Using Doorway Pages For Search Engine Optimization and Website Promotion

Doorway Pages
Search Engine Position and Ranking

There is nothing new about the Doorway Page, they have been used successfully for years to rank highly for specific keywords and keyword phrases. But as Theme Based Search Engine Technology continues to develop, we are going to be seeing a migration towards the use of Doorway Domains as a means to improve search engine ranking and placement.

To learn more about Doorway Domains go to Doorway Domains and Theme-Based Indexing and Search Engine Ranking.

Using Doorway Pages to Key In On Keywords

For all practical purposes, mosts every page on a website is a "doorway page" by default. If the web pages of a site are effectively optimized for search engine placement then each acts as a doorway to the domain via a particular keyword query. That is exactly why search engine optimization is such an important aspect of your website promotion and marketing campaign.

It's also true that if you are a small business owner with 20 different products to sell, you are likely going to design a unique page for each different product you sell and then optimize those pages according, targeting specific keywords related to each of the products.

Now, I know some of you out there will disagree, but this is not even close to spamming... at least not if its done appropriately. What it is, is making specific products and services easier for the potential customer to find, and it gives you the opportunity to provide your visitor with the information they need to make an informed decision to make the purchase.

So, as long as you are using your doorway pages responsibly, and not attempting to deceiving the end user or the search engines, there is absolutely no reason not to use them.

Doorway Page Components

A doorway page generally contains all the same elements as any other web page on the site, the difference is that all the elements of optimization have been used specifically to optimize the page for one or two main keywords or keyword phrases, and perhaps a couple or few derivations of those main terms.

It's true that your traditional doorway page hasn't included complex table layouts, extensive JavaScript, or a lot of images. File size has generally been kept to a minimum of 40K or less, because doorway pages are created with the intention of ranking high in the search results for a specific keyword phrase - not to dazzle the viewer with design and hard-to-download page elements. Functionality is the first priority of these pages, while pizzaz is secondary by nature.

The Problem with Traditional Doorway Pages

Traditionally, the biggest difficulty with doorway pages has been that if they are not crafted carefully they can begin to look bloody aweful and take away the buyers confidence... in other words affect conversion.

Now, having said all this, with the changes in technology both server side and with the end user, virtually any page can be used as a doorway page so long as the website design is done with search engine optimization and placement in mind.

So stick to the basics, keeping your doorway pages simple, relevant, appealing, professional and always user friendly. Pay attention to your navigation, being sure to use contextual links within the visible content to guide your visitor in the direction you want them to go, while always leaving multiple options to leave the page without leaving the domain.

If your doorway page does little more than achieve good position and ranking in the search engines then it is not of much value. Always build your doorway pages so as to pull visitors deeper into domain while providing them with value for their time spent surfing.

Doorway Pages and Spam

The difference between legitimate doorway pages and spam is the information and value a legitimate doorway page can provide. If you have a website with only a half dozen or so pages of unique content or only a handful of products you sell, it would be considered spam if you created a hundred doorway pages of the same content, each optimized for a different set of keywords.

Or, if you had a hundred different products to sell and each was represented by a unique, well designed web page, that not only provides information and value to your visitor, it makes each of your products easier to find when a potential client or customer performs a query in an attempt to locate the product or service you provide. Each doorway, or information page, could be specifically relevant to the product represented. You can even combine products if they are appropriately similar enough.

It's up to you to judge where the line between providing useful information and value, and spam lies. Only you can determine where that line is because only you know your product, your target market and the information needed to make a decision to buy. This is an important point, because the line that lie between an informative and purposeful doorway page that enhances your search results, and a doorway page that is spam can be very fine. And each search engine has the authority to define when you cross that line... so be informed.

For information on specific search engines and what their guidelines are, go to our Search Engine Guide, it provides links to our dedicated search engine information pages.

Doorway Pages and the Meta Refresh Tag

Doorway pages which use the Meta Refresh tag to catapult a viewer from one page to another are definately spam. This is a technique that was abused extensively by the XXX industry, and as a consequence, many engines now consider any type of Meta Refresh as spam.

Doorway Pages that Redirect

If you believe it necessary to redirect, use JavaScript or some other server side function to do it and delay the redirect for as long as possible, at least ten seconds. Be sure your redirect is relevant if you must use it at all.

Doorway Pages Containing Identical Content

Doorway pages that contain the same reworked content are also considered spam. You can't expect to simply optimize slightly different versions of the same page to rank highly for slightly different keyword phrases. You will get caught, and you will be penalized. If you've ever performed a search and seen the same domain listed over and over again in the search engine results, you should understand why this type of behavior is frowned upon.

More on Doorway Pages and Spam

If a page is designed to rank highly for term that is not relevant to content cotained within the page.... that too is considered spam by today's search engines. This is an attempt to deceive the end user and search engine both, and is not worth the effort less you have a wish to be banned from your search engine of choice.

Following this same logic, a page that is designed to rank high for a specific product, but leads the viewer to a website's home page, might also be considered spam. Ideally, a doorway page should lead to the page which deals with the specific product, service or subject matter of the doorway.

Doorway Pages and Directories

You should never submit doorway pages to a directory. Directories generally only list one page from your website in their index. There are exceptions to the rule, so read the information provided by the directory in question to be sure however, understand that submitting doorway pages to a directory can be considered an attempt to spam the directory index and it can result in your site being banned.

The most important thing to remember when submitting your website to a directory service is to have your description and title absolutely perfect. Don't use superlatives and don't boast, simply state the facts... and take the time to find the appropriate category for your website in which to submit too.

Return to Search Engine Themes and SEO for an overview and introduction to Theme Based Search Engine Technology.

For more on theme based indexing and ranking go to... Search Engines and Themes - How Themes Based Indexing and Ranking Works.

To learn more about theme-base search engine technology go to Theme Based Web Design and How a Theme-Based Search Engine Spider Reads Your Website.

Learn about Theme Based Search Engine Technology and Doorway Domains.

For more search engine optimization tutorials and informational articles on the search industry and how to achieve good search engine position and ranking, go to our SEO Central Search Engine Position and Optimization Tutorials Page and Internet Marketing Articles and Information Center.

If you are looking for a Search Engine Optimization Firm that is performance based, an SEO Firm that cares... then SEO Central is your best choice!

Give us a call or fill out the Request SEO Quote Form and one of our friendly professional seo service team members will be happy to go over your Web site with you and determine what the best search engine marketing strategy will be.

Contact the SEO Central team of search engine optimization experts today for seo information and to learn more about the search engine optimization strategy that is right for you...

«Back

Using Doorway Pages
For Search Engine Optimization and Website Promotion by...

SEO Central

Search Engine Ranking and Optimization Professionals
Professional SEO Services

1-888-777-6661

SEO Strategy | Debt Consolidation | Drug Rehab | Debt Help | Term Life Insurance | HGH
Sports Tickets | Term life insurance quote | Cash Advance | Conference Calls | California Moving Company
Home Loan | Overseas Shipping | Time Share Resale Company | Your Payday Loans | Drug Treatment
Extended Auto Warranty | Body Building Supplement | Contact Lenses | Time Share Resales

SEO Central Site Map...