42 replies to this topic

[tempy]

I have a web site that is internationally targeted - if such a thing is possible.

Having said that, many site visitors are from the US. My question is, all other things being equal, to what degree do the various search engines understand the different spellings of common words - and how does it affect search results and ranking? For example 'colour' is the English and International way of spelling what Americans spell as 'color'. From a keyword point of view, I could always mix an match these spellings throughout the site, but my editorial heart wants some kind of consistency. At the same time, I want to be found by spellers of all nations.

Recommendations and tips please. Thanks.

<---edit--->

BTW, I kept trying to edit the title of this thread to change Us to US, but it doesn't take. Is there some kind of filter at play?

Edited by tempy, 09 April 2005 - 10:15 PM.

[Jill]

This isn't anything I've studied, but my site is number two at Google right now for search engine optimisation with the s as well as the z. I don't have the s spelling anywhere on it. There may be some link descriptions that use that, however.

But it leads me to believe that the engines may "translate" to a certain extent. (or at least Googlel does, haven't really looked at it in Yahoo.)

Oh, and as to the titles of the threads, we do have an "ALL CAPS" filter on the titles, so that's why you can't do US.

[tempy]

Thanks Jill. Good to know, I was also somewhat concerned that it might kick in a localisation filter in some cases - although thinking about it, that seems unlikely.

[tempy]

I suppose I should also be asking all you Americans out there, whether the International spelling of words has any effect on your perception of a web site?

I know that some Brits can get 'put off' by US spellings of words. Would the spelling of 'colour' over 'color', for example, lead you to think that a site may not be as relevant to your 'US-only' business?

I know this seems picky, but language has so many hidden meanings for different people.

[tempy]

Interestingly search engine optimisation Vs optimization, brings out different Adsense ad results, but that makes sense, as it's not Google controlling those.

<---edit--->

Although, in the main Google results, colour and color do bring dramatically different results for me when combined with various other words - for example color/colour reproduction. Which is a worry.

Edited by tempy, 09 April 2005 - 10:58 PM.

[Catz]

You used a great word as an example: 'colour' versus 'color'.

While working as SEO with a highly successful e-commerce site that sold eyewear, I ran into a similar experience.
One of the things we sold was contact lenses and we dealt with this exact issue.

The company is located in the US but the owners are from another country originally and so we all speak English, just a little differently. We don't always spell the same either.

Working one on one with the CEO on search engine and website optimization, sometimes our differences really worked to our advantage.

When optimizing pages for 'color contact lenses', they had originally used the spelling 'colour' because that is how they spelled the word.

I wanted to attract a larger audience by using the American spelling of the word as well. Upon adding the new 'American' spelling of the word, it made a huge difference.

Here are some interesting facts to consider.

Checking in Google as of today:
Colour contact lenses has 538,000 results
Color contact lenses has 3,180, 000 results

Colour contact has 14,000,000 results
Color contact has 100,000,000 results

With colour, you have a lot less competition for placement but many fewer searches as well.

With the American spelling of color, the category is much more competitive, but there will also be many more potential customers entering this spelling.

If your page content is of good quality, you can rank well for both terms.

[Catz]

The example Jill mentioned for search engine 'optimization' versus 'optimisation' is similar. She is in the same position but the number of results varies greatly.

Search engine optimisation 1,240,000 results
Search engine optimization 10,500,000 results

If you click the cache for the site after searching with optimisation instead of optimization, it shows that although Jill spells the word with a 'z' on her site.

As she mentioned, someone has linked to her site also, using the word optimisation with an 's', boosting her ranking for that term as well.

This would help explain why although she does not use that spelling on the site, she still ranks well for it.

You will find the cache says:
These search terms have been highlighted: search engine
These terms only appear in links pointing to this page: optimisation

[tempy]

Thanks Catz. Very helpful.

So, it looks like I'm going to have to use both spellings in the site. It upsets the 'consistency gene' of my editorial side, but the 'all inclusive' gene dictates that this is the only approach to take.

And, this is another example of how writing for the web is so different to the print world.

