Newlins Webspace Journal

Starting to use Windows Vista – and there is only one thing to say to those whose lives simply revolves around computers:

Be afraid – very afraid

I know that Vista is not perfect yet (will it ever be) but from what I have seen – it's awesome!

I’m beginning to believe the blurb out there on search engines and now I’m worried. Blurb #1 says that all my code has to be 100% perfect (even Google’s own website recommendation say this) before my site can be top ranked.Blurb #2 says exactly the opposite – be as slapdash as you like – and you can be on a winner. Just look at the pages that the search engines produce – many of them have horrendous errors in their HTML code.

Do I follow Google’s recommendations:

• Only valid HTML allowed
• No covert keyword areas
• No link farms
• No duplication of pages
• No overloading of key phrases
• Every page to be indexed must have a clear link to it
• Use google meta tags to help promote the correct navigation
• Include a Robot.txt file

If I do this – will I get a good ranking? Unlikely – but it could well be an easy site to maintain!

I really must get a good book on search engine optimization. Trouble is – the big three have completely different ideas about what makes a good page – and then they keep on moving the goal posts.

I guess I will keep on trying to do my best and see what happens!

Paul