Keywords In URL

John Scott · 10-25-2003, 01:32 PM

I was just over at another forum, where a self-proclaimed SEO expert was telling people that pages don't rank for keywords in the URL.

Sad, I know.

Just FYI, pages do rank for keywords in the URL without that keyword appearing anywhere else on the page or in anchor text to the page.

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...ounge%2Ecom%22

You'll notice that on many of the results, Google's cache says:

Quote:

These terms only appear in links pointing to this page: www pregnancylounge com

Same without the quotes:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...regnancylounge

Now, to be sure, most of those pages don't have actual pages linking to them with that link text. But Google automatically treats the URL itself as an inbound link,

Try this search:

http://www.google.com/search?sourcei...quadlock%5Fpro

That page isn't linked to by any pages using the "quadlock_pro" as anchor text, but Google returns it and you can see on the cache

Quote:

These terms only appear in links pointing to this page: quadlock_pro

I think most people know this, but thought I'd post it for those that don't.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 01:35 PM

so if my domain was "software reviews . com" I would get ranked higher for that?

John Scott · 10-25-2003, 01:37 PM

You would be ranked for it. I'm not going to say you would be ranked higher for it, because most of the weight these days is on anchor text of IBL's.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 01:39 PM

ok. so since I have links from this forum with the text "software reviews" I should rank when people search for that?

John Scott · 10-25-2003, 01:40 PM

Sure. But you aren't operating in a vacuum. Other people competing for those searchterms are getting more links, too. So you need to get more than them.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 01:56 PM

Yah! I'm workin on it. If I have more backlinks than the first result for "software reviews," would mine rank first?

John Scott · 10-25-2003, 01:58 PM

Pretty much. There are other factors to be considered, but if you got more links than the other guy, from higher PR pages, with other elements optimized, you should be able to get the top spot.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 02:00 PM

Well the first one on the page has a PR7 with 1,360 backlinks. Looks like I have a big goal to reach. What else whould I have to do besides that? Have a lot of keywords on the homepage of my site?

John Scott · 10-25-2003, 02:08 PM

Put your keywords in the page titles.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 02:23 PM

? the meta tag?

Rob · 10-25-2003, 02:27 PM

The <title> tag.

Pimpen 2010 · 10-25-2003, 02:30 PM

Ok. THanks

Rob · 10-25-2003, 02:32 PM

Use specific page titles for each page. Target one or a few keywords for each page and use them in your title.

Mel · 10-26-2003, 12:23 AM

HI Scott:

I saw that post too, and was sorely tempted to challenge it, but every time I get into a "discussion" with that individual it turns into a real Donnybrook, and life is just too short to voluntarily deal with that sort.

John Scott · 10-26-2003, 12:25 AM

Mel, doesn't it really irk you when you see self-proclaimed "experts" mouthing off and spewing misinformation? I don't mind when people ask questions. But when somebody claims to be an expert, and states misinformation as fact, it really bugs me....

Mel · 10-26-2003, 01:55 AM

Yes John, its a real turn off. It takes all my self control (and I have precious little of that) to refrain from Screaming, You @#$% idiot where on earth did you get that idea?

I wonder how anyone can style themselves as an Expert, when all we know and do in SEO is on a best guess basis?

I have been in the SEO business for five years and still seem to learn something new almost every day. Funny thing is most of it doesn't come from "Experts" so much as those who are inquistive and take the time to investigate and try to fully understand the ever changing SE algos.

Mel · 10-26-2003, 03:11 AM

Hey John;
take a look at whats going on here:
http://www.selfstartersweeklytips.co...opic.php?t=828

Where among other things you can learn that:

Quote:

You see, just because a keyword phrase receives more daily searches does not necessarily mean that it is a BETTER choice.

Case in point, let's say that you need at least ...

316 Displayed Backward Links for a #1 ranking for ... WAHM

45 Displayed Backward Links for a #3 ranking for ... WAHM

5 Displayed Backward Links for a #10 ranking for ... WAHM

... And you need at least ...

316 Displayed Backward Links for a #1 ranking for ... work at home moms

462 Displayed Backward Links for a #2 ranking for ... work at home moms

116 Displayed Backward Links for a #10 ranking for ... work at home moms

I guess I've been doing it wrong all the time, ..... but then why the rankings???

biginjapan · 10-26-2003, 03:18 AM

I'm a newbie when it comes to SEO but one thing that strikes me is how religious this subject is to some people, how lacking in rational analysis.

Some people seem to think that you can somehow debate how Google indexes sites, which of course you cannot. You either KNOW through experimentation or you have to resort to GUESSING. You cannot have an OPINION on how Google indexes sites. Voting on it does not make a statement more true or false...

Sorry, I'm ranting here. A debate on another forum about how Google treats Flash sites just got to me.

John Scott · 10-26-2003, 07:17 AM

Mel,

That's interesting. Sharon & Roy tend to be funny that way. But you can't accuse them of not having ideas.

I sometimes venture off into other forums. It is often a very confusing experience. SEOChat is like that often. I sometimes wonder if you're required to check common sense at the door over there.

http://forums.seochat.com/t5848/s1d1...2f74a72a4.html

I found that amusing. Especially my reply:

Quote:

Actually, yes they are both bunk and wrong. We are dealing with numbers here, so it's rather easy equation.

If a site has 5,000+ uniques a day, and 18,000+ pages served, it is in fact getting more traffic than a site which gets 400 uniques per day, and less than 2,000 pageviews. It's simple numbers. No mystery to it.

And when Alexa gives the site with less traffic a higher traffic ranking, that makes Alexa wrong and incorrect.

If you come from some place where 200 is greater than 2,000, please send me one of your calculators. I'd love to do my taxes with it.

Sometimes I crack myself up.

John Scott · 10-26-2003, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biginjapan

I'm a newbie when it comes to SEO but one thing that strikes me is how religious this subject is to some people, how lacking in rational analysis.

Some people seem to think that you can somehow debate how Google indexes sites, which of course you cannot. You either KNOW through experimentation or you have to res