[opensuse-marketing] Your SEO Aims for Wiki and other documentation.
Regarding the meeting discussion on SEO, which AFAIK was rather unresolved. I use SEO principles every day so have a few thoughts on the matter, but first I want to clarify what the aims and constraints for openSUSE are. I'm not familiar with Wiki software, so my Main question is: With the wiki, is it possible to add meta title, keywords, description to individual pages or are you talking about one wiki-wide set of data? And are there any other serious constraints to optimizing the Wiki? (conventions?) Secondly, what is the AIM of optimizing the Wiki - and other documents (news, blogs). Is it - 1) make it easier for people to find the openSUSE pages they are looking for? (for example, make sure that someone searching for OBS step by step finds the right documentation) or 2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics? (so that someone searching for 'linux virtual server' finds an openSUSE page) Of course both are possible! I've sent this query to both wiki and marketing lists, as SEO can be considered when writing ANY documentation that will be published. It is not the mysterious black art that expensive webpreneurs would like you to think it is. It is a very simple, clear and easy process. Obviously for best results a bit of time needs to be invested, but even for a quick blog post it's possible to spend a few moments considering the SEO. I'll have some more detail on that soon, but first I'd like to hear what you are hoping to get out of the SEO process, how you see it fitting with our aims. World domination is certainly an option.... cheers Helen -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Thursday, December 23, 2010 06:02:01 pm Helen wrote:
1) make it easier for people to find the openSUSE pages they are looking for?
(for example, make sure that someone searching for OBS step by step finds the right documentation)
or
And is what we want.
2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics?
Wiki software that we use (MediaWiki) has at least one extension that deals with this, but I can't say without reading how it works. This links is sitting in my bookmarks for a while: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Advanced_Meta It claims that "Meta settings can be edited for individual pages, or entire namespaces can be denied from indexing by robots." Looking for other extensions for meta tags manipulation: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description2 http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_HTML_Meta_and_Title http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_Metas http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:MetaDescriptionTag Similar is: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:OpenGraphMeta But, I have no time right now to look at details. (I'm answering here because SEO is more marketing then anything else.) -- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
So does this mean we -cannot- just add the meta data to the page? Normally you just add title, meta keywords and description to the header in a couple of simple lines of code. - we need to use a special extension to accomplish that? (At some point I guess I'll have to learn Wiki, but right now I'm learning a lot of things ... so.... my apologies for my ignorance.) Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol. It's also worth bearing in mind that meta data is itself only a factor - the most critical thing is a good quality content-bearing page, incorporating key phrases in natural English. Good incoming links matter too. cheers Helen
2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics?
Wiki software that we use (MediaWiki) has at least one extension that deals with this, but I can't say without reading how it works.
This links is sitting in my bookmarks for a while: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Advanced_Meta
It claims that "Meta settings can be edited for individual pages, or entire namespaces can be denied from indexing by robots."
Looking for other extensions for meta tags manipulation: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description2 http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_HTML_Meta_and_Title http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_Metas http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:MetaDescriptionTag
Similar is: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:OpenGraphMeta
But, I have no time right now to look at details.
(I'm answering here because SEO is more marketing then anything else.)
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Fri, 2010-12-24 at 15:43 +1100, Helen wrote:
So does this mean we -cannot- just add the meta data to the page? Normally you just add title, meta keywords and description to the header in a couple of simple lines of code.
Ok.. I will get into a bit of mediawiki myself and explain how that works. It is based on phpMySQL and all the mediawiki entries are stored in a database. Now whatever page, we see is actually parsed and is displayed as an output. While it may be possible to edit the mediawiki and come up with our own php script or anything else for that matter for meta tags, we do not need to actually because extensions are like plug and play devices which run as soon as the page loads ( I am speaking here how a metatag extension should work) I hope I made myself clear with this. I will try out the mediawiki extension and let you guys know how that works soon. Also, I will recommend please move this onto the opensuse-web list, there are people who can help us in this regard
- we need to use a special extension to accomplish that?
(At some point I guess I'll have to learn Wiki, but right now I'm learning a lot of things ... so.... my apologies for my ignorance.)
Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol.
I am not sure about open graph protocol and how it enhances SEO, I will have a look at both of them
It's also worth bearing in mind that meta data is itself only a factor - the most critical thing is a good quality content-bearing page, incorporating key phrases in natural English. Good incoming links matter too.
cheers
Helen
2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics?
Wiki software that we use (MediaWiki) has at least one extension that deals with this, but I can't say without reading how it works.
This links is sitting in my bookmarks for a while: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Advanced_Meta
It claims that "Meta settings can be edited for individual pages, or entire namespaces can be denied from indexing by robots."
Looking for other extensions for meta tags manipulation: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description2 http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_HTML_Meta_and_Title http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_Metas http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:MetaDescriptionTag
Similar is: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:OpenGraphMeta
But, I have no time right now to look at details.
(I'm answering here because SEO is more marketing then anything else.)
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
One more thing people at opensuse-web, who are actually responsible for pushing in stuff have already told me SHOW THE CODE :) Thanks a lot helen for remembering this and pushing it further. I really appreciate that. Regards Manu -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Fri, 2010-12-24 at 15:43 +1100, Helen wrote:
So does this mean we -cannot- just add the meta data to the page? Normally you just add title, meta keywords and description to the header in a couple of simple lines of code.
- we need to use a special extension to accomplish that?
(At some point I guess I'll have to learn Wiki, but right now I'm learning a lot of things ... so.... my apologies for my ignorance.)
Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol. Theres a mediawiki extension for that too
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:FBConnect We can testdrive its features at http://testpedia.us/index.php?title=Facebook
It's also worth bearing in mind that meta data is itself only a factor - the most critical thing is a good quality content-bearing page, incorporating key phrases in natural English. Good incoming links matter too.
cheers
Helen
2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics?
Wiki software that we use (MediaWiki) has at least one extension that deals with this, but I can't say without reading how it works.
This links is sitting in my bookmarks for a while: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Advanced_Meta
It claims that "Meta settings can be edited for individual pages, or entire namespaces can be denied from indexing by robots."
Looking for other extensions for meta tags manipulation: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Description2 http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_HTML_Meta_and_Title http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Add_Metas http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:MetaDescriptionTag
Similar is: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:OpenGraphMeta
But, I have no time right now to look at details.
(I'm answering here because SEO is more marketing then anything else.)
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Thursday, December 23, 2010 10:43:12 pm Helen wrote:
So does this mean we -cannot- just add the meta data to the page? Normally you just add title, meta keywords and description to the header in a couple of simple lines of code.
- we need to use a special extension to accomplish that?
We have a lot of extensions already installed, so there is nothing special in yet another one. You can see all that is installed here: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Version
(At some point I guess I'll have to learn Wiki, but right now I'm learning a lot of things ... so.... my apologies for my ignorance.)
There is always someone that knows some stuff better then the other, so for you as a writer it is very little necessary to know in order to use the wiki. For the advanced options you can ask anytime when you want to achieve something and there will be someone willing to help.
Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol.
That particular extension is not only for Facebook, it can be used for any social web site, according to statement on a web page. I didn't go in details, but my guess is that it offers some tags that mark sections of web page the way Facebook expects to see them.
It's also worth bearing in mind that meta data is itself only a factor - the most critical thing is a good quality content-bearing page, incorporating key phrases in natural English. Good incoming links matter too.
(See that is what you know better.) I can agree that good quality content is important, and creating writers group can improve that a lot. One big advantage of international communities, like openSUSE, is a lot of non-native English speakers. It allows cooperation, but at the same time it is a problem when writing articles. Written article is a static information with very slow reader's feedback cycle, and articles must be correct and easy to read.
cheers
Helen
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
We have a lot of extensions already installed, so there is nothing special in yet another one. You can see all that is installed here: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Version
Ok. cool... I guess!
Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol.
That particular extension is not only for Facebook, it can be used for any social web site, according to statement on a web page. I didn't go in details, but my guess is that it offers some tags that mark sections of web page the way Facebook expects to see them.
It's just a bunch of header tags with a particular format. So if we're doing standard SEO we might as well look at open graph as well. If it's there, sites will likely use it, right?
