Archive for January, 2008

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Definition: Search Engine Spiders

Tuesday, January 8th, 2008

By: Gabriel Gervelis

What is a search engine spider (robot)?

When researching search engine optimization knowing what a search engine spider is, and what they do is very important. A search engine spider is a computer program used by search engines to find and index web pages.

Think of a search engine spider as a pawn in a chess game. A spider is a search engines information gatherer as a pawn is the solder in the game of chess.

What The Search Engine Spiders Do:
The search engine sends the spiders out into the internet to research web pages. Spiders are programmed by the search engines to bring back bits of information about the web page.
Search Engine Spiders are also know as:

  • Crawlers
  • Agents
  • Bots
  • Robots

Examples of “Bits of Information”

  1. Main words within the webpage/website (Keyword density)
  2. Main words are in the webpages/websites title
  3. Text is used in the links (if any) that point to the webpage/website

The spiders are programmed to find hundreds of bits of information within the webpage/website. This gathered information lets the search engine know how to index the webpage/website. Based on point values given to each bit of information, the search engine can determine what webpage ranks where on the result listing.

Other Sources of Information about Search Engine Spiders:
Search Engine Spider Simulator - This tool lets you see what a search engine spider sees when it comes to your webpage.
Search Engine Spider - Taming the beast’s definition of a search engine spider with additional information.
Google’s Source - Google’s source of definitions of a search engine spider.

Good luck with your SEO ventures!

Posted in SEO Tips Glossary , SEO FAQ, SEO Theory | No Comments »

Looking at an SEO Company’s Portfolio

Thursday, January 3rd, 2008

By: Gabriel Gervelis

Here’s 3 Questions to look for when reviewing an SEO Company’s portfolio.

1. Is this SEO Company going to put me on the top of the right pile?

Don’t be impressed when SEO companies show you that they ranked a website on the first page of a SERP over millions of results. The fact is, that number does not mean much. Remember when it comes to SEO, it’s always “Quality over Quantity”. On the top right of the SERP, you’ll see a display reading “Results 1-10 of XXXXXXXXX”. This is the number of web pages that have the keyword (or keyword phrase) found in a web page’s content, not the number of actual competitors in this index. This number could read 1,234,000 and only 240 web pages are properly optimized. This works the other way as well, the number could read 194,000 and have over 20,000 web pages properly optimized.

In this case the SERP with 194,000 results is the more aggressive market.

2. How much traffic will do their clients see from the SEO campaign?

Just because a site is ranking on the top of an SERP, it doesn’t mean the site is seeing traffic from the ranking. When an SEO company shows you their client’s rankings, ask them how much traffic they are seeing. Don’t get confused with how many times the keyword is searched for. Any SEO company can rank a website under ineffective keywords that sound good, but doesn’t get traffic to your site.

3. What does the SEO Company do to achieve their rankings?

When an SEO company shows you their client’s rankings, knowing the work they did to achieve these rankings is vital. Sometimes the SEO Company can’t take credit for the success, however they think they can.

For example
Client X publishes articles in print magazines. As an added benefit, the magazine companies link to Client X’s website. Over the years, Client X builds hundreds of links. Then, Client X hires SEO Company Y, SEO Company Y changes a few words in the meta tags and before you know it, Client X is on the first page of an SERP. Did SEO Company Y really give them their ranking?

Good luck with your SEO ventures!

Posted in SEO TIPS | 1 Comment »

What are Meta Tags? Understanding the META

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

By: Gabriel Gervelis

What are Meta Tags and why are they important?

When researching search engine optimization and/or search engine optimization companies, it is important to understand the fundamentals of SEO. Meta Tags play a big part of modern day search engine optimization. This post is not going to review what every individual meta tag is and what they do, it will review the concept of meta tags to help with understanding SEO.


Understanding the META!

When was the last time you found yourself walking down the aisles of a book store reading book descriptions? I find myself in this situation on a weekly basis. Like most people I read a book’s description (found on back of book, or inside the book cover) before I decide to buy. The book’s description will heavily impact whether or not I make the purchase.

Think of the Meta Tags on your website in the same way. Meta Tags are book descriptions that search engines read, and every web page within your website can have them. Search engines read these book descriptions, based on certain criteria. The description helps the search engine classify your website. Like a bad book description, if your Meta Tags are not properly optimized, search engines wouldn’t index your web page properly.

Continuing with the book description analogy, the book description is not the only motivating factor when it comes to a buyer deciding to make a purchase. Other factors like the design of the book cover and the author’s reputation may have more weight in the buying decision. However, having a strong book description will help with the overall sales cycle.

The same holds true with Meta Tags. Many factors determine your website rankings on SERPS, but having strong meta tags helps the rankings process. Does every web page need Meta Tags? Will your website rank with out Meta Tags? Will a book sell with out a book description?

Other sources for Meta Tag information

Pill Bradley’s information on Meta Tags
Meta Tag Generator at Addme.com
Google’s source for Meta Tag Definitions


This post is part of SEOTIPS.ORG’s SEO Theory.

Define:Why Are Meta Tags Important
Define:Meta Tags

Good luck with your SEO ventures!

Posted in Meta Tags, SEO FAQ | No Comments »

Definition: SERP - Search Engine Result Page

Wednesday, January 2nd, 2008

By Gabriel Gervelis

What is an SERP?

SERP stands for Search Engine Results Page. When researching search engine optimization or search engine marketing you will come across this term. This term can be used in several ways. SERP’s are generated when someone conducts a keyword search in a search engine such as Google or Yahoo!.

Other Definitions for SERP

Google’s source of Definitions for SERP
Wikipedia.org definition of SERP

Good luck with your SEO ventures!

Posted in SEO TIPS, SEO Tips Glossary , SEO FAQ | 1 Comment »

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