Website created in Microsoft Publisher does not show up in Googlesearches

[heffyclare]

Just wondering if anyone can help me with this.

I have created a basic website in microsoft publisher -
www.heathersweddingflowers.com.au - and have posted it to the web. I
have now since tried searching for it with google and nothing comes
up.

Is this because I created the website in publisher?? I have heard
that if you create it in publisher that search engines are not able to
search the text? Is this correct or is there something that I need to
do when posting it to make it possible to find??

Anyones help would be appreciated.

 

[Don Schmidt]

I've never gone through getting my websites onto search engines but below is
some information that was provided to me some years ago. It refers to
getting our lodges posted into search engines and it may or may not be of
some help to you.


--
Don - Publisher 2000®
Vancouver, USA


APPENDIX G POST TO SEARCH ENGINES



There is a variety of options available when posting web site
information to a search engine. Below are steps and examples of how to post
to search engines and the content you may want to use for submittal. Note:
Each Local Lodge Focal and/or participant are responsible for listing their
site or name with the search engines. Members of the web committee will
submit the OSIAGLNW site as a separate entity to search engines.



1. Determine what your Keywords, 70 character, and 250
character descriptions will be that best explain your site. You can modify
this anytime so do not worry if you think of something better later. Note,
think about what words a stranger might use in a search engine that would
result in finding your site. (examples below)



2. Go to the various search engines: AltaVista -
DejaNews - DogPile - Excite - Google­Go To - HotBot - Infind - Infoseek-
Lycos - MetaCrawler - Netscape - Northern Light­WebCrawler - Yahoo - Kewl



3. Find a link somewhere on the page to "Suggest a
Site" or "Add your Site". Click on it



4. Pick an appropriate category. (Le.
Organizations, Social or Cultural Clubs, etc.)



5. Follow the step-by-step forms to submit
your site. That is IT!

Remember to retain your account name
(usually your email address) and your password (you select) in order to
change or submit again in the future.



Example Descriptions:



70 Character Description:

Sons of Italy OSIA Italian heritage culture
genealogy fraternity W A OR



250 Character Description: Sons of Italy
OSIA Italian heritage culture genealogy & fraternity involved in community
charitable educational cultural and social activities (142) (Enter your
town, state, etc.)



Keywords:

Italian, Italy, Sons of Italy, SOl, Culture,
OSIA, Genealogy, Heritage, Fraternity, Organization, Social Organization



Sons of Italy is an Italian heritage
organization perpetuating the Italian culture, genealogy, & fraternity by
involvement in community, charitable, educational, cultural, and social
activities



(Town) Sons of Italy is an Italian
organization perpetuating Italian heritage, genealogy, & fraternity by
involvement in community, charitable, educational, cultural, and social
activities

 

[DavidF]

Congrats on your first efforts.

First of all, I presume that you just posted the site. It can take a while
before the search engines find it, so be patient...or submit it to the
search engines.

Secondly, search engines are able to search and index text on a Publisher
built site, IF there is text to index. Your home page has basically no text,
and is mostly images without alt text...there isn't anything there to index.

Assuming that you are using Pub 2003 or 2007 (always post the version,
please), then go to Tools > Web Page Options and under Search engine
information type in a description of your website, and keywords. This will
give the search engines at least something to work with.

Also select one of your images > Format > Picture > Web tab and put in some
alt text for each of your pictures. Google will read the alt text. Some say
a picture is worth a thousand words....but not on the web unless you
actually add some alt text.

Also consider reworking your home page and adding some text that describes
what your website and company are all about. This is needed not only for the
search engines, it is needed by anyone that views your website. It should be
immediately obvious from reading the first paragraph what your website is
all about. Try to incorporate some of those key words that you put under the
search engine info...

Google SEO or search engine optimization, and start reading about the
subject. It is not so important what tool you use to build your site, as to
how put it together in order to optimize it for search engines. Also be
aware that you cannot rely on search engines alone...just because you built
it, does not mean they will come.

And finally, always check to see if any of your text has been converted to
an image. Note that if you try to left click, drag and select your title on
your home page, you cannot...that is because it has been converted to an
image. I suspect what you did there is to group that text with the pictures
beside it, which will convert all to one large image. Ungroup and test, and
the text should be text again. If it isn't a grouping issue, it may be that
you are not using a web font...

One more suggestion. Take a step back and read a bit about web design theory
and design. Web media is very different than the print media, and you have
to change your mindset. Here are a couple links to get you started:
http://www.webdesignfromscratch.com/
and a favorite: http://www.webpagesthatsuck.com/

Post back if you have more questions, and take all my words with a grain of
salt...just one person's opinion ;-)

DavidF

 

[karen3b]

Just wondering if anyone can help me with this.

I have created a basic website in microsoft publisher -
www.heathersweddingflowers.com.au - and have posted it to the web. I
have now since tried searching for it with google and nothing comes
up.

Is this because I created the website in publisher?? I have heard
that if you create it in publisher that search engines are not able to
search the text? Is this correct or is there something that I need to
do when posting it to make it possible to find??

Anyones help would be appreciated.

 

[karen3b]

Boy, do I know what you're struggling with. I'm still in the
problem-solving mode. However, I have a couple of resources that I think are
helpful -- and hopefully you will, too:
1. The Front Page Collection of SEARCH ENGINES & SITES (so you can submit
directly to the search engines. Yes! Waiting around may or may not bring
results. Knowing that you can submit your website -- and learning how to ask
for the bots to check back every ___days or weeks was news to me.)
2. Keywood Voodoo! Invisible Metatag Mumbo Jumbo...at
http://www.addme.com/newsletters/issue302.htm .
I think Don's & David's suggestions are good -- they are ones I've heard
from folks more experienced with websites than I am.
All the best.
[P.S. Yes, I'm the one the accidentally submitted a blank comment. Tells
you how savvy I am!]