19 replies to this topic

[cj5]

Programming language has no effect on SEO, unless it is implemented to generate descriptions, meta info, navigation, etc...

Your programmer is right it does not matter at all what you use to control the make up of your site. The programming language is there for site functionality, not for content. It may only effect the SEO when it is meant to generate content for the site, build the navigation, generate keywords, etc...

[Jill]

Welcome cj5!

[cj5]

Hello, Jill! Good to be here.

[BigRigTom]

I have been reading this and several other topics trying to get an understanding of what I need to do with my asp forum site.

Several questions I have are:
My site uses a file called "default.asp" but it is not necessary to actually include that file name in the url when you type in the site address in internet explorer.

Is the "default.asp" file taking place of an "index.html" file?
Is it what you are referring to as dynamically generating an html page from the server to the internet?
Should I have some kind of landing page in my root directory for the purpose of SEO?
Does it matter to SE's if I include that file name in the url of inbound links?

I have so many questions I am a bit embarrassed to list them.
Can someone answer those 5 for a start?

BigRigTom

[torka]

Welcome to HRF, BigRigTom!

Is the "default.asp" file taking place of an "index.html" file?

Yes. Servers can be configured to use any page name you want as the "home" or "default" page. In the case of Microsoft IIS server and ASP, the default page is usually "default.asp."

Is it what you are referring to as dynamically generating an html page from the server to the internet?

It might be, or it might not be. That depends on the actual code on the page. Just because a page has the name of "default.asp" that doesn't necessarily mean it has any ASP code on the page, and it doesn't mean the ASP code is dynamically generating the page.

You'll have to look at the actual page code (not the source as displayed in the browser, but the code of the actual file as it resides on your server) to be able to tell.

Should I have some kind of landing page in my root directory for the purpose of SEO?

You already have one (or more).

Any page on your site can theoretically be a landing page. "Landing page" simply means the first page a visitor encounters when they arrive at your site -- and it's good to keep in mind this isn't necessarily your home page.

There's no need to create special pages for the search engines. In fact, creating pages just for the search engines is pretty much a no-no. For SEO, optimize the pages you have, the ones that your real human visitors will see.

Does it matter to SE's if I include that file name in the url of inbound links?

If you're talking about "default.asp", no. It doesn't matter. In fact, it's my preference to not include it, as it gives you more flexibility in the future should you decide to migrate to a different platform with a different default page file name. If you haven't specified the file name in the inbound links, you don't have to change the links should your site ever migrate. (Not to mention that it's shorter, easier to remember and easier to type without the added file name.)

The important thing, though, is to be consistent. Don't use the "default.asp" filename sometimes and other times not.

I have so many questions I am a bit embarrassed to list them.

Don't be embarrassed. We have a saying around here: the only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

--Torka