Google Search Engine Optimization Guidelines and Best Practices

If you want better rank in Google Search Engine then, why not to follow guidelines given by Google itself. Read the article below to know what Google officials have to say for Search engine optimization.

I have taken much of the information from the Google SEO guideline document.

1. Title Tag

Do

• Title should be unique and accurately described the page content.


• Write unique page title for each page of your website. So that Google know how each page is different from other.


• Title can be short or long. If your title is large then Google will show only portion of it.

Avoid

• Writing Title which has no relation to the page content.


• Using Blank or unnamed title like “New Page 1” or “Untitled”


• Using Single title for all the pages or group of pages.


• Using unneeded keywords in title.

2. Description Meta Tag

Do

• Write description that would be both informative and interesting.


• Unique description for each page.

Avoid

• Writing Title which has no relation to the page content.


• Writing Generic description like “page about...” or “this is the page that...” or something like that.


• Filling it with only keywords.


• Writing single description for each page.

3. Improve URLs Structure

Do

• Use words in the URL link that are relevant to your website content.


• Proper directory structure should be there.


• Unique URL to reach any document.

Avoid

• Using page name like “WebPage1.html”


• Using long URLs or session ids or querystring variables.


• Using directory names like “Dir1” or “Folder1” etc.


• Using directory name that does not relate to page content.


• Mixing www. And without www. URLS

1. 4. Website Navigation Should be Simple

Do

• Good linking structure from top to bottom with proper manner.


• Use text links to navigate from one page to other. So that crawler can easily understand your website.


• Use “breadcrumb” navigation (ex. Yoursitename >> items >> productname). Using breadcrumb navigation not only gives idea about where you are in the website, but also allow user to go to previous section very easily.


• Use HTML site map page with XML site map file. This is huge benefit for SEO purpose.


• Have meaningful and useful 404 page. Visit Google’s widget for 404 Page.

Avoid

• Creating complex navigation links web.


• Using image, javascript, dropdowns or flash object for website navigation.


• Linking broken or dead links in Site map.


• Using unorganized sitemap page.


• Using vague message like “page not found”.

5. Quality of Content

Do

• Write easy and meaningful content.


• Organize the different topics in the content.


• Include keywords that user always search. See the search volume of keywords that you have included in your content.


• Write Fresh and Unique content.


• Offer exclusive content or services.


• Create content for users not for search engine. J John chow is also telling the same thing please read more about John chow

Avoid

• Spelling and Grammatical mistakes.


• Coping existing content.


• Avoid unnecessary keywords.

6. Anchor tag text

Do

• Write good text that describes the link properly. Ex. (<a href=”http://hiteshagja.wordpress.com/2009/06/06/six-useful-tips-to-earn-money-with-google-adsense/”>Earn A Handsome Money With Google AdSense </a>)


• Write short but descriptive text.


• Stylize the link so use can differentiate it from normal text.


• Write good anchor text for internal links so that Google can understand your website’s internal navigation.

Avoid

• Writing the generic content like “Click Here”.


• Unrelated anchor text.


• Lengthy anchor text like sentences or paragraph.


• Using CSS that makes text and link identical in look.


• Using excessive keywords.

7. Heading Tag

Do

• Distinguish the main points and sub points and use heading tag appropriately.


• Not use too many heading tags on the page. This will confuse user about the end of the content.


• Create proper page structure using heading tag.

Avoid

• Writing unrelated content in heading tag.


• Avoid using heading tag where <em> or <strong> tag is appropriate.


• Putting whole page content into heading tag.


• Using tag if you only want to give style.

8. Image Tag

Do

• Give reasonably good file and brief description about what the images is all about.


• Write very good description when you use image as a link. (Must).


• Store all the website images under one common directory.


• Use JPEG,GIF, PNG and BMP images because this are the common file types that all browser can easily understand.

Avoid

• Giving random file name like image1.jpeg or pic1.gif etc.


• Extremely lengthy file name


• Writing keywords and long sentences in alt tag.

9. Use robots.txt Effectively

Basic Idea : robots.txt is the file which tells google.com about the pages that user do not wish to crawl. This file stay under the root directory. Google web master tool help you to create this file.

Do

• Use secure method for some sensible content.


• .htaccess, encryption, password protection are the better alternatives.

Avoid

• Allowing search result kind of pages to be crawled.

10. rel=”nofollow” attribute of Link (anchor tag)

Do

• Use nofollow set to the link for which you don’t want to pass your reputation to other.

Ex. If you want to inform others about the spam link then you can use nofollow for such link to avoid passing your reputation on to it.

Use nofollow set to the link for which you don’t want to pass your reputation to

• Write <meta name=”robots” content=”nofollow”> if you're interested in nofollowing all of the links on a page.

This are the guidelines and best practices given by the Google Web Master team. Hope you enjoy reading this article.