Month: September 2012

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Matt Cutts of Google Talks About Content and Keyword Density

I found an article recently that included an interview with Matt Cutts on the changes that Google wants to see in website content. The article is excellent reading but the author plugs his approach a wee bit heavy handed. The full article can be read here and it is worth reading, but the key points are detailed for you below along with my comments.

  1. Heavy keyword density on a page may actually now be considered spammy by Google. Google is now looking for natural looking and natural reading content. Cater to the reader not Google.
  2. Google does not need the phrase you would like to place on in the same order over and over on a page. Use the phrase you like once or twice and then you can mix up the way the words show in the phrase.
  3. Google can now identify synonyms and the meaning of your content with its technology. It does not need for you to control content in an unnatural way to place on certain phrases.
  4. If you overuse keywords phrases in a page, Google may consider your page spammy and not reward organic placement.

Matt Cutts of Google says “Never sacrifice the quality of your copy for the sake of the search engines. It’s just not necessary. The next time you write a new page of copy, test this approach to writing for the engines and see if you get as good (or better) results than before. I’m betting you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

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Google on Duplicate and Scraped Content

This is an interesting video and deals with the issue of duplicate and scraped content. Google says clearly that content you grab from other sites that you do not add additional information to and scraped content do not add value for your users. In plain speak this means “we won’t rank you for those pages and may penalize your domain if you do this!”. Watch the video and then make sure to read my added value 🙂 comments below.

Here are my nuggets to consider:

  • Duplicating other people’s content damages your organic placement. There is no value to doing this!
  • If you are doing an affiliate program, make sure you have unique content and added value. Don’t just be another cookie that has been cut with the same cutter.
  • e-Commerce site that have simply picked up manufacturer product information for their store that matches lots of other sites on the web without providing additional valuable content will be penalized in organic rankings.
  • Doorway sites that work to drive traffic to one website using a strong use of keywords or black hat optimization will effectively drop the rank of the receiving site. Don’t use blogs, mini sites, or lenses to drive traffic to your parent website.
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Google on Website Spam

Watch this video from Google to see what Google specifically acknowledges is spam and may affect your organic placement.

Nuggets from this video:

  • Blog and forum comment spam can impact your placement on Google.
  • Keep an eye on your comments look for small comments with links and links in a signature block.
  • I recommend on your blog only allowing comments to be posted that you approve.
  • It is not unusual for a blog to get over 1,000 spam comments a month. If you are set to auto approve all comments this could negatively impact your placement on Google.
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Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean – Android Operating Systems

I’ve had an Android mobile phone for several years and have upgraded to  Motorola Droid Razr Max and like it. Just recently Verizon upgraded my operating system to Ice Cream Sandwich. If you have an Android tablet or phone, you know the terminology – Gingerbread, Ice Cream Sandwich, Jelly Bean – all names of Android operating systems. Sounds yummy, but for users can sometimes be confusing.

With Apple’s lawsuits and push to strangle Android, I feel that Ice Cream Sandwich was a push to differentiate the Android platform from Apple’s. Case in point is the screen opening action that Ice Cream Sandwich now requires. No more slide – that’s Apples’ now you have a circle and click options in a circle. There are other changes that Ice Cream Sandwich has brought about as well such as new app and interface actions and new ways to customize your phone. If you want to get the most from your Android phone Motorola has a nice tutorial on Ice Cream Sandwich so you can check to make sure you are up to speed.

Here are a few nuggets:

  1. Widgets have really changed some of the ones you may have loved like the separate icons for GPS and Airplane mode are gone and are now combined into one power widget.
  2. There are many more options for customization and improved ability to manage and remove apps.
  3. Social widgets have changed and now are found in apps that you can drag to your three home screens. In fact you’ll have fewer home screens than Gingerbread so use the apps screen more frequently.
  4. You have more control over the four spots in your favorites tray at the bottom of all screens.
  5. Updates now show ads. Sigh, I hate this one, but clearly with Google’s big push to mobile advertising this must have been a must have for them in creating the Android up grade. It’s the carrot and stick – woo you in with candy and then hit you on the head with advertising.

Overall, it took me a bit to get used to and I am not sure I like the operating system any better than Gingerbread but you do have some nice new options. Plus it sure looks like Google is trying to differentiate the Android operating system to prevent potential legal problems with Apple.