Large site, lots of include files

[mckots]

Hi, ive recently been approached by a client who has a large, affiliate-based financial site which uses include files for each component of the site...header, footer, left and top navigation.

I've been doing seo for a while but i've never optimized a site set up like this. The site is broken down into financial categories and they want each section optmized for differnt keywords..(mortgage, credit, etc.).

I know i must set up directory pages for each section and add tons of pages with relevent content, but i was wondering if anyone can give me some advice on a site like this. I understand that affiliate sites and frowned upon throughout the seo community...does this site even have a chance?

Any specifics i should know about optimizing aspx pages with tons of include files???

alot the pages of the site are set up just as exteral links to an affiliates site, i know i need to change this....any working around this or other methods i may consider?? help!

Thank u so much

[GilGul]

I see that no one has responded yet, I've recently done something similar, they included a header and a footer to make the editing work a lot easier. Problem was that it also included the title, metas and everything.
I had to cut down the headers as well as the footer and embed some of the code in the page itself.

[Johan007]

Easy.

Just add includes with a variables using PHP (or other coding type).

<title><? print($pagetitle); ?></title>

on main page (that should now end in .php or other language)

<?php 
$pagetitle='home'; 
$metaDesc='Welcome to the homepage of your site'; 
?>

Becuase the site is massive you can use Dreamweaver.

Then... Edit > Find and Replace > Drop down 'Entire Current Local Site'

Make changes carefully bit by bit and replace all.

Now test it many times. Get some one who owns the site to test it.

Oh and BACK UP THE OLD SITE!!!!!

[hatchet]

Johan,
Yes that's the way I do it also - works great and makes it so easy to make changes.