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Designing for your least able user Michael Smethurst Information Architect BBC Audio and Music
The first rule of SEO
Never believe anyone who claims to know anything about SEO
Google is like Coca Cola
Only 2 people know how it's made...
...and they're not telling
Having said that…
Some things we know make no difference to your PageRank
Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
Some caveats
If your local site search is a little behind the Google curve it may still use meta elements to index content Google doesn't index the description element BUT sometimes search engines do use this (along with the page title element) in the search results displayed to users. You still need to write good titles and descriptions
If your local site search is a little behind the Google curve it may still use meta elements to index content Google doesn't index the description element BUT sometimes search engines do use this (along with the page title element) in the search results displayed to users. You still need to write good titles and descriptions
One thing we know makes little difference
Keywords in URIs
Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
Some things that do make a difference
Well structured semantic (x)HTML - h1s, h2s etc Search sitemaps
Well structured semantic (x)HTML - h1s, h2s etc Search sitemaps
One thing that makes lots of difference
Write in plain English Use words your users are likely to use and search for
Write in plain English Use words your users are likely to use and search for
But…
Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
… and one thing that makes all the difference is…
links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links  links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links  links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links  links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links  links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links   links
The more your page is linked to the higher your PageRank The higher the PageRank of pages that link to your page the higher your Page Rank
The more your page is linked to the higher your PageRank The higher the PageRank of pages that link to your page the higher your PageRank
In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
The importance of link titles is what leads to link spam (see ‘miserable failure’)
Remember!
You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
How to encourage linking
Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
Share the love
Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
Three rules for URI design
URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects?  Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability   Cool URIs don't change
Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects?  Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability   Cool URIs don't change
Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects?  Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability   Cool URIs don't change
Cool URIs
One URI per concept; one concept per URI   Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury)  Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
One URI per concept; one concept per URI  Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury)   Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
One URI per concept; one concept per URI  Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury)  Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
One URI per concept; one concept per URI  Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury)  Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
One URI per concept; one concept per URI  Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury)  Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
Finally
Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money
Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money
Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money  http://www.meangene.com/google/design_for_google.html
Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
Absolutely finally
Magazines are made of pages, websites are made of links...

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Designing For Your Least Able User

  • 1. Designing for your least able user Michael Smethurst Information Architect BBC Audio and Music
  • 2. The first rule of SEO
  • 3. Never believe anyone who claims to know anything about SEO
  • 4. Google is like Coca Cola
  • 5. Only 2 people know how it's made...
  • 8. Some things we know make no difference to your PageRank
  • 9. Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
  • 10. Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
  • 11. Meta description element Meta keywords element (hidden data is too easy to spam)
  • 13. If your local site search is a little behind the Google curve it may still use meta elements to index content Google doesn't index the description element BUT sometimes search engines do use this (along with the page title element) in the search results displayed to users. You still need to write good titles and descriptions
  • 14. If your local site search is a little behind the Google curve it may still use meta elements to index content Google doesn't index the description element BUT sometimes search engines do use this (along with the page title element) in the search results displayed to users. You still need to write good titles and descriptions
  • 15. One thing we know makes little difference
  • 17. Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
  • 18. Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
  • 19. Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
  • 20. Adding keywords to URIs is a common SEO recommendation Google say it makes no difference to their indexing It MAY have an effect on Yahoo but no-one seems sure We’ll come back to this!
  • 21. Some things that do make a difference
  • 22. Well structured semantic (x)HTML - h1s, h2s etc Search sitemaps
  • 23. Well structured semantic (x)HTML - h1s, h2s etc Search sitemaps
  • 24. One thing that makes lots of difference
  • 25. Write in plain English Use words your users are likely to use and search for
  • 26. Write in plain English Use words your users are likely to use and search for
  • 28. Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
  • 29. Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
  • 30. Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
  • 31. Don’t repeat yourself unnecessarily Write for people not for search bots If you saturate your content with repeated keywords it will be unpleasant to read and less useful If it’s less useful people won’t link to it…
  • 32. … and one thing that makes all the difference is…
  • 33. links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links links
  • 34. The more your page is linked to the higher your PageRank The higher the PageRank of pages that link to your page the higher your Page Rank
  • 35. The more your page is linked to the higher your PageRank The higher the PageRank of pages that link to your page the higher your PageRank
  • 36. In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
  • 37. In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
  • 38. In addition to the density of links the titles of those links are all important Don’t do this: To find out more about {important key word} click <a href=“..”>here</a> Do this: Find out more about <a href=“..”>{important key word}</a>
  • 39. The importance of link titles is what leads to link spam (see ‘miserable failure’)
  • 41. You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
  • 42. You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
  • 43. You can’t make people link to you How well your site fares in search engines is at the discretion of the web The only things you can do are build links from aggregations and help to encourage linking
  • 44. How to encourage linking
  • 45. Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
  • 46. Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
  • 47. Make good content!!! Stuff that people want to pass on to friends, cite and bookmark Spend time getting your URI schema right Make every nugget of content addressable
  • 49. Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
  • 50. Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
  • 51. Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
  • 52. Links make the web a better place Don’t be a link sink If you like something link to it And go easy on the rel nofollows
  • 53. Three rules for URI design
  • 54. URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
  • 55. URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
  • 56. URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
  • 57. URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
  • 58. URIs should be: Human readable Hackable Persistent And the greatest of these is persistent
  • 59. Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects? Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability Cool URIs don't change
  • 60. Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects? Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability Cool URIs don't change
  • 61. Before adding keywords to URIs think what happens when those keywords change - can you generate appropriate redirects? Don’t sacrifice persistence for the sake of readability / hackability Cool URIs don't change
  • 63. One URI per concept; one concept per URI Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury) Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
  • 64. One URI per concept; one concept per URI Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury) Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
  • 65. One URI per concept; one concept per URI Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury) Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
  • 66. One URI per concept; one concept per URI Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury) Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
  • 67. One URI per concept; one concept per URI Avoid semantic drift (this year’s Glastonbury was not last year’s Glastonbury) Minimise redirects - Google will only pass PageRank for one 301 Don't expose your technology stack (.shtml, /cgi-bin/, .php, /struts/, .jsp) Return an appropriate representation (one URI for desktop + mobile + API with conneg)
  • 69. Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money
  • 70. Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money
  • 71. Google are cleverer than we are - you can't cheat em Google are only trying to reward good behaviour - play nicely Remember your pages are for humans first and search bots second. Don't wreck your UX by chasing the SEO money http://www.meangene.com/google/design_for_google.html
  • 72. Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
  • 73. Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
  • 74. Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
  • 75. Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
  • 76. Think of search bots as your least able users If you stick to the common rules for accessibility, you won't go far wrong Don’t rely on Flash for navigation Degrade any JavaScript / AJAX gracefully If you must use forms provide other browsable / crawlable routes to content
  • 78. Magazines are made of pages, websites are made of links...