W3C Validation – Is it Worthwhile?

W3C Validation   Is it Worthwhile?What is W3C Validation?

It stands for World Wide Web Consortium (see the connection?  3 W’s, for W3. smart eh?) and basically is an effort to standardise the way pages on the internet are created to make them universally accessible for as many people as possible.

It tries to ensure that pages don’t take forever to load, use the CSS and XHTML language and this in turns allows browsers such as Internet Explorer, Firefox and Google Chrome to display them all in the same way with fewer problems or errors.

At least that’s the aim.

Many agree that having this validation “certificate” allows search engines to read your site in a much more efficient manner thus the site is more friendly.

It is NOT essential to have on your site but should be remembered.  As the sites are now so dynamic, simple changes can cause errors that, should you wish to maintain this validation, must be fixed and a lot of energy can be wasted on maintaining its integrity.

Until it becomes an absolute necessity the best thing is to try and maintain it but not become unhinged if it is not applicable. Otherwise it just might drive you insane.  One thing I have terrible headaches with is apply a new plugin to my blog and it might just cause a W3C validation error.  Its impossible to tell until you try it.

There is a handy little plugin which allows you to check your W3C Validation on WordPress called “Validation” surprisingly enough. This plugin adds the error list to the admin of your blog allowing you to drill down to specific errors and correct them.

Millions of errors what do I do!?

Don’t be surprised the first time you run it if you get what seems like millions of errors.  This isn’t actually the case so don’t panic!  The errors are usually held within the template files of your site so by fixing one set of errors it will fix all the errors site wide reducing the total number rather quickly.  It all boils down to the amount of time and effort you have in making it happen.

Hint… Spend the time, make it happen!

How to check W3C validation online.

Checking your sites validation couldn’t be easier.  There are two main files that most people will ensure are validated. These are the XHTML files and the CSS files.

To check how valid your sites XHTML is go to:
http://validator.w3.org/

and to validate your CSS check out:
http://jigsaw.w3.org/css-validator/

On the W3c homepage there is a range of other checking tools to review, all available at http://www.w3.org/QA/Tools/

For some further reading on the ins and outs of W3C Validation and the effect and benefits it can have check out Web Pro News.

Linking and Backlinking

Linking and Backlinking

Linking and backling is a subtle subject which can require serious time and effort.

Linking itself is broken down into 1 way, 2 way reciprocal (mutual) and 3 way.

•    3 way linking involves a link coming from a site, to another site, then to you.
•    2 way reciprocal (mutual) is a link from a site to another and that site links back
•    1 way, as anyone will tell you, is the best as it involves a link from another site directed at you. However it has its dangers as well.

Links (or backlinks) act like referrals for both the visitor and the Search Engine.  Imagine getting a referral in everyday life.  Someone you know has recommended your business, product or service because they believe in it and have used it themselves. That’s a one way link.

Now imagine that person was a Doctor who recommended you, someone who is respected, qualified, established, that’s an excellent one way link.

But alternatively, imagine it was the local hustler. Shady, untrustworthy, of dubious character and intent. That is a one way link you don’t want.

Website linking is exactly the same in this respect.  Get a good quality link from a well respected site and these sites can be authority sites, in your sector or industry or related to your business.  All the rest are a waste of time as a single link such as this may be worth 1000 + poor quality links.  It is getting them that is the hard part.

A Link is typically pointed at a HREF which is simply web speak for “Hyper Reference” due to the information in a web page being referred to as Hyper-something (eg HTML stands for Hyper Text Markeup Language) .

Linking Out to other sites (giving a one way link)

One interesting point to note, in the social media sphere, when you wish to refer to someone else’s material, rather than going down the route of ripping off their content and adding it to your own site it is considered beneficial, professional even, to simply refer and link directly to that content on the original site.  I am convinced that Google account for the fact that you have made this flow of information available and it is a reflection on your quality and confidence in your material as well as the benefits to the searcher.

The jusries still out on this one however as ppeople are more worried that to much linking out will be detrimental to your own sites reputation.  Personally I believe it will take alot more than a few relevant links to cause a bad effect and in the interim it will only serve to benefit.

On this blog itself I have enabled the “Do Follow” attribute to allow some of my Page Rank to be transferred to people who comment on my blog.  I believe in giving back a little to those who take the time to add to the information I post.

asp hyperlink | strange indeed

While doing so keyword research about hyperlinks I came across a page on Microsoft which apprently gets loads of traffic for the term “asp hyperlink“. I searched for “asp hyperlink” and got the Microsoft site.  This asp hyperlink page details in tech speak the code behind applying a hyperlink.  I thought this search term seemed a bit strange but apparently alot of people search for it.

With copy like this:

This control can be used to display user input, which might include malicious client script. Check any information that is sent from a client for executable script, SQL statements, or other code before displaying it in your application.ASP.NET provides an input request validation feature to block script and HTML in user input. Validation server controls are also provided to assess user input. For more information, see Validation Server Control Syntax.

I cant for the live of me figure out who would want to search for it, read it or even understand it to be frank.  Each to there own I guess.  Now go get some backlinks!

Writing Content for your Visitor

Writing Content for your Visitor

Remember Content is King

Yes it is, but your website is the Queen, links are the Prince, and we could continue naming every other aspect as a member of this royal court but we wont as im bored of it already.

Good content alone is certainly essential but not on its own. Google uses approximately 200 (known) factors in deciding the final placement of your site.  Certainly producing quality content for visitors will go along way to attracting them and more importantly keeping them returning but it will not immediately boost you to the top of your target keywords.  Growth is the key on a solid base and growth can only occur gradually and constantly (with the occasional spurt) in a mature and respected website.

In this respect then the creation of content is difficult for a lot of people. It is a time consuming process to begin, edit, evaluate, and rewrite and edit the content as you progress and ensure that the message you are conveying is clear and meaningful.

The process of Writing Content for your Visitors

Writing content for your visitors should be a passion, and the aim is and should always be, to provide clear and useful information to satisfy their query. Many people I have spoken to consider the writing of content to be a chore and not essential or necessary and these very same people will happily talk all day about their business. Well in today’s search environment, talk is CHEAP.  If it isn’t in black and white (or whatever crazy colour scheme you use on your website :P) then it may as well never have happened.

Using a Copywriter to write your content

To bypass this issue, many people will use a copywriter to formulate and produce well structured and descriptive content specifically aimed at your target market and I would definitely encourage this due to the time constraints most business professionals and entrepreneurs face however I would encourage this information to be moderated by YOU, not just foir clarity but also that the personal touch can be included in the posting.

There are some excellent copywriters who will find writing content for your visitor a much easier affair than you ever will and a word to the wise, if you find them, PAY THEM WELL, as I will guarantee you they are few and far between!

Aside from the content though, what else should you be aware of? Check out these references, they make for some seriously interesting reading;
http://www.seomoz.org/article/search-ranking-factors
http://www.seobook.com/how-does-algorithm-view-your-website