Etips is a publication of:
Your Guide to Professional Web
Site Design and Development
Hello {FIRSTNAME},
Welcome to all of our new subscribers!
If you've been looking for the 'Perfect' time to pick up a copy of eBook
Starter and Web Design Mastery, there has never been a better time.
For a very limited time, with the purchase of eBook Starter, you will also
receive a copy of my acclaimed web design course, Web Design Mastery
http://www.WebDesignMastery.com
-- a $49.97 value.
If you're not familiar with eBook Starter, it is the first and only ebook
software that is an actual WYSIWYG ebook editor.
eBook Starter will enable you to give your ebooks the look and feel of a
real book, notebook, manual or report.
Visit eBook Starter to download your f-r-e-e demo today...
http://www.web-source.net/cgi-bin/t.cgi?l=es
If you're not familiar with Web Design Mastery, this eight volume course
will not only take you step by step through the process of designing your
own web site, but it will also assist you in...
-
Accepting payment through your web
site
-
Automating your ordering process
-
Optimizing your web site for the
Search Engines
-
Working with FTP programs so you
can place your web site on the Internet
-
Working with ZIP files so that you
can distribute files on the Internet
-
Working with text editors
-
Working with autoresponders so you
can automate portions of your business
-
Publishing an ezine
-
Marketing with ebooks
-
Marketing your web site, products
and services
-
And much more...
What's more, you will also receive
over 150 pre-designed web sites (templates) that you can use to get your
web site up fast.
To take advantage of this special offer, visit the eBook Starter site
http://www.eBookStarter.com
to purchase your copy of this powerful software and forward a copy of your
receipt to admin@web-source.net to claim your copy of Web Design Mastery.
NOTE: This offer is only valid for new eBook Starter/Web Design Mastery
customers.
-------
In this week's edition of Etips, Robin Nobles, of SearchEngineWorkShops.com,
will tell you about the importance of ALT text in search engine optimization.
You may be surprised to hear what she has discovered.
I hope you'll enjoy the publication.
To your success!
 Announcing
eBook Starter -- the first and only ebook software that is an actual WYSIWYG
ebook editor...
Give your ebooks the look and feel of
a real book, notebook, manual or report.
If you can use a simple word processing program, you can create ebooks with
eBook Starter!
Ebook publishing simply doesn't get any easier than eBook Starter --
guaranteed!
Visit eBook Starter
to download your free demo today
Sponsor Message
 How
Important is ALT Text In Search Engine Optimization?
By
Robin
Nobles © 2005
For years, search engine optimizers have included their important keyword
phrases in ALT text for images, feeling confident that many of the search
engines considered the contents of ALT text when determining relevancy.
The big question is, has this changed?
Yes . . .
None of the Major Engines Considers ALT Text When Determining Relevancy
According to research by expert SEO researcher Jerry West of WebMarketingNow
(http://www.webmarketingnow.com)
and Search Engine Academy
(http://www.searchengineacademy.com),
at the present time, none of the “Big Three” search engines (Google,
Yahoo!, nor MSN), considers ALT text when determining relevancy.
West explains, “Over the last six months, we have seen a trend on our
testing servers that shows that using ALT text for SEO purposes has not only
diminished, but adversely affects the rankings in the SERPs. It is clear
that search engines continue to catch up to “SEO tricks” that are
intended to improve search engine ranking while damaging the visitor experience.
The American Disabilities Act (ADA) has strict guidelines as to what your
site needs to contain in order to be ADA compliant. I guarantee you, they
do not look favorably at ALT text that has been keyword stuffed.
“Have you ever witnessed a visually impaired individual use the Web?
With a device which reads aloud the contents of a Web page, the impaired
individual will be inundated with what I refer to is, ALT Text Spam. Sometimes
the reader is stuck on one graphic for more than 40 seconds reading all of
the keywords that have been stuffed.
“According to a Google engineer, what you should do it create an ALT
tag that is relevant to the picture, so it gives the user a good experience,
including the visually impaired. The ALT text is indexed, but it is down
graded in the algorithm. The reason?
“‘We see ALT text as relevant as the Keyword Meta tag,’ said
the engineer. That should say it all as Google has never used the Keyword
Meta tag due to the high spam rate.
“How do we test? I have outlined our testing methodology below,”
continues West.
Our Testing Setup:
* We have four servers (Two Apache servers, one Windows, one Sun Solaris);
* Each server is located in a different part of the United States;
* Each test sever has 16 test domains;
* Domains are matched in pairs for A/B testing;
* All domains are "dot com"; no testing is done with other extensions for
the algorithms;
* The 8 pairs are configured as follows: 3 pages, 8 pages, 25 pages, 50 pages,
100 pages, 150 pages, 300 pages, 500 pages;
* When performing testing, one of the domains in the pair is tested while
the other remains constant;
* Due to varying issues within the algorithms, it takes approximately six
weeks to see consistent numbers in order to formulate accurate
conclusions.
Visit the Web Design Mastery site to
download your free chapters (77 pages)!
Sponsor Message
What Does This Mean to SEOs?
Search engine optimizers no longer need to use keyword phrases in the ALT
text of images on their Web pages.
However, let’s look at a smarter approach.
