Free Website Content
PDF SEO
Optimize PDF Files For Search Engines
Google, Yahoo, and MSN can all spider and index text-based
PDF files, and generally they rank quite well. PDF files
can be used to seize top listings for important keywords
and keyword phrases. In order to have a PDF effectively
rank well in organic searches, it should be optimized
for the search engines, just as you would optimize a
web page. Optimization of PDF files for search engines
is very similar to search engine optimization for other
types of content...
1. Text Based
To be sure that the content of a PDF
file is recognizable by a search engine, the most important
thing involves how the PDF file is created. Some PDF
programs simply convert text into a large image. If
that occurs, the search engines cannot read or spider
the text that is contained in the image. It is important
to create the PDF file using a text-based editor like
Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat, so that the text format
is retained when the file is saved.
2. Optimize Text
Text contained in a PDF file is very similar
to web copy, so use keywords in headings, and emphasize
important keywords throughout the body of the PDF file.
3. Link Depth
In order for a PDF file to be indexed,
the search engine must be able to find it. The links
to the PDF files that you wish to have indexed by the
search engines should be on a web page that is frequently
spidered by search engines. Links to the PDF files should
not be buried deep within the website. Use related keywords
or a keyword phrase in the text of the link itself.
4. Add Links
Include links back to your website in
the PDF text.
5. Document Properties
Define the document and metadata properties
within the PDF file; this is done in Adobe Acrobat.
Details: File -> Document Properties Advanced - > Document
Meta-data (use the description menu to define -- this
will give you the opportunity to fill in the Title/Author,
Subject, and Keywords. Use commas to separate the keywords
and keyword phrases).
6. Bold Heading
Use H1 or H2 tags to make headings and
sub-titles bold. The search engines will place more
emphasis on the words that are in bold, so be sure that
they are related to your keywords.
7. Caption Under Photos
Include text captions under any photographs
or images that are incorporated into the PDF file. The
search engines will index the image captions just as
they would the "alt text" on a web page image.
8. Name Of The PDF
Use related keywords in the actual file
name for the PDF file. If you are using a keyword phrase
to name the PDF file, use hyphens to make it easy to
distinguish all the words used. For example: filename-keyword-phrase.pdf
PDF files often rank very well in search
engines. Make sure you get the most SEO benefit from
the PDF material on your website.
About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com
software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds
and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for
RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com
audio recording and editing software.
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be greatly appreciated send an email to sharon@notepage.net
.
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