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Hi Gemma, Yes as Brian mentioned the URL is very important to Google, and is one of many factors that help page ranking. But don't think you have to change your CMS to get better URL's. We use index+ too and had a similar issue with our collections online. We now use a facility of our Apache Web server to mask a lot of these additional URL values using the url rewriting facility ( Mod_Rewrite ) So for instance a similar page to yours will get displayed to a web client as http://www.ltmcollection.org/posters/dates/dates-main.html. A much more Google friendly URL. Talk to System Simulation about achieving this or I am happy to show you how it works here. Bryan Bryan Wills Head of Digital Resources London Transport Museum 39 Wellington Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 7BB Tel: 020 7565 7288 Email: [log in to unmask] http://www.ltmuseum.co.uk -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brian Kelly Sent: 10 May 2010 10:43 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Search engine referrals? Hi Gemma I think this is very low. A reason could be the URLs which you CMS generates. Here's an example of one: http://www.museumofcroydon.com/ixbin/indexplus?_IXFILE_=templates/page.h tml& _IXACTION_=file&_IXDB_=cat&_IXpage=Home&_IXSESSION_=F7T72coeHla if I change the session id xxxxxx thus I get the same page: http://www.museumofcroydon.com/ixbin/indexplus?_IXFILE_=templates/page.h tml& _IXACTION_=file&_IXDB_=cat&_IXpage=Home&_IXSESSION_=xxxxxxxx Two URIs for the same resource, neither meaningful. This dilutes Google juice, makes it difficult to share resources, makes bookmaking confusing, etc. This page would be much better if it had the URI: http://www.museumofcroydon.com/yourstories/ I think you need to change your CMS - not something easy to do, I'm afraid. Brian -------------------------------- Brian Kelly UKOLN, University of Bath, BATH, UK, BA2 7AY Email: [log in to unmask] Phone: +44 1225 383943 Web site: http://www.ukoln.ac.uk/ Blog: http://ukwebfocus.wordpress.com/ Twitter: http://twitter.com/briankelly/ Twitter (automated posts): http://twitter.com/ukwebfocus/ > -----Original Message----- > From: Sturtridge, Gemma [mailto:[log in to unmask]] > Sent: 07 May 2010 16:55 > Subject: Search engine referrals? > > On analysing our web stats I was surprised that relatively few of our > visitors are referred to us by search engines, less than 20% > > Can anyone give me an indication whether this is about normal or as I > suspect rather low? > > Many thanks > Gemma > > Gemma Sturtridge > Assistant Collections Officer > Croydon Museum Service > Community Services Department | Culture Division > Room G11, Croydon Clocktower > Katharine Street, Croydon, CR9 1ET > > Tel: 020 8253 1026 > > www.museumofcroydon.com<http://www.museumofcroydon.com/> (Museum) > www.croydon.gov.uk/museums<http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/museum/mu > s > eumofcroydon%20> (Council) > > > ________________________________ > How might you spend ?1.5 million improving Croydon's parks? It's your > money, so tell us now - www.croydon.gov.uk/yourparks. > > > Please use this web site address to view the Council's E-Mail > disclaimer - www.croydon.gov.uk/disclaimer/email.htm > > **************************************************************** > For mcg information visit the mcg website at > http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/ > To manage your subscription to this email list visit > http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/ > **************************************************************** **************************************************************** For mcg information visit the mcg website at http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/ To manage your subscription to this email list visit http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/ **************************************************************** ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------- This email message has been delivered safely and archived online by Mimecast. A true SaaS solution, Mimecast provides the security, continuity and archiving for millions of emails, across thousands of customers every day. For more information please visit http://www.mimecast.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------------------------------------------------- **************************************************************** For mcg information visit the mcg website at http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/ To manage your subscription to this email list visit http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/ ****************************************************************