Hello Gaslogic ~
You are not the first to wonder why your listing may have disappeared
recently from Google's index; and Google has changed its algorithm
recently which resulted in many sites being dropped and others being
added, and the order in which they are presented drastically changed.
Before I attempt to answer your question, please remember that Google
Answers Researchers are independent contractors and we are not privy
to the inner workings of Google, nor do we have any special
information regarding Google's closely-guarded algorithm.
Among its "Reasons your site may not be included", Google states:
"You employ doorway pages. Google does not encourage the use of
doorway pages. We want to point users to content pages, not to
doorways or splash screens."
There's no way around it - your *main* page when one goes to your
site, gaslogic.com, is a Flash "Splash" page. This is considered a
"doorway page".
There is no HTML content to index; just the flash presentation. While
it may be interesting to watch, so far as search engines go, and
particularly Google, there is nothing there to index or present to
those searching for the terms you used, "gas logic" or any of the
other keyword meta tags you have on your page.
==============================
How to Get Listed In Google ~
==============================
Google enjoys a reputation for delivering *relevant* sites in its
search. There are times when some try to slip in other pages through
manipulation, but Google works hard to maintain delivery of sites
relevant to a searcher's quest.
To do so, Google employs technology explained in "Our Search: Google
Technology" -
- ://www.google.com/technology/index.html
Its search results are based on a combination of pages linked to yours
(for PageRank) and the relevancy of the information on your site (not
your keyword meta tags).
"Important, high-quality sites receive a higher PageRank, which Google
remembers each time it conducts a search. Of course, important pages
mean nothing to you if they don't match your query. So, Google
combines PageRank with sophisticated text-matching techniques to find
pages that are both important and relevant to your search. Google goes
far beyond the number of times a term appears on a page and examines
all aspects of the page's content (and the content of the pages
linking to it) to determine if it's a good match for your query."
(See: PageRank Explained)
- ://www.google.com/technology/index.html
Webmaster Guidelines ~
=======================
Google explains in its Webmaster Guidelines how to get listed:
"Design and Content Guidelines:
* Make a site with a clear hierarchy and text links. Every page
should be reachable from at least one static text link.
* Offer a site map to your users with links that point to the
important parts of your site. If the site map is larger than 100 or so
links, you may want to break the site map into separate pages.
* Create a useful, **information-rich site** and write pages that
clearly and accurately describe your content.
* Think about the words users would type to find your pages, and
make sure that your site actually includes those words within it.
* Try to use text instead of images to display important names,
content, or links. The Google crawler doesn't recognize text contained
in images.
* Make sure that your TITLE and ALT tags are descriptive and
accurate.
* Check for broken links and correct HTML.
* Keep the links on a given page to a reasonable number (fewer
than 100)."
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
And further suggests:
"Quality Guidelines - Basic principles:
* Make pages for users, not for search engines. Don't deceive your
users, or present different content to search engines than you display
to users.
* Avoid tricks intended to improve search engine rankings. A good
rule of thumb is whether you'd feel comfortable explaining what you've
done to a website that competes with you. Another useful test is to
ask, "Does this help my users? Would I do this if search engines
didn't exist?"
* Don't participate in link schemes designed to increase your
site's ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid links to web spammers
or "bad neighborhoods" on the web as your own ranking may be affected
adversely by those links.
* Don't use unauthorized computer programs to submit pages, check
rankings, etc. Such programs consume computing resources and violate
our terms of service. Google does not recommend the use of products
such as WebPosition Gold™ that send automatic or programmatic queries
to Google."
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
There are some basics you'll want to check to ensure everything on
your site is in optimum shape in order to be listed and more
importantly, be found under the search terms you desire.
==================
The Basics - HTML
==================
Shari Thurow, one of the leading authorities in search engine
optimization, and author of the book "Search Engine Visibility",
recently observed the following about HTML:
"Clean HTML is absolutely imperative for search engine indexing.
Browsers are extremely forgiving when it comes to displaying pages
with "unclean" HTML (unclosed tags, no quotation marks, etc.). Search
engine spiders are not so forgiving. Even something as simple as a
missing quotation mark on the <.a href="page.html"> can cause a spider
to not index text or a link." (See: Link Exchange Digest, July 3,
2003, "Clean HTML")
- http://list.audettemedia.com/SCRIPTS/WA.EXE?A2=ind0307&L=led&D=1&T=0&H=1&O=D&F=&S=&P=282
Differentiating between search engine indexing and search engine
ranking, she explained how errors in HTML can affect your ability to
be indexed, and ultimately, ranked.
Below are some HTML elements which are often overlooked or omitted,
but which play an important part in your visitor's experience when he
visits your site. A good rule of thumb is always "what's good for the
visitor is good for search engines." The following, considered
"basics" for the best visitor experience are:
1. DOCTYPE Declaration
----------------------
DOCTYPES are essential to the proper rendering and functioning of web
documents
in compliant browsers. It is also essential for the search engines to
understand and follow the coding contained on your pages.
DOCTYPE is explained and discussed further in "A List Apart",
- http://www.alistapart.com/stories/doctype/
and in Web Design Group's article, "Choosing a DOCtype",
- http://www.htmlhelp.com/tools/validator/doctype.html
2. Navigation
-------------
Google recommends designing your site for your visitors, as opposed to
trying to design your site for PageRank. Among the recommendations are
to "[m]ake a site with a clear hierarchy and text links. Every page
should be reachable from at least one static text link."
Google also recommends providing a Site Map, which of course, provides
the search engine browsers a complete 'map' to your site for indexing
pages.
It is pretty common, almost customary, for sites to contain text links
at least at the bottom of every page. This enables your visitors to
get from one page to another within the site easily.
If you are using a 'graphical' navigation, it is also customary for
them to appear in the same place on every page for the same ease of
use for your visitors.
See Google's Design and Content Guidelines:
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
3. Alt Tags
-----------
Google also recommends the use of alt tags for every graphic. This is
because search engines cannot read graphic images. If you use graphics
for your internal site links, you cannot afford to NOT add those ALT
attributes to your graphic tags.
Google's suggestion: "Make sure that your TITLE and ALT tags are
descriptive and accurate." (See Google's Design and Content
Guidelines)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
Add ALT attributes to all your image tags, and this will increase the
ability to index your site.
Put both the TITLE and ALT tags to work for you, too. Add descriptive
words that complement your site's content.
A Word of Warning: Don't 'spam' the ALT tags with superfluous
verbiage, that will be as bad as no ALT tags for your images.
4. Accessibility
----------------
Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 794
and 794d, set forth the minimum government standards for
accessibility.
Among these standards are such items as ALT and TITLE tags (as
discussed above), and website design which will enable those with
special needs to be able to access and understand your web site.
You might want to run each page of your site through Bobby, which will
give you a full context report of any portions of your site which do
not meet the minimum standards. If you make all the corrections
suggested, it will greatly enhance any search engine's ability to
crawl your website as well.
The Bobby analysis page can be found here:
- http://bobby.watchfire.com/bobby/html/en/index.jsp
5. Aesthetics
-------------
What's Above the Fold
----------------------
While not as important for search engine crawlers as it is for your
site's visitors, you should have your important content appear "above
the fold". "Above the fold" means that first screen full of
information.
Considered to be important things that should appear above the fold:
* Your logo or company slogan to help establish your “brand”.
* WIIFM (What's in it for me?). A list of some benefits your visitors
will enjoy by staying on your site or buying your products or
services. This should include keywords for the search engines and
should focus on the visitors.
What is the biggest benefit to your visitors?
* A navigation menu. Your visitor has come to your site for a purpose.
Don’t make them hunt for your links - on any page!
* Special Offers Promotions, etc.
And remember to try not to clutter this area.
Some good articles on effective Website design and discussion of
"above the fold" can be found here:
* NetLingo, The Internet Dictionary, "Above The Fold Defined"
- http://www.marketingterms.com/dictionary/above_the_fold/
* RMH Web Design: "Web Site Design: Designing Above the Fold"
- http://www.rmhwebdesign.com/articles/abovethefold.html
* SitePoint, "10 Tips to Building A Click-Ready Website"
- http://www.sitepoint.com/article/224
Other articles discussing the benefits of effective Website design can
be found by using the search terms:
- articles: web design + above the fold
or
- effective web design
===================
Establishing Links
===================
As stated, Google's PageRank is based on the number of pages which
link to your site.
"The best way to ensure Google finds your site is for your page to be
linked from lots of pages on other sites. Google's robots jump from
page to page on the Web via hyperlinks, so the more sites that link to
you, the more likely it is that we'll find you quickly." (SEE Google's
" How Do I Get My Site Listed on Google? - 2. Submitting Your site")
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/1.html#A1
There are many practical ways of establishing links which are
beneficial to you in your endeavor to get respectable position
placement on search engines. These methods may take time, but they
also help in establishing credibility and help with your page rank.
Approach like-minded or complementary businesses about linking to your
site (with a reciprocal link from your own). This works without
harming search engine positioning or page rank.
A WORD OF WARNING:
==================
Google specifically warns "Don't participate in link schemes designed
to increase your site's ranking or PageRank. In particular, avoid
links to web spammers or "bad neighborhoods" on the web as your own
ranking may be affected adversely by those links." (See Google's
Quality Guidelines - Basic principles)
- ://www.google.com/webmasters/guidelines.html
It stands to reason that what's good for Google, currently ranked as
the number one search engine is good rule to follow for other search
engines.
Articles on Link Popularity
===========================
A couple of excellent articles on how to establish the right kind of
links are available in Traffick's "Ten Steps to Building Links to Your
Site", Craig Fifield - 5/3/2002
- http://www.traffick.com/article.asp?aID=77
and "The Right Way to Improve Link Popularity", By Paul J. Bruemmer -
4/14/2002 -
- http://www.traffick.com/article.asp?aID=41
Notice both articles offer suggestions which can be easily adapted for
use on any website without resorting to link farms. They both point
out the differences and offer easy ways to get started to the kind of
linking search engines prefer.
Once you have your site ready, you may wish to resubmit your site to
Google using its AddURL page:
- ://www.google.com/addurl.html
I am sure that with some changes and following Google's guidelines,
you should be above to get relisted.
Good luck and best wishes,
Serenata |
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