Digital Creative Services, LLC, Web site design at San Jose, Milpitas, San Francisco Bay Area, California » page

Google Base, and XML sitemap uploading

Alex Hu — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 20:43:37 +0000

We’ve used the a Google-based data submitting tools in helping our customers to get better online exposure. The objective of all these tools and our implementation jobs are trying to improve our client’s organic Google ranking, or make their AdWords campaign get the best results out of least investment. The changes may not happened overnight. We are expecting the results will emerging over 3 to 6 month as the client’s website contents become richer and solid.

Search results

DCS use its own website as testing target to verify the SEO effectiveness. So far, in sync with our strength and expertise in Online Store design. We are top (organic) ranking in the the phase of “online store design san jose”

We believe here is the rule of thumb to be top ranked

– Highlight the products (services) that you are really good at

– If the service region is a key factor of your business, make sure to include the regional phase in your site description

– Your homepage has a clear structure and font setting (H1, H2, ..) for web crawler to follow.

– Your site has the SEO design at begining and follow the same idea as it growing mature.

Google Webmaster Tool:

Statistics, diagnostics and management of Google’s indexing of your website, including Sitemap submission and reporting.

Google Webmaster Tool

What we do with it
1) submit the website XML sitemap to Google.

2) review the web pages readbility by search engine crawlers

3) find which search queries most often returned pages from the site, and which of them were clicked.

4) What pages are been indexed by Search Engine

Tools to generate the XML Sitemap:

WordPress Google XML Sitemaps Plugin

http://wordpress.org/extend/plugins/google-sitemap-generator/

Everytime you edit or create a post, your sitemap is updated and all major search engines that support the sitemap protocol, like ASK.com, Google, MSN Search and YAHOO, are notified about the update.

XML Sitemap Generator for any website

http://www.xml-sitemaps.com/

Create an XML sitemap that can be submitted to Google, Yahoo and other search engines to help them crawl your website better.
Create a Text sitemap to have a plain list of all your pages.
Create a ROR sitemap, which is an independant XML format for any search engine.
Generate an HTML site map to allow human visitors to easily navigate on your site.

FiveBranches.edu Phase II Launched

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:46:25 +0000

DCS has launched the 1st University website design for FiveBranches.edu on July 2008. Five Branches University is Offering Doctor of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Massage school, Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine school in San Jose and Santa Cruz, California, since 1984. The University Website design features school introduction, program course list, faculty list, financial aid , and accommodation in/off campus info to current and future students and visitors.

The 1st version is a successful launch. In terms of Google organic searching, it rapidly replace a local institution tried to cloak their school name. In about one month after its full launching, the school site has presented a full spectrum of contents to market the University on the internet. One of the key point is that we offered web page publishing tool to school staffs and faculty members. The organic growing of contents and structure come to nature.

DCS developed the online publishing tool for school staffs to maintain the website in these applications:

– School Degree / Department / Major
– Course List and detail description under each major
– Faculty Member List
– Extension program course list, Seminar List, Certification List
– News announcement
– Latest upcoming events roll up on homepage
Because of high volume of search query and click-through from Google search, Google adjusted its ranking and optimized the site links in about 3 weeks after the school site launched.

By this version, Nov 2008, school is introducing a series extension (Continuing Eduction Program) to promote and deliver the short-term and quickly changed Continuing Education programs. It’s the focus on the phase II projects.

========quote from FBU AMHA pages ================
Whether you are an experienced practitioner or a beginner, our seminars will connect you to the rich culture and wisdom of Asian bodywork and qigong. Enroll in our seminars to learn a new skill, expand your current practice, earn Continuing Education units (CEUs), or simply join us for our ongoing weekly qigong classes. All classes are open to the general public, with the exception of the classes marked “Doctoral Level Class” which are for Licensed Acupuncturists only.
===============================================

[flickr album=72157610022036248 num=5 size=Medium]

Build-to-order Computer Store development

admin — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:07:16 +0000

DCS has launched another Computer Online Store, AMTFcorp.com, with X-cart software and custom design.

category page in AMTFcorp.com

Product page in AMTFcorp.com

Features:

About 2 years ago, we delivered our first built-to-order (customized) computer store project, ITXdepot.com. In this case, due to less requirement demanded, we implemented a more light-weighted Addon: [Global-options] to meet the build-to-order requirements in the store. 2500+ products under 11 categories were uploaded by the spreadsheet-like data sheet.

