Does Size Matter?

Some think that the more text on your Web page, the harder it will be for search engines to properly index your site. If you are concerned with page “bloating,” there are a few things that you should consider.

First, there are two categories of Web site text:

• static text is hard coded into the page properties and generally used to define the site/page purpose
• dynamic text, which comes from external sources like databases, site editors (user generated content) and RSS feeds.

If your site only contains static text, then you need to remember the keyword density rule of 5% and evaluate the volume of text being presented to your audience who like to scan copy. I am confident that Google’s spiders can index your content, but the question you need to ask is: Are you overwhelming your visitors?

Allowing your site visitor to decide to read more is a good way to provide a scan-able site for visitors, empowering interested readers, adding depth to your site, and enhancing your site-reporting capabilities.

If your site contains dynamic text, then you still need to remember the keyword density rule of 5% for your static page text. However, you may also need to weave keywords into your dynamic text every so often to ensure that your audience and search engines are clear about the site’s purpose.

A recent YouTube video by Matt Cutts from Google clams that Google can handle indexing large page file size without any problems.

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Social media the new process of knowledge building

Online communities are destinations where people with common interests can gather to share thoughts, research, comments, consume content and read opinions. Sites that include social media features, such as discussion forums, comment walls, blogs and wikis foster communication and provide today’s site visitors with the ability to not only consume content, but also to contribute to the site /community if they wish to do so.

These online communities mimic the real-life knowledge building process. Just like when buying a car, we start with independent research. Next, we ask others about their experiences or thoughts, and finally, we listen to what the salesperson has to say. Online communities are simply natural extensions of this process—one that we are all comfortable with.

Businesses can no longer ignore the power of the online communities. Social media now enables a powerful, trusted and growing form of online dialogue. Online communities need to be seen as opportunities to build relationships and to allow consumers to share in the process of knowledge building. Businesses need to position themselves as resources to the very people they are looking to attract and allow these consumers to teach them what they want.

Online communities that provide areas for independent research, prospect–consumer–brand communications, customer comments and brand content are laying the groundwork for relationship building and loyalty.

Want numbers?

Two-thirds of the US population will read a blog post at least once a month by 2012. (Research by eMarketer)

65% of people who read blogs do so explicitly to get an opinion. (Research by Synovate)

Conversations are taking place online right now about your company, product and service … with or without you. Consider the cost of ignoring the dialogue.

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