Simple Machines Community Forum

SMF Support => SMF 2.0.x Support => Topic started by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 01:06:04 AM

Title: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 01:06:04 AM
how do you get it to show up on the first page how do you get it to show up on the first page of google or other search engines? Will meta tags/keywords work with the forum as it should do with regular websites? Someone please enlighten me.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 01:16:44 AM
It all comes down to the quality of content.

http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=427913.10
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 01:31:38 AM
thanks, good reading BUT is it best to have a html index page that has a link to the forum or just use the forum as the main web page far as getting listed in top search results?
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 01:36:28 AM
The best way to rank higher in search engines is to build your site for your users instead of the search engines. If your content is on your forum then an index.html would just be an obstruction to get to the actual content which your users and search engines are looking for.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 01:50:54 AM
so how does one create content on the forum that the search engines would like? Examples please?
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 01:57:30 AM
The content should be relevant to your site so there isn't a specific example. What is your site about. Generally the less you focus on pleasing the search engines and the more you work towards providing the best user experience the ranking will follow.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 01:59:18 AM
so you saying keywords, meta tags wont really help on the forum? What page exactly would one put keywords and meta tags, index.php?
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:01:26 AM
Truthfully I am not the person to ask for that as I don't feel it makes a terrible difference. The meta tags should be on all pages, but your forum handles that for you.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 02:13:14 AM
what you mean the forum handles that for you? how, where and what?
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:17:33 AM
SMF dynamically generates the metadata.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: waris on February 07, 2013, 02:26:23 AM
Hi,

I am also trying to do what you have in mind.

I am trying SMF with PortaMX as a landing portal. PortaMx has frontpage which I am using and also can be reconfigured to your needs.

Check this out: http://forum.siapamoyanganda.com/index.php (http://forum.siapamoyanganda.com/index.php)
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:27:19 AM
It is hard to use your site as a demo since it requires a login.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: waris on February 07, 2013, 02:32:22 AM
Hi Colin,

Guest are allowed to view but not to post.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Debido on February 07, 2013, 02:38:40 AM
you telling me smf automatically generates metadata? Hows it know what keywords and tags to use?
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:55:41 AM
Quote from: waris on February 07, 2013, 02:32:22 AM
Hi Colin,

Guest are allowed to view but not to post.
No they can't. Log out and have a look.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:57:55 AM
Quote from: Debido on February 07, 2013, 02:38:40 AM
you telling me smf automatically generates metadata? Hows it know what keywords and tags to use?
It pulls it from the the database. For example, when you are viewing a thread the meta description is populated with the thread title. It sounds like you might be interested in this http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1871
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: waris on February 07, 2013, 04:05:55 AM
Quote from: Colin on February 07, 2013, 02:55:41 AM
Quote from: waris on February 07, 2013, 02:32:22 AM
Hi Colin,

Guest are allowed to view but not to post.
No they can't. Log out and have a look.

Colin please do me a favour.

Goto my site and select "Home" and "Community".

As Administrator I am unable to view as a Guest for my own website.

Thank you.
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: Kindred on February 07, 2013, 08:16:26 AM
keywords are basically pointless at this time...   well, maybe not pointless, but they don't have much of an impact on search engine ranking.

There are several sticky posts scattered around discussing forums and supposed "seo".
The one thing to remember is "Content is king"... and since content on a forum is user generated............


And waris, of course you can.  Click LOGOUT on your site. You are now viewing as a guest
Title: Re: If the forum is used as the main website
Post by: waris on February 07, 2013, 11:06:47 AM
Thank you.