Mon, Aug 09 2004

Search Engines: Is Chain Linking The Answer To Higher Rankings?

I can understand how this could be affective, but part of me balks. I'm concerned that it might come across as being a little like sending a chain letter or maybe doing a multi-level marketing program. I suppose it's fairly harmless, as long as everyone who participates is happy. But my sense of artistic pride wants to believe that the best way to get high rankings on Google is to be faithful about making blog entries and to do quality work that makes a difference in the world, whether it's a serious political post or a light-hearted pointer to someone's online comic strip. It does help rankings to have the cross-linking between blogs, but I like that to happen as a natural outgrowth of the writing that we do, and have it help search engine rankings as a positive side effect. But my stance may be too narrow. I'll certainly give it more thought.

I do know that one other thing that counts in search engine ranking is being persistent, professional and tireless, in a blog or any other kind of web site that ones does. After nearly 7 years of publishing Deb's Monthly Review (which is mostly a guide to U.S. festivals and events), I can attest that it took awhile for it to gain good ranking on search engines. I think what Dan and the others are doing over at Get That Job! is really valuable for people who are between jobs (and also to anyone who freelances, works temporary positions or works from home). They're doing quality pieces on that blog, and I don't think they really need to use artificial ways to get their ranking higher on search engines. But I do know how frustrating it is to work hard on a site and then wonder why more people don't come to take advantage of your labor. Google's search associations seem to like relevant linking even better than random linking, so maybe we should all do more of that as we write. It couldn't hurt.

posted at: 18:24 | category: /Writing Life | link to this entry

Daydream Cooking

I don't spend very much time cooking anymore, but if I was going to spend a few hours in the kitchen, these are a few of the recipes I would like to try next:

The Best Guacamole In The World
What made me choose this one was the call for cilantro, which I really love the fragrance and flavor of.)

A copycat of Olive Garden's Pasta E Fagioli
(I could feast on the soup and breadsticks alone, and be quite content.)

Thai Satay Beef
(I might opt to use chicken or even a vegetarian substitute with that sauce)

Avocado Egg Rolls
(This is a copycat version of those served at a certain cheesecake restaurant.)

German Oven Pancakes
(I've also heard this concoction called a Dutch Baby Pancake. I've seen them served in restaurants. They looked like too much for one person to handle, and I've never never been able to find anyone to split one with me.)

After all that daydreaming about cooking and eating, I suppose it would be only appropriate to daydream about a good session on the treadmill.

posted at: 08:28 | category: /Food | link to this entry