Why is Google Search Console not able to read any HTML?
Dear everyone,
About 7 months ago, we launched our new website im Umbraco moving it from another HTML base CMS: We had lots of ranking, links and other wonderful things going on, but as we wanted one domain and website for 4 different languages and a new design and CRM, we moved.
Being happy with many things in our Umbraco site, I´m not as happy with the SEO.
I´m surprised that Umbraco still works with Meta Keywords and description. Meta Keywords are either ignores by search engines or deemed spammy, so why on earth still work with Meta??
moz.com:
1. In 2009 there was a post and a video stating that Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking.
Post, Video
2. Personally, I believe that there's no reason to use them. There are a lot of "experts" that say you may not be 100% optimized using meta keywords. Other directly say that you will be penalized. As Google says it is not used, just dont use it.
I´m not gaining any natural ranking
Now 7 months in, I´m adding local great content daily, but I´m not gaining any rank in Google and search Console can´t see any HTML. I´m concerned that Google isn´reading my great content in Umbraco, but only care about that Meta stuff.
So everyone, please enlighten me. What am I missing, what´s up with Umbraco SEO? Why is it so SEO unfriendly..
If there's an issue with your site then the issue is not due to Umbraco itself but the way the person(s) who built the site did it.
You're right Meta Keywords are now of limited use but Google et al do tend to use the Description still (especially in the snippet preview).
Have you got a particular package installed for the SEO or are you just referring to some fields configured on your document types? Do you realise this is completely configurable so what you're seeing might not be what anyone else can see. Two sites in Umbraco can be done totally differently!
SEO is not really a dark art but there are some basics that need to be got "right". If you were willing to share your URL I might be able to point you in the right direction.
Otherwise check:
Your robots.txt isn't disallowing the crawlers (this sounds like
what's happening!)
Your markup doesn't have any do not follow do
not index etc attributes Your site has been submitted to the major
search engines.
You have both an XML sitemap and (some recommend)
an HTML human friendly version
Your new pages are linked from
existing pages - e.g. your site is crawlable.
Your site isn't seen
as breaking the rules by Google Webmaster tools (in fact have you
got this in place on your site - it will quickly flag issues?)
Your markup output on your site is structured.
Your language / location
targetting on your site is correct for the audience you're trying to
reach.
You've not been black listed for dodgy SEO practises.
Your markup has a big error and isn't well formed.
... the list above is not exhaustive and just off the top of my head! Others might chip in with other suggestions.
Either way - Umbraco is infinitely configurable so the problem definitely isn't with Umbraco. It doesn't get in the way of markup unlike a great many other CMSs.
If you want to contact me I'll happily take a quick look steve[deletethisbit] @siempresolutions.co.uk
I´ll send you an email, and also reply here to ensure that others can benefit from our conversation.
We do have webmaster tools installed and the site is being crawled nicely, , there´s no robts.txt at all. We arent´breakign any rules, nor are we being penalized.
I´m pretty sure the issue is with 4, 7, or 10.
Regarding site map we do have one in Google Search console to help Google understand the structure, but it may not have been built correctly.
I´ll send you an email and update here with what we learn
I've emailed Maria, the issue doesn't appear to be with Umbraco but rather with the markup generated and the lack of sitemaps etc and how alternative language pages are presented.
Hopefully they can sort it and Maria will agree what we all know - Umbraco is not SEO unfriendly, quite the opposite!
COMMERCIAL PLUG: I'm available for any SEO review & fix jobs ;)
Why is Google Search Console not able to read any HTML?
Dear everyone,
About 7 months ago, we launched our new website im Umbraco moving it from another HTML base CMS: We had lots of ranking, links and other wonderful things going on, but as we wanted one domain and website for 4 different languages and a new design and CRM, we moved.
Being happy with many things in our Umbraco site, I´m not as happy with the SEO.
moz.com: 1. In 2009 there was a post and a video stating that Google does not use the keywords meta tag in web ranking. Post, Video 2. Personally, I believe that there's no reason to use them. There are a lot of "experts" that say you may not be 100% optimized using meta keywords. Other directly say that you will be penalized. As Google says it is not used, just dont use it.
So everyone, please enlighten me. What am I missing, what´s up with Umbraco SEO? Why is it so SEO unfriendly..
Look forward to hearing your thoughts/Maria
Hi Maria,
If there's an issue with your site then the issue is not due to Umbraco itself but the way the person(s) who built the site did it.
You're right Meta Keywords are now of limited use but Google et al do tend to use the Description still (especially in the snippet preview).
Have you got a particular package installed for the SEO or are you just referring to some fields configured on your document types? Do you realise this is completely configurable so what you're seeing might not be what anyone else can see. Two sites in Umbraco can be done totally differently!
SEO is not really a dark art but there are some basics that need to be got "right". If you were willing to share your URL I might be able to point you in the right direction.
Otherwise check:
... the list above is not exhaustive and just off the top of my head! Others might chip in with other suggestions.
Either way - Umbraco is infinitely configurable so the problem definitely isn't with Umbraco. It doesn't get in the way of markup unlike a great many other CMSs.
If you want to contact me I'll happily take a quick look steve[deletethisbit] @siempresolutions.co.uk
HTH
Steve
Thanks so much Steve!
I´ll send you an email, and also reply here to ensure that others can benefit from our conversation.
We do have webmaster tools installed and the site is being crawled nicely, , there´s no robts.txt at all. We arent´breakign any rules, nor are we being penalized.
I´m pretty sure the issue is with 4, 7, or 10.
Regarding site map we do have one in Google Search console to help Google understand the structure, but it may not have been built correctly.
I´ll send you an email and update here with what we learn
Big thanks!/Maria
I've emailed Maria, the issue doesn't appear to be with Umbraco but rather with the markup generated and the lack of sitemaps etc and how alternative language pages are presented.
Hopefully they can sort it and Maria will agree what we all know - Umbraco is not SEO unfriendly, quite the opposite!
COMMERCIAL PLUG: I'm available for any SEO review & fix jobs ;)
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