I’ve been recommending to my online
(http://www.onlinewebtraining.com)
and offline
(http://www.searchengineworkshops.com)
SEO students for a long time that they needed to use ALT text in the manner
in which it was designed to be used by the W3C: to describe the image. Then,
they can include the keyword phrase in one or two images on the page, if
appropriate.
Continuing with that strategy is still viable. The major engines don’t
consider the contents of ALT text now, but that doesn’t mean they
won’t six months from now. Always remembering the “basics”
is one of the best strategies to follow.
Other ALT Text Tips . . .
1. Remember that the purpose of ALT text is to describe the image for the
benefit of those who surf the Web with images turned off and for those who
have the contents of Web pages read out loud to them. The WC3 highly recommends
that Web site owners use ALT text to describe images.
2. Use your keyword phrase in one or two instances of ALT text on the page
– no more. Use moderation in everything you do in search engine
optimization.
3. Don’t use text that is non-relevant to the image. Don’t keyword
stuff. Jerry West adds, “Give the visitor information that is worthwhile,
especially for the visually impaired.”
4. “Consider using a description below the graphic. Based on recent
test results, this is read often,” states West.
West continues, "Basically, remember to be compliant, not just with the W3C
but also with the ADA. It all comes down to intent. If your intent is to
fool the search engine into giving you a higher ranking, you are performing
'grey or black hat' strategies. Stay on the right side of the path and the
engines will bless you.”:)
Remember . . . ALT Text is Just One “Piece of the Pie”
Relevancy and ranking are determined by over 100 different factors. ALT text
was just one piece of that pie, a sliver at that.
Don’t ever focus on just one piece of the pie. Always remember the basics
– the SEO foundation – and make sure it’s solid.
If you know you’re weak in one or two areas, you know you have to beef
up on other pieces of the SEO pie.
We’ll talk more about the “SEO pie” in future articles. Or,
attend our on-location workshops, where the SEO pie is always a topic of
conversation.
About the Author:
Web Development
Resources |
Get any of the following software,
reports, eBooks and courses completely f-r-e-e...
Work from Home: A Complete Guide to Developing a Successful
Internet Business from Home
A step by step guide to developing your own Internet business -- from getting
your office set up to deciding on what products you should sell, to marketing
and promoting. Nearly 100 pages - yours f-r-e-e. You may brand this ebook
with your affiliate IDs and make m-o-n-e-y by f-r-e-e-l-y distributing
it.
10 Basics for Starting Your Online Business - There are
ten basic steps to initiating and cultivating your dream of starting of your
very own Internet-based business. The steps begin the moment you first
conceptualize your dream and they culminate with continued revenue from your
customers.
F-r-e-e Software - Build Your Own M-o-n-e-y Making Site
in 15 Minutes or Less ... Launch Your Own 75+ Page MEGA Site Today using
a revolutionary new software program that generates profit pulling websites
at the push of a button.
30 Days to Success - A complete step by step guide to
making m-o-n-e-y online. This eBook is a MUST read if you'd like to make
some serious m-o-n-e-y online and jump start your Internet
business.
Home Business Tips - Ordinary people are making EXTRAORDINARY
m-o-n-e-y WORKING FROM HOME on the Internet! Get f-r-e-e info by email.
Professional Web Site Design Course - F-r-e-e Intensive
10-Day Web Site Design Email Course. Learn how to design a professional web
site.
eBooks: A Complete Guide to Self-Publishing - A complete
step by step guide to creating your own eBook including; researching,
brainstorming, design, compiling and more. This eBook may be customized with
your affiliate id (40% commission) and may be f-r-e-e-l-y distributed.
How To Create Multiple Streams of Niche Profitability
- If you're looking for a great way to significantly increase your profits,
this report is for you -- quick tips for maximizing your niche product's
profitability.
Blogging Secrets - Turn your personal opinions, rants
and raves, into new subscribers, loyal targeted traffic and a flood of new
customers and
income.
Netwriting Masters Course - Want to sell more? Write better.
Write smarter. First, write to PREsell. Then write to SELL. The *ONLY* course
on the Net that shows you how to do BOTH. And it's f-r-e-e.
Affiliate Masters Course - Become a high-earning affiliate
champion. Learn the secrets of the super affiliates and substantially increase
your income.
Service Sellers Masters Course - Attract new clients from
around the world... Or from around the block.
Make Your Net Auction Sell! - The Masters Course Start
and grow a profitable Net auction business. MYNAS! --> Now f-r-e-e.
Webmaster BUSINESS Masters Course - Show Webmasters how
to run the BUSINESS of WebMastering... Super-assisted, of course, by the
ultimate PRODUCTIVITY tool.
Make Your Price Sell! - The Masters Course "How much m-o-n-e-y
are YOU leaving on the table?" Price with complete confidence & double
your Net profits. |
| Tip of
the Week |
 |
If you have a medium to large
web site, and you're linking to other web sites, keeping your links up to
date can be very time consuming.
LinkAlarm.com provides
a link checking service that will check your links and send you a detailed
report of their findings.
Today's tip is an excerpt from the highly acclaimed
Web Design Mastery series.
|
| Syndication
Feeds |
|
| Internet
Marketing and Promotion |
|
| Business
/ Sales |
|
| Web
Design |
|
| Dr. Kevin
Nunley's Biz Tips |
|
| Web Site
Design Tips |
|
|
 |
Web-Source.net
Products: