Search Engine Optimization Programs | SEO Tutorial Program

Text Format and SEO

Text Format and SEO are intricately linked. That is, text formatting, while arranging the contents of webpage, has a telling effect in search engine optimization. For those who do not know what search engine optimization or SEO is, here is a brief explanation – SEO is a technique of designing or tailor making a website to suit the search algorithm used by the popular search engines. It includes a variety of factors of which text formatting is a crucial cog in the wheel.

Search engine spiders usually give much importance to the way page text has been formatted or highlighted in a webpage. This is because, search engines lists only those websites that has more information and better readability. Therefore, as a rule of thumb, format the text in such a way that keywords appear appropriately in the headings, with the headings as a whole being highlighted using <h> tag, preferably <h1> and <h2>. Also, highlight the keywords (two or three times) in the page text using <strong> tag. In this case, don’t confuse it with <h> tag.

Further, in order to catch the attention of search engines, it is advisable that the keyword phrase be so arranged that it repeats a number of times in the body of the text, the phrases coming exactly in the same order everywhere. Also, each of the words in the phrase must be used 5-7 times elsewhere in the text body. Finally, few of the keywords must come towards the top of the webpage to increase the chances of the search engine spider catching hold of it. 

Also, the page rankings would get a boost if one could format the text in such a way that a selected amount of text always comes inside the title tag. It is this text that search engines often analyze and pick up to put alongside the URL listed in the search results. Remember, if the title tag text could convey the core essence of what a website is all about, it will be the best marketing ploy a company could employ to attract more netizens in the web. If a user happens to get a hint of what is in the store with a particular website, right from the search results, in every probability, he/she might just click on the URL and browse through its contents in one stroke. At the end of the day, after all, this is what every website wishes to occur all the time. Ideally, the amount of text inside the title tag must be anywhere between 50-100 words.

Again, while text formatting, it is important the keywords are suitably included in the <ALT> tag and in links to other web pages. All webpage images have an optional ‘alternative text’, which can be embedded during the page design using the <ALT> tag. The text included in the <ALT> will be displayed in the browser if the image fails to get downloaded. It must be understood that the amount of text in the <ALT> is not a major factor that influences page ranking, but it is suggested because search engines rely on such hidden text if the image links to another webpage.

Finally, a piece of advice – don’t overdo any of these text formatting principles. For example, if there is too many bold highlighting or too many keywords or unfittingly long texts included inside the tags, the search engines may take a strong exception to that and usually responds by penalizing the particular website by demoting its page rankings or listing it way below in search results. Remember, once google blacklist a website, it will be nearly impossible to regain the old faith.