Danny Sullivan is an Internet consultant and journalist who created Search
Engine Watch. He continues to maintain that site for internet.com. He has
been covering search engines since late 1995, when he undertook a study
of how they indexed web pages. That study, along with tips and information,
was all published online in "A Webmaster's Guide To Search Engines."
In turn, the guide was incorporated into Search Engine Watch. He conducts
interviews with sources at the search engines for the site's monthly Search
Engine Report newsletter and twice-monthly Search
Engine Update newsletter. He performs regular tests and studies of how
well the search engines are operating.
We were fortunate to get Mr.Danny Sullivan answer a few questions over
the email for us about Search Engine submissions. We are providing that
information here below for the convenience of our visitors.
1. Are there any copyright issues over using popular
brand names in
the head content of a webpage, if the page really talks about them? For
Ex. A page reviewing Macromedia's 'Site Spring' having 'Macromedia' as
a keyword. Please Comment.
I'm not a copyright expert. However, in general, if you have a fair reason
to use a trademarked term, you are probably OK. That's not a guarantee,
however. Anyone can choose to sue you for anything.
2. Does, 'not putting commas' between the META keywords,of
a webpage facilitate different types of pairing of the words? For Ex.
Can this be used by search engines to pair up different keywords and consider
them in the same way as keywords like web development, flash development,
database development??? Please Comment.
Yes, in general, this is my finding.
3. Do Search Engines index Database Driven sites and
pages?For Ex. Search Results page at a Product site.Please Comment.
Some do. It depends on the exact nature of how the content is being
delivered. Generally, URL strings with ? symbols pose more problems, but
the
search engines are getting better.
4. What is the method to get Search engines index database
driven sites and pages?
Use paid inclusion programs, solutions to create static pages or alternative
systems that eliminate the ? symbol in your URLs.
5. Do search engines index Flash and Multimedia-rich
Pages?
Generally, Flash content is not indexed. Multimedia content may get indexed,
such as in a picture search engine, but getting listed depends on having
good descriptive HTML copy around the images or other elements.
6. Do you think a site can use Flash in an effective
manner and yet
get indexed by search engines?
Generally not. If they are Flash heavy, they are generally HTML text
light,
and search engines like HTML copy.
7. If a commercial site has good non-commercial content,
can that
'particular' page be submitted to Yahoo and Looksmart to be listed
in a non-commercial section?
Yes.
8. Which is a major factor that you feel makes or mars
the Search
Engine Positioning of a website or webpage?
This is too broad to answer.
9. Finally, Your advice for budding Search Engine Positioning
Professionals
Understand which are the major search engines that are likely to drive
you
traffic, and learn what you can about how they work.
