Hi Glenn, Your question about how to improve your website standing in Google searches does not have a simple answer. Its what is called search-engine optimization (SEO) and depends on the algorithms Google uses to rank sites. There is an entire SEO industry that *claims* they can increase ranking by adding keywords and manipulating the web by loading references to your site on forums and such around the web. Google is wise to these tricks, however, so paying for SEO is mostly a waste of money. I certainly don't know everything about the Google algorithms, but I can tell you a few things I do know.
First and foremost, the rankings are based on how many *other* websites have links to your website. This makes sense, since a link to your site implies you have something worth sharing ...which hints at the second most important thing: Good Content. To be ranked highly, your website must have useful content. This does *not* mean a good list of links to other sites, but only content that appears in your own pages. Obviously then, having original and compelling content is the best thing you can do. Your list of keywords (the "meta" info on your index/home page <head> section) should reflect that content also; Google's algorithms will work against you if you've "baited" your keyword list with a bunch of terms that might (or might not) be related to your site, but don't appear on your site. Another thing that can help (a little) is if your domain name is similar to your content focus. And lastly, Google likes sites that are updated regularly (with new content) ...though as the owner of a site that I haven't updated in over 10 years (http://sockets.com) that still ranks high on some searches (e.g., "winsock"), that isn't a major priority. As to whether a new site can get any notice, the fact it won't have links from other sites (yet) probably means, no it cannot. On the other hand, if you've got "virile viral" content --like, say, Craig's List Killer-suspect Phillip Markoff's homepage-- then it can rocket to the top of the search list almost instantly. In an attempt to give a "leg up" (or a "wheel up") to new -or newly updated- sites, Google encourages webmasters to submit a sitemap. Actually, that is just one of the things you can do with Google's suite of Webmaster Tools (see http://google.com/webmasters/start ), including "analytics" that report visitor statistics (one of many such free website reporting tools available on the web). As to tools to use, you're not going to like my answer. :-) Frontpage and Dreamweaver can both write code for you in their wysiwyg ("what you see is what you get") development environment, but it isn't great code. Sure, you can get by with it, but you REALLY should just use a plain-old-text editor, or maybe one that hilites words according to XHTML and CSS syntax, and write/edit the code by hand. In other words, there's really no substitute to facing the uphill learning curve so XHTML and CSS are native to you. To get started, Frontpage and Dreamweaver generated code can be a great help, but you should be able to read it and make changes to it in a text editor. You can call me a purist snob for saying that and I won't try to defend it, but I can guarantee its true. As for learning, I'm like you: Even when I was young (i'm 54 now) I have always learned much faster first-hand from someone that knows it, than on my own using the web resources and books. Hence, the best you could do is take a class ...and if you're like me, going in with enough prior knowledge to make me dangerous (or at least, obnoxious with questions) helps me get the most out of the classes. Some of these courses are even available online from "continued learning" (i.e. "nightschool") at colleges and universities and I can attest that they can be very worthwhile, with teaching assistants to answer questions. Next best are video tutorials, some of which are free, and some of which cost (like from http://lynda.com or http://vtc.com). Short of that, having specific goals to attain and questions to answer can be great to help motivate and guide your learning process. Another thing I always do is look at the source code for a website that has some features you like (e.g., from Microisoft Internet Explorer's menu, "View...Source"). Deciphering that will go a long way towards your learning how to code. There are great, free web development "plugins" for the Firefox browser that can help you to learn too (and help to develop/debug websites). Hope that helps, bob quinn ________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2009 9:44:17 AM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] web site design Hello, Some time ago I posted on the quad site concerning web site design. You responded but at the time I did not answer your e-mail. Too much to do and so little time! Sounds like the commitment to go professional goes beyond my energy level. While working with our historical society I became interested in web site design and have taken over managing their web site after the gentleman that developed the site moved from the area. I did not know anything about web site design, but wanted to keep our site current, so I took on the task of learning Front Page. Our site is www.bluerockheritage.com. Also designed a site for my small business www.gahenryradio.com. Now am working on a web site for a friend that sells farm produce. I have the site on the server and can access the site from the address bar, www.tomatobarn.com. My problem, when I search for the site in Goggle search using "tomato barn", it does not find the web site just articles and other postings that previously existed. Adding several keywords but cannot locate the web site with a simple search. A friend that does some web site work thinks it is a new web site and has very few hits, therefore it is not in a high ranking. Would you mind looking at the tomato barn web site and give me constructive criticism and suggestions. Is his theory valid? Front Page has been around for quite a while and everyone suggests Dream weaver. Your comments please. I do enjoy working with web sites, but I am 58 years old, learning from a book comes very hard, but pick up things quickly when I am shown. Thank you for your help, Glenn Henry G.A.Henry Radio 100 Mill Street Washington Boro, PA 17582 ________________________________ Big savings on Dell XPS Laptops and Desktops!
