Google Confidential and Proprietary

SEO and Big Search

Maile OhyeDeveloper Programs Tech LeadNovember 12, 2008

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Agenda

• Discuss YouTube’s solid features

– Properties we can all mimic

• Unveil the big secrets at Google!

– Similar to the excitement of your dad telling a knock-knock joke

Google Confidential and Proprietary

YouTube: Media with HTML content & navigation

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1Y73sPHKxw

Site navigation in HTML; separate from rich media

Descriptive content alongside rich media

One page per “thing”

Google Confidential and Proprietary

YouTube: Solid features

• Allow easy navigation and search

– Star rating and views easily recognized

• Create social aspect with user-generated content and embed URL

• Give stickiness factor (related videos, “subscribe” option)

• Provide consistent uptime

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Google.com: Create internal best practices

• Create “SEO starter guide" for new product/content releases

• Educate on search support policies, tools, webmaster guidelines

– Public tools (Analytics, Webmaster Tools) utilized by individual product teams

– Rel=nofollow links when money is exchanged

• Attempt to minimize launch roadblocks

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Release starter guide externally!

• Provide quick reference for any site or company

• Request for feedback (visit our Webmaster Central Blog)

Google Confidential and Proprietary

SEO Starter Guide

• Utilize semantic HTML (correct headings)

• Organize content logically

Google Confidential and Proprietary

SEO Starter Guide

• Relevant surrounding text

• Accurate filenames

• Descriptive alt text for images

– Alt text used as anchor text for image links

<a href="bicycle.html"><img alt="my red bicycle" src="bicycle.jpg"/></a>

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Participate in your community

• Provide value

– Unique, compelling service(s)

– Simplify people’s life (docs, gmail, calendar)

• Act responsibly

– Large sites can be penalized, too

• pissedconsumer.com

• Have fun

– Halloween robots.txt

Google Confidential and Proprietary

Thanks!Visit our blog, help center, and discussion forum linked from Google Webmaster Central http://www.google.com/webmasters