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Post by TJM on Oct 7, 2005 20:31:30 GMT -6
I'm not web site savvy at all but is there any way to make this forum more visible in a Google search?
I was trying different way using Google to make the site come up - like a newbie might do - but it wasn't easy to get a hit.
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Post by Letitroll98 on Oct 7, 2005 20:47:22 GMT -6
Yes, I've noted this as well. Our traffic is so low that it would be hard to get a higher rating. Most of the old web tricks to raise your score I knew in the 90's are passe now. Some folks like it as a small circle of friends rather than the "how do you fix my heap on the cheap" posts on other forums.
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Post by TJM on Oct 7, 2005 21:04:31 GMT -6
I like the small circle too but wouldn't it be nice to convert frustrated owners who can't get answers into enthusiasts? I have notice many Aurora boards drying up while this one thrives. You know it's because of the members and the knowledge here.
You have to admit that these cars can be difficult for the novice or financially challenged. They have a way about them that we all, as members of the ACNA, understand.
The combined knowledge in this forum can solve just about any issue these cars have; often surpassing a Caddy dealer. Many owners don't even have the benefit of a decent regular GM dealer let alone a good Caddy dealer. They can become discouraged with GM in general and end up P.O.ed simple because they didn't have the resources we have to offer.
I would hate to think that someone out there HATES their Aurora only because they couldn't find us to help them "fall in love again"
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Post by Aurora40 on Oct 8, 2005 9:22:23 GMT -6
The thing with search engines, especially Google, is that they use "relevancy" to sort results. To do this, while crawling the web, they can see where or how often pages or sites are referenced. So the only good way to increase this site's "relevance" on google is to have a lot of external links to it. This isn't that likely with forums, though.
If there were very few results returned, then relevancy wouldn't be so important. But searching on "oldsmobile aurora board" or something returns about 30 pages of results.
If you want to search within this site (without using the rather crummy search included), you can include a site in your google search, for example "airbox mod site:aurorah.proboards47.com"
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Post by Aurora40 on Oct 8, 2005 9:28:26 GMT -6
Ok, wow, this does suck. I even googled "Aurora Club of North America" and it wasn't even on the first 10 pages... It wasn't until I used quotes that it showed up.
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Post by betonthis1 on Oct 8, 2005 12:57:45 GMT -6
it has to do with "Keywords" in the HTML code. thats what search engines use when doing a query. just add more keywords and problem solved.
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on Oct 8, 2005 19:32:52 GMT -6
it has to do with "Keywords" in the HTML code. thats what search engines use when doing a query. just add more keywords and problem solved. The problem is that us Admins don't have control of the HTML code here. We can set up the forums, membership parameters, and other details, but Proboards controls the source code.
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Post by erw38 on Oct 8, 2005 21:58:28 GMT -6
While doing some reading on how to increase our "Google rating," I found a simple answer. Google ranks pages by using how many times a page links to the page you want to get googles. For instance, if everyone here were to put a link to this forum somewhere on their web page then we could increase our "Google ranking."
Don't know if it's true, but it couldn't hurt.
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Post by Aurora40 on Oct 9, 2005 7:49:50 GMT -6
While doing some reading on how to increase our "Google rating," I found a simple answer. Google ranks pages by using how many times a page links to the page you want to get googles. For instance, if everyone here were to put a link to this forum somewhere on their web page then we could increase our "Google ranking." Don't know if it's true, but it couldn't hurt. Yes, this is basically what I was saying. Keywords like "Aurora" and such are already here in spades. It's increasing the relevancy of the results from here that matters.
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bufo
Aurora Owner
Beautiful North Carolina
Posts: 555
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Post by bufo on Oct 9, 2005 8:22:41 GMT -6
Maybe there aren't enough Aurora enthusiasts? How about paying for a sponsored link on Google? I wonder how much that will cost
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Post by eurora on Oct 9, 2005 13:52:33 GMT -6
even knowing nothing about web-building it feels rather crazy to me and its like a dentist job through *** but IF .... it has to do with "Keywords" in the HTML code. thats what search engines use when doing a query. just add more keywords and problem solved. The problem is that us Admins don't have control of the HTML code here. .... then maybe we can create a shadow site with all the HTML keywords needed for google search and redirect visitors to here just like it's done with auroraclubna.com forum. .. ;D ;D ;D
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Post by TJM on Oct 9, 2005 18:45:43 GMT -6
I'm confused.
It's like everything I thought I knew about searching is practically useless in finding this site.
It seems that with all the other boards drying up, this one should at least be listed on the first 2-3 pages.
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Post by macadamiaman on Oct 10, 2005 23:10:42 GMT -6
Maybe there aren't enough Aurora enthusiasts? How about paying for a sponsored link on Google? I wonder how much that will cost No sponsored links. One thing I like about the forum is the intimacy, and severe lack of idiots, one-time posters, etc. I guess that everyone kinda "knows" each other.
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bufo
Aurora Owner
Beautiful North Carolina
Posts: 555
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Post by bufo on Oct 11, 2005 18:46:48 GMT -6
Maybe there aren't enough Aurora enthusiasts? How about paying for a sponsored link on Google? I wonder how much that will cost No sponsored links. One thing I like about the forum is the intimacy, and severe lack of idiots, one-time posters, etc. I guess that everyone kinda "knows" each other. Yah, but with the demise of Olds, this forum is, by default, doomed. The question is--how slowly.