The client had been in business for over 16 years. They owned an extended email list from past deals. DCS has quickly converted that list to an email newsletter campaign arm.

The client came to DCS with a long list of headache issues on their old website. Problems included difficulty in updating the contents, checking-out was unavailable, there were no ways to organize sales campaigns,…. All issues were resolved with affordable prices and timely solutions. We were glad to have another happy customer.

Alleged Negative SEO Ranking Factors

admin — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 03:12:01 +0000

2. Alleged Negative ON-Page SEO Google Ranking Factors (24)
Factor #	NEGATIVE ON-Page SEO Factors	Brief Note
39	Text presented in graphics form only No ACTUAL body text on the page	Text represented graphically is invisible to search engines.
40	Affiliate site?	The Florida update went after affiliates with a vengeance – flower and travel affiliates were hit hard – cookie-cutter sites with massive inter-linking, but little unique content. Subsequent updates have also targeted affiliates.
41	Over optimization penalty (OOP)	Penalty for over-compliance with well-established, accepted web optimization practices. Too high keyword repetition (keyword stuffing) may get you the OOP. Overuse of H1 tags has been mentioned. Meta-tag stuffing.
42	Link to a bad neighborhood	Don’t link to link farms, FFAs (Free For All’s) Also, don’t forget to check the Google status of EVERYONE you link to periodically. A site may go “bad”, and you can end up being penalized, even though you did nothing. For instance, some failed real estate sites have been switched to p0rn by unscrupulous webmasters, for the traffic. This is not good for you, if you are linking to the originally legitimate URL.
43	Redirect thru refresh metatags	Don’t immediately send your visitor to another page other than the one he/ she clicked on, using meta refresh.
44	Vile language – ethnic slur	Including the George Carlin 7 bad words you can’t say on TV, plus the 150 or so that followed. Don’t shoot yourself right straight in the foot. Also, avoid combinations of normal words, which when used together, become something else entirely – such as the word juice, and the word l0ve. See why I wrote that zero? I don’t even want to get a proximity penalty, either. Paranoia, or caution? You decide. I always want to try to put my “best foot forward”.
45	Poison words	The word “Links” in a title tag has been suggested to be a bad idea. Here is my list of Poison Words for Adsense. This penalty has been loosened – many of these words now appear in normal context, with no problems. But watch your step.
46	Excessive cross-linking
47	Stealing images/ text blocks from another domain	Copyright violation – Google responds strongly if you are reported. ref egol File Google DMCA
48	Keyword stuffing threshold	In body, meta tags, alt text, etc. = demotion
49	Keyword dilution	Targeting too many unrelated keywords on a page, which would detract from theming, and reduce the importance of your REALLY important keywords.
50	Page edit – can reduce consistency	Google patent - Google is now switching between a “newer” cache, and several “older” caches, frequently drawing from BOTH at the same time. This was possibly implemented to frustrate SERP manipulators. Did your last edit substantially alter your keywords, or theme? Expect noticeable SERP bouncing.
51	Frequency of Content Change	Google patent – Too frequent = bad
52	Freshness of Anchor Text	Google patent – Too frequent = bad
53	Dynamic Pages	Problematic – know pitfalls – shorten URLs, reduce variables, lose the session IDs
54	Excessive Javascript	Don’t use for redirects, or hiding links
55	Flash page – NOT	Most (all-?) SE spiders can’t read Flash content Provide an HTML alternative, or experience lower SERP positioning.
56	Use of Frames	Spidering Problems with Frames – STILL
57	Robot exclusion “no index” tag	Intentional self-exclusion
58	Single pixel links	A red flag – one reason only – a sneaky link.
59	Invisible text	OK – No penalty – Google advises against this. (The text is the same color as the background, and hence cannot be seen by the viewer, but can be visible to the search engine spiders.) I believe Google does penalize for hidden text, since it is an attempt to manipulate rank. Although they don’t catch everyone.
60	Gateway, doorway page (I see changes here – not only does the doorway page disappear, but the main page gets pushed down, as well – this is a welcome fix.)	OK – No penalty – Google advises against this. Google used to reward these pages.
61	Duplicate content (YOUR’S)	OK – No penalty – Google advises against this. Google picks one (usually the oldest), and shoves it to the top, and pushes the second choice down. This has been a big issue with stolen content – the thief usurps your former position with YOUR OWN content.
62	HTML code violations (The big G does not even use DOCTYPE declarations, required for W3C validation.)	Doesn’t matter – Google advises against this. Unless of course, the page is totally FUBAR. Simple HTML verification is NOT required (but advised, since it could contribute to your page quality factor – PQF).
	Since the above 4 items are so controversial, I would like to add this comment: There are many things that Google would LIKE to have webmasters do, but that they simply cannot control, due to logistical considerations. Their only alternative is to foment fear and doubt by implying that any violation of their “suggestions” will result in swift and fierce demotion. (This is somewhat dated – G is fixing these things.)	IN GENERAL, this works pretty well to keep webmasters in line. The fallacy of this is that attentive webmasters can readily observe continuing, blatant exceptions to these official pronouncements. There are many anecdotes about Goggle “taking care” of a problem. Google states that they do not provide hand-tweaked “boosts”, but are silent about hand-tweaked demotions. They occur, for sure. To believe otherwise is naive. Wouldn’t YOU swat the most obnoxious flies? I would. It is becoming easier to determine the best thing to do. Try to avoid any Google penalties or demotions.
119	Phrase-based ranking, filters, penalties	Feb. 2007 – Google patent granted. Do not use phrases that have been associated and correlated with known spamming techniques, or you will be penalized. What phrases? Ahh, you tell me.

