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URL Canonicalization for all Website Owners

Throughout my journey as a Web Developer, the most common Search Engine Optimization (SEO) oversight I have come across is URL Canonicalization.

According to me, this is an important task that all website owner’s should be aware of as well as have the capability to easily fix.

In my terms, I would explain canonicalization as your domain name having several links all leading to the same content page. For example, all domain names will have at least two versions:

  1. With www. – http://www.url.com
  2. Without www. – http://url.com

Plus, depending on how your site was built you could also have other domain versions that lead to the same content page:

  • http://url.com/index.php
  • http://www.url.com/index.php
  • http://www.url.com/index.html
  • http://url.com/home.asp

What this means is that your site can actually be indexed as multiple sites through each of these domains instead of as one site. The implications that this issue could pose are numerous – however, if you are simply not aware that this has happened and have not done anything sneaky to try to trick the search engines, from my understanding you will not be penalized.

Some of the implications I have come across include:

  • Not being able to generate true web analytics reporting: as visitors will be viewing your site from different domains.
  • Not being able to get a ranking on Alexa.com as perhaps these multiple entry points to your site are affecting your main domain’s true value.
  • Not getting a good grade on your website through hubspot’s website grader tool – again – not enough data being truly measured by your main domain.
  • Not being able to gather enough statistics in your Google Webmaster Tools & Google Analytics account to fully take advantage of the features of these tools.
  • Not generating the proper backlinks to your main domain as people may be linking to multiple versions of your site instead of your main domain.

I am sure that there are indeed other implications that I am not thinking of right now…

Nevertheless, the best way to address any issues your site may have with url canonicalization is to read the article titled “SEO advice: url canonicalization” written by Matt Cutts at Google.

As he explains, setting up an account with Google Webmaster Tools is your ultimate starting point.

Plus, be sure to read the Google Webmaster Central blog post “Specify your canonical“.

Also watch this video by Matt Cutts: About rel=”canonical”

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12 Days of Googlemas; Video

I Love It!!!!

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Google Wonder Wheel Video Tutorial

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Don’t count on your Twitter followers to increase the PageRank of your Twitter Page

Wondering how Google treats your Twitter Page?

It all boils down to backlinks and how reputable those backlinks are – Google treats Twitter Pages just like any other page on the web.

So what about all those followers you have? Google won’t rank you any better if you have 10 or 10,000 followers however… If you are an amazing tweeter you may just be able to get your followers to help you increase your rank…

Here’s how. It’s all about the number of links to your profile and the number of links to your tweets. This only tells me one thing… If you find the right twoove (twitter groove) and are able to post a combination of tweets that are relative to your followers interests while maintaining an ongoing rapport you may just hit the Twitter jackpot.

Take a peek at this video from the Google Webmaster Tools YouTube channel:

What are the factors that go into determining the PageRank of a Twitter page?

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Watch Out! The Mommy Manifesto Is Coming…

mommy manifesto cover

The year 2010 is about to hit. People are rapidly adjusting to a “new life” and finding their way through the Information Age. But let’s stop and think about what this actually means for a moment.

The Information Age is suppose to mean that we as “ordinary people” now have the unique ability to share information freely amongst each other. Having instant access to seek the knowledge on virtually any subject matter you so desire is at our very fingertips.

That in itself is mind blowing, absolutely mind blowing. So why are so many people still facing barriers, and challenges? Why are people not able to fulfill their dreams and live the life that they envision?

The point I am getting at here is that women are still being subject to harassment and discrimination when it comes to work/life balance. Are we still expected to fulfill all of those “wifely” duties, bring home half the bacon, look pretty and sexy while being turned down for an advancement opportunity at work because we are pregnant?

I know first hand how this affects you as a “person” because I have been there, exactly there. I had a great job at a large Canadian Communications company with full benefits, the whole shebang. I loved it there. We had over 800 employees and my role as “Assistant To The Director” was to oversee all the daily administration tasks associated with two separate teams. This entailed attending weekly management meetings, taking notes, ensuring action items were completed on time, participating in team building activities and sometimes handling irate customers that wanted to speak to the “department head”. I was good at my job, well liked, and always received the full merit increase each and every year.

So why was it that when a very unique advancement opportunity came up that was so well suited towards my skills, experience, and talents (after 5 years of waiting), and I went to my boss, the HR department head, and the person whom was hiring for the role and gave them my resume and told them of my extreme desire for advancement that I did not even get a chance for an interview for the position?

Perhaps it was because I was 7 1/2 months pregnant at the time?

Today, over 3 years later I look back at the whole experience and although it still bothers me it has actually helped me become the person I am today – a successful Mompreneur(tm) who is in complete control of my destiny. And for that I am very thankful.

So you see, this is why I wanted to share with you my extreme excitement over the brand new book that Kim Lavine has written called “The Mommy Manifesto”. It’s available for pre-order on Amazon and will be shipping in August 2009.

Kim Lavine built a company from her very own kitchen table worth Millions of Dollars today. That company is called Green Daisy. Now, years later Kim is helping other Women fulfill their dreams and guiding them towards success. It’s not just a “Man’s” world out there – Women CEO’s, Women Entrepreneurs, Women who are Real Moms are Climbing the Ranks and Breaking New Grounds. The “Information Age” is our Age.

Check out Kim Lavine’s Youtube Channel, The Mommy Millionaire Magazine, and the Mommy Millionaire Online Community where like minded Moms network, share, inspire and fulfill their dreams. You can view Kim’s unique product line in the Buy Mom shop at GreenDaisy.com.

So Watch Out – The Mommy Manifesto is Coming… And will teach you “How To Think Big, Break Limitations, and Achieve Success.”

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