[T2DMan]

This is the place to post regarding the Search Engine Optimize vBulletin 3.5 hacks.

I look forward to hearing about what you think of the hack, and what else you consider needs to be done to properly optimize vBulletin 3.5.

[new-guy]

So far, are those the only hacks required to improve SEO with vB 3.5?

[Neutral Singh]

We are watching, Sir

[Neutral Singh]

Firstwords on the page

Google likes paragraphs at the top of pages that include the search phrases. Often it will use this paragraph for its snippet. Therefore, you need to use the search phrase (ie title) minimum twice within around 150 characters. The firstwords are used in both the main forum index page, thread and forum. For the index page, I use the guest welcome message. In addition, I tweak the guest welcome phrase - Languages and Phrases, Search in phrases - for "If this is your first visit".

On the NAVBAR template

after:


Code:

<strong>$vboptions[bbtitle]</strong></div> </if>

Hi

I am implementing all your suggestions as mentioned in this threads.

Reporting some errors:
In the second post the text in red font should be follows:
<h1 class="h1navbar">$vboptions[bbtitle]</h1>

(As suggested by you in the first post.)


In the third post:

vBulletin 3.5 RC2 Bugfix

The $pagenumber has not been defined for global.php, or showthread.php. This means that the pagenumber is not shown in the title or metas.

Until it is fixed (bug raised 20 Aug 05), the following xml plugin will work well.

The xml plugin link is dead.

Regards

[T2DMan]

Thanks Neutral.

Now fixed. And your post moved to the discussion thread.

[Neutral Singh]

DONE !!

[wll6568]

Originally Posted by T2DMan

This is the place to post regarding the Search Engine Optimize vBulletin 3.5 hacks.

I look forward to hearing about what you think of the hack, and what else you consider needs to be done to properly optimize vBulletin 3.5.

Hi, the hack is just so great. I think it is the only source of vbulletin SEO techniques in the Internet right now. Why not you setup a new site for just about SEO vbb?

Btw, could you also put the hack out for the transforming url to static html? I very like that one.

[T2DMan]

It is not that bad an idea having lots of PR coming in from ancilary sources. Makes for a rather powerful forum

And I like having this as a good showcase for what is possible for a forum on the search engines.

[Neutral Singh]

In your main thread post #3 you have suggested:

Find:
<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin $vboptions[templateversion]" />

Below Add:
<if condition="THIS_SCRIPT=='poll'">
<meta name="keywords" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] $threadinfo[title] $vboptions[keywords] " />
<meta name="description" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] of $threadinfo[title] $foruminfo[title_clean]. " />
<else /><meta name="keywords" content="$vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$vboptions[description]" />
<else />

Thus, my headerinclude templates edited part looks like this:

<if condition="THIS_SCRIPT=='poll'">
<meta name="keywords" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] $threadinfo[title] $vboptions[keywords] " />
<meta name="description" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] of $threadinfo[title] $foruminfo[title_clean]. " />
<else /><meta name="keywords" content="$vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$vboptions[description]" />
<else />

<if condition="$threadinfo">
<meta name="keywords" content="$threadinfo[title], $vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$threadinfo[title] - <if condition="$pagenumber>1"><phrase 1="$pagenumber">$vbphrase[page_x]</phrase>-</if> $foruminfo[title_clean]. Sikhphilosophy.net is your place to discuss $threadinfo[title]" />
<else />
<if condition="$foruminfo">
<meta name="keywords" content="$foruminfo[title_clean], $vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="<if condition="$pagenumber>1"><phrase 1="$pagenumber">$vbphrase[page_x]</phrase>-</if>$foruminfo[description_clean]" />
<else />
<meta name="keywords" content="$vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$vboptions[description]" />
</if>
</if>
</if>

But, when i viewed the source file of html generated for forumhome template. I find the following duplicate information:

<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin 3.5.0 Release Candidate 2" />

<meta name="keywords" content="sikhism,sikh,sikhi,sikhs,guru nanak,sikh religion,sikhism beliefs,proud sikh,sikh symbols,sikh history,holy book sikhism,sikhi max,reflections gurbani,sikh gurdwara,guru granth sahib,sikh architecture" />

<meta name="description" content="Sikhism - Research History of Sikhs. Study timeless teachings of sikh gurus contained in guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhism." />

<else />

<meta name="keywords" content="sikhism,sikh,sikhi,sikhs,guru nanak,sikh religion,sikhism beliefs,proud sikh,sikh symbols,sikh history,holy book sikhism,sikhi max,reflections gurbani,sikh gurdwara,guru granth sahib,sikh architecture" />

<meta name="description" content="Sikhism - Research History of Sikhs. Study timeless teachings of sikh gurus contained in guru granth sahib, the holy book of sikhism." />

I think its a missing </if> somewhere but where :

EDIT: I think i found it... from following instruction....

Find:
<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin $vboptions[templateversion]" />

Below Add:
<if condition="THIS_SCRIPT=='poll'">
<meta name="keywords" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] $threadinfo[title] $vboptions[keywords] " />
<meta name="description" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] of $threadinfo[title] $foruminfo[title_clean]. " />
<else /><meta name="keywords" content="$vboptions[keywords]" />
<meta name="description" content="$vboptions[description]" />
<else />

I removed the text in red, so that now it is....

Find:
<meta name="generator" content="vBulletin $vboptions[templateversion]" />

Below Add:
<if condition="THIS_SCRIPT=='poll'">
<meta name="keywords" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] $threadinfo[title] $vboptions[keywords] " />
<meta name="description" content="$vbphrase[view_poll_results] of $threadinfo[title] $foruminfo[title_clean]. " />
<else />

Now, it is showing up fine.

[JanWillem]

First of all I want to congratulate you on the changes made to VB 3.5 thanks to your advice. Your work for our website has also been great and we have nearly doubled our traffic.

Also on this, great job again Michael, I look forward to the day we can install this new version and you doing the enhancements. There is just one question, how is the migration from the old URL's to the new URL's, are you able to use mod_rewrite in such a way that old URL's still work?