Google webmaster Tools
I don’t log into my webmaster tools account as much as I should. But every time I do I’m amazed at the changes they have made. Google has really put their foot into this application and it’s unbelievable that the upfront costs are free. I say upfront because I’m sure they are using this data in some way to benefit themselves.
I recently made some changes to a social website that I own. I knew after the changes where made that there would be some kind of repercussion, how severe was the question. Using Google’s webmaster Tools under the Diagnostics –> Content analysis section I’m able to see which pages where missing Title Tags, which pages had duplicate Title Tags, and which pages had duplicate meta descriptions. In the SEO industry this is considered valuable information.
If you’re unfamiliar with Google Webmaster Tools It maybe a good Idea to at least give it a try, I’m sure there’s some information about your site that you’ll find beneficial.
Tags: Google Webmaster Tools, SEO
Google’s a Site link Thief
Well I can’t really call them a thief, it’s their program after all. But over this past weekend I noticed several of my sites and friend sites no longer had Google Site Links attached. Which sucks, I was really growing a custom to seeing these extra links within the search results. I also thought they brought in a great deal of extra traffic.
If you’re unfamiliar with Google Site Links, these are the sub category links (usually 8 links) that are located underneath your website’s URL within a search results.
Google generates these site links dynamically, so this list can change from time to time. But they are great attention grabbers, and help increase traffic to your sites sub pages.
Well adios Google site links it was nice while it lasted.
Lesson learned never rely or grow a custom to any free 3rd party service, it’ll bite you in the ass
Tags: Google Sitelinks, SEO
Reverse IP – View domains on a single IP
Ok, So I have seen many tools on the web that will allow you to peep at the hosted domains on a single IP address. I have know idea on how some of these applications work. But I did find a very simple and easy way to extract this information.
Honestly I feel like I’m letting the cat out of the bag with this one, most of the applications I’ve seen on the web are paid for applications. But trust me there is nothing technical about getting this data, just techniques that most may not be aware of.
I’m appending this script to the bottom of this post but it will also be available in the tools section. And like the others it will take a LAMP environment to run. I’m sure if I set it up to run off my server then there would be some repercussions.
No databases needed, upload the file, add an IP address and BAM! You can increase the amount of pages you want to crawl, by increasing the number within the FOR LOOP.
Use your imagination; I’m sure you could really expand on the functionality of this script.
P.S. I wrote this script while the presidential debate was going on (10/07/2008) … I’m such a bad ass!
Tags: hosted domains, Reverse IP, SEO, Tools
SEOToast is Toast.
Sep 23, 2008 SEO
As of September 23, 2008 @ 20:00 EST, I’m officially terminating Seotoast.com a blog I have authored for the past couple of months.
SEO Toast was no longer a good fit for the vast arrays of topics I found myself blogging about.
SEO is still a part of my everyday life and I will continue to post about topics I find interesting.
So stay tuned I believe it will be an interesting ride.
Thanks,
Joe Tinsley
Tags: SEO
Yahoo API BOSS
Sep 19, 2008 SEO
It’s BOSS (Build your Own Search Service) baby!
When it comes to API’s it doesn’t get any better then Yahoo’s API. Their portfolio of API’s are good to go right out the box, and you don’t need to be a PHD to create a kick ass mashup. They are some of the simplest API’s that deliverer a whole lot of WOW! From traffic data, search data, and stock market news you can basically find it all at the Yahoo Developer Networks
I know I’m coming off like some kind of fan boy but I’m telling the truth. I was working with Google’s search API earlier this week and it was to much, to many hoops to jump through to get something up and live.
It’s seems like in many ways Google is so out of touch when it comes to the user. Yea they kicked butt with Gmail, and Google Analytics is pretty awesome also. But check out delicious, flickr, or Yahoo Mobile, come on these applications are incredible. What happened to Grand Central after Google acquired it, and what about DodgeBall? Anyway check out Yahoo Developer Networks, and be sure to mash something up with BOSS.
Tags: mashup, SEO, Yahoo API BOSS
Absolutely the Best SEO/PHP Book Ever
Sep 18, 2008 SEO
This dude asked me today “What’s a good book to get if I want to learn SEO”. I said Search Engine Optimization for Dummies, I don’t know, it just rolled off my tongue. Then it made me think is there any good SEO books out there for newbie’s. I learned the basics of SEO while working at a web design company. If I had to start over from scratch, I don’t know where I would turn besides the web.
All of this talk and thinking about SEO books reminded me of one of my favorite (which I wouldn’t consider to be a good book for a noob) “Professional Search Engine Optimization with PHP”
I bought this book a couple of month ago and I read it from cover to cover. The book was fantastic. Honestly it’s probably the best SEO & PHP book I have ever read. Most books re-hash stuff you already know, optimize title tags, build unique content, 301 redirect blah, blah, blah. Anyone with a lick of SEO experience would already know this stuff. But for the nitty gritty like, creating RSS feeds, Dynamic site map generation, and mod-rewrites, this book is great. Again I wouldn’t recommend this book if you know nothing about SEO or PHP.
But bottom line “Professional Search Engine Optimization with PHP” is the shiznit
My name is Joseph Tinsley and I endorse this message!
Tags: SEO