[Jill]

Catz, I'm really not sure though if anyone actually has the "s" spelling in the anchor text pointing to my site. I would imagine not enough links to put me at number 2 for that spelling, with so much competition that actually uses the s on their page and in their links.

Certainly, there are descriptions of my site near the anchor text that use the "s" though.

So, the question is (to me at least) are the engines taking the text near links into consideration (like many have suggested they do, but I've been skeptical) or do they have a language translation type filter, at least between US and UK English? Or both?

[tempy]

The degree of difference in the results for phrases containing either colour/color would suggest that if there is a language filter, it's a very selective one.

Unless, of course, 'optimisation' is treated as a special case for some reason

[Catz]

I have found that if the cache page actually says 'These terms only appear in links pointing to this page' as it does on this site for optimisation with an s, that there actually are pages linking using that link text.

I would think that this site has a large enough audience that plenty of people from the UK or other countries where they spell the word differently would be linking to you, and naturally they would spell the word in whatever way is natural to them.

You bring up a valid point though, perhaps for this term (and others), there is a special tool, filter or something that connects the two spellings as well, keeping your high ranking for both terms. Perhaps for popular words they are aware would have 2 spellings, they do something to to adjust for that. If that were the case, you would think a lot more of the other sites would carry over into that search as well.

I notice the search engines taking the text near links into consideration at least when showing a description in Google. You see your search terms and the text directly surrounding them on the page show up there when requesting a page.

[Catz]

You had a couple more questions. Answers vary depending on what type site you have and I'm sure plenty of others will have responses that differ from mine.

How do we code words with various spelling options for the most visitors?

Depends on your site.

If you don't mind creating a seperate page for both spellings, I would go for it. Make sure the cotent on each page varies enough they are not considered duplicates of each other or only one page will get indexed. You have twice the opportunity to show up for numerous word combinations with both spellings rather than just the one. Be extra careful not to make duplicate pages just for different spellings though! The one you want to get indexed might not be the one Google accepts.

Another option is what Jill's site appears to have benefitted from, making sure you have links pointing into your site (from other related quality sites) with the alternate spellings of the words you are concerned with.

What will people think of having a couple spellings of the same word on a page?

Depends on the person.

Some people are sticklers for spelling and grammar and will notice you have a couple spellings of the same word on your pages. They could think you made a mistake, they might think you are not too bright, it might not phase them in the least.

Americans tend to be more forgiving than you would think about the English language because there are so many different versions being spoken here as it is. Someone from the North doesn't speak the same as someone from the South and people from the East speak differently than people in the West. We have a variety of accents on top of that.

[Jill]

I have found that if the cache page actually says 'These terms only appear in links pointing to this page' as it does on this site for optimisation with an s, that there actually are pages linking using that link text.

Nope, that's actually not true. They say that for every page that shows up for any given phrase that is not in the visible page copy. The phrase may simply be in the image of a clickable alt attribute, or even in the Title tag, I believe.

I notice the search engines taking the text near links into consideration at least when showing a description in Google. You see your search terms and the text directly surrounding them on the page show up there when requesting a page.

Yes, but that's not the same as whether they take the words near a link on other sites, and actually count them towards your page. The engines claim they do this, but I've never been convinced. I think they are moving more towards it though, if they haven't already.

[Catz]

Any of us that have been at this a while understand...whatever Google is up to today, it just might not be true tomorrow. Wouldn't it be nice if they would let us know what they want...don't see that happening in this lifetime. Obviously they enjoy keeping us wondering what they are looking for now...and what it will be changed to the next time we go online as well.

Great points Jill, I have found on sites I work with that if it says links are pointing they are but as you said, for many sites they could just be saying that too as a way to process the term you entered, makes perfect sense.

Didn't catch that you were meaning do they take text surrounding links on outside pages rather than internal ones...good question. I wonder

They're pretty tricky...keeping us on our toes at all times!

Edited by Catz, 10 April 2005 - 01:58 PM.

[chrishirst]

dunno about that, My site is top in Google for "cobblers kids" (no quotes) purely on the anchor text I used in my sig at tek-tips (2 threads at TT are at 4 & 5), and "kids" definitely doesn't appear anywhere in the page.