Improve search engine ranking
To improve your sites search engine rankings check each page has the correct page title, and includes key words in headlines (especially H1 and H2) and the first sentence on the page.
Then you can look at adding meta tag descriptions and key words.
Results may vary between using our own University Search Engine (which is a google mini-search appliance) and Google. Our Search Engine is ‘refreshed’ every 2-3 days so if you make changes to meta-tags or page titles/headings it may not ‘show’ up immediately. Google’s search can be between 2-4 weeks to re-index the ‘whole’ web.
1. Best way to improve search engine ranking: page title
The most important thing you can do is to add a meaningful page title to your page. (Your site template already has your department/unit correctly added, and University of Canterbury - New Zealand).
Page title format
Page title - [Group (optional)] - Department - University of Canterbury - New Zealand.
- Page title should match the main headline used in content of your page (H1)
- Use [Group] when you have a section within your site containing several pages
Examples using this format
Extensions and suspensions - Masters - Student Administration - University of Canterbury - New Zealand
Prospective students - Sociology and Anthropology - University of Canterbury - New Zealand
Poorly titled page title in a web browser
This poor example has no page or section title. This will adversely effect search engine results.
Recommended page title in a web browser
The good example has a page title, 'Find the file size of a document or file' and includes the section 'How do I' within the Web Team site. Search engines will use these when indexing results.
Add page title in Dreamweaver
Add in the title bar of the document window. It should be the same as the page title at the top of the body of text on the page.
2. Include key words in H1 and H2 headlines
The words used in H1 and H2 headlines are very important for search engines. The best headlines have meaning when viewed on their own like the example below.
Example of About page headlines from the School of Law
In this example 'Study Law in New Zealand at the University of Canterbury' is more useful than 'About the School of Law' or 'School of Law'. It has included key words people interested in law would search for, such as 'study', 'law' etc.
'Christchurch, New Zealand' and 'School of Law...' are included in the next sub-headings (H2) providing vital information to search engines.
3. Key words at the start of the first sentence and paragraph
The first sentence and paragraph of your page should summarise what the page is about. Key words about the topic of the page will help search engines to rank your site high in search results.
Example of summary first sentence for Transfer of Credit, Student Administration
The first sentence summarises what transfer of credit is. It includes the term 'partial qualification' people searching may look for, especially if they don't know what a transfer of credit is. This together with the H1 and H2 headlines (Transfer of credit and Guidelines and regulations) will help this page (and section of the Student Administration site) to rank high in search results.
Another advantage of this sentence is that people can quickly scan the first sentence to know if this is the information they need.
4. Add meta tag key words and description
Meta tag key words and descriptions each have different benefits for the universities search engine and external search engines such as Google.
These should be added after you have improved your site's ranking using the suggestions above.
Contact websupport@canterbury.ac.nz for help. We can explain what they are and how they work, what you need to do and how to add them to your site.