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| In this column, we focus on the questions we are most asked
concerning the Internet and web sites. If you have a question you would like to see
here just email it to us questions@virtualtech.com.
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What are META tags and why are they so
important? |
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META tags are found in the HTML (language of web sites). The META
tags help search engines index your site and also in part, helps decides if your
site appears when a search is done. |
Several components make up the META tags. The three
most important are: the title, description and keywords. Each of these components are
important because one search engine might use the title while another uses the keywords.
Also, the META tags help determine what appears when a search is done. Lets look at the
META tags on Radon and Water Control Systems web
site.
<head>
<title>Radon Reduction Equipment and Radon Services,
Radon Testing by Radon and Water Control Systems, Inc. </title>
<meta NAME="Description"CONTENT="Radon
radon reduction and radon testing. Offering information radon consulting services radon
reduction systems and detection and reduction products.">
<meta name="keywords"content="radon, radon
reduction, radon testing, radon information, radon test kits, radon gas, radon health
risk, radon's danger, radon detectors, continuous radon monitors, radon devices, radon
laboratory, home inspection, RaTax, BGC Technologies, NRSB, NEHA, AARST, EPA,
do-it-yourself radon testing">
</head>
You will notice there is a <title>,
<description>, and <keywords>. Now lets do a "search" on a couple of search engines
and see what comes up. |
| We searched for "radon reduction" on
Altavista and AOL. On
AltaVista RWCS was number 4 out of
923,195 and this is what appeared:
4. Radon Reduction Equipment and Services, Radon
Testing by Radon and Water Contr
Specializing in radon and radon reduction. Offering radon information, radon consulting
services, radon reduction system design, radon detection and...
URL: www.radonandwater.com/
Last modified on: 28-Feb-2000 - 14K bytes - in English
On AOL RWCS was number 1 out of 37 and this is what appeared:
100% Radon Reduction by Radon and Water Control
Systems, Inc
Specializing in radon and radon reduction. Offering radon information, radon consulting
services, radon reduction system design, radon detection and reduction products.
http://www.radonandwater.com
If you compare the META tags with the descriptions from the search engines you will
notice that they are almost identical. The META tags supplied this information to
the search engines.
If you don't have META tags on your site the search engines will then use the first
sentence or two on your home page. Sometimes this works ok, other times it doesn't.
Here is an example of what your site might look like on AltaVista after a search
with no META tags:
No Title
[ Read Follow Ups ] [ Post a Follow Up Message ] [ Bob Vila's Message Board ] [ FAQ ]
Posted by jeff on September 22, 1998 at...
Last modified on: 28-Jul-1999 - 2K bytes - in English
The META tags for the above description look like this:
<head>
<title></title>
</head> |
| I suggest you take a look at your META tags to be sure they
are there and correct. To do this, go to your home page. Then click on
"view", this will open a drop down menu. Then click on "source"
or "page source", this will open another window. The META tags should be
at the very top of the page. Over the next few months, I will continue to discuss META
tags. If you are unsure of the META tags on your site contact Virtualtech and we
will be happy to do a site analysis for you. |
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