Matt Heerema

How did I do it?

Josh asked: “how did I do it?” (breaking the top 10 on a google search for Heerema). I guess I would start by saying, that’s not an entirely remarkable thing. While I did bring it from 500th to 9th in just under two months, Heerema is not exactly a common search term (unless you are a Heerema :)).

But in the interest of being informative, let me direct you to two articles that I find helpful.

Using XHTML/CSS for an Effective SEO Campaign – from A List Apart (a must read for Web developers). written by someone who is three years younger than I am (and I’m a youngin…)

The best way to begin an optimization project is to make sure that all your code is readable. Search engine spiders work much the same way that the human eye does, and if there�s too much �junk text� in your HTML, it�s going to be hard for spiders to know what is what and to be able to decide that a page is relevant to a particular category. Improving your structural organization will not only make it easier to read for you, but ensure that search engine spiders know what you�re trying to show them.

How to use HTML Meta tags. Debunks some myths about meta tags and their uses/usefulness.

Want to get a top ranking in search engines? No problem! All you need to do is add a few magical “meta tags” to your web pages, and you’ll skyrocket to the top of the listings. If only it were so easy. Let’s make it clear: * Meta tags are not a magic solution. * Meta tags are not a magic solution. * Meta tags are not a magic solution.

Also Google Bombing always works… but is borderline unethical, and google will probably fix for it, but the basic idea that the more links you have to your site, the higher its rank will be for the words used in those links.

This article I’m writing may be about Google Bombs… but if enough sites linked to it using the phrase “Aunt Jemima,” then this article might come up as the first search result for “Aunt Jemima.” In other words, the linker can impact the Google Rank of the linkee.