11 replies to this topic

[webant]

Greetings all, As a newbie I have a question in the user vs SE.

Below are two versions of copy i have had 3 people review both. The short version is the user preference and i feel the longer version is keyword rich and would do better with the SE's.

Would anyone care to comment?

<copy removed so this forum won't start ranking better than your own site>

Would the long version be looked at by the SE's as content richer?

Edited by Randy, 02 May 2007 - 07:59 AM.

[Randy]

My opinion is a simple one.

Construct your copy first and foremost for Users. They're the ones who are paying the bills after all. And you have only one chance to make a favorable impression on them. Your copy and the layout/usability of your site is really the only factor that can encourage them to take whatever action you want them to take.

On the other side of the coin the search engines look at 100+ factors when scoring a page to see where it will rank. Many of these factors being something that is completely transparent to real users.

So even if the shorter version doesn't rank as well (and I'm not saying this will happen) there are lots of other ways to help it rank better, while still satisfying user expectations.

[Scottie]

You can't bank search engine rankings. You can't trade a PR5 for a loaf of bread. You won't get women falling at your feet when you announce that your website ranks #1 for well...anything.

What matters is users- the people who feed your ultimate goal, whether it's building a community, selling products, getting subscriptions, or whatever it is that you do.

There are many, many ways to optimize a site for great rankings. Making your site worse for users in an attempt to get better rankings defeats the purpose.

Get creative and work the extra copy into the page in a way where it's optional reading or de-emphasized if you really feel you need it there. Use headings and bullet points to allow people to easily skim. Use the design to focus attention on the copy that is critical for conversions.

[copywriter]

Would the long version be looked at by the SE's as content richer?

Not necessarily. Google looks at many factors when evaluating "trust" factor. Rather far down on the list is copy length.

I'd take the suggestions Randy and Scottie stated above and concentrate on quality over quantity.

[torka]

Did I read correctly that your evaluation of "user preference" based on asking three people?

If that's the case, my first issue with that is that a sample size of three is pretty small. Even if all three are members of your target audience, I'd be wary about basing a decision on such a small sample.

Second, personally, I don't care what people say they like. What they say they like, and what they actually respond to in real life is often different.

I would suggest -- in addition to the excellent suggestions offered above -- that you actually A/B test longer versus shorter copy on your site to see which performs better in actual practice.

My

--Torka

[webant]

Thank you everyone. I appreciate your comments and take them seriously.

I need all the help i can get.

[chrishirst]

Seo Vs User Optimization

Is there a difference?????

[jtaylor123]

You won't get women falling at your feet when you announce that your website ranks #1 for well...anything.

Sorry, off topic, but LOL.

[Lakshmi Narsimhan]

Of course chrishirst, there is a big difference between the two as in User Optimization is Optimizing a website by keeping usability in mind. Whereas, SEO is mostly done by keeping SEs in mind.

I had observed from my own sites that I lost the positions of the mainly targetted KWs when I focussed more on Users such as on Titles, Meta descriptions, Content, Images etc., and also mojor site Archetecture is changed that affected my ranks on Google. Well, I am assuming that I need to wait for some more time to see the results as this happened just two weeks ago.

Anyone out there, please correct me if I am wrong.

[chrishirst]

there is a big difference between the two as in User Optimization is Optimizing a website by keeping usability in mind. Whereas, SEO is mostly done by keeping SEs in mind

Nope.

absolutely the last thing you should be considering for SEO are search engines.

There are many technicalities to consider for making a site "crawlable" but optimising? No, forget the SEs for that, and oddly enough you will find that once you stop the blinkered "what is good for Google" thinking, you will find that SEO just got a whole lot easier and more productive.

[Jill]

Whereas, SEO is mostly done by keeping SEs in mind.

Unfortunately, that's what most people think, and that's why 90% or more of SEOs and SEO companies suck.

[Scottie]

I had observed from my own sites that I lost the positions of the mainly targetted KWs when I focussed more on Users such as on Titles, Meta descriptions, Content, Images etc., and also mojor site Archetecture is changed that affected my ranks on Google. Well, I am assuming that I need to wait for some more time to see the results as this happened just two weeks ago.

If this actually affected your rankings negatively, then you did it wrong.

Without knowing what you feel is better for users vs better for SE's, it's hard to say for sure, but I've yet to see a site where improved usability hurt rankings, especially when it comes to site architecture/internal links.

I have seen a LOT of sites where the owners think they have great usability/content/design when they really don't... not saying that's the case with your site but it's a possibility.

Also remember that if you caused rankings shifts with on-page changes, then uploading your old site should cause everything to return to the way it was. If that doesn't work, your changes weren't the cause of the shift.