Google Search :-(

Dr_Cheeks

Ok so i have had my smugmug site for about 2 weeks but it is still not found in a google search my name is chris hamit it is in my website name and i have put it in all the relivent boxes as far as i am aware, i dont understand it because everywhere else i go including here there is a nice big trail on a google search but NO smugmug anywhere in site :-(
Anybody got any clues, i am also registered with google tools and have added the code & varifed the ownership of the website www.chris-hamit.smugmug.com
Any help would be appreciated
cheers
chris

Andy

Hi, thanks for posting. Have you seen this page, and done everything here? http://smugmug.com/help/search-engines Google will find you, as they have all of us, promise!

Dr_Cheeks

google

Andy wrote: »

Hi, thanks for posting. Have you seen this page, and done everything here? http://smugmug.com/help/search-engines Google will find you, as they have all of us, promise!

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply, my name is in the title of my hompage "chris hamit digital photography" my name is also in my bio box, i have also entered it in various different places in customisation & descriptions, my site is also set to find me, did you try a google search for me ? i am begining to get a bit disheartened with smugmug, the concept seems good but only if you know about building web sites & html codes :-(
Many Thanks
Chris

richpepp

Hi Chris

Unless you have done something to tell Google that you are here then Google may not even know that your site exists yet . However, as you did put a link to your site in the post above that is a start and now that Google has that it knows you are here (from 19th May) and may start to index your site.

The link Andy gave you used to have great information on it but I can't see it anymore so here is a very quick summary. Note that Smugmug do a lot of the work for you but they do need a bit of help:

1. Google can't 'see' what a picture is. So although you and I know that this http://chris-hamit.smugmug.com/Animals/Animal/17063482_r3zgvk#1292240205_ZHxdVvS is an elephant, Google won't unless you have told it. The way you do that is by adding the keyword 'elephant' to the photo. Then when Google look at your page Smugmug will place that keyword in places that Google like so that they know that the photo is of an elephant.

2. Add a description to your gallery where possible. The nearest word on the page to the elephant above is 'motorsports' so Google doesn't have much to go on. By adding a gallery description you are helping narrow down what the image is.

3. Google has no idea that your site exists unless you tell it. It will now have found you through the link on this forum but you should always link to your site from as many places as possible. Also always try and link to a relevant photo rather than just your home page. e.g. If you are discussing elephants with someone on a forum then link directly to the elephant picture rather than saying 'there are more photos of elephants on my site' and linking to your home page.

4. If you haven't done so already then sign up for Google webmaster tools and install the code in your smugmug control panel. If nothing else this will tell you whether or not Google has actually found your site and is looking through it (Edit: I see that you have already done this - sorry. You should now be able to see how many of your images Google is indexing per day)

Feel free to ask more but the above stuff is a start.

Rich

pgman

Dr_Cheeks wrote: »

Ok so i have had my smugmug site for about 2 weeks but it is still not found in a google search my name is chris hamit it is in my website name and i have put it in all the relivent boxes as far as i am aware, i dont understand it because everywhere else i go including here there is a nice big trail on a google search but NO smugmug anywhere in site :-(
Anybody got any clues, i am also registered with google tools and have added the code & varifed the ownership of the website www.chris-hamit.smugmug.com
Any help would be appreciated
cheers
chris

• Why would/should Google index your website?

It's not flippant. Who's linking to you? How long have been around? Are you following the rules? Do you have enough content? see: http://www.foto-biz.com/Seo/Google-is-changing-its-search-results

1. Google has published its requirements: http://www.google.com/webmasters/docs/search-engine-optimization-starter-guide.pdf
2. From the webmaster tools check if Google has picked up your sitemap.
3. From the webmaster tools check if there's any error?
4. From the webmaster tools check how many links have been indexed if any.

Hikin' Mike

Dr_Cheeks wrote: »

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply, my name is in the title of my hompage "chris hamit digital photography" my name is also in my bio box, i have also entered it in various different places in customisation & descriptions, my site is also set to find me, did you try a google search for me ? i am begining to get a bit disheartened with smugmug, the concept seems good but only if you know about building web sites & html codes :-(
Many Thanks
Chris

Smugmug doesn't control Google or other search engines.

Just something to think about, but unless you're already famous, I would NOT use your name in your title tag. I doubt new clients are NOT going to search for your name. Using your location and a few of your specialties in your title tag is a better choice, IMO.

Be patient grasshopper....