Submission Service and metatags

[native]

Hi,

I have read that metatags are not widely used these days, my questions are:

1. What submission service do you recommend?
2. I have completed Titles and Descriptions but not yet my metatags, do I need to do this first or can I submit and then begin working on my metatags while these are in progress

3. What count should I use for my metatags i.e. how many keyworsds is optimum?

Thank You,

:cheers:

[kneelsit]

Hi Native,

Had a quick look at your home page - the site listed in your profile. My first suggestion is that you limit the [b]title[/] meta tag to the first 5 -6 words - no more. Leave the description meta tag 'as is'. At the moment both are identical.

You are correct about the keyword meta tag these days - it has little effect in getting you any better placement with the SEs BUT it can be useful to list there all the possible mis-spellings and plurals of your main keywords.

One other thing you might also consider is the placement of your navigation links. Sret up as they are on the left of the page the search robot has to go down through about 2/3rds of the page code before it comes to the "meat" of your site.

One easy solutionis to place them on the right.

There are experts in these forums who could tell you the coding needed to still leave them on the left and have the coding AFTER the text - but it is a little outside my expertise.

Hope this helps.

Greg

[kneelsit]

Sorry just noticed your other 2 questions.

I would not use any submission service. Submit by hand to
1. DMOZ.
2. Google (though they will eventually pick you up from 1.)
3. Yahoo - I know it costs !
4. Inktomi - not as expensive.
4. Then the others such as Gimpsy, GoGuides, Gigablast, etc.

MSN does use Inktomi's listing for some of it results. I would NOT bother with paying Look$mart for anything.

Finally the 'count' you should use for your keywords - in your text - is whatever reads well, is in keepinng with what you want to say and does not obviously sound stilted or"keyword-stuffed".

[native]

Thanks for the response kneelsit :-)

Question of the title lenghth ..., I have seen titles that extend out quite a few words only to be displayed on the search engines as

"This is my title if you like my titl............"

Other that having the title cutoff, what other issues are there with having a title that is too long. I have, in the long titles focused my primary keywords up front.


Keyword count : I was a bit unclear there, but looking for an idea on how many metatag keywords is optimum?

Interesting point on the navigation being on the left, although I see a lot of sites like this, does this really impact the spider? I would love it investigate how to code the site so the left still remains but it comes after the body text .... any directions you can point me in?

:cheers:

[kneelsit]

Hi again,

Sorry I cannot help you personally on that coding for the nav. links but if you post your question in the section here which is titled:-
"languages, databases, coding - - -" I am sure the moderator there will be able to help out.

It will also be of help if you start studying up on CSS - a fairly steep learning curve but well worth the effort.

Here is a good starting point (http://www.webreference.com/html/tutorials/)

Best of luck :)

[scottiecl]

Search the forum for "table trick" and you will find a way to list your content before your navigation in the code of the page while still keeping a left side nav bar.