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on Oct 12, 2005 9:50:01 GMT -6
Yah, but with the demise of Olds, this forum is, by default, doomed. The question is--how slowly. True, but technically that's the case with *any* car forum. No model can last forever. I am in favor of recruiting new members, since Aurora ownership is already somewhat exclusive and I don't think we'd get all the one-time posters that other boards might get for cars that *everyone* has (Civics, Mustangs, Camaros, etc.)
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Post by oldsauroraman1 on Oct 12, 2005 12:01:03 GMT -6
It's horrifying to think that it will join the ranks of such names as "Edsel."
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Post by SupaStealth on Oct 12, 2005 15:06:55 GMT -6
i found typing "Aurora ACNA" works well, it's usually the third one
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Post by oldsauroraman1 on Oct 12, 2005 18:54:16 GMT -6
Weird. Seems like it would be the first.
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Post by macadamiaman on Oct 12, 2005 20:45:03 GMT -6
Funny, that's exactly what I type to get here on a different computer. But no quotes - just aurora acna. It's always been the first.
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Post by TJM on Oct 13, 2005 12:06:27 GMT -6
True, but technically that's the case with *any* car forum. No model can last forever. I am in favor of recruiting new members, since Aurora ownership is already somewhat exclusive and I don't think we'd get all the one-time posters that other boards might get for cars that *everyone* has (Civics, Mustangs, Camaros, etc.) I agree scotty. It's hard to believe that there may be people that are not passionate about their Auroras but I suppose they are out there.
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on May 13, 2006 10:00:06 GMT -6
I wanted to briefly revive this thread, and comment that in that last 6-7 months (since TJM's question was posted) our membership and board traffic has greatly increased. Thusly our board seems to be much easier to find on Google than it used to be. Several new members have said they found it via Google, and when I typed in "Aurora Club" or "Aurora Club of North America" there was a link to our homepage in the first few responses (that didn't used to be the case). I had problems finding it using a search for "Aurora forum", but maybe as we continue posting that will improve. Keep up the good work everyone! ;D
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NYsteve
Aurora Driver
Go Red Foxes!!
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Post by NYsteve on May 13, 2006 10:19:15 GMT -6
I wanted to briefly revive this thread, and comment that in that last 6-7 months (since TJM's question was posted) our membership and board traffic has greatly increased. Thusly our board seems to be much easier to find on Google than it used to be. Several new members have said they found it via Google, and when I typed in "Aurora Club" or "Aurora Club of North America" there was a link to our homepage in the first few responses (that didn't used to be the case). I had problems finding it using a search for "Aurora forum", but maybe as we continue posting that will improve. Keep up the good work everyone! ;D I just type in "aurorah proboards" (right from the url), and its always the first one on the list.
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Post by Rocketv8 on May 14, 2006 8:40:06 GMT -6
scotty, that is great to hear that this forum is thriving...i have to comment regarding an old post on this thread that "this board is doomed"....i do not think that is necessarily true....just because Oldsmobile has folded, that in no way menas people don't still own them, or are enthusiastic about owning them....i know some of us will eventually no longer keep our Auroras, but, speaking for myself,( and i think Marc said the same thing) i will have mine as long as I live, and, am currently looking for a second one..there are many car clubs for older out of production cars. Granted many of them are worth alot more $$$ than our cars but sometimes its not just monetary value that makes someone hang on to a car
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Post by unirok on May 14, 2006 12:44:34 GMT -6
This board is way from doomed since so many off lease and new trades are falling into hands of more people that can afford them. It is still hard to google this site. ACNA is the only thing that really helps the search. Most people wont know that though and I onlt found this site due to being pointed there by an admin Mr Jim W. who is the Man!! in my book.
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Post by SupaStealth on May 15, 2006 10:07:23 GMT -6
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Post by mission008 on May 15, 2006 14:27:05 GMT -6
im excited...you can type in so many different things now on Google.com and ACNA will pretty much be on the first page! WOOHOO!!!!!!
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Post by stevensolds on May 19, 2006 22:30:27 GMT -6
I havent seen this post before and am too lazy to read the other replies, but the reason you dont see crap on google is because this site is hosted on proboards. The best thing I can think of at the moment would be cloaking but it isnt worth it. The indexing and money generating potential this site had is long gone because Proboards was chosen.
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scottydl
Super Moderator
There's nothin' like an American V-8...
Posts: 7,373
Staff Member
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Post by scottydl on May 20, 2006 9:38:59 GMT -6
I havent seen this post before and am too lazy to read the other replies, Then please don't bother responding, since you couldn't be more wrong. Proboards or not, the site comes up great on search engines now which is the reason i revived this thread.
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Post by TJM on May 20, 2006 22:30:09 GMT -6
very true Scotty -
Aurora Club, ACNA, Aurora Forum, Olsmobile Aurora - whatever...
Always on the first Google page
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Post by Aurora40 on May 21, 2006 7:37:27 GMT -6
The indexing and money generating potential this site had is long gone because Proboards was chosen. It's interesting that this is your train of thought, because I suspect it's about 180 degrees from the initial intention of the thread. It would be useful to make the site easy to google because that may result in more members and better club health. Not because it's more people to make money off of. I don't think anyone affiliated with starting the club was doing it to make a profit.
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