Is your site navigation as simple as it can be?
Google’s guidelines state that, while its results are shown at page level, their spiders like to have a global overall view of where each page sits in relation to the rest of the site. So, a logical navigational structure will help the search engine build a more accurate view of your site as a whole.
Site navigation can be thought of as the layers of an onion; users peel back each layer to go from one stage to the next and travel deeper into the hotel website. Each time changes are made, don’t forget to update your sitemap (the on-site directory of pages within the site) and the XML Sitemap (the sitemap submitted to the search engines).
Is your content compelling?
Easily the most important of all on-page aspects, a site rich in compelling and unique content, will win big in the search results and with conversion rates. Is your content compelling to the search engines? This requires more in-depth keyword research as you’ll want to be sure you’re including the phrases that searchers will key in when looking for your product or service. Search trends change, so keeping an eye on keywords proving popular will help content appear relevant and up-to-date.
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Keyword placement is equally important in content, so check the titles and sub-heads used on each page of information. If newly discovered keywords or phrases, that you have only recently begun to favour, are not prominently positioned on the page, it’s time to get editing. When revising and creating information for the site, look at how you have linked from one page to the other. This anchor text is just as important on-page as it is off-page. Descriptive anchor text guides search engines through a site in much the same way roadside signposts help guide a driver to their ultimate destination. What’s more, the better the anchor text is within a site, the easier it is for customers to find what they are looking for.
Have your images been overlooked?
No matter how large or small your site, you’ll have at least one or two images on show to your visitors. However, there is a lot more to including a photo on your site than simply uploading it with a relevant caption. As a file based addition, an image will have a file name and (hopefully) alt text.
File names and alt tags should be straightforward. Alt tags in particular should describe the image as accurately as possible, so visitors, unable to see the image, still get an idea of what should fill that space. In the case of an image being used as a link through to another page within the site, the filename will perform much the same function as anchor text, making keyword inclusion and relevant information essential.
While basic points, these are easy to overlook as a site develops over a period of time, It really should be checked routinely, to make sure the most is made of the limited optimization possibilities afforded by pictures.
About GlobRes
GlobRes provides hotel reservations and marketing solutions for hoteliers globally. GlobRes offers hotel website design for free when purchased with hotel reservation systems. Complete our online contact form for more information.
Editors Note: Samantha Hasler leads the Digital Marketing Team at GlobRes www.globres.com. Please direct all press queries to marketing@globres.com
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Oct 29, 2009 , USA
Another important (if not the most important) strategy to generate sales and affect popularity is to build a system that creates fans of your brand. Read "The Web Marketing Universe" for more information. http://www.famefoundry.com/175/the-web-marketing-universe
Oct 27, 2009
I love the breakdown on why a page should be relevant, the answer is spot on, if a search engine was sending visitors to completely un-relevant sights then that search engine would not be that successful. I've never thought of SEO from the perspective of the search engine but can definitely see t...