Alleged NEGATIVE OFF-Page SEO Google Ranking Factors (13)
Note	Factor #	NEGATIVE OFF-Page SEO Factors	Brief Note
-	120 (added)	Traffic Buying	Have you paid a company for web traffic? It is probably low quality traffic, with a zero conversion rate. Some providers of traffic for traffic’s sake may be considered “bad neighborhoods”. Can Google discount your traffic (for true popularity), because they know it’s mostly phony? Have you read about Traffic Power?
22-29	106	Temporal Link Analysis	In a nut shell, old links are valued, new links are not. This is intended to thwart rapid incoming link accumulation, accomplished through the tactic of link buying. Just one of the sandbox factors.
18	107	Change of Meanings	Query meaning changes over time, due to current events
BAD	108	Zero links to you	You MUST have at least 1 (one) incoming link (back link) from some website somewhere, that Google is aware of, to REMAIN in the index.
BAD	109	Link-buying (Very good IF you don’t get caught, but don’t do it - when caught, the penalty isn’t worth it.)	Google patent – Google hates link-buying, because it corrupts their PR model in the worst way possible. 1. Does your page have links it really doesn’t merit? 2. Did you get tons of links in a short time period? 3. Do you have links from high-PR, unrelated sites?
41, 42	110	Prior Site Ranking	Google patent – High = Good
BAD	111	Cloaking	Google promises to Ban! (Presenting one webpage to the search engine spider, and another webpage to everybody else.)
	112	Links from bad neighborhoods, affiliates	Google says that incoming links from bad sites can’t hurt you, because you can’t control them. Ideally, this would be true. However, some speculate otherwise, esp., when other associated factors are thrown into the mix, such as web rings.
BAD	113	Penalties – resulting from Domain Hijacking (work with Google to fix)	Should result in IMPRISONMENT, forthwith! Grand Theft, mandatory minimum sentence. The criminal COPIES your entire website, and HOSTS it elsewhere, with . . . a few changes.
-	114	Penalty – Google TOS violation	WMG is the worst offender – gobbles up tons of Google server time by nervous Nellie webmasters. Google even mentions them by name. I think that Google will spank you when you cross the threshold, of say, 100 queries per day for the same term, from the same IP. Google can block your IP. Get a Google API.
	115	Server Reliability – S/B >99.9%	What is your uptime? Ever notice a daily time when your server is unavailable, like about 1:30 AM? How diligent must Googlebot be? This is the worst reason to get dropped – you just aren’t there! An ISP maintenance interruption can cause delisting..
-	116	No more room Pages being dropped from large sites	Google now has over 8 Gigs of indexed pages. Thousands of pages are disappearing from various huge websites, but I think that it is G just cleaning house, by dumping computer-generated pages.
HOT	117	Rank Manipulation by Competitor Attack (1. Content theft causing you to get a duplicate content penalty, even though your content is the original. People are still stealing my content, but nobody trumps me (in Google) with my own content – hats off to Google.) Examples - Site-Wide Link Attack and 302 Redirect Attack and Hijacker Attack	Impossible by Google definition (except for a few nasty tricks, like making your competition appear to be link spammers) Ideally, there SHOULD be nothing that your competition can do to directly hurt your rankings. However, an astute observer noticed that Google changed their website to read : Old verbiage = “There is nothing a competitor can do to harm your ranking …” New verbiage = “There is ALMOST nothing a competitor can do …” An obvious concession that Google thinks that at least some dirty tricks work! Of course, there will always be new ones!
-	118	Bouncing Ball Algorithm	G has moved to a daily dance. Multiple changing factors are applied daily. GOOD LUCK NOW on trying to figure things out! IN ADDITION, some the above factors are being “tweaked” daily. Not only are the “weights” of the factors changed, but the formula itself changes. Change is the only constant. An algo change can boost or demote your site. I put this in the negative factors section, because your position is never secure, unless of course, you are huge (PR=7 or greater). If you simply cannot achieve top position, your only alternative to first page SERP exposure may be Google Ad Words (you pay for exposure). Today, I searched for an extremely competitive “2-word term”, and I found that NOT ONE of the top ten Google SERPs had even one of the words on the page. YOWSA! Today’s theory – when it doesn’t matter, anybody can get #1 in a second, if they know the on-page rules. BUT, after a certain “commercial competitive level”, the “semantic analysis” algo kicks in, and less becomes more. The keyword density rules are flipped upon their noggins. I think that we are witnessing the evolution of search engine anti-seo sophistication, right before our very eyes. Fun stuff.

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Real Estate Site homepage redesign

admin — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:58:19 +0000

ResultsTeam.com, a DCS major client since 2001, topped 500+ team transactions as the world record by year 2005. We now present its new face after 3 months of progressive development.

Shoes Retailing Meets Custom Needs

admin — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:39:34 +0000

We have launched a beautiful retailing site for a new customer – Encore. Encore Theatrical is the San Francisco Bay Area leader in dance apparel and costume supplies. This is their first online retailing project focus in Dance Shoes and dresses.

Wordpress based Marketing Sites & its Plugins

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:20:25 +0000

In the FiveBranches.edu case there is a modification from WordPress publishing engine. DCS has integrated these plugins and developed a few proprietary applications under it.

1) Google Calendar
2) Job Posting (proprietary application)
3) Alumni Service Yellowpage (proprietary application)
4) Frequent Asked Questions (database application)
5) Virtual Tour in Slideshow

WordPress Plugin application/ development/modification

July 2008

Multi-lingul School/University Website

admin — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:12:43 +0000

FiveBranches.edu is the 3rd multi-lingual site DCS has delivered in the past 3 months.

It features
1) page to page language switching
2) full site editor updating privileges by Wordpress
3) integration of a few Wordpress plugins
– FAQ
– Slideshow
– Google Calendar
– Google Map
4) A few special programs for FBU
– Alumni Name List and Service Yellowpage
– Automatic Updated Sitemap
– Job Center
Over 120 pages in each language version

FiveBranches.edu

July 2008