One big advantage of international communities, like openSUSE, is a lot of non-native English speakers. It allows cooperation, but at the same time it is a problem when writing articles. Written article is a static information with very slow reader's feedback cycle, and articles must be correct and easy to read.
One thing I should add, regarding my comment about good content written in natural English, - the 'natural english' means, not perfect english but natural like normal speech, not 'keyword stuffed', so writing naturally. (But still including the keywords! it can be a little tricky :) ) As far as readability for humans, most of the English I've seen is excellent - occasionally needs a little bit of editing, but for the most part is fine. People should feel very proud of the work they do writing in a foreign language! I don't have a second language other than a bit of bad Latin, and it takes me half an hour to construct a sentence in that :) best, Helen
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Fri, 2010-12-24 at 20:59 +1100, Helen wrote:
We have a lot of extensions already installed, so there is nothing special in yet another one. You can see all that is installed here: http://en.opensuse.org/Special:Version
Ok. cool... I guess!
Then of course we have to consider whether we wish to embrace FaceBook and employ open graph protocol.
That particular extension is not only for Facebook, it can be used for any social web site, according to statement on a web page. I didn't go in details, but my guess is that it offers some tags that mark sections of web page the way Facebook expects to see them.
Well yes, I looked at open graph today, but whatever I understood from it was this open graph is a social network in itself. If one of the people on the open graph network recommends it, then it gets included into the social network. So the open graph meta tags wont help until we have a medium of saying yes I like it / recommend it. Thats how I see it.
It's just a bunch of header tags with a particular format. So if we're doing standard SEO we might as well look at open graph as well. If it's there, sites will likely use it, right?
One big advantage of international communities, like openSUSE, is a lot of non-native English speakers. It allows cooperation, but at the same time it is a problem when writing articles. Written article is a static information with very slow reader's feedback cycle, and articles must be correct and easy to read.
One thing I should add, regarding my comment about good content written in natural English, - the 'natural english' means, not perfect english but natural like normal speech, not 'keyword stuffed', so writing naturally. (But still including the keywords! it can be a little tricky :) )
As far as readability for humans, most of the English I've seen is excellent - occasionally needs a little bit of editing, but for the most part is fine. People should feel very proud of the work they do writing in a foreign language! I don't have a second language other than a bit of bad Latin, and it takes me half an hour to construct a sentence in that :)
best,
Helen
-- Regards, Rajko -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
On Fri, 2010-12-24 at 11:02 +1100, Helen wrote:
Regarding the meeting discussion on SEO, which AFAIK was rather unresolved.
I use SEO principles every day so have a few thoughts on the matter, but first I want to clarify what the aims and constraints for openSUSE are.
I'm not familiar with Wiki software, so my Main question is: With the wiki, is it possible to add meta title, keywords, description to individual pages or are you talking about one wiki-wide set of data?
And are there any other serious constraints to optimizing the Wiki?
Well, I am not sure of this as I will have to look into the entire code and I dont have the time to do that
Secondly, what is the AIM of optimizing the Wiki - and other documents (news, blogs). Is it -
To increase our visibility, For news we intend to add it to various rss forums too
1) make it easier for people to find the openSUSE pages they are looking for?
(for example, make sure that someone searching for OBS step by step finds the right documentation)
or
2) bring more traffic, and generate interest in openSUSE by optimizing for non-SUSE-specific topics?
(so that someone searching for 'linux virtual server' finds an openSUSE page)
Of course both are possible!
Right,
I've sent this query to both wiki and marketing lists, as SEO can be considered when writing ANY documentation that will be published. It is not the mysterious black art that expensive webpreneurs would like you to think it is. It is a very simple, clear and easy process. Obviously for best results a bit of time needs to be invested, but even for a quick blog post it's possible to spend a few moments considering the SEO.
I'll have some more detail on that soon, but first I'd like to hear what you are hoping to get out of the SEO process, how you see it fitting with our aims. World domination is certainly an option....
cheers
Helen
-- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse-marketing+help@opensuse.org
participants (3)
-
Helen -
Manu Gupta -
Rajko M.