How do search engines look at forums?

Started by SaltedWeb, January 28, 2018, 08:38:10 PM

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SaltedWeb

 I have always been curious How do search engines look at forums?
I know that bots hit sites periodically, but how are they making sense of all the mixed in stuff
on a forum? Just wondered as well is there any good way to help optimize the site when its a specific topic
to help be identified ?

Thanks.
Knowing your limitations makes you human, exceeding these limitations makes you worthy of being human.

Kindred

In short, no....

Unlike designed sites, forums are based around user generated content. You have no control over the users' use of titles, keywords heading tags, etc.

Слaва
Украинi

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SaltedWeb

Aw OK that make sense.
So theoretically then a Portal with HTML on the front page might be seen in someway if it was a static page.
Being some portals ( I think all ) allow HTML in their portal block one could put HTML in the block that might be seen?
Or does that not work either due to it being part of the forum. and not html ext... ?
Knowing your limitations makes you human, exceeding these limitations makes you worthy of being human.

Kindred

the forum is all html and javascript on the viewing side...   it just uses php to BUILD that html.

However, regarding a portal front end with blocks...    remember, it's all about the content. heading tags, proper alt on images and title on links etc etc...

there's no magic "do this" manual.
Слaва
Украинi

Please do not PM, IM or Email me with support questions.  You will get better and faster responses in the support boards.  Thank you.

"Loki is not evil, although he is certainly not a force for good. Loki is... complicated."

ziycon

You can use structured data to help search engines and bots make sense of your content, have a look at schema.org, you will need to add the relevant attributes based on your site layout and content.

SaltedWeb

Thank you for the information that will help point me in the right direction.
Knowing your limitations makes you human, exceeding these limitations makes you worthy of being human.

landyvlad

The phrase you need to google / youtube / etc is SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Here's a starter:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COL_qPL5xsg

here's a video from someone at google talking about it
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El3IZFGERbM

Do keep in mind that SEO is a constantly evolving process, it's not a 'set and forget'. Google,yahoo etc regularly change how they search and rank sites. As such looking at articles / videos that are years old is largely a waste of time, aside from general principles.



While dated, this is an official google instructional and these basic principles mostly still apply
http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf

If you read nothing else, and want some up to date info - read this:
https://backlinko.com/seo-this-year

Cheers.
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