scam websites getting popular quickly. There are many webmasters who purchase lot of links quickly so that their website could be listed on 1st place for highly competitive keywords from the day of launch. One can reduce its risk of getting its website into sandbox by targeting less competitive keywords, so that Google might have no point in applying filter for such websites.
Expired domain name is subject to temporary penalty. Google may refuse to index the pages during that period due to content theft.
Duplicate content penalty is applied by all search engines when content on your website is largely the same as found elsewhere on your site or on other websites across the internet. The simple solution to avoid this problem is don’t rely on duplicate content to drive traffic to your site.
The importance of a page is measured by the number and quality of links pointing at it. Also what matters is the degree at which Google trusts a site’s inbound links which influences the importance of a page. The few reasons why pages go into supplementary are because of duplicate content, lack of content, lack of page rank, dynamic URL’S, and orphan pages.
Advantages of Outbound Links
Link popularity rests on three types of links. They are – internal links (links inside a website to make easy navigation to all informative corners of the website), inbound links and outbound links.
Outbound links improve the visitor experience as well, as they open gateways to newer and pertinent sources of information and business.
Outbound links also represent the ‘foreign policy’ of your website/webmaster. The type of sites they point to indicate the policy you would like to stay in terms of cross promotion, association ad association with competitors, peripheral support and after sales service.
Steps to follow in the creation of user centric sites
- Planning your site
- Collecting data from users
- Developing prototypes
- Writing content
- Conducting usability testing with users
Creating links when designing your websites
Creating links to your website is a great promotional tool and mandatory for any website to achieve something. The network of links that you create will help you website succeed, but it also is serious for your search engine rankings.
You should not ignore the importance of the search engines. Everyone should used them, that is why there are so many search engine optimization (SEO) services out there. Your website needs to be “search engine friendly”. It must be designed so that the search engines will see and indexed your site.
This means that the design of your website is just as serious as the links you build. If you website is not built well, the search engines will not index (include) it in their databases and most likely many webmasters will not link with you.
A link to a site outside of your site
Opponents of outbound linking dispute that it risks losing time and money from site visitors. This can be a big risk if a site is facing high customer gaining costs.
Proponents argue that providing high quality references in fact enhances the value of a site and increases the chance of return visitors.
Creation of user centric web site
- What are your agency’s primary business objectives and how do they relate the Web?
- Who are the users of your Web site?
- What are your user’s tasks and goals?
- What information do your users need, and in what form do they need it?
- What functions do your users want from the Web site?
- How do users think your Web site should work?
- What are your user’s experience levels with the Web site?
- How can the design of your Web site facilitate user’s cognitive processes?
- What hardware and software will the majority of your users use to access your site?
For more info: http://usability.gov/basics/usercntrd.html
Guidelines of good and bad links
Why Inbound Links?
Links could be text-based as well as graphics. An image on another website pointing to your’s. A surfer clicks on that image and is brought to your website. Links have become vital for ranking on search engines. Success on the Internet is directly connected to how many other websites are linking back to your website. Receiving more inbound links is every webmaster’